How to advertise your business: 9 marketing steps to attract customers

According to recent marketing surveys, over 70% of Vietnamese customers research businesses online before making a purchase decision. This means that if you don't actively advertise, potential customers are very likely to choose a competitor instead of you.

This article will guide you on how to advertise your business in simple, easy-to-apply yet effective ways. You don't need a large budget or complex strategies — just focus on the right channels, the right message, and the right timing to get your brand known to more people, thereby increasing customers and revenue sustainably.

Step 1: Build a brand image and logo for your business

Create a clear brand image from the start

• Define the core message the business wants to convey: professional, friendly, high-end, or mass-market.

• Design a simple, memorable logo that is easy to recognize when viewed at a small size on a phone or social media.

• Prioritize consistency so customers can easily remember and trust the brand.

Use the logo consistently across all business advertising channels

• Place the logo on company letterhead, business cards, and invoices to increase recognition during transactions.

• Embed the logo in email signatures to promote the business naturally every day.

• Use the logo on brochures, signs, and billboards so customers can easily recognize the brand from a distance.

Bring the brand image to the online environment

• Display the logo clearly on the website to create professionalism and increase credibility.

• Synchronize the logo and brand colors on social media to support online advertising campaigns.

• Apply the logo on products, packaging, or promotional items to help customers remember the business longer.

Why brand recognition helps advertise more effectively

• A widely recognized brand creates a sense of trustworthiness, making it easier for customers to make purchase decisions.

• Frequent logo appearances make customers remember and proactively recommend the business to others.

• This is an important foundation for implementing long-term, sustainable, and cost-effective business advertising methods.

Step 2: Expand relationships to effectively promote your business

Build a network of relationships in related industries

• Connecting with people in complementary fields helps you better understand the market and competitors.

• Create opportunities for customer referrals, mutually beneficial collaborations, and increased business visibility in the professional community.

• Effective networking helps promote businesses naturally, based on trust rather than pure advertising.

Attend networking meetings and clubs

• Find networking groups, business associations, or industry clubs via the Internet, newspapers, or specialized magazines.

• Prioritize groups whose target audience aligns with your potential customers or partners.

• Participate regularly to build long-term relationships, not just show up once and disappear.

Introduce yourself clearly and memorably

• Briefly explain what your business does and what value it brings to customers.

• Highlight what differentiates you from competitors so listeners can easily remember.

• Share what you are looking for in a business relationship, such as collaboration, customer referrals, or distribution partners.

Ask the right questions to create deeper connections

• Actively ask relevant questions in group discussions to increase personal presence.

• Prioritize open-ended questions to encourage others to share and participate in the conversation.

• Both learn from practical experience and create opportunities for more people to learn about your business.

Exchange business cards and follow up after the event

• Always carry business cards when networking for easy information exchange.

• Quickly note down those interested in your business.

• Proactively arrange separate meetings afterward to discuss details and develop business relationships.

Step 3: Effective business advertising with signage

Choose signage suitable for your business location

• Determine if your business is on a main street, in an alley, or in a high-traffic area to select the appropriate type of sign.

• The main goal is to help customers quickly recognize the brand and easily find you.

Common types of business advertising signs

• Storefront signs:

  • Help customers recognize the business from a distance.

  • Suitable for stores, restaurants, service offices.

• Channel letter signs:

  • Create a professional, modern feel.

  • Easily attract attention both day and night.

• Neon signs:

  • Stand out at night, attracting passersby.

  • Often used for restaurants, cafes, entertainment services.

• Electronic or marquee boards:

  • Flexible content changes for advertising.

  • Suitable for cinemas, service centers, large stores.

• Billboard advertising:

  • Increase brand reach on a large scale.

  • Suitable for businesses looking for long-term brand promotion.

• Roadside or front yard advertising signs:

  • Low cost, easy to implement.

  • Suitable for local businesses, regional services.

How to leverage signage for more effective advertising

• Design simply, easy to read in the first few seconds.

• Logo and business name must be clear and consistent with other advertising channels.

• Prioritize important information such as industry, key benefits, or prominent offers.

• Ensure signage complies with local regulations to avoid legal risks.

Step 4: Common business advertising methods

Print advertising suitable for the right audience

• Place ads in newspapers, magazines, industry publications, coupon books, or specialized publications.

• Choose the right print channel for the industry to avoid wasting advertising budget.

• For example: a technology component recycling business should advertise in computer journals, tech magazines, or electronics classifieds.

Television and radio advertising for broad brand reach

• Television and radio help reach a large number of viewers and listeners in a short time.

• Suitable for businesses needing to build rapid awareness or launch new products.

• Cost consideration is necessary as this form of business advertising requires a relatively high investment.

Distribute flyers and direct advertising materials

• Distribute advertising materials at fairs, exhibitions, in front of stores, parking lots, or crowded areas.

• Models like bars, nightclubs, entertainment areas often use flyer distribution teams to attract new customers.

• Highly effective when combined with clear offers, promotions, or calls to action.

Advertise via direct mail to potential customers

• Purchase mailing lists by region, age group, or target customer segment.

• Send letters, brochures, catalogs, postcards to introduce products or services.

• Suitable when a business wants to include paper coupons, vouchers, business cards, or promotional gifts.

Hire a PR firm to build brand reputation

• PR firms assist in writing articles, press releases, and creating media stories for businesses.

• Helps brands appear on news channels reliably.

• This is an indirect business advertising method but has a strong impact on customer trust.

AR advertising enhances user experience

• AR Advertising is augmented reality advertising.

• Combines printed materials with a layer of digital content such as videos, 3D images, or interactive information.

• Makes advertising more vivid and increases brand memorability.

Step 5: Business collaboration for effective business promotion

Build partnerships to leverage existing customer bases

• Collaborating with other businesses helps you quickly access the customer base they have already built.

• When two brands appear together, memorability and credibility increase significantly.

• This is a business advertising method based on shared credibility, rather than having to invest all costs from scratch.

Choose partners with complementary, non-directly competing industries

• Prioritize businesses that serve the same customer segment but offer different products or services.

• For example, a food brand partnering with a snack brand helps both increase brand recognition.

• When customers think of one brand, they are more likely to associate it with the other.

Leverage the brand power of a larger partner

• Partnering with an established business helps smaller brands appear more trustworthy.

• Co-branding campaigns, joint products, or shared promotions are all highly effective for promotion.

• This is a form of "following the leader" to shorten the time it takes to build recognition.

Prepare clear value before proposing a partnership

• Large businesses always consider the benefits they receive from a partnership.

• Clearly define what you bring to the table: new customer segments, distribution channels, promotional content, or other resources.

• If you don't have a strong brand yet, start with smaller or similarly-sized partners to build a foundation.

Realities to know when your business is new

• Partnering with a large company when you are not yet established is not easy.

• Many businesses will require specific benefits or decline if they don't see clear value.

• The solution is to build credibility step-by-step, proving effectiveness before expanding to larger partnerships.

Step 6: Leverage social media to promote your business

Build a community instead of just running ads

• Social media helps businesses spread their message through customers and followers.

• Instead of just paying for ads, you can create a community that loves your brand and is willing to share their experiences.

• This is a word-of-mouth business promotion method, low-cost but highly trustworthy.

Encourage users to speak positively about the business

• Share useful content that resonates with customers' real needs.

• Interact regularly through comments, replying to messages, and asking for opinions to foster a sense of connection.

• When customers feel heard, they will actively recommend the brand to others.

Exploit the power of viral content

• Viral content is often entertaining, emotional, or reflects issues users care about.

• Short, easy-to-understand videos with a clear story are more likely to be shared on social media.

• A successful viral campaign can generate significant reach without a high advertising budget.

Turn social media into a long-term promotion channel

• Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep the brand's presence.

• Combine entertaining content with product introductions naturally.

• Monitor feedback to adjust messages according to user behavior.

Step 7: Offer free gifts to promote your business

Use logo-printed gifts to increase brand recognition

• Giving away items with your business name or logo helps your brand appear frequently before users.

• This is a simple but effective way to promote your business because customers don't feel like they are being "sold to."

• Free gifts create goodwill and help the business be remembered longer.

Distribute gifts at the right time, in the right place

• Give out gifts at networking events, trade fairs, exhibitions, or industry events.

• Present them during meetings with clients and partners to enhance professionalism.

• Can also be used in social gatherings to naturally expand brand reach.

Choose simple, everyday items

• Ballpoint pens:

  • Low cost, easy to produce in large quantities.

  • Used frequently, so the logo appears continuously.

• Refrigerator magnets:

  • Always in the user's line of sight.

  • Suitable for local service businesses.

• Desk calendars or wall calendars:

  • Long-lasting, can be used for an entire year.

  • Helps the brand become associated with customers' daily lives.

Optimize gifts for more effective advertising

• Neat design, clear logo, easy to recognize.

• Avoid cluttering with too much information, which can be distracting.

• Prioritize usability so recipients don't discard them after one use.

Step 8: Build lasting relationships with customers

See customers as people, not just data

• Customers appreciate genuine care, not robotic sales messages.

• Investing time in building personal relationships increases loyalty and repeat purchases.

• This is an important foundation for natural word-of-mouth business promotion.

Maintain connection with small but meaningful actions

• Send greeting cards on holidays like Christmas, New Year, or customer birthdays.

• These actions help customers feel valued and not "forgotten" after purchase.

• When they have a positive experience, customers are willing to recommend the business to acquaintances.

Organize meetings to understand new customers

• Arrange an initial introductory meeting to understand customer needs, desires, and challenges.

• Actively listen to their stories, context, and goals instead of rushing to provide advice.

• Ask open-ended questions to encourage customers to share more.

Personalize your approach to build trust

• Based on the information gathered, adjust products or services accordingly.

• Customers will perceive professionalism and dedication in your approach.

• Trust built early on will help the collaboration proceed smoothly and long-term.

Step 9: Encourage customers to recommend your business

Leverage the power of word-of-mouth from satisfied customers

• Recommendations from family and friends have higher credibility than any other form of business advertising.

• Real experiences and honest reviews help new customers make decisions more easily.

• When product or service quality is good, word-of-mouth spreads very quickly.

Actively ask customers to share their experiences

• Don't wait for customers to spontaneously recommend; many simply... forget.

• Politely ask them to recommend your business to acquaintances if they are satisfied.

• A timely gentle reminder can bring in many new customers.

Choose the right time to "ask for a referral"

• After completing a service or when the customer has just had a positive experience.

• When customers send good feedback or express satisfaction.

• This is when they are most willing to speak positively about your business.

Make it easier for customers to refer you

• Provide business cards, website links, social media pages, or clear contact information.

• Consider offering a small incentive for both the referrer and the referred party.

• Simplifying the action will increase the success rate of referrals.

Confidently propose additional collaboration opportunities

• If customers already trust you, proactively ask if they have other needs.

• Confidence and transparency show that you believe in the quality of your business.

• This is an effective way to promote your business based on existing relationships.

Leverage word-of-mouth for sustainable business growth

Build your business based on customer referrals

• Word-of-mouth and referrals are the most trusted ways to promote a business.

• When you do good work and customers are truly satisfied, they are willing to recommend you to family and friends.

• This is a source of high-quality customers, low cost, and easy to convert.

Actively ask customers to refer you

• Even if satisfied, many customers won't tell others unless you prompt them.

• A direct, polite request can generate many more business opportunities.

• Be confident in asking for new work or referrals, as it shows you believe in the value you provide.

Reinvest profits in the initial stages

• In the first 1-2 years of business, prioritize using profits to develop the company.

• Reinvesting in advertising, improving services, and upgrading brand image will help accelerate growth.

• This approach helps the business build a strong foundation before optimizing individual profits.

Turn everyday items into advertising tools

• If the business provides pens, notebooks, or items printed with its logo, ensure that receptionists or staff in guest areas use them frequently.

• These items appearing continuously before customers will help increase brand recognition.

• This is a simple but effective way to advertise the business, maximizing what you have already invested in.

References

1. https://www.constantcontact.com/blog/market-your-small-business/
2. https://thrivehive.com/promote-your-business/
3. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/digital-marketing-tips?+=
4. https://www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/referral.htm
5. https://www.sitepoint.com/community/t/promote-your-business-8-steps-to-success/45271
6. http://www.businessknowhow.com/tips/networking.htm

Translator: Sidney Bailey Hoang.