Whether you run a traditional brick-and-mortar store or an eCommerce business, digital marketing is essential for small business success. It offers unmatched value and attribution to local businesses looking to generate more revenue, expand their reach, and remain competitive in the marketplace. The increased reliance on the digital landscape due to the COVID19 pandemic has made digital marketing more essential, especially for small businesses competing with large corporations. This post outlines 5 digital marketing tips for small businesses looking to kick their campaigns into gear.
Get Your Website Basics Right
Website design plays a crucial role in tying together digital marketing efforts, mainly because it’s the first point of contact your target audience has with your brand. Therefore, it only makes sense that you invest in effective and user-friendly website design.
A well-executed and mobile-friendly website design should be big on delivering a great user experience. Otherwise, potential customers will get frustrated and leave if your site contains large images and flashy videos that slow load times. The same is true if your target audience can’t easily find what they are looking for.
First impressions count and as such, your branding should be consistent with other marketing materials. The logo, colors, images, font, and other branding aspects need to communicate the right message about your small business.
Search engine optimization and content marketing should be part of every digital marketing strategy. Ensure you don’t have duplicate content on multiple pages as this could affect your ranking on search engines. High-quality content on your web pages as well as fresh and updated blog content is another way to drive traffic.
If you run PPC ads that link back to your website, you understand the significance of well-designed landing pages. The landing page should have a similar look and feel to the website. Otherwise, there will be a disconnect for the potential clients.
Create and Optimize Google My Business Profile
Google My Business is a powerful marketing tool for any small business owner looking to expand their customer base. It supplements your online efforts by making it easy for prospective customers to find your business information – phone number, operating hours, address, and website.
Google My Business is highly visible on local search engine results pages and if well utilized, can help you drive organic traffic. When your Google My Business listing appears on search results pages, it speeds the process of new customers getting in touch with your business. By increasing your visibility on Google Search, Google Adwords, and Google Maps, GMB makes your brand more discoverable and this can drive sales.
Google My Business Reviews is a powerful tool that allows your business to collect online reviews and manage your online reputation. Reviews are looked at before eating at a restaurant, staying at a vacation rental or even simply shopping at a local boutique. Google My Business Reviews help build trust in your brand, increase brand recognition, drive sales, and create approachable experiences.
Don’t be afraid to utilize the GMB post for adding products, creating offers, and giving news. You can add different types of call-to-actions within GMB posts including call now, sign up, learn more, buy, book an appointment, and more.
Invest in a Social Media Marketing Strategy
Social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn allow small businesses to connect and engage with potential customers. A strong social media strategy can help you generate and nurture qualified leads, increase brand awareness, implement social listening, grow thought leadership, and more.
But how do you make social media work for your local business?
The first step is determining what social media platform works best for your brand. For instance, Pinterest and Instagram rely on photos and videos for conversation. TikTok is perfect if you’re targeting the younger demographic (18-24 years). The ideal choice of social media channels will depend on your marketing goals and your ideal customer – their age, gender, income, education services, platforms they use to engage with the online world, and interests outside of the product or service you offer.
Your social media posts need to be consistent, tailored to your target audience, and focused. Take time to respond to customer comments and direct messages. This will help retain existing customers as well as attract new ones.
Other ways to ramp up your social strategy include;
- Running social media contests
- Investing in online ads and promotional content
- Leveraging video marketing and mind-blowing images
- Following the trends
- Starting a Facebook group
Leverage Email Marketing
Email marketing is an integral part of most digital marketing strategies and while not easy, it can help small businesses generate more revenue over time. The main point of sending emails is to drive qualified leads, so be sure to include a focused call-to-action. Use one primary CTA in favor of multiple ones, and place it strategically throughout the email.
Marketing emails open the door to having meaningful conversations with potential customers, so don’t be afraid to encourage your subscribers to reply. You can achieve this back and forth with clients by using enticing subject lines, distinctive and entertaining voice, and target content that resonates with your readers.
Personalization is key to a successful email marketing strategy. Address your readers by name and craft emails that address their needs and interests. You can also add a personal touch by customizing the subject lines, segmenting your email list by client behavior, and mixing and matching the content by customer location.
Last but not least, consider investing in an email marketing tool. It will help automate most processes such as setting a new subscriber sequence, personalization, and more. It will also help keep track of your campaigns.
Partner With Local Influencers
Influencer marketing has grown to become one of the hottest small business trends over the last decade and can work wonders for your marketing plan. You can leverage local influencers to boost your online marketing efforts in various ways. For instance, small business owners can use influencer marketing to promote an eCommerce or brick-and-mortar store. You can provide specific links or create a code that influencers will use when they promote your products.
User-generated content that you can share on your social media channels can help build trust and attract customers. You can also achieve the same goal by asking influencers to provide testimonials and work with you on promotional campaigns, where they get a percentage of every sale made through their discount code.
Need a Digital Marketing Strategy? Let Brand Water Media Help
Building an effective digital strategy requires time and meticulous planning. And while the above digital marketing tips for small businesses have been proven to work, there are many aspects of digital marketing. Things can quickly get confusing and overwhelming for small businesses in Tampa, FL. This is where Brand Water Media comes in.
We are a digital marketing agency with a team of professionals that understands all things digital marketing. From keyword research and paid ads to website optimization and SEO strategy, we understand what it takes to build a digital presence and promote your business online. Call us at 813-777-9412 to learn how our digital marketing services in Tampa, FL can grow your online visibility and generate more leads for your business.
