These four pointers will help you lay the foundation for an efficient digital marketing strategy.
According to the latest poll statistics, there are more than 27.9 million small businesses operating nationwide. Which produces nearly half of the private-sector employment. The census data also showed that small firms accounted for 64 percent of net new job growth between 1993 and 2011. It’s clear from these figures that small businesses are the motor powering the American economy.
Today digital marketing works as a levelling force for small businesses around the world. When executed properly, the right campaign can put even the smallest business in front of the right customers at precisely the right time. Now small businesses can compete directly with larger firms, so long as they offer a quality service at a reasonable price.
How do small business owners lay the foundation for an effective digital marketing strategy?
Start with the fundamentals
The desire to do it yourself is in the spirit of most small business owners, and when it comes to creating digital presence, many of the basics can be handled without having to hire a firm. With that in thought, here are the first four items you should start with to get your digital marketing campaigns off the ground.
1. Maintain your business listings
Several online service providers like Google, Bing, and Yelp offer free listings business owners can claim. Begin by going to these pages and updating your business’s name, address, phone number, and other vital information. The more listings you have, the more likely you’ll be noticed when someone searches online.
2. Blog it out
Companies that have a regularly updated blog get 55% more web traffic than their competitors. It’s difficult to dispute with those numbers, right? As you’re writing your blogs, remember to limit your posts to content that is relevant to your business so that visitors will revisit your site on a consistent basis.
3. Social Media
Analysis shows that 90% of young Americans and 65% of adults are regular users of at least one social media platform. That’s a tremendous pool of potential new customers for your business. To reach them efficiently, make sure your posts are both timely and compelling for your followers. Also, resist the urge to overpromote. Social media users want to interact with brands on a personal level, try to start a dialogue with your audience.
4. Start a PPC campaign
Pay-per-click (PPC) ads put your business directly in front of potential customers as they’re searching the web. When executed correctly, these ads will raise your visibility and drive quality traffic at the simultaneously. Both Bing and Google have their own PPC platforms that anyone can access, but the process can very quickly be costly and overwhelming for less experienced users.
Once you’ve included these tasks into your regular workflow, you’ll have created a foundation that will begin to bring more customers into your business.
