Launching and running a small business in today’s world poses a unique set of challenges. Consumers are more demanding than ever, budgets are tighter than ever, and in today’s world, time is equated to a precious commodity. For small businesses, what marketing measures can be taken to grow a business’s digital footprint, engage new clients, and build and nurture relationships?
The great news is that small businesses can establish a strong Digital Marketing presence without going over budget. By utilizing a few potent and proven strategies, even small businesses with budgetary constraints can build a significant online presence. Every business should consider exploring these five digital marketing tactical approaches.
Claim and Optimize Business Google Profile
For businesses that cater to a specific geography, Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google My Business (GMB), provides a great value. By claiming and optimizing a Google Business Profile, a business can ensure that they appear on the business map, in local searches, and in the local competitive queries like “plumbers near me.”
For success, ensure that
Your business name and profile is listed on Google with operating hours and pictures to gain visibility.
Business descriptions should be relevant and contain keywords from the industry.
Positive customer ratings should be solicited. (The more, the better).
Make it a point to address every review by thanking the customer for their feedback, or, in case of a negative review, clarifying the issue and resolving it to their satisfaction.
Engage with your audience by sharing your new offerings, posting updates, or even by announcing pending events.
A well constructed profile on Google Business keeps increasing your credibility while improving your ranking in search results. It helps attract new customers to your business or website, and all of this while being completely free.
Social Media – Choose the Right Platforms
It’s not always necessary to be on every single social media. For most small businesses, focusing on just one or two social networks is completely sufficient, as long as those two platforms are where your audience spends their time. For instance:
Local service businesses, restaurants, and retailers do exceptionally well on Facebook and Instagram
B2B companies may see more value in LinkedIn.
Visual-oriented businesses, such as those that deal with food, fashion, or crafts tend to be more active on Instagram or Pinterest.
How to get started:
• Use your business logo, a brief biography, contact details, and a website link to create a business profile.
• Diversify your content by using product photographs, customer local testimonials, and behind-the-scenes images.
• Actively participate in community engagement and address all comments and inquiries.
• Schedule and track the performance of posts for free using Facebook Creator Studio or Meta Business Suite.
Never forget that consistency beats perfection. It is far better to focus just on an active and well-maintained presence on an email platform rather to having profiles spread around the internet.
Build an Email List and Start Sending Simple Newsletters
Email marketing is one of the least expensive and most straightforward methods of retaining customers. Unlike social media platforms, emails provide a far more direct method of communication. Subscribers to your email list will always have your emails go straight to their inbox.
Guidelines to build your email list.
• Solicit customers for subscription during online and in-person checkout.
• Offer a small incentive like a discount, free resource, or an entry into a raffle for signing up.
• Use Mailchimp, Brevo, or Moosend to manage your list and create simple newsletters.
Access to email makes information sharing seamless, and businesses can inform clients of new goods and services integrated into the platform. Providing helpful tips during specific seasons can also enhance service during the designated timeframe.
Promote upcoming special offers.
• Share company updates, personal milestones, or customer milestones and community impact.
• Focus on clear communication. Friendly, clear customer communication sent every couple weeks builds loyalty and retention.
• Put more effort into energy spending on content marketing that build trust. Focus distributing helpful information. Building trust can be done through a blog. Here are additional valuable steps to build trust.
• Answering common customer questions through blog posts and video.
• Instructional videos captured on mobile phones.
• Design infographics highlighting your services or interesting facts about the industry.
Here’s why content is essential:
• Helpful, high quality content improves your ranking on Google.
• Other marketing initiatives such as social media or emails can utilize the content as well.
• Perception of the business improves. The business is seen as friendly and trustable.
• Focus on an achievable goal such as one blog and one video, building up to two posts a month. Focus on impact and relevance for the customer.
• Make the Most of Digital Ads – Even When Funds are Tight
While organic approaches can go a long way, investing a little in advertising can yield almost immediate results. Google and Facebook/ Instagram allow targeted advertising for only a handful of dollars, and in return, they can deliver immediate results.
Best of all, small businesses can reap the benefits from effective marketing.
With Google Ads, businesses can be shown when potential customers search for certain services, for example, “Plumber in Mumbai” or “Best cake shop near me.”
Think about advertising on Facebook or Instagram, but with geo and age group interest targeting.
Helped Advertisements proved to be effective for showcasing new products, or highly desired, time sensitive events, and promotions.
Tip: With the help of digital marketing and its analytics, set a low limit, analyze results, and adapt marketing strategies accordingly. Digital advertising provides detailed metrics, offering leads and clicks and detailing results to spending.
