Today’s business climate is more competitive than ever, and you need to think outside the box to get noticed by potential customers. In today’s digital age, marketing has changed dramatically from just a few years ago, and the old-fashioned method of door-to-door sales isn’t as effective as it used to be. That’s why you need an effective digital marketing strategy that promotes your business online.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve already been in business for years, it’s essential to learn how to market your small business online. A strong digital marketing campaign can give your brand exposure and credibility, leading to increased sales and ultimately allowing you to expand into new markets around the world. Below are seven strategies that will help you reach global customers and grow your small business around the world.
1) Local Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Local SEO is all about letting your target audience know that you’re in their neighborhood. If people are searching for businesses like yours on search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing, your business should be among them. Your goal is to rank highly on local search results so that potential customers find you as they start looking around for someone who can solve their problems.
Having a business website with its own domain name is a must if you want to be found in your local area. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an important aspect of digital marketing that can not be ignored. Your company needs to have its own website address rather than using generic addresses such as Bing or Google. This makes it easier for customers and leads them to find your company when searching online by location.
2) Paid Advertising (Facebook, Google Adwords etc.)
If you have a limited budget, start your digital marketing efforts with paid advertising. It’s a quick and easy way to reach more people while testing which type of messaging performs best. If you start with Facebook ads, be sure to include a strong call to action. Don’t stop there though, research other channels such as Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter ads and consider running test campaigns for each platform in order to see what works best for your business. For example; if you own an online clothing store try running separate ads for Instagram followers vs. Twitter followers.
3) Social Media Marketing
This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s not. Social media is how people engage online these days and businesses can’t afford to miss out on an opportunity like that. It’s not just enough to set up your company profile on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, though. You need a comprehensive strategy that connects with potential customers at every step of their buying process—from branding campaigns all the way through upselling techniques. The 7 most important elements of social media marketing include:
- 1) Posting Regularly
- 2) Participating in User Discussion
- 3) Influencer Outreach
- 4) Building Credibility
- 5) Video Advertising
- 6) Creating Customer Loyalty Programs
- 7) Engaging With Communities Outside Your Own Audience/Brand.
4) Video Marketing
It’s easy for your content to get lost on social media, or fall off users’ radars because they only read a headline and skip ahead. Videos are extremely visual, which makes them better at attracting attention and boosting engagement. In fact, 74% of consumers say that video improves their trust in a brand. A survey by Adobe also found that 92% of people are more likely to buy from a website after watching an explainer video on it. While you don’t need expensive equipment, you do need a clear script and plan for where your video will live online—and how you’ll share it with customers.
5) Mobile Friendly Website
According to Google, 60% of all searches occur on mobile devices, and that percentage is only growing. If your website is not responsive (mobile-friendly), you will be losing search traffic every day as more people browse via their phones and tablets. Additionally, Google gives a slight ranking boost to websites that are mobile-friendly – meaning they’re quicker and easier for users to read – so making sure your site fits on small screens is also a good way to get a competitive edge over your competitors. In short: if you want your business to grow online, you need a mobile-friendly website. There are tons of services out there that can create one for you quickly; it will pay for itself many times over just in increased web traffic alone.
6) Email Marketing Services
Market your business online through email marketing. Create email campaigns using a professional email service such as MailChimp or Constant Contact and make use of their templates and drag-and-drop interface for creating well-designed emails. Use media elements like video, images, audio, pop-ups, and hyperlinks within your emails to encourage subscribers to buy your products or subscribe to future updates from you. You can also implement autoresponders into your marketing campaigns; these are timed messages sent at specific times automatically without you needing to manually send them out. This is especially useful when it comes to nurturing leads during their sales cycle; these automated messages will keep reminding them about what they need to do next in order for you to make a sale.
7) Outreach and Relevant Communities
At any point in time, there are tons of conversations going on in various places around digital marketing. No one can follow them all or even many of them, but it’s a good idea to make an effort to keep up with these conversations and join in on them when relevant. One way is by engaging with your audience using social media—whether that’s asking questions, having discussions, or replying to comments. However you go about it, don’t ignore these opportunities and ensure that your business is being seen as active and engaged.
Conclusion
The World Wide Web provides endless opportunities for businesses large and small. However, tapping into those opportunities and growing your business globally takes more than a website and some free social media accounts. There are specific strategies you can use to reach new markets overseas that deliver results for your brand. These 7 digital marketing strategies are simple steps you can take today to grow your small business online, across borders, and beyond.
About the author:
topseobrands.com is a leading digital marketplace leader and a popular independent authority on SEO vendors. The company is growing day by day in terms of listing research conducted and authenticated reviews based on the latest business trends. The Top SEO Brands main aim is to identify as well as rank those firms or individuals offering the best digital marketing services throughout the world.
