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Did you know that 19% of small businesses fail because they’re outperformed by their competition?
In today’s competitive landscape, small businesses can’t survive without an effective digital marketing strategy.
So if you have a solid, good-quality product but just can’t seem to find or retain customers, chances are you’re not following a few crucial digital marketing tips.
So what digital marketing strategies work best for small businesses? Check out our top 7 digital marketing tips below to find out which ones you should try today!
1. Create a Unique and Recognizable Brand
Your brand is what makes you stand out from the competition and tells customers who you are, what you do, and why they should care.
Your brand does this through two things: your messaging and your visuals.
Your messaging includes your website copy, your slogan, and the way you present your brand to customers. These should be clear, concise, and tell customers exactly what you do and how you can help them solve their problems.
Some brands create distinct messaging by using a humorous and relatable tone. Others position themselves as the top experts in their field.
Your visuals include your logo, color scheme, and any other visual elements you use to represent your brand.
For example, think of Netflix and its bold, red “N.” When you see this logo, you immediately recognize it as Netflix’s. The same goes for the McDonald’s “M” logo and the Apple logo.
2. Invest in Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
The higher your website ranks in search results, the more likely people are to find and click on it.
And the more traffic you get to your website, the more customers you can convert into leads and sales.
SEO is a complex and ever-changing field, but there are a few simple things you can do to get started. These include keyword research and creating quality content.
And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process, you can also hire a professional SEO company to help you.
SEO is also great if you own a local business like a dentistry clinic or a restaurant. With these, can create a Google My Business Account and optimize your listing to appear in local search results.
3. Try Social Media Marketing
One of the most helpful pieces of digital marketing advice is to get your company on one to three social media platforms.
Some of the top benefits of social media marketing include:
- Building brand awareness
- Interacting with your customers
- Generating leads
- Connecting with a new audience
- Advertising promotions and new products
Social media can also build familiarity with your audience. It does this through content like behind-the-scenes videos and posts showcasing your brand philosophy.
The most common social media platforms for businesses are Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
To decide, think about what kind of content you’d like to post. Twitter is great for short, text-based posts, while Instagram is great for visuals and short videos.
You can also think about which social media platforms your target audience uses or what new audiences you’d like to reach online.
4. Add a Blog to Your Site
For most businesses, blogs are an essential component of an effective digital marketing strategy.
Blogs have two important functions on your site. First, by using keywords that are easy to rank for, you can direct new leads to your site without having to spend money on expensive ad campaigns.
Second, a blog is a great way to establish yourself as an authority in your niche while building trust with your audience.
For example, let’s say you are a local landscaper. You could write blog posts about how to maintain your lawn throughout the seasons or discuss weed control.
You’ll build trust with your audience by giving them helpful solutions to their problems while showing your expertise.
For best results, include a call to action at the bottom of each blog so customers can access your services.
5. Incorporate Video Content
Any updated guide to digital marketing will tell you that video is an essential component of your strategy.
84% of people say they’re convinced to buy a company’s product or service after watching a brand video.
There are a few different types of videos you can create. These include product videos, customer testimonials, and explainer videos.
For example, let’s say you recently launched a new product. You can post a short video on your social media pages showing the different ways customers can use the product.
You can also create live videos on platforms like Facebook and Instagram to show your audience what your business is all about.
6. Grow Your Email List
One of the crucial parts of any digital marketing campaign is creating an email list. Email marketing is a great way to keep your customers in the loop while also growing your brand.
To get started, you’ll need to grow your email list. You can do this by offering a freebie or discount in exchange for an email address, or you can run a contest.
Once you have a list of subscribers, you can start sending them regular updates about your business, new products, and helpful tips.
7. Launch an Ad Campaign
If you want to reach a larger audience, consider creating an ad campaign.
There are a few different types of digital ads you can use, like display ads, search ads, and social media ads.
Display ads are typically banner ads that show up on websites.
Search ads are the sponsored results that show up when you search for something on Google (this is also called PPC).
Finally, social media ads show up on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also pay influencers to do sponsored posts on your company’s behalf.
Ad campaigns can be expensive, so it’s important to set a budget and track your results to see if they’re worth the cost.
Which of These Digital Marketing Tips Will You Try?
Digital marketing is a necessary component for any business looking to reach new customers and grow its brand.
And while changing your small business digital marketing strategy is overwhelming, the key is to take it one step at a time. Try out one or two digital marketing tips and evaluate the results before you move on to a different strategy.
For even more helpful tips and tricks, be sure to bookmark us and check out the rest of our site today!
