It’s probably no surprise to you that owning and operating a small business has significant hurdles. It takes a lot of effort to run your business on a daily basis, leaving you with little to no time to concentrate on marketing.
But marketing has evolved. And that’s a scary thing to a lot of business owners.
Fortunately, digital marketing is becoming more accessible for businesses of all types and sizes and is an extremely effective tool to attract new customers and expand your business.
And… The right digital marketing can give your small business a competitive edge.
So read on! We are going to cover some of the reasons why digital marketing is so useful for small businesses, as well as some pointers to get you started.
The Advantages of Digital Marketing for Local Businesses
It’s a common misconception that you need to be a big business with an even bigger budget to market your business online. But that is simply not true. In fact, it’s not even close. There are hundreds of ways for small businesses to market themselves online without spending a lot of money.
If you run a small business, digital marketing is the ideal tool because:
It’s Effective
Gone are the days where your only advertising options were Broadcast TV, Radio or Print, casting a wide net over a vast area and hoping it reaches enough of your audience. With targeted digital marketing, you can reach the people who match your ideal customer, stay in touch with current customers, and be found by people who are actively looking for your products or services online.
It’s Measurable
The fact that digital marketing is measurable adds to its incredible efficiency. You can analyze your website’s data using free analytics tools that help you identify what’s working (and what’s not working). This allows you to make more informed decisions when optimizing your campaigns and adjusting your strategy to focus on the channels that generate the most revenue.
It’s Scalable
Many traditional methods of marketing typically require a large financial investment, which puts you at risk of holding the bag if your strategy fails. With digital marketing, you have a variety of options for promoting your business at a cost that works for you.
You can test out a variety of strategies that won’t break the bank to see which ones are successful. When you have found something that’s working for you, you can gradually raise the amount you are spending. That’s what us marketing folks refer to as “scaling.”
It Never Stops Working
Your business should promote itself online even after regular business hours. With a good digital strategy, you can reach potential customers no matter where, or when they search for your business online.
It’s Ideal for Local Businesses
When you’re looking for a new restaurant that just opened, or local retail store you’ve never been to… You probably turn to Google right? And guess what? Your customers do this exact same thing! Having a solid internet presence will ensure that potential customers find you rather than your competitors!
How To Develop a Digital Marketing Plan for Your Business
What steps can you take to improve your company’s online presence?
An effective digital marketing strategy should be made up of many different elements. To discover the right formula for your business it’s smart to experiment with a number of platforms.
A Quality Website
It doesn’t matter what kind of business you run or what digital marketing tactics you use; you need a high-quality website. This website represents the face of your company, and it serves as the foundation for almost all your digital marketing efforts.
Search Engine Optimization
By optimizing your website for search engines, you can boost your website’s position in relevant search results and make it easier for prospective customers to find your business online. Effective SEO requires time and effort to work, so having a solid strategy in place helps.
Digital Advertising
You can convey the right message with the right people at the right time by leveraging ad platforms like Google Ads, as well as Facebook and Instagram Ads. Paying per Click is a fast way to drive customers traffic to your website, but it can be a really expensive learning curve if you don’t know what you’re doing. Hiring a Ads Manager is an ideal way to get your business started off on the right foot.
Social Media Marketing
Promoting on social media can help you connect with your target audience and keep them engaged with your brand over time. By having a presence on key social media sites, you can share compelling content with your audience and build relationships with potential customers that could be interested in what your business has to offer.
Wrapping up…
Digital marketing offers small business owners numerous options to attract new clients and grow their businesses. However, it’s crucial to start by creating a strategy based on your objectives and budget before you invest in digital marketing for your business. Your strategy will serve as a road map to guide your numerous marketing endeavors and keep you on track.
Connect with us for a free digital marketing action plan if you’d like to learn more about how digital marketing can grow your business but you’re not sure where to begin. Our team will examine your current web presence and give you honest advice on what steps you should take to reach your online goals.
LocalWerx is the engine behind all your marketing efforts including email, social media, sales funnels, appointment booking, customer communication and more!
Let us help you get set-up quickly to better attract customers, and develop long-term relationships that ensure consistent, ongoing sales and business growth. Schedule a free consultation today.