Digital marketing on your mind?
Are you just starting a business and need ideas? Or are you well-established in your local community and want to broaden your reach?
Whether you’re a new entrepreneur or a well-established local favorite, digital marketing may be your next move. This is especially true if you’re looking to broaden your reach to other communities around you.
Depending on your company’s goals, you may be wondering about the best digital marketing strategies. Here, we’ve outlined the top digital marketing strategies for small businesses this year.
Why Digital Marketing?
Now, more than ever, consumers are looking online for their favorite products and services. Some estimates even say that in 2020, people spent an additional hour per day on their phones. Especially in today’s highly competitive market, showcasing your expertise online is critical.
What if your business showed up on their phone at least once a week during that time? Or maybe once a day? If your company showed up on people’s timelines, feeds, or stories, they were exposed to your product or service.
Having at least some digital marketing increases your accessibility. Creating digital strategies that entice people and pull them in is only half of the battle, though. People are more likely to reach out to you when they know who you are and how to connect with you.
Using these tips and ideas, you’ll have a solid digital marketing strategy in no time!
1. Start with a Solid Website
Never underestimate the importance of good web design. Your website is your landing page for all online marketing you’ll do. Make sure your website is easy to navigate and flows well.
Highlight the things that customers want to see most. These include things like:
- Your product or service
- Where your headquarters are
- Your phone number
- The address of your physical location, if you have one
- Who you are
- Examples of your work
- A mission statement
These are all elements that people will look for as soon as they reach your website.
There are several ways to make these items accessible for your site visitors. One of the most popular ways to do this is by having a clear landing page and tabs at the top. This gives your consumers a hint of what you offer and an invitation to look around the site.
On your landing page, you could list any combination of the elements listed above. Pick a font that is easy to read and contrasts with your background image or color.
Then, in the tabs, provide new information for the visitor while reiterating who you are as a company and why you do what you do. When you share your goals and mission, consumers will connect more with your company.
On the other hand, if visitors link to your site from an external source and are not impressed, it could be detrimental to your business.
Keep your site clean, accessible, and true to your business. This will keep your clients coming back for more!
2. Optimize Your Content
The phrase Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is thrown around a lot in digital marketing. It is a complex idea, but even a basic understanding of it will help your business get noticed.
Produce content and design your website so that people in your area can find you easily. Local SEO helps you get noticed in your community. This means when people search for something on a search engine, like Google, your business pops up closer to the top.
Start by listing out elements of your business, especially the ones listed on your website. Then, research your competition or similar businesses in your area. What do they feature on their website?
Research what consumers in your area search for when they need the service or product you provide. On your Google My Business page, make sure you highlight similar words so your listing is seen.
3. Marketing Emails
Utilizing email marketing is the best way to keep your clients up-to-date.
While what you put in your emails is up to you, be sure to be consistent with the information you send out. Create a schedule of ideas and times to keep yourself on track.
One way to brainstorm your emails is to think about certain dates or themes associated with your business. If you sell candles, send quarterly emails focused on the seasons. Or, if you provide legal services, highlight special days in history and how your group is working toward new goals.
Write these ideas down before starting your email campaigns, as you may need to reorganize a bit and move details around. Once you’ve nailed down the ideas and times, start designing!
Find software that allows you to create professional emails and easily manage subscribers. Then, once you’ve got your format ready, advertise your emails. Place a link on your website, on your social media, and in any of your other online ads.
4. Social Media
Use your favorite platforms to your advantage.
Love it or hate it, social media is one of the most invaluable resources when advertising your small business. It creates a place for people to see what you’re working on, share your posts, and comment with their feedback.
To craft a successful social media account for your small business, you’ll need to map it out.
Branding
When you start your social media page, think about your business’ brand.
If you don’t have a brand, do these simple things to get started. First, think about your company’s mission. What do you value and what do you want to accomplish?
Then, piece together colors, shapes, and ideas that remind you of your vision. What are things that will make consumers think of you? Use these two pieces to create a simple, coherent brand for your social media.
Now when starting your social media, you have a road map to follow. Post items that are focused and point viewers back to your company.
Influencers
Influencers help spread the word about your business. Generally, influencers have a healthy social media following and post sponsored items.
Think about the people in your community who everyone knows. Is it the mayor? Or, the high school basketball coach?
Ask this person to post about your product or service to let others in your community know that what you have is a hot commodity. Work out a deal with your influencer of how often they will post and the types of products they will promote.
You’ll also need to work out a deal with them for compensation. Budget to provide them a financial compensation or, give them a free or discounted item.
Timing
More goes into social media than just posting a few pictures. Be sure to think about when your audience will see the posts.
Do you think your demographic checks their feeds at lunch? Or would they be more likely to scroll after work?
Post your photos and info during these times for the highest consumer interaction. You may need to change the timing up depending on your results.
Post Updates
Another key reason to have a social media account for your small business is to easily post updates. If you have to close early for the day, or are having a special event, let your followers know in real-time!
Though having a well-thought-out website is part of good digital marketing, people don’t check business websites frequently. Use your social media as a way to get information out to your followers quickly.
You can even make a post to advertise a new feature or update on your website!
5. Create Social Media Ads
Having a consistent social media page for your business is a way to get your name out to those in your community. But, to reach even more viewers, consider looking into social media ads.
These digital marketing tools work to target specific audiences and will allow others to hear about your company. Using social media ads is a unique way to craft personalized ads for your consumers.
Thankfully, using social media ads is as easy as creating a headline, description, and adding a photo! You can also test out different ads to see which ones resonate best with your audience.
Note that ads on social media are not free. Set aside a small portion of your budget to cover these costs, as ads online are one of the best tools for getting your name out there.
6. Incentivize Your Audience
Give the audience what they want. Which, in this case, is your product or service! To boost engagement on your social media and website, host a giveaway or competition.
Giveaways happen constantly on social media.
One of the most popular qualifications being that the person entering the contest must share the company’s page. Sometimes it happens on a large scale, requesting that the entree posts on their story or page. Or it happens on a smaller scale, where the entree must tag a certain number of friends on a post.
Either way, this is effective for getting the company’s name out to the public.
What you give away or have clients compete for, though, is totally up to you! Giveaway a discounted cleaning or free webinar tickets. Or, have followers compete to make the best new label design.
Use this as an opportunity to give your customers what they want. Listen to their feedback and incorporate their ideas.
Everyone loves sharing their ideas. This will help you connect with your community and build your following. Both online and offline!
7. Offer Free Consulting
Similar to a giveaway, give your customers a chance to ask questions about your service or product, risk-free. Though you could offer a free consult in a giveaway or contest, you can also offer it as a standard service.
By offering a consultation, it takes the pressure off both you and the client. They get to learn more about you and your business without feeling like they have to purchase anything. This gives you more opportunity to connect with them without feeling like you have to make a sale.
Genuine connection will help your clients or customers feel more comfortable coming back. Plus, they might even refer you to a friend!
If you choose to go this route, have a special tab for it on your website. Be sure to post about it on your social media, too. This works well, either as a monthly post or listed in your bio.
8. Text Subscriptions
Another way to keep your customers informed is to ask them to sign up for text message alerts. This option works well for letting them know when a new product has dropped, when you’re having a sale, or to let them know you’ve updated your business hours.
Be sure to let them know that regular data messaging rates apply when you send them messages. This way they are aware of the terms and conditions. There are several different platforms that offer this service to small businesses.
Like your social media posts and emails, map out what you want to send and when. People will unsubscribe from your text alerts if they feel they are being bombarded with messages.
Best Digital Marketing Strategies
When it comes to best digital marketing strategies, it comes down to what works best for you and your team.
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to try a new tactic. You can even enlist people in your community to help you test out various digital marketing options!
To learn more about the best web designs for your small business, contact us for a free quote. And be sure to check out our blog for more information on how to thrive in digital marketing.
