Why is digital marketing important for small businesses?
You may have wondered why digital marketing is essential for small businesses. After all, with a storefront, you assume customers will come to you and purchase from you. This may have been the old business model, but today’s small business owners must leverage digital marketing to use free or low-cost online tools to drive traffic to their company.
Small businesses should invest in digital marketing because it’s low-cost and accessible. Digital marketing offers a variety of tools that allow small business owners to communicate with their customers and potential clients, offer special deals, and track their results in real time, allowing them to change their advertising strategies quickly. As a businessperson, it’s okay to abandon marketing techniques. Digital marketing can be a great complement to traditional marketing techniques. It will often outperform traditional methods.
You wear many hats in your small business, and it can be challenging to learn the intricacies of digital marketing. This is a crucial part of running a successful business. If you need to know where to begin, digital marketing can seem overwhelming. I have compiled a list of seven tips to help you get started and increase your business revenue.
Create a mobile-friendly website
With over 6.6 billion smartphone users worldwide and their continuing growth, you need a mobile-friendly website. You may miss out on customers who use their mobile devices to search the internet and find businesses similar to yours if you need a mobile-friendly website.
Mobile users often are in a hurry and will move on from a website if it is difficult to find what they want. A mobile-friendly site can also help increase click-through rates (CTRs), as users need only one tap rather than two clicks on a smartphone when browsing versus a desktop computer. This makes it easier for visitors who land on your website through Google or other search engine listings.
It is easy to test if your website is mobile-friendly using various tools. You can use the Google Mobile-Friendly test to check if your website is mobile-friendly. Enter the URL, and the device will let you know how responsive it is.
Local Search Optimization
The next step to optimizing your digital strategy is listing your business in local directories such as Google, Yelp, and others. You must ensure that all information (addresses, phone numbers, and hours of operation) is accurate.
When searching online for small businesses, customers love to see a physical address. If you have a store or office, ensure it’s prominently displayed in Google Maps and other places where people search for similar businesses.
Local directories are another great way to promote your business. There are many, such as Yelp and Angie’s List. It’s essential to list your business on these sites to appear when people search for “best day spa near me” or the “best dentist in Riverside.”
Use Email Marketing to Drive Sales
Email marketing remains one of small businesses’ most cost-effective and practical digital marketing channels. Email marketing is a great tool to build customer relationships, increase trust and boost sales.
Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your customers. Sending emails relevant to your customers’ interests and not spamming them increases the likelihood that they will read it (and learn) rather than delete it because they are tired of constant advertising in their email inboxes.
Create an online presence with social media
If you are a small-business owner, Social Media will likely be one of the best digital marketing tools to reach new customers. You can create an account for free on any central platform, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. There are many ways to use these channels to engage customers and promote your business.
You can also connect with businesses in your field via social media. It might be a good idea to collaborate on content or advertising campaigns if they have similar goals as you (like increasing traffic). You can share audiences and gain more followers, leading to more customers.
Focus on customer experience and engagement on social media
Listening to and responding promptly to your customers is fundamental to improving the customer experience. This should be reflected in your social media presence, and you should allow your customers to interact with your team or yourself.
Amazon reviews are a great example. Amazon reviews are a great way to let someone know if they have a problem with a purchase. If there’s an error, sellers will respond with information or apologize if it was their fault (for example, if the seller sent the wrong item). Apple is also known to respond quickly when customers ask questions about the products and services available through Apple Stores worldwide.
It is essential to understand that if you use a digital strategy to listen to your customers on social media, you can respond to their concerns quickly and in real time.
Influencer marketing is a great way to engage in influencer marketing
Influencer marketing involves partnering with influencers to promote your brand online or offline. This is an excellent way for small businesses to gain credibility while reaching new customers. However, it can be challenging for those with a track record or a limited budget.
Establish a social media presence like Facebook or Twitter to get started in influencer marketing. This strategy will only work if you have people following those channels. Find influencers in your niche, and comment on their posts. You can also ask them what they think about your industry. Ask the influencer if they are interested in working together on a project related to their interests. It’s usually what they do on their social media channels.
Let’s say, for example, you run a day-spa business and want to grow your clientele. You have an established social media presence and want to work with an influencer to develop your following and bring in new business. It would help if you looked for an influencer who regularly posts about health and wellness, meditation, and mindfulness. A word of caution, however: Influencers with thousands of followers can cost more than smaller (micro-)influencers. As your business grows, starting with micro-influencers before moving to the major influencers is best.
