Are you running a small business and keen to take advantage of digital marketing? We outline the 5 key elements that can help you boost your business online.
Digital marketing is a must for most businesses these days, and small businesses have a lot to gain from getting to grips with this powerful, multifaceted tool. One of the advantages of digital marketing is that it doesn’t have to cost the earth – in fact, you can achieve a lot pretty much for free, for example by writing great blog posts that are search engine optimised, or by building a strong presence on social media which enables you to really engage and connect with your clients. Digital marketing might seem a big topic, but it can be broken down into bite sized pieces. Here’s our guide to some of the key things you need to do to get it right.
- Know your audience
Don’t assume that you’re going to be selling to everyone: most small businesses have specific groups of customers defined by a variety of factors including geographical location, age, income and interests. See our blog post on customer profiling to learn more about how to understand and define your audience.
- Emphasise what you have to offer
You need to be able to tell your potential customers what makes you special and different – so work out what your specific value proposition is. This will enable you to make sure you’re sending out the right message – one that is persuasive and appealing to your target audience. To define your value proposition, consider what your customer’s problem is and how you or your product can help to solve this. What benefits can you offer?
- Have a great website
Your website lies at the heart of your online presence: this can act as your shop window so it’s important to make sure it looks professional. It’s also wise to include a blog section that’s regularly updated, using SEO keywords: this will help you make sure your website performs well in online searches. This post will give you some useful tips.
- Have a social media presence
There’s no need to spread yourself too thin – so don’t feel you have to be everywhere; just make sure you have a strong social media presence on the platforms where your customers spend most of their time. Post regularly and be sure to interact with your audience, as well as giving them opportunities to visit your website – for example, for special offers.
- Invest in ads
Building your social media presence and having a great website will get you some of the way, but it’s important to invest in advertising too. Options social media ads and pay per click ads, which include search ads, display ads, and shopping ads.
Want help? We’re experts at all aspects of digital marketing. Get in touch today to fine out more.
