Small-business owners are looking for opportunities to stay afloat in the ever-competitive business world. They think of ways how to adapt and gather more leads as possible. But capitalizing on business trends such as digital marketing is a challenge shared by many entrepreneurs.
Digital marketing goes beyond Internet marketing. It involves the use of digital channels to reach potential customers. This includes search engine marketing (SEM), email marketing, messaging, applications, social media marketing, and more.
As more people stay online, websites have become the forefront of every business. In a survey by Visual Objects, a portfolio website that works with top creative firms, almost 25% of small businesses began using digital marketing in 2020.
More business owners began to realize how even low-effort digital marketing can improve their competitive edge. Generating customers online can lead to the fulfillment of their marketing goals.
This article will be your go-to guide to kick-start your digital marketing initiatives. Discover how each technique will help you stay ahead of your competitors.
1. Business Website
Although you have a strong social media presence, a business website is a requirement for digital marketing. A business website serves as the “home base” and “backbone” of all marketing efforts.
The advertisement, content, or whatever you put online should direct the customer back to your website. It is where they find out what types of services or products you offer. Remember that you have full control of your website, so make sure that it is interesting enough to drive potential leads.
2. Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
As the name suggests, SEM is a marketing strategy focused on search engines. It has two components: search engine optimization (SEO) and paid search advertising (PSA).
While SEO helps you increase website traffic using organic or non-paid search results from search engines, PSA requires you to pay to get more visits from search traffic. The goal is to promote your website either through organic search or paid search ads among leading search engines such as Google and Yahoo.
3. Content Marketing
Content marketing lies at the core of your digital marketing efforts. You gain loyal customers, social media shares, and sales through interesting and high-quality content. It includes blog posts, images, infographics, videos, and other ways to attract more readers to your site.
Keep in mind that only the most engaging web content will drive more visits. Readers will read specific content only if they find it useful or interesting enough. If you’re unsure of what to publish, consult digital marketing companies specializing in content development.
4. Social Media Marketing
This is the next strategy to increase online presence. According to a business news website, The Manifest, small-business owners invest more in social media (63%) than their website (54%) and SEO efforts (35%).
If you plan to use social media, make sure to stay updated on which channels your target customers usually spend their time, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Great content and a well-designed social media strategy make it easier to spread the word.
When using social media, you need to gain more followers for your content to get as much attention and more social network visits that will convert into actual customers.
5. Email Marketing
This strategy involves sending commercial messages to a target group of people. It contains advertisements, promotions, updates, newsletters, or exclusive deals. Its major purpose is to build brand awareness, credibility, and trust among potential customers.
Before trying email marketing, build a list of your current customers and potential leads. It includes the email of interested customers and those who signed up on your email list.
Software such as Mailify, allows you to create email marketing campaigns efficiently and quickly. The software features intelligent functionality: Smart Templates, which allows you to create 12 newsletter templates with your company logo and colors by simply entering the website URL.
6. Mobile Marketing
The next step for your online marketing strategy is mobile marketing. As smartphones become a prime necessity, mobile marketing gives you an advantage in increasing mobile searches. As you streamline your mobile marketing strategies, provide users the best possible mobile experience by creating a mobile-friendly version of your website.
Mobile messaging or SMS advertising is a great way to market a brand. It is a cost-efficient way of reaching customers because of the high open rates of text marketing.
7. Online Rankings and Reviews
Being the last on our list doesn’t mean that it is the least important. Online rankings and reviews play a major factor in building credibility. They can influence your ranking on search results.
Customers put much of their trust in online reviews because these aid them in their decision-making. Optimize your local listings on review websites such as Google My Business. You can do this by including high-quality photos, videos, locations, and accurate information.
Small businesses can boost their presence online if they know how to take advantage of the best digital marketing strategies. Once you get it right, it will be easier to gain more loyal customers that translate into long-term profits.