Let's face it! If you're running a business, you need as much visibility as you can get to grow.  Times have changed. It isn't enough to just have a website and post on your social media accounts a few times a week anymore.  If you’re looking for a solid strategy to increase your traffic and convert potential customers/clients into sales, you should consider implementing a multi-channel marketing strategy in your business. 

Multi-channel marketing is a powerful tool for small businesses looking to increase brand visibility, reach a wider audience, and improve customer engagement. By promoting your business through multiple channels (public relations, digital advertising, social media marketing, and more), you can reach customers where they are and build stronger relationships with them. 

As a service-based business owner, you have a lot of options when it comes to sales channels. From online marketplaces to brick-and-mortar stores, there are many different ways to reach and sell to customers. And if you're a product-based business, I actually have slightly different suggestions. Click here to read the article for channels that are more fitting for product-based businesses.

To help you make the most of your marketing efforts, here are 10 popular channels for small service-based businesses:

1. Social media: Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are great places to showcase your products and connect with customers. You can use social media to promote your products, interact with customers, and drive sales. Many have found success using Facebook Groups and networking.
   
2. Email marketing: Email marketing allows you to send targeted emails to your customers and promote your products. It's a cost-effective way to reach and engage with customers and can be an effective sales channel for small businesses.
   
3. Paid Advertising: With paid advertising, you can choose the platforms and channels you want to advertise on, and set a budget that works for you to reach a targeted audience.
   
4. Your own website: Having a website allows you to have control over your online presence and create a direct channel for sales. You can sell products directly through your website, or use it as a way to drive traffic to other sales channels.
   
5. Physical stores: Believe it or not, physical locations can be a You can showcase your products and interact with customers in person, which can be a powerful way to drive sales.
   
6. Online marketplaces for services: If you offer services rather than products, online marketplaces like Thumbtack and Upwork can be good sales channels for you. They allow you to connect with potential clients and sell your services online.
   
7. Affiliate marketing: Affiliate marketing involves promoting other people's products and earning a commission for each sale you generate. This can be a good sales channel for small businesses that want to promote services related to their own business.
   
8. Partnerships and collaborations: Partnering with other businesses or individuals can be a good way to reach new customers and drive sales. You can collaborate on products, promote each other's businesses, or simply share your customer base.
   
9. Trade shows: Trade shows are events where businesses come together to showcase their products and services. They can be a good sales channel for small businesses that want to reach a large audience in a short period of time.
   
10. Direct mail: Direct mail involves sending promotional materials directly to customers through the mail. It can be a good sales channel for small businesses that want to reach customers in a more personal way.
    
11. Virtual Events: Host online events like webinars, Q&A sessions, and workshops to reach new potential customers and drive sales.  

As you can see, there are a variety of channels that can be used by service-based businesses to market themselves and drive revenue. The key is to evaluate your business’s marketing strategy, determine what channels will best suit your needs, prioritize them based on ROI, and then execute your marketing plan. We've covered ten of the top options out there today to help get you started.