One of the most common questions that you face as a small business owner is: “How do I achieve effective marketing”? If you try to learn about marketing, you’ll probably find it overwhelming. With all of the different ideas out there, it can be a bit hard to find the right small business online marketing tactics.
Giving up is just not an option! Of course marketing is essential in order to get new clients. But you should be aware that not all marketing is good marketing. They say that there’s no such thing as a bad promotion. Yet, many tactics have still proven to be ineffective. Ineffective marketing is a pure waste of both your time and your money.
Basically, any business, regardless of its size and niche, has two main roles to fill. One of them is to innovate and to prove that what you do is relevant. The other one is marketing – connecting with people to show them why they actually need your company.
Well implemented marketing positively contributes to the reputation of your business. Excellent marketing makes clients crave your companies’ products and services.
Why use online marketing tactics?
Many small business owners have the tendency to walk the paved road as to avoid taking too many risks. This is especially true when it comes to marketing their business, even though the risks are far fewer.
Some people prefer to follow traditional marketing systems. It’s easy to understand the reasoning behind making that “safe” decision. We can easily get trapped into the mindset of thinking that something is effective, just because it was used for a long time. Sticking to traditional marketing for this reason is like taking career advice from your grandmother – it would be good if it wasn’t outdated.
Online marketing is much more convenient for numerous reasons. It’s not only more effective in getting you more clients, but it can also save your company a lot of money!
It’s time to get with the times. We’re all surrounded by evidence that technology makes our lives easier. Use it to your advantage.
How companies grow with small business online marketing
As opposed to old fashioned advertising methods, online marketing is not even nearly that demanding. You don’t need radio or TV commercials. You don’t need newspaper ads, posters, pamphlets or billboard adverts. You only need a good strategy.
A website for your small business
To get people’s attention on the Internet, the first thing you will need is a website for your business. It may seem like basic advice, but you have to start somewhere. Besides, the power of a good website should never be underestimated. Once clients discover your website, this is where they’ll draw all the information from.
Your website is a major part in framing your brand. A website contributes most to the first impressions that clients get about your company online. And you only get one chance to make a first impression.
Search engine optimization
SEO is about adapting your website to show in the search results. People use search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing every day to find information. Whether the website of your business shows up in search results depends on whether it’s optimized for SEO.
Optimizing your website for SEO is in a way what makes it worth having a website at all. Without properly implemented optimization, potential clients won’t be able to find your website in the first place.
Remember that if your website is perfectly optimized, it should be among the first websites that clients would visit when searching for services in this niche.
Google AdWords
The main difference between SEO and AdWords is that AdWords makes it easier for your website to be discovered by clients, more quickly. AdWords also charges per click, unlike organic search engine optimization, which can even be done at no cost.
With Google AdWords, you can create your own ads, choose your search keywords and phrases and pay only if people click on those ads.
If you’re wondering which one you should go for, Google AdWords or SEO optimization, go for both. AdWords will be of huge help if you’re just starting out with online marketing. Over time, SEO can help bring even more visitors to your website and even replace AdWords.
Social media
We all know why so many of our customers are glued to their computers and smartphones. It is because they’re stuck on social media – chatting, connecting, sharing photos or videos with other people.
But social media is not just for individuals. The number of companies promoting themselves on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and the like is virtually endless! Wondering why that might be so? Well, because it’s effective and it’s easy to use.
On the Internet, people feel most at home when browsing their favorite social media platforms. If they happen to stumble upon your company there, chances are you’ll get yourself a new potential client.
Get the most out of what you already have at hand’s reach
The period of “transitioning to the digital age” is pretty much over. Offline marketing methods such as newspaper ads or Yellow Pages listings are becoming more and more trivial. How many people even own phonebooks these days?
It’s becoming more and more important to choose the right channels of communication to promote your business. Fortunately, the dominant marketing tools and techniques of today are sitting right in front of our eyes.
As a small business owner, you would usually have to compete and compare your marketing strategies with those of much bigger companies in order to get attention. Luckily, online marketing is much more innovative and flexible. Digital marketing can be tailored to fit the most modest of budgets – while still remaining effective.
Make the most out of modern technology – claim your company’s online presence as soon as you can. You can get new clients much faster than by clinging to traditional marketing. Reaching bigger audiences is of utmost importance for the growth and expansion of small businesses.
Take action now and see how online marketing can transform the way people see your business for good.