No longer can small businesses ignore the power of online marketing. In fact, you actually need the internet to grow your business. Big multi-national companies have taken to the internet like ducks to water and have seen a massive growth in their customer base and in their profits.
Just because you are a small business does not mean that you can’t learn from these large companies and use the same strategies to push your business forward. So let’s look at some of the easy steps you can take to get your business online and start to see some much needed growth.
You need a website
If you don’t already have a website, this is the very first step in your new online marketing strategy. It is always best to speak to a professional web developer who can give you a custom designed website that is perfect for your business.
Website content
Your content must be crafted to provide your visitors with all of the information they need to convert – whether that is to buy, make an appointment or call you on the phone. If you are concerned about your writing skills, then it is best to contact a copywriter who can give you professionally written content.
Press releases
These are one of the easiest ways to promote both your physical and your online business. There are plenty of news distribution services online and you can send out a press release for a new website, product launch, special events and other news.
Local keywords
This is the best way to beat the big multi-nationals, by using low competition local keywords. Large companies who are not located in your area might try to use these local keywords, but if someone in your suburb wants your services, they will be looking for a local service provider, not someone overseas or on the other side of the country. Make sure you have a well setup and optimised Google My Business listing to get you appearing on the map for those local keyword searches.
Social media
You can’t hope to market your online business successfully without using social media. The best strategy is to pick one platform that your customers frequent and start posting regularly. Many small businesses find that a Facebook page and a Twitter account are the best platforms for their customers, but you might find that LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram or Pinterest are best for your products or services.
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
There is no point in creating a website if no-one finds it. To receive free traffic for your website from the search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing etc.,) you need to optimise your website for the search engines using SEO. You can learn all about SEO yourself, but as with all skills, it takes time to become experienced, so it is best to talk to a professional.
E-newsletters
These are one of the easiest strategies for marketing your business online. Simply ask your customers or website visitors to sign up for your weekly or monthly e-newsletter and then you can send them informative and promotions on a regular interval. Anyone who signs up for your newsletter will already be interested in your products and as you know, it is easier to sell to an existing customer than to someone new.
For assistance with online marketing, call us on 02 8097 7957 or complete our online enquiry form.