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Thanks to digital marketing, reaching more people doesn’t have to be THAT expensive.
With a little creativity and a good understanding of sound online marketing techniques, it’s possible for a small business to compete with big corporations with massive budgets.
It’s worth mentioning, however, that digital marketing is more than just creating a Facebook page or uploading a couple of blog posts. You need a solid strategy that can really move the needle.
The sheer scope and scale of online marketing can be quite intimidating. How do you start developing a strategy for your small business?
Here are some ideas that can get the ball rolling.
Let’s dive in.
1. Make customers love you
In today’s overcrowded marketplace, creating an emotional connection with your customers is essential in delivering satisfaction and gaining loyalty.
You have to connect with them, foster good relationships, and give them positive experiences that will make them trust your brand. They should be at the heart of your business.
Take time to know your consumers and show them that you care for something more than just getting their hard-earned money. Understand their emotions, pain points, and concerns.
Be authentic. Be transparent. Be relatable.
So where exactly do you start? Get to know your audience and what they want.
Fortunately, various online social listening tools have made it easier to get their feedback and opinions. By accessing and monitoring this valuable data, you can be more precise in addressing their concerns and issues.
One tool you can use is Mention. It’s helpful if you want to get an alert whenever you get a mention online. Because you receive the reports in real time, they are instantly actionable.
Mention can also help you compare your brand with your competitors. It has powerful analytics that can help you monitor things like reach, sentiment, and influence.
2. Provide value and strengthen your brand with a video channel
A quick scroll through your Facebook account will show you that people are interacting with videos today more than ever before.
In fact, according to BizTrendz, video traffic will account for as much as 80% of all consumer internet traffic by 2019 – that’s pretty huge.
If you’re not creating videos to promote your brand and grow your business online, then you are falling behind. You need video campaigns to ramp up your overall digital marketing strategy.
Don’t worry. You don’t need Hollywood-quality videos to get noticed. Creating videos is not as intimidating as it seems.
Authenticity matters more than production value. Viewers like it when brands keep it raw and simple but emotionally powerful.
You can start with creating a youtube channel and using your trusty smartphone to film your first video. Try making a simple explainer video or testimonial video from a satisfied customer.
This may not be perfect yet but the important thing is to get your first video out there. There’s plenty of time to improve as you create more.
3. Win more customers with your email campaigns.
While email marketing may sound like an outdated approach compared to newer channels, it’s a tried-and-true method that brings in a good return on investment (ROI).
It’s a great option for a business owner with limited resources because it is cost-effective and convenient. When done the right way, an email marketing campaign can help you create lasting relationships with your customers.
If you don’t have an email marketing strategy in place yet, it’s time to create one. You can start by building your email list.
A good email list is one of the secrets to a great campaign. Try to go for quality and quantity information to get the results you want.
With an email marketing tool like MailChimp, you can easily create more landing pages for capturing contacts.
Don’t forget to offer a good ebook selection or a chance to win free stuff to lure more people into signing up!
4. Create a buzz around your products with a referral program.
Most people are wired to tell stories and share experiences. Even if you are not exerting any marketing effort, your customers might tell their friends about your product.
In this sense, referral marketing is a natural process. All you have to do is make it more deliberate and intentional by adding incentives and tracking your results.
You can start creating a referral program by deciding on a reasonable offer that will encourage current customers to spread the word about you. Store credit or a good discount is tempting for most people.
Implement a system in place to make the referral system smooth and seamless. A referral marketing software like Growsurf can help automate the system for you and even make your referral program go viral.
Make sure to get the word out about your referral system and the incentives you have in place. Maximize social media to encourage people to share.
5. Complement your digital marketing efforts with creative offline marketing activities
Offline marketing strategies are not entirely obsolete, especially if you are marketing your business locally.
Even if you already have a good digital marketing plan, offline marketing still adds a distinct value that can boost leads and sales when executed correctly.
Don’t think of these two channels as competitors. Try to use a combination of both in your marketing mix.
Here are some suggestions that you can easily implement:
- The easiest way to catch the attention of your offline readers is to invest in better packaging. If you have an eye-catching design, your readers might help you reach more people by sharing a photo of your product on social media.
- Create branded merchandise. Don’t underestimate the power of a funny shirt or a witty bumper sticker. They can help in getting your name out there.
- Take pictures of everything from your production process to company events and upload them on social media. This humanizes your company and shows your unique company culture.
Final thoughts
It’s not easy to run a business, but you need the right marketing strategies to fuel your growth and help you thrive.
Don’t feel intimidated by these ideas. You don’t have to adopt all these strategies all in one go. As you go along, you’ll find which ones are really helpful for you.
And don’t forget, in addition to keeping up with the latest trends in digital marketing, it also important to do what you can to prevent security hacks that can compromise all your online assets.
What marketing strategies have worked for your brand? We’d love to know.
