Digital marketing techniques can help your small business succeed in a competitive marketplace. Whether you provide services or sell products, you need a digital marketing strategy that can help you reach your goals. Whether you're launching a new business or already have an established brand, it's essential to learn how small businesses can leverage digital marketing strategies to improve your business growth, strategy, and planning.
Digital Marketing for Small Businesses
Digital marketing can help you increase brand awareness and build up qualified leads that can turn into sales. Small businesses often struggle to get noticed because of their lack of time and money. However, with a few simple strategies, you can scale your small business and improve its overall marketing efforts.
Company Website
If your company doesn't have a website, there's no better time to create one than right now. While you can develop a website with a developer from scratch, there are affordable solutions for those with all types of skill levels when it comes to web design. If you sell products online, you can use Shopify to build your website. If you want a more robust website, you can use WordPress for all of your needs.
Your website should be refreshed every few years and when there's new information to share like new products and services or a new phone number or address. Website content can help your customers and audience get to know your company.
Take a look at your current website. Does it provide users with enough valuable information to know what your business does, where they can find you, how they can contact you, and more?
User Experience
When it comes to your website, it all comes down to user experience. You can spend all the money in the world creating advertisements that bring people to your website, but if your website doesn't offer a good experience, your potential customers will leave and likely never come back.
User experience means creating a website that answers your customers' questions and doesn't overcomplicate the process of making a purchase or finding out information.
Ultimately, user experience boils down to the intent of the person visiting your website. Make sure that your website doesn't simply boast how great you are but appeals to your customers' needs and can provide them with information or solutions.
Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a powerful digital marketing strategy that can help scale small businesses and get them noticed online. It's also one of the most affordable marketing techniques because you don't pay for any advertising. You should, however, work with a knowledgeable SEO expert to ensure that you're doing your SEO right.
An SEO strategy can help make sure that your customers and clients can find you on search engines like Google, where many people spend most of their time searching for products, services, and information.
Social Media
Another affordable part of the digital marketing puzzle is using social media to increase brand awareness and engage with your customers. Different social media platforms are ideal for different businesses depending on your target audience. For example, if you are a health and wellness brand, you'll likely have more success marketing to customers on Instagram than on LinkedIn. However, if you are a B2B company, LinkedIn might be the better option.
On the other side of social media is something called Influencer Marketing. This type of marketing involves using influencers who have dedicated followings to help you market your products. These people are typically seen as thought leaders in specific industries and products, so they provide you with more credibility and open you up to an entirely new audience.
To get started with influencer marketing, make sure that you have an understanding of the important analytics like comments per post, likes, shares, and overall engagement rate.
Email Marketing
Email marketing automation can help you better connect with your customers and potential leads. You can obtain emails by offering your target audience something in exchange, like a discount or an e-book with more information. Then, use automation software like MailChimp or Klaviyo to nurture these leads. Email marketing is easy and scalable. Once you have an effective email strategy in place, you can email out promotions, newsletters, and more to keep customers coming back to your website.
PPC Advertising
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) is a type of advertising where you pay for every click that comes to your website from an ad. These can be created for search engines or social media. While small businesses can implement a PPC strategy to help boost web traffic and leads, you may need someone more experienced to help you get off the ground.
PPC is an affordable advertising solution that's cheaper than traditional advertising in print media or online publications, which can cost thousands of dollars for one advertisement. PPC even offers you complete analytics so you can see how your ads are performing and adjust them accordingly.
Content Marketing
Content marketing involves using all types of content, from blogging to videos, to market your business. Visual content will improve engagement on social media and your website, making it absolutely necessary, especially for Facebook advertising.
Ensure that you have a blog that can help customers learn more about certain topics they're interested in. Using videos throughout your site can also help inform and engage customers quickly without asking them to read long-form content.
Wrapping Up
The digital marketing landscape is constantly changing, which is why it’s essential you know the trends and strategies that can boost engagement and increase traffic to your company. With these six strategies, from content marketing to social media marketing, you’ll be able to attract leads, boost sales, and increase your online presence to grow your brand.
Matt Casadona
Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. He is currently a contributing editor for 365 Business Tips. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys the San Diego life, traveling and music.
