1. Set goals and plan
You need to set some goals before you can start developing an online marketing strategy.
Your definition of success will dictate where you focus your efforts and where you spend your money.
If you want to be successful with a low budget, you will need to spend most of your time on sales. If you want your business to grow, you need to focus on generating sales, rather than just getting traffic.
What do you want to achieve with your online marketing plan in the next 3-6 months? Write it down so you have a clear goal.
Do you want to get 50 new leads? Sell $100,000 in inventory? Make it clear so you can reach your target.
2. Build an email list
You’ve probably heard this a lot: The money is in the list.
Email lists are the most effective way to market your business online, and do not require a lot of time or money to set up.
There is a free option available called MailChimp. You will not have to pay anything for your first 2,000 subscribers.
Here’s the code to embed a simple opt-in box for subscribers. building an email list should be a top priority, even if you don’t have email marketing in place yet.
3. Start blogging
The Content Marketing Institute reports that 70% of B2B businesses are planning to increase their content marketing in the next year.
Content marketing works.
In the past, small businesses didn’t have the big advertising budgets that major brands did, so they couldn’t compete. But today, that’s changed.
There’s a race for the most helpful content. You can share your expertise with others by teaching what you know. This is a great way to pass on your knowledge to others who may be interested in learning about the same topics that you are passionate about.
This is a strategy that will take a long time to see results from, but it will eventually pay off in a big way. In two years, you’ll be happy you started when you did.
4. Promote your content on Reddit
If you are familiar with Reddit, you know that it can be a great way to generate traffic to your website. However, if you are not familiar with Reddit, it can be a bit confusing to try to navigated.
To get started, sign up for a Reddit account.
You can get a special badge on Reddit by verifying your email. This badge is Reddit’s way of proving that you’re not a spammer, troll, or electronic bot.
Look for subreddits that are related to your field of work.
Click on the title.
Review the next page for details on the subreddit. . If you think the subreddit is a good fit, click on the title to go to the subreddit page.
Locate the subscribe button on the right-hand side of the subreddit by scrolling down. This will update you on posts in the community.
For the first few weeks or months, it is recommended that you visit the subreddit once a day or so. Be helpful and friendly.
Once you have built up a reputation as a helpful resource, share one of your most popular pieces of content. Make sure your content is not promotional in order to get a lot of attention.
5. List your business on Google
Your local business will not show up on Google Maps unless you register it.
The solution to this problem is to go to Google Businesses and select “Start Now.” Follow the prompts and register.
Google uses the listings when it delivers local results and the money that comes from those results is significant.
If you register your business, you will acquire dozens of new customers and improve your web presence.
6. Create a video channel
Video is the fastest-growing form of content online.
Now is the time to start working on your YouTube channel if you haven’t already.
Many small business owners are hesitant to produce videos because they believe the content must be perfect. Nothing could be further from the truth.
One of the most successful video campaigns by small businesses was led by animal trainer Catmantoo. This campaign was simple yet very effective.
7. Boost your best Facebook posts
You’ve probably experienced some frustration if you’ve ever tried to use Facebook advertising.
Facebook Ads tend to be difficult to predict. Although they are sometimes effective, they often fail to produce new customers or sales.
Failed campaigns can be expensive, costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You may not realize the money has been wasted until it’s too late.
So, what’s the solution?
Posts that have done well in the past can be boosted on Facebook to give them an extra push. You can find the Boost Post button at the bottom of your page updates.
If you’ve posted a piece of content that has a call to action, such as a link to your e-commerce store or an email sign-up page, it will be even more effective.
This post can be promoted to people outside your existing circle of fans for just $5 which would result in more traffic.
8. StumbleUpon advertising
Even the world’s best blog post might need a little help to become popular.
If you have content that you think people will want to share, you can get it started with some inexpensive advertising on StumbleUpon.
StumbleUpon allows users to access random pages on the internet, based on what they have liked in the past.
For just a few dollars, you can buy traffic from StumbleUpon.
If you content is liked by these visitors, they can show their approval by upvoting it on StumbleUpon or even sharing it with friends. This will put your content in StumbleUpon’s free recommendations pool.
If your content gets a small spark, it may go viral and be read by thousands or millions of people.
9. Start a podcast
Salesforce data shows that podcast listening is increasing among both men and women.
The bloggers who were there from the beginning and gained early traction became leaders in their industry as blogging became more popular.
You have the same opportunity with podcasting. Many small business owners wrongly believe that their podcasts, like their videos, need to be perfect.
You can get set up quickly and easily with just a basic microphone and some free audio editing software like Audacity. It is better to have a simple podcast now than a professional one in a year.
If you’re finding it difficult to come up with content, try responding to questions your customers ask on a regular basis. You can give shorter answer on future episodes, but in the beginning, be thorough Give thorough answers to each question in your first few episodes. You can give shorter answers in future episodes, but in the beginning, be thorough.
If you already have a blog, you can use it to provide content for different platforms.
10. DIY infographics
Infographics are an effective way to communicate information. They are able to condense large amounts of data into a format that is easy to understand and visually appealing. Social media can help generate backlinks and create a positive reputation of your brand on the internet.
As a small business, you have access to a lot of data that most people don’t know. This data can help you make better decisions about your business, and it can also help you find new opportunities.
You can learn helpful and interesting information about a company by taking a few minutes to look through their data.
What products see an increase in sales during specific times of the year and why does this occur?
Many companies pay design firms hundreds or even thousands of dollars to design and create images for them. But you don’t have to.
Canva’s free infographic tool is a great place to start if you’ve never made one before. Use a pre-existing template and change it to reflect the numbers you have.
11. Use numbers to tell your story
Have you ever considered using numbers to market your small business? You may be surprised to learn how effective it can be.
If your business is making certain claims, including numbers and figures can make it easier for your target audience to understand and believe those claims. Try to replace subject claims with more objective ones. For example, rather than saying “most loved in the community,” try “over 5,000 happy customers in the area.” This makes the claim more believable.
Including real data and figures in your marketing plan will help your brand feel more genuine. You can also make your elevator pitch more interesting by sharing relevant academic studies or other in-depth research.
12. Give guerrilla marketing a try!
If you’re not familiar with the term, guerrilla marketing is a low-cost marketing strategy that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Many small businesses have used guerrilla marketing successfully to get their name out there and attract new customers.
This dovetailsinto attracting newcustomers by unorthodox means that makes people ponder.
You can start your guerrilla marketing campaign with something as simple as a chalk and a sidewalk or stickers. If you want to be more creative, you can graffiti (with permits, of course!). As long as it’s creative and fun, you’ll be amazed at how beneficial some well-done guerrilla marketing can be!
You might find yourself becoming a social media sensation if you do it well.
13. Engage on social media
It is essential for any business, big or small, to have social media marketing. If you’re not using social media to its full potential, you’re missing out on a huge audience of potential customers.
We could spend all day discussing how beneficial social media is as a marketing tool, and there are dozens of social media marketing statistics that support why it’s crucial to be active online…
While it is important to have a presence on social media platforms, it is not enough. You need to do a lot of research on your target market to find out which platforms they are actually using and how to engage them effectively.
You won’t be using social media to its fullest potential unless you do your research first. This includes classic platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as newer video-friendly ones such as TikTok.
Even better, small to medium businesses don’t need to spend a lot of money on social media advertising. You will be successful on social media by writing regular posts and interacting with your followers on the platform(s) of your choice.
14. Send out email newsletters
Email marketing is one of the best ways to market a new small business. This is because it allows you to engage with people who have already expressed interest in your brand, product, or service.
Most adults in the US prefer companies to communicate with them over email, and almost all of them want to receive promotional material from the companies they do business with through email.
The statistics mentioned in the text should not be ignored, and if an email marketing strategy is not already in place, it is necessary to create one! Make sure your website visitors and social media followers are aware of your email newsletter by promoting it on your website and social media pages. Encouraging people to sign up for something through a discount or loyalty program is a great way to get people on board.
Make sure to include a call to action in every email.
Are you worried that you don’t have enough time to run an email marketing campaign? There are many email marketing tools available to help you send regular, engaging emails that your readers will be excited to receive.
15. Host a “business cards in a bowl” competition
If you own a physical store or commercial space, hosting a “cards in a bowl” competition to win a free sample of your product or service (or another prize) is an excellent way to promote your business and collect customer data. Your business cards are valuable because they probably contain contact information, like email addresses, that you can use for other marketing campaigns.
Sometimes classic ideas are the best and you might be surprised at how many sales and promotional opportunities come from this simple game.
16. Consider creating a company mascot.
Tony the Tiger, Ronald McDonald, the Jolly Green Giant, Mr. Mascots like Peanut, the Geico lizard, and Chester Cheeto serve a significant role in business marketing by adding to a brand’s identity.
Mascots can help small businesses by creating a distinct personality and identity for the brand. This can help customers remember the business and what it represents.
Your company’s mascot can be used in all your marketing content, online and offline. They can even change and grow along with your company. Your company’s mascot will eventually become the first thing people think of when they think of your company. You can take advantage of the emotional connection your audience has with the mascot.
