5 Digital Marketing Tips For Small Businesses
Anyone who has done even the slightest amount of marketing research knows that marketing is now largely done online. But digital marketing goes beyond the basics of marketing on social media websites and refers to any type of marketing that uses digital channels to target prospective customers. This means using text messaging, emails, and apps to reach a wider audience. Here are a few tips for getting started with digital marketing as a small business.
1. Create a Website
You may have hopped on the social media trend years ago and gotten your business Facebook or Instagram account, but these days having accounts alone isn’t enough to keep your customers informed and to show up in internet searches. Having a business website is essential for any business, and serves as a sort of hub for potential customers. This is the one place online where you control any and all information your audience sees and is your opportunity to send the message you want your business to have. And remember, whatever form your website takes, it’s vital that it’s mobile-friendly and has a good user interface, whether your customers are using converged core network infrastructure or the local coffee shop’s WiFi.
2. Local Search Optimization
It’s now a known fact that most people who are researching businesses are doing that research on their phones, and they’re doing it while physically out of the house looking for places to go. This means that Google is likely to show the businesses that are local to them. In order to show up on these searches, then, it’s essential to make sure you’re claiming your business location in search directories, and making sure your information is up to date. A potential customer isn’t likely to click on your business’s search result if there isn’t a phone number, website, and clear pictures on Google maps. Make it easier for your customers to find you by investing some time in local search optimization.
3. Search Engine Optimization
Once you’ve gone through the trouble of creating a business website, it’s important to make sure your prospective customers can find it. This means investing in search engine optimization (SEO) techniques when writing content for your website. Usually, this is done through finding keywords to use regularly throughout your content consistently across your website, social media platforms, and marketing content. By taking advantage of SEO, you can easily outstrip the competition. Many small businesses have yet to invest in SEO because of the complexity and lack of a general understanding of how it works.
4. Social Media
While social media alone isn’t enough to make your business boom, it’s essential to having a presence and creating your business’s brand. A majority of Americans use social media, so simply having your business on several platforms means you’ll be reaching a huge audience. Understanding social media is essential, as well as understanding where your target audience is spending their time. If your target audience is Gen Z and younger, for instance, it’s unlikely you’ll reach them via Facebook. Stay up-to-date on the latest social media trends and consider finding an expert to help you create content.
5. PPC Advertising
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is ads that will appear when someone searches for the words used in your ad on a search engine. This can be a cost-effective way to advertise since, as the name implies, you only pay for the advertising costs once you get someone to click on the ad. If getting more eyes on your website is the goal of your marketing campaigns, PPC is a great way to increase traffic in a short amount of time.
There are hundreds of other ways to easily harness digital marketing for your small business, but these five are a great place to start if you’re a beginner in the digital marketing world. Start using the internet to make your business more successful today.
