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Published: February 15 2016

The 28 million small businesses in America account for 54 percent of all U.S. sales, and like never before, a small business owner is empowered to make the leap from a small business to a Fortune 500 company, thanks to the digital age of marketing.

No longer do companies need to take on the overhead of hiring expensive marketing and public relations firms in order to build their brands; the tools are literally at their fingertips, yet endless firms continue to convince them otherwise. According to Molly Jacobson, owner and founder of Jacobson Strategy, this ends here.

According to Jacobson, who offers online marketing and public relations coaching to small businesses across the country, business owners can take their brands to the next level on their very own.

There are three key questions you must ask yourself when beginning your marketing journey:

1.Why should a potential customer choose to use my business?

Determine the core need that your product or service meets, and if you already have marketing materials or a website, make sure that it is clearly and simply explained. Remember, your offering should be designed to meet customer needs better than your competitors.

2.Who is my target audience?

Identify your target customers. There are abundant potential customers in nearly all markets, but to truly thrive, a small business must understand their market to determine the characteristics of its target audience. The target customer should be described in detail. Where do they shop? Where do they read/hear the news? What are their values? This will help you to pinpoint how and where to attract their attention.

3.What sets my company apart from the competition?

Do you provide unmatched personalized care? Do you have exceptional customer service? Does your company offer special rates or services? Indentify what makes your company special, and spread the word!

 “It all begins with a vision,” says Jacobson. “Once you determine where you want your company to go, the next step is bringing it to fruition with a plan of action and seeing it through. It’s not rocket science, it’s marketing! Every business owner has the ability to master it.”

About Molly Jacobson
Molly Jacobson is the owner and founder of Jacobson Strategy, a national marketing and public relations firm, as well as a marketing and public relations coach, empowering small businesses with the strategy, support and expertise to tackle any marketing needs. For more information, visit www.jacobsonstrategy.com.