Is your business struggling to attract new customers? If so, there’s a decent chance you aren’t using your marketing budget effectively.
According to Gartner, digital marketing now accounts for 72% of companies’ marketing budgets. Digital marketing involves all online marketing efforts, but it can include local marketing methods as well.
Regardless of which type of business you run, digital marketing should be a big part of your marketing strategy. Here are 12 simple digital marketing tips that will help you put your brand out there!
1. Optimize for Mobile
These days, most consumers use phones and tablets to browse and make purchases. As such, it’s a good idea to ensure your website displays well on mobile devices. This is particularly important for e-commerce businesses.
If you’re yet to design your website, start with a mobile-friendly template. Website builders like Wix and Squarespace offer plenty of options in this regard. For e-commerce businesses, Shopify is another solid choice.
2. Create a Business Profile
One free and useful digital marketing strategy is to create a business profile on Google. Doing so improves your Google Maps rankings and gives customers easy access to information like address and store hours.
Since making a business profile is so simple, there’s no reason to rely on Google alone. Other search networks like Bing and Yahoo also offer this option, as do platforms like Yelp and BBB.
3. Know Your Target Audience
Your target audience consists of people likely to buy your services and products. Every target audience has several subgroups. Learning more about them allows you to customize the strategies you use to engage them.
For instance, let’s say you own a coffee shop. How do you advertise your special blends to customers outside your local area? Chances are, the strategy you use will be different than the one for walk-in customers.
4. Use the Right Social Media Platforms
Social media marketing can be a big part of a digital marketing campaign. That said, this is only true if you focus on the right platforms. Spreading yourself too thin will likely result in a lot of wasted effort.
If you have an online boutique, for example, use platforms that emphasize images. Instagram is an obvious match. By focusing your energy there, you’ll also be able to respond to customer interactions more quickly.
5. Build an Email List
If you want to use email marketing, the first thing you’ll need is a contact list. The easiest way to do that is to use CRM software to collect information about your contacts. They can be both existing and potential customers.
Once you have a contact list, use it to share information about your business. This includes special offers, newsletters, and announcements. Make sure to personalize your emails by adding the contact’s name!
6. Consider Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a recent form of social media marketing. Influencers have a sizable audience and can affect their buying decisions. Getting their endorsement can have a big impact on your bottom line.
Small businesses tend to have particular success with nano-influencers. They have a smaller audience but often have a stronger connection with them. Plus, they usually charge less than influencers with higher follower counts.
7. Invest in Digital Ads
If you can afford to place digital ads on Google, do it. Digital ads allow you to target a specific audience by choosing the right keywords. This is a great way to market to people in your local area or a niche market.
Many ad platforms give you access to retargeting tools. They allow you to show ads to people who have already interacted with your business. You can also show them to everyone on your contact list!
8. Encourage Online Reviews
Customer reviews can do a lot to strengthen your business’s reputation. They can also help you build rapport with your existing customers. Try encouraging customers to leave reviews via email and website links.
If you get negative feedback, work on addressing it as swiftly as you can. Bad reviews can be an essential part of improving your services and products. Meeting them head-on shows customers that you always aim to improve.
9. Don’t Go Over Your Marketing Budget
Though marketing is key to attracting customers, not every business can devote a lot of money to it. This is why you need to create and follow a marketing budget that will help you allocate funds effectively.
Most of your budget should go toward establishing your online presence. This includes optimizing your website, setting up social media, and making an email list. From there, you can branch out into other tactics.
10. Respond to Online Feedback
Nothing says “we want you here” quite like solid customer service. A good way to start is to make an effort to respond to feedback. Create a contact page and respond promptly to any questions or requests you get.
Another thing you can do is invest in a chatbot service. Chatbots offer 24/7 customer support and can answer all frequently asked questions. Of course, they aren’t the right fit for every business.
11. Start a Blog
Having a blog on your website is a common content marketing technique. A blog can drive sales, attract customers, and increase conversions. You can also share these articles via email and social media posts.
Of course, having a blog is just the start. For it to be of use, the articles you post must demonstrate your expertise in your niche. The more useful these posts are, the easier it will be to drive traffic to your website.
12. Adjust Strategies As Needed
When it comes to SEO for small businesses, it’s all about adjustments. Not all digital marketing strategies will work for you, and that’s fine. What’s not fine is wasting money and effort on things that don’t benefit you at all.
To avoid this problem, track and adjust your marketing efforts. For instance, if a Facebook ad campaign isn’t doing well, switch things up. Try changing the ads, picking another platform, or using another marketing method.
Follow These Digital Marketing Tips
At the end of the day, marketing is about getting the most bang for your buck. Some of the digital marketing tips we shared above will work for you and some won’t. The best way to be sure is to give them all a chance!
Think your digital marketing strategy could use a professional touch? Our marketing experts at Bipper Media agree with you! Contact us here to learn more about what we can do for your business.
Bipper Media
855 Gaines School Rd
Suite A
Athens, GA 30605
706-350-1063
