In today’s fast-paced online world, it’s safe to say that the marketplace is more crowded than ever. Small businesses have to go to great lengths to diversity their business branding and stand out from the crowd. In fact, 72% of marketing chiefs have stated that marketing has become even more essential over the last year.
If you’re not investing in your small business marketing strategies, you’re likely to fall behind the pack. Of course, with so many different tactics available for use, it can be hard to know where to invest those marketing dollars! Let’s take a quick look at four super effective small business marketing tactics for your brand.
1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
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SEO is the cornerstone of any small business marketing strategy: if you’re not investing in it, it’s hard for you to get found online. With SEO, you’ll take a wholesale approach to optimize your website, from the backend to the frontend, according to your customers and products.
This means everything from technical updates to your code to posting keyword-rich blog posts for fresh content. Though SEO can take time, it offers great long-term ROI, and it’s even possible to do it yourself for free or for cheap if you know what you’re doing.
2. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
While you’re waiting for your initial SEO efforts to pay off in the long term, pay-per-click advertising can help you get in front of your customers fast.
You’ll have to decide where you want to advertise: Google has the lion’s share of the search market, making it your best bet, but some audiences spend more time on search engines like Bing or on social media platforms like Facebook. Do some target audience analysis before launching your campaign.
3. Connect With Your Customers
A personal touch is always appreciated—which is why it helps to connect with your customers as often as you can.
There are easy ways to do this without leaving the digital sphere. Starting an email newsletter, for example, lets you stay in touch with subscribers and even personalize your messaging according to their interests and needs. Creating a social media account where you can interact with your target audience helps boost engagement and offers avenues for natural brand promotion.
In addition, don’t forget about the power of promotion with traditional methods like offering freebies, gifts, and—of course—swag. After all, customers and potential customers who receive custom swag boxes and branded products are more likely to remember your brand and to make a future purchase!
4. Encourage Ratings and Reviews
Aside from using digital marketing to nurture current customers and leads, it’s important to create a positive online presence to attract future prospects.
Do this by encouraging reviews from customers and by responding to negative reviews in a thoughtful way. Note that you should never pay for reviews, but it doesn’t hurt to prompt customers with emails or small discounts for reviewing your services.
Get More Out Of Your Small Business Marketing Strategies
When it comes to finding the right small business marketing strategies, you can’t go wrong with the tactics above. By paying attention to your website, investing in ads, considering your customers, and maintaining a solid online presence, you’ll be better poised to rise above the pack in the long term. Start reviewing your current marketing plan today, or reach out to a local marketing expert for specific insights!
Looking for more key insights to help you make the most of your brand? Be sure to check out our other content for additional tips and tricks.
