Once you have gained knowledge on how to establish a business, the next step is to advertise it. By marketing your small business, you are creating awareness about the exceptional products you offer. If you neglect promoting it, your chances of generating online profits in the near future become minimal.
Your customer is being constantly distracted. The exorbitant cost of advertising is influenced by large brands with huge marketing budgets. The situation becomes even more challenging for small businesses as social media platforms frequently alter their algorithms, making it even more difficult to reach the audience they have cultivated.
There is not just negativity and sadness. It is possible to distinguish yourself even in the most crowded places. It simply requires some additional innovative thinking. This guide presents inventive marketing ideas we have observed from independent brands that can be replicated at either no cost or very little cost.
1. Host a social media competition
It would not be an overstatement to say that social media platforms are excessively crowded. By 2022, approximately 92% of companies will employ platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to connect with their desired audience. When considering the additional factor that Facebook only displays posts to a mere 5.2% of a page’s followers, it becomes clear why utilizing social media as a marketing strategy for a small business is a tedious endeavor.
Increase the variety in your social media marketing approach by organizing a contest. Research demonstrates that individuals have a strong preference for complimentary items. Consequently, offer something for free, like a collection of products or a journey to your headquarters, in return for increased participation on social media. Encourage your followers to like, comment, share, and tag a friend in the post about the giveaway to enhance its visibility.
For instance, Loca Foods organized an Instagram contest in which dips and desserts were given away. To participate, followers had to like the post, follow Loca Foods’ Instagram profile, and tag a friend. Bonus entries were available if followers shared the post on their own story.
Although attractive social media competitions provide expensive products as prizes, there is no need for the marketing expenditure associated with hosting a giveaway to be excessive. The prize can be as inexpensive or costly as desired.
You can also consider collaborating with well-known influencers who have a similar target audience as your brand.
When you partner with influencers, you can leverage their dedicated following, trust, recommendations, and opinions to reach that audience. By collaborating with influencers, they can produce genuine and captivating content that highlights your brand, resulting in boosted brand awareness, engagement, and ultimately, sales.
2. Share user-generated content on social media
Using user-generated content (UGC) is another effective method to market your small business using social media. This approach is favored by 79% of shoppers as it significantly influences their purchasing decisions, possibly due to its unbiased nature compared to branded content. This way, customers can witness someone similar to them expressing their satisfaction with the product.
Encourage current customers to share photos, videos, and testimonials of them using your products by providing incentives. Conduct regular scans of your brand name or hashtag to discover unsolicited social media posts shared by individuals.
The objective is to create a collection of excellent user-generated content (UGC) that persuades undecided social media followers to make a purchase. Andie Swim, for example, achieved this by sharing a TikTok video made by one of its previous customers on their Instagram page.
3. Produce video tutorials
When it comes to the use of social media, video marketing is highly dominant across several platforms. A prime example of this can be seen in the success of TikTok. The popularity of its one-minute videos was so immense that Instagram, which was originally known as a platform for sharing photos, decided to create its own version called Reels.
One way to market your own business on social media is by utilizing a free video app to create content.
- Reviews from happy customers
- Behind-the-scenes of running your business
- Video tutorials that show how to use your product
- Livestreams co-hosted with influencers in your space
4. Jump on trending topics
Consider this: trends are the driving force behind social media. Take TikTok for example, which is acknowledged for its ability to make songs become immensely popular; when a dancing trend arises, artists witness a surge in streaming numbers. Individuals flock to post videos of themselves dancing to the very same song.
How can you discover trending topics before your small business’ social media content becomes indistinguishable from others joining in on trends? Identify them before others do by:
- Asking your customers
- Reading discussions happening in forums
- Running a competitive analysis
- Celebrating annual events
5. Partner with other small businesses
If you have no budget for marketing, a great idea is to collaborate with other small businesses whose target market is similar to yours, as long as the products you sell do not compete with theirs.
Consider collaborating with another small business owner who sells handmade vases for a co-marketing campaign that leverages both of your audiences. This collaborative effort can be beneficial for your online store, which specializes in selling handmade crockery.
- Co-hosting a webinar
- Giving discounts to each other’s email list
- Shouting each other out on social media
- Becoming a guest on each other’s podcasts
- Going halves on fees to host a pop-up shop
Co-marketing has the advantage of not only aiding other small business owners, but also providing access to an established audience without any cost, unlike influencer marketing where many influencers demand payment to promote sponsored content.
6. Research your competitors
If you wish to differentiate yourself from your competitors, a good starting point is to familiarize yourself with their brands and the products or services they provide. This advice is particularly valuable for startups that are new to the market and still establishing themselves.
If you are a local business, it is important to demonstrate added value in your specific market, providing your customers with something that your competitors do not offer. By carefully examining a competitor’s business model, you can identify certain aspects missing from their service that you may be able to take advantage of.
By comprehending your competitors’ actions, you can subsequently customize specific aspects of your digital marketing strategy to capitalize on their limitations. A suitable method for conducting competitor analysis is through online platforms, wherein you evaluate their advertising methods, website, social media involvement, and customer feedback.
7. Speak to customers and understand your audience
Arguably, few digital marketing tips for small businesses are as important as this. It is absolutely essential to communicate with both existing and potential customers in order to obtain comprehensive knowledge about your target audience. This knowledge encompasses their identity, preferences, expectations, desired content, and various other aspects.
You may believe that you already possess a solid comprehension of your target audience. However, exploring their behaviors and opinions in greater detail will contribute to the establishment of enduring connections and enhance your customer retention. As a small business, it is crucial to have an extensive understanding of your local target audience, enabling you to persuade them to purchase your products and promote them. Note: Rewritten sentence may have slightly different word choices, but the meaning remains the same.
If you want, you have the option to tailor your research methods towards a specific theme or area of your business in order to get to know your audience better through interviews, surveys, and customer feedback.
When considering different online platforms, keep in mind that they will appeal to different customer bases. To illustrate, if you post a survey on social media, you are likely to engage with individuals different from those you would reach through email. Consequently, it is essential to strategize your approach and determine which segments of your audience you intend to focus on.
8. Create interesting content
When it comes to digital marketing tools, the content you create – whether in the form of blog posts or videos – is highly valuable. By producing inventive and captivating content, you can increase your online visibility and broaden your audience reach. Content is not only beneficial for your website, but it also serves as excellent material for sharing on social media platforms, particularly videos.
Having blog content not only helps you establish a connection between your brand and its customers, but it also enables you to promote your business in a more interactive way. Additionally, in terms of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), blog content assists in naturally targeting keywords and enhancing your Google ranking.
No digital marketing strategy is complete without digital marketing tips and tricks like this. These tips and tricks will help distinguish you from your competitors and allow you to add your own unique touch to your brand’s marketing approach in a progressively competitive world.
9. Optimize your website for mobile users
Many of us are so attached to our mobile phones that we constantly gaze at our screens and depend on them for basic daily tasks.
When it comes to browsing websites online, we are now more likely to choose the convenience of using our smartphones rather than opening a laptop. The fact that 6.92 billion people (86.29% of the world’s population) use smartphones emphasizes the importance of ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly.
In order to succeed, it is imperative that your website is user-friendly and easily navigable on mobile devices. Additionally, it is crucial to incorporate new technologies and innovations to fully utilize the available smartphone tools. This is particularly critical if your target audience is younger, as a lack of mobile functionality will result in immediate failure for your business.
10. Get in touch with local influencers
In conclusion, our compilation of digital marketing tips for small businesses ends with a highly effective marketing tool that is readily accessible to companies aiming to thrive in the present digital era. Engaging with influencers is an excellent method to gain recognition for your small business and amplify publicity.
Influencer Marketing Hub has provided enlightening statistics from a recent report that shed light on the growth in influencer marketing.
- Influencer marketing grew to $16.4 billion in 2022
- Businesses are making $5.2 ROI for every $1 spent on influencer marketing
- 67% of brands use Instagram for influencer marketing.
To ensure the success of this strategy, it is important to consider the suitability of influencers not only for your business, but also for your target audience. Finding an influential person who is not only recognized by your audience but also genuinely enthusiastic about your brand and its values can be a difficult task.
By engaging in giveaways and discounts or forming partnerships with influencers, your business’s online visibility will certainly be enhanced and generate conversations.
