Don’t be shy about your small business size. Instead, be honest, friendly, and quick in your communication. It’s totally okay to show that you’re a small business. You should be proud that being small lets you talk to people in a clear and honest way, unlike big companies that use fancy but meaningless words. For example, don’t say things like ‘transparency is a cornerstone of your communications strategy.’ Just say you’re honest.

Big advertising and marketing can cost a lot of money. Instead, try building a group of people who like what you share. If you offer information that they find helpful, they’ll keep coming back. This way, you can get their attention without spending a lot of money. Remember, in a small business, everyone is part of the marketing team. Every email, phone call, blog post, and social media update is a chance to connect with customers. You can even show your customers what happens behind the scenes in your company, so they can get to know you and your team.

If you want to get in the news, it’s better to focus on smaller magazines or blogs that are just right for your business. An article in one of those can bring more people to your website and boost sales more than a story in a big newspaper. Plus, you can talk to journalists in a friendly way, instead of sending them boring press releases. 

Sometimes, things may not go perfectly with your customers. When that happens, be straightforward about your mistakes and problems. Nobody likes companies that try to hide their problems. If you have to say sorry, don’t use fancy words like ‘We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.’ Instead, think about how you’d like to hear an apology as a customer.