As a small business owner, your top priority is running and growing your business — and there are a lot of ways you can accomplish this. With 85.8% of the U.S. population using the internet, digital marketing is one of the most efficient ways to support your business. However, it can be challenging to use digital marketing in a way that maximizes your valuable time and money.
Leverage the power of digital marketing with these five affordable tactics.
Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Google My Business, and more — all of these social media platforms are free to use and offer endless opportunities to reach new customers and interact with existing ones. Each platform has different audiences, post requirements, best writing practices, and formats. Hone your efforts by identifying the platforms your customers use most, and creating content tailored specifically to them.
While organic social media is free, building a strong presence requires an investment of your time and energy. Posting high-quality content on a consistent basis is key to driving sales. With the many demands of your business, it can be easy to put social media on the back burner — especially if you’re trying to manage multiple platforms. If you’re not sure what to post, look online for inspiration and ideas or use a social post builder.
If you don’t have enough time to manage social media content creation and scheduling, automate your efforts with a social media management tool. Use a social media scheduling platform to maintain a consistent posting schedule. Simplify the process further by using social media automation software like ThumbStopper® — a content creation and publishing tool that utilizes brand-curated content to reach customers in your local audience.
Use website forms to build your email list. There are many types of emails you can send to keep your business top of mind. If you’re a furniture store, for example, you can share valuable insights including top interior design ideas, furniture cleaning tips, or how to move furniture safely. Update subscribers with the latest company news. Send them a “Happy Birthday” email to display customer appreciation. Inform subscribers of popular product restocks or special offers and promotions. Send them reminders if they’ve left something in their shopping cart.
All of these messages are great ways to build relationships with your customers and maintain brand awareness. Many email automation platforms offer different subscription levels so that you can choose one that works with your budget.
While it may take some time to see the impact, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can boost your ranking in search results — helping you get your business in front of more people and building your authority in the digital space.
Optimize your website for local search to reach customers in your area. Set up a business listing on Google My Business and boost your ranking by keeping your profile up to date. Encourage customer reviews, and be sure to reply to them in a timely manner — whether they’re positive or constructive.
Content marketing works hand-in-hand with SEO to drive traffic to your website. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers. What problems do they commonly face? Where would they look to find a solution? Create and publish that content on your website, using your expertise to help them solve these problems.
If you’re a bicycle shop, for example, publish your best bicycle care and maintenance tips. Share your must-try local bike paths or low-traffic streets. Write a blog that addresses frequently asked questions from customers. Sharing this valuable content with your audience is a great way to keep your business top of mind, establish your expertise, and boost customer acquisition and retention.
Most digital marketing platforms provide analytics. You can find them through the platform itself or the automation software you’re using. Typically, these insights include metrics such as Reach, Engagement, Click-Through Rate, Conversions, and more. This data provides valuable insight into how your customers interact with your content and is a good indicator of how future content will perform.
Set clear goals before analyzing the performance of your content. Identify which metrics define success, and regularly measure your content’s performance against them. Each piece of content may have a different goal. Promotional content, for example, is designed to generate sales. Content about company culture is intended to build brand awareness. Both types of content are important for different reasons, and you will need to measure their success differently.
Dive into analytics for your email marketing campaigns, website content, social media posts, and more. Consider each platform an opportunity to learn about what’s most effective with your audience. Use these insights to shape your digital marketing strategy in the future.
ThumbStopper makes it easy for you to market your business. Our software is specifically designed to connect retailers with the brands they sell — helping them save time and money and maximize their social media efforts.
Contact us today to see how we can help you get the most out of your digital marketing strategy.