Marketing Yourself as a Contractor
Once you've formed your limited company and have began trading, it is important to get your name out there. With such a crowded market, it is more important than ever to differentiate yourself from your competitors. From typing up your company tagline to posting updates on your social media accounts, there are plenty of ways to promote your business.
Branding is essential
Branding your business is one of the fundamental steps in building your company. It gives your company a unique voice and establishes your place in the market.
For many small businesses, this can become a challenge. Limited funding and resources are only two factors which can hinder you from a marketing perspective. Creating a strong brand is one way in which you can differentiate yourself, without needing a generous budget or resource allowance.
Company logo
At first glance, a logo may just seem like a basic graphic and is often overlooked. If used effectively, your logo can work to your advantage. Make it do the hard work for you by allowing it to convey your personality in a split second.
The first step on the path to visual branding, your logo must communicate the values and meaning of your brand, whilst choosing a design that attracts and engages potential clients.
Tagline
Once you have your logo finalised and ready to publish, one of your options is to add a tagline to complement it. A tagline is a small group of words that are combined to identify your company. Its aim is to leave a key brand message in the minds of potential clients.
Your website
To keep up with most businesses, your business must also have an online presence. Having your own website can provide you with plenty of benefits, and with many low-cost options available, it’s worth creating one to point your audience to.
In terms of setting up your website, the level of complexity depends on your needs and the software you have chosen to use. Web designers and developers are available if you need any help with the layout and look of your website.
Once you are up and running, you can link your website in your email signature, and even your social media accounts if you have them.
Social networking
As a contractor, getting your voice heard is difficult, but is incredibly important. Most social media platforms are free to use; therefore, you should be using them as part of your marketing strategy.
We have looked at three of the most popular social networks for businesses, and how they can help get you noticed.
With over 250 million active users worldwide, and around 14 million users in the United Kingdom, Twitter is a great platform to communicate with your audience.
To have a successful Twitter presence, you must stand out from the crowd. Push your brand, your message and your services.
As well as using Twitter to promote your business, you can also use Facebook. Your first step is to create a Facebook page for your business, that is separate from your personal profile. Use Facebook Messenger to reply to customers, this allows you to be prompt and professional.
As a professional, you’ll be familiar with LinkedIn and how it works. You can also use LinkedIn to create a company page which is separate from your personal profile. Ensuring your page is fully complete and up to date will help you to receive more visitors.
Stand out from the crowd
What do you have that nobody else does? Your unique selling proposition (USP) is what differentiates you from your competitors. This could be the price you charge, the services you provide or even the quality of your offering.
A strong proposition which is communicated effectively will help customers to understand what you offer, plus give them a reason why they should choose you over your competitors.
Email marketing
Email marketing has been in use for a long time, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a direct way of turning leads into customers and allows you to communicate further once they are a customer of yours.
Most people check their emails every day, so it’s worth using this as part of your marketing strategy.
Email signature
Having an elaborate email signature isn’t necessary; a simple layout can sometimes work best. Your email signature should include the following:
- Your name
- Your job title
- Company name
- Telephone number
- Links to your website and social media channels
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