How to Turn Customers into Advocates with an Inbound Marketing
For most small businesses, effective marketing is make or break necessity. It brings money through the door! A niche marketing campaign or page 1 on Google alone won’t do the job. Finding the right customers for your business takes time and the right marketing mix. That’s where the inbound marketing comes in.
So what’s the big whoop about inbound marketing anyway?
Everyone talks about it like it’s some kind of magic formula — as if simply writing a few blogs and posting on LinkedIn will summon customers from the ether. But what inbound marketing really does is something far less obvious and far more powerful: it builds trust before the transaction.And that’s the bit most people miss. Too many businesses are obsessed with creating a sale, when the smarter goal is to create a customer. Because customers buy again. And tell their friends. And forgive you when things go wrong.
The trick, as any good Kent Marketing Consultant will tell you, is to think long-term. Stop chasing attention like a toddler with a shiny object and start designing experiences people actually want to be part of.
What Inbound Marketing Actually Is
Think of inbound marketing as the polite version of selling. Instead of interrupting people with ads they didn’t ask for, you earn their attention by being useful.
It’s less “Buy this now!” and more “Here’s something you might find interesting.” And that subtle difference makes all the difference.
The process looks a bit like a funnel, but don’t get hung up on the shape. The real idea is simple:
- Attract visitors by being genuinely interesting.
- Convert leads by making it easy for people to say yes.
- Close sales by being trusted before you’re needed.
- Delight customers so they come back — and bring others with them.
- Done right, it’s not marketing at all. It’s matchmaking.
Quick Example
Let’s say you’re a small business in Kent offering design or print services. You could spend thousands on ads that people ignore, or you could write something genuinely useful like “How to make your brand stand out at local business events.”
Someone reads it. They think, “That’s helpful.” They sign up for your newsletter. A few weeks later, they need help with their next exhibition stand. Who do they call? The helpful person from Kent who clearly gets it. That’s inbound. That’s marketing without shouting.
Why You Need a Local Marketing Consultant (and Not Just Another Kent One)
Most consultants will show you data. A Kent Marketing Consultant, however, will show you context. Because marketing in Kent isn’t quite like marketing anywhere else. You’re not selling to faceless audiences in skyscrapers. You’re dealing with small businesses, local networks, community quirks, and the occasional person who still pays cash for everything.
The magic lies in knowing the landscape, both digital and literal. Whether you’re in Canterbury, Maidstone, or Margate, the rhythm of local business matters. That’s why your inbound marketing funnel shouldn’t just be about clicks; it should be about conversations.
Social Media Without B***sh*t!
Social media is a lot like a pub. Some people burst in and shout about their offers. Others tell stories. Guess which ones people remember? Inbound marketing works beautifully here. Post insights, not instructions. Share value, not volume. When people start following you because they want to, you’re no longer advertising, you’re building a reputation. A good local Kent marketing consultant can help you master that balance.
Stop Selling. Start Helping.
The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing. It feels like being understood.
HubSpot put it neatly: “The buyer’s journey is the process buyers go through to become aware of, evaluate, and purchase a new product or service.” But let’s be honest — the buyer’s emotion is what drives the journey.
Inbound marketing taps into that emotion by being generous with ideas, patient with persuasion, and confident enough not to push. So if you’re tired of campaigns that scream and don’t convert, maybe it’s time to stop selling and start helping.
Hire a local Kent Marketing Consultant Who Gets It
If you want to attract the right audience, convert with confidence, and create loyal customers who keep coming back. I can help. As a Kent marketing consultant, I believe great marketing isn’t about tricks or trends. It’s about understanding people, earning trust, and building relationships that last longer than a sales cycle.
Let’s make your marketing feel less like a chore and more like a conversation worth having.
