The online marketplace continues to expand, and 2017 is set up to be another banner year. This is the perfect time to make sure that you are positioned to help your business grow with online marketing. Online marketing does not require a large budget. By leveraging the right platforms and using the correct techniques, you can reach a larger audience without breaking the bank.
Here are seven tips and tricks that you can do online to help your business grow.
1. Maximize your presence on Google
Google is the modern phonebook, and through Google My Business you can control how your company appears on both Google Search and Maps. In 2015, Google created its “Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map” program to encourage local businesses to get online.
With a Google My Business account, you can post important company information such as hours of operation, address, phone number and website. And it’s incredibly simple to use. Simply visit the Google “My Business” page and follow the instructions to register your business. It’s free and it will only take minutes to register your company.
2. Focus on Social Media
Social media offers endless opportunities to grow your small businesses. The instinct is often to sign up for accounts on all of the popular platforms and manage them all simultaneously. To be the most effective, it helps to focus your efforts on the most relevant platforms.
Take some time to explore the different options and choose the one or two platforms that are most important to your customers. For instance, if most of your customers are baby boomers, make sure to have a strong presence on Facebook, since this age group prefers Facebook over other platforms.
Take every opportunity to promote what is going on with your business. Share photos. Share promotions. Share happy customers. It can really help boost your business.
3. Stay Connected
Internet connectivity is incredibly important to businesses of all sizes. The Internet provides a reliable connection to the outside world, and it offers a great opportunity for your business to interact with customers via social media, email, e-newsletters, etc. It also enables you to automate processes and create efficiencies that help streamline your business.
Check out HughesNet Business Internet to ensure you have the Internet connectivity you need. No matter where your business is located, HughesNet can be a great solution for your small business.
4. Apply for Awards
Awards can create a promotional bump for your business that will pay off down the road. Search for local awards based on what your business does. They are often awarded by the local newspaper or a national trade association.
Winning awards can help your business gain recognition in the community, as the awarding organization will likely promote the win. It will also give you something to proudly display on social media or in the storefront or office. Awards are a great way to showcase the hard work that you put into your business.
5. Publish New Content
The phrase “content is king” has become a mantra of businesses both large and small. You should create new stories and refresh your website with the most up-to-date material. Think of ways to share content that is both relevant and engaging to your community. That could be maintaining a traditional blog, uploading instructional videos, sharing fresh photos, or simply answering questions from your customers.
6. Harness Email Marketing
Reaching people through email is effective, especially if you want to get a big return on your investment. According to a recent EmailExpert article, marketers receive an average return on investment of $40.00 for every $1 spent on email marketing. Email marketing remains a cost effective way to reach a large audience.
7. Make Your Website Mobile Friendly
Consumers today expect your business to have a website that will work well on any mobile device. There are simple shortcuts to making your small businesses’ site mobile friendly.
One of the most popular tools is Duda. This website design platform can help you build a mobile version of your site in just a few minutes. It’s just a few dollars a month so it doesn’t require a huge investment. With a mobile-friendly site, you will be able to reach more customers, wherever they are.
Running a small business can be challenging, but promoting your business doesn’t have to be. Implementing these seven online tactics can streamline promotion without breaking the bank. The first step to implementing these digital marketing tactics is getting online, and HughesNet Business Internet provides a reliable, secure, connection that can take your small business to the next level!
