5 Ways to Market Your Business Online
Marketing and advertising is an ever-changing industry. As new trends and medias change, so do the ways in which new businesses, existing businesses, and entrepreneurs market themselves to reach a wider audience. Although in the past print and new media marketing was a key player in gaining customers and building a profitable business, today that's changing. Even though print marketing isn't dead yet, the rate of turnover and exchange for those types of advertisements is on the decline. With the spark of online advertisers and companies, gaining a digital presence for your business is more crucial than ever. Here are 5 easy and simple steps you can take to market your business online.
1. Create a website for your business
This may seem like a no-brainer, but believe it or not, a great deal of small businesses still do not have an adequate website to bring traffic to their business. Nearly 87% of people credit websites as their sole driving force in choosing a business or service. Not having an online presence at all greatly decreases your chances of gaining new customers or holding on to the customers you have. While content is important, having well-designed site is just as imperative. In today's world, there are a dozens of companies available to help set up and manage websites. Whether you're a small business just starting out or you have a large following, working with a website design specialist and content writer to monitor your online traffic can increase your sales tenfold.
2. Utilize social media platforms
Just like creating a website, updating, managing, and marketing through a social media account can build revenue, online traffic, and customers. Start small. Don't try to jump on each social media bandwagon as they arise. Work with marketing specialists and analysts to find out which social media sites your target audience is using the most, and focus your attention there. For instance, if you sell a product that is predominantly used by families or adults, creating a Facebook page would be more beneficial to you than say a Twitter or Instagram account. Similarly, if your target audience is teenagers, young adults, or even tweens, a Twitter would be the easiest way for you to reach them. While the use of social media for advertising is still relatively new, 46% of consumers use social media, on top of business websites, to determine if they are going to make a purchase.
3. Work with digital advertising companies
This step may be a little trickier or harder to manage, especially if you are a new business owner or aren't familiar with digital marketing. However, creating an online advertising space is one of the biggest ways new businesses make money. Instead of relying solely on your website, social media platforms, or SEO to get online traffic, put your business as the forefront on ALL digital platforms. Create an advertisement that can be seen on places like Google, WordPress, or other social media platforms other than your own. Reach out to bloggers who write about your product and service to get your ad placed on their site. If you aren't familiar with digital advertising or creating ads, ask around. There are many businesses available who specialize in advertising to help with your business model.
4. Start an email marketing campaign
This may seem simple. Gain an online mailing list, create a newsletter, advertisement, blog link, etc., and send to the masses. However, studies have shown that simply sending emails to your customers isn't enough. For businesses, working with an emailing marketing firm to find out which types of emails have the best return rate is important to driving traffic to your business and, in turn, increasing sales. For many businesses, this starts with getting a specialized list of people in which to send your emails to. Rather than sending them to anyone and everyone, often resulting in junk mail or instant deletes, tailor your list to the customer audience you wish to target. Another key factor in being successful with email marketing is to have a great host platform for your business. SAAS (Software As A Service) businesses specialize in sending out your emails to customers. Services like MailChimp and Campaigner are great online tools to easily, affordably, and quickly integrate an email marketing strategy into your business plan.
5. Work with blog and article content creators
Last but certainly not least, creating a blog for your business can help make your digital marketing campaign come full circle. Even though new business owners often overlook blogging, maintaining and operating a blog can make your business appear more successful from the get-go. 81% of online users trust information written in blogs over other online media platforms. Creating content for your business, whatever your service or product may be, can let potential customers know you're an expert in your field. Creating weekly or bi-weekly blog posts can link potential customers to your website. Research some common keywords used regarding your field and create topics around them. If you're not content savvy, look for outside help. Freelance writers, content marketing companies, and sites like LinkedIn and Elance are a hub for finding quality, SEO content writers who can increase your blog traffic and sales.
