If your small business lacks an online presence, you could potentially miss out on reaching new customers, given that 90% of internet users are searching for local businesses.
How do you begin with going online?
Having a digital presence for a small company differs from creating one for a national brand. It is not necessary to spend exorbitant amounts of money on extensive digital marketing strategies to make a difference. To rival local competitors online, you only require two fundamental elements.
Optimization of local search and a website for a business.
Tips to Build a Strong Online Presence for Small Business
1. Business Website
Are you aware that 36% of small businesses are still without a website? If your business falls into this category, it is high time to create one. A website plays a crucial role in providing customers with information about your business, showcasing your offerings, and enabling easy communication. Consider it as your virtual shopfront.
You can achieve success online by opting for a simple and cost-effective solution in developing and designing your business website. A 5-7 page website, which is user-friendly, provides valuable customer information, and ensures accurate business contact details, is sufficient. Let’s examine these features in more detail.
2. User-Friendly, Responsive Design
While it is important for your business website to appear appealing to promote your brand, it is crucial to prioritize the ease of navigation for site visitors since 94% of consumers stated they would exit a website that proves difficult to navigate.
This implies that your website needs to have user-friendly navigation and be accessible on all types of devices, such as desktop computers and smartphones. This will enable customers to effortlessly navigate through your website and locate the information they require without any delays.
3. High-Quality, SEO-Driven Content
In order for a small business website to have any possibility of appearing in search engine results, it is essential to implement content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO). It should be noted that websites do not simply appear in search engine results by chance; their ranking is based on search engines identifying the websites with the most valuable and informative content for individuals seeking answers online.
4. Accurate Local Business Information
Why is it important to include a local citation, which consists of your business name, address, and phone number, in the footer of your small business website as well as on a contact page?
In addition to seeking contact information like an address or phone number, 49% of consumers visit a business website, making it essential to include this local citation for effective local search optimization.
5. Local Search Optimization
Just owning a website is insufficient for your small business to grab customers’ attention. It is also necessary to ensure that customers can locate you whenever they seek local businesses and services on the internet.
Local SEO can be beneficial in this scenario. By creating uniform local listings for your business and submitting them to prominent online directories and search engines such as Google, you increase the likelihood of attracting local customers. Your local SEO strategies should focus on three key tactics…
6. Accurate and Consistent NAP Data
It is important to ensure that your business contact information, including your name, address, and phone number (NAP data), is consistently and accurately formatted across all online platforms where it is displayed, such as your website or local business directories.
When you ensure the accuracy and consistency of your data, you send positive signals to search engines and customers in search of your business, indicating that your information is trustworthy and up to date.
7. Google My Business
Creating a Google My Business account is vital in enhancing your business’ online visibility and connecting with customers in your local area.
By utilizing this complimentary tool, you can input crucial business information such as your business name, address, phone number, website URL, operating hours, and other significant details directly into Google’s directory. This aids in enhancing the visibility of your business in relevant local searches on Google’s search results and Google Maps.
8. Build an Email List
By creating an opt-in email list, you can gather a collection of email addresses that allows you to send marketing messages and announcements to your customers. This method serves as an effective means to engage with your desired audience with their consent and remain at the forefront of their thoughts.
There are various methods to create an email list, including incorporating a sign-up form on your website, organizing contests or sweepstakes, or gathering emails at events. Once you have gathered a group of subscribers, you can commence sending them frequent updates regarding your business, novel products or services, exclusive deals, and other information.
If utilized properly, email marketing can be an extremely effective tool. It is important to steer clear of common errors such as purchasing subscriber lists, sending unwelcome messages (spam), or overwhelming your opt-in subscribers with irrelevant or excessive emails.
9. Connect with Influencers
Partnering with influencers in your industry is considered one of the most effective strategies for engaging with new customers. These individuals, who possess a significant number of followers on social media or other online platforms, have the ability to expand your reach and endorse your business among a broader audience.
Finding influencers can be done through various methods, including utilizing influencer marketing platforms like BuzzSumo or conducting searches for relevant hashtags on social media. After identifying potential collaborators, it is advisable to contact them and ascertain their willingness to collaborate.
Providing complimentary products or services, special discounts, or affiliate commissions are all effective methods to motivate influencers to endorse your business.
Make sure to make your selection wisely as not all influencers are of the same caliber! Take the time to do your research and collaborate only with influential individuals who possess a good reputation and align with your target audience. Begin by partnering with micro-influencers and gradually progress to those with a substantial number of followers.
10. Create Value
When marketing your small business, it is crucial to keep in mind that the key aspect is to generate value. Regardless of the activities involved, such as content creation, ad campaigns, or email list development, it is always essential to prioritize offering something valuable to your target audience.
One method to add value is by constructing valuable content at no cost for your target audience. Consider creating a content asset that you believe would be beneficial to them, like an e-book, manual, infographic, self-evaluation, or quick reference guide.
Ensure that whatever content you decide to produce, whether it be a video tutorial or webinar, is of impeccable quality and relevance to your intended viewership.
11. Be Competitive
Familiarize yourself with your product or service, familiarize yourself with your rivals, and be capable of expressing the unique qualities that set you apart. Consider utilizing terms such as foremost, largest, finest, most pioneering, optimal value, etc., and substantiate your assertions with concrete evidence.
Regardless of the product you offer, there are numerous options available, thus it is crucial to differentiate yourself from others.
Offering something unique that cannot be found elsewhere is one approach to being competitive, although it is a highly challenging endeavor. This distinctiveness could originate from a one-of-a-kind product, service, or even from adopting an unconventional approach.
Keeping up with the latest trends in your industry and being adaptable is crucial. By consistently staying ahead of the curve, you increase your chances of attracting new customers and maintaining a competitive edge.
12. Analyze Results
If you haven’t started collecting performance data on your business, now is the perfect time to begin, as the famous Chinese proverb suggests – “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
After gathering data on your small business online marketing efforts over a period of time, spare some moments to examine the outcomes. By doing so, you will be able to identify what is effective and what is not, enabling you to make informed decisions on whether to increase, decrease, modify, or completely cease certain strategies.
Although there are various alternative options for website analytics, as well as social media analytics tools, Google Analytics stands out as the most widely used. It is recommended to utilize this tool to monitor the quantity of sales or fresh prospects acquired monthly, and subsequently link them to their respective origins.
Keep a regular track of your progress over time to monitor the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.
Analyzing your results will enable you to refine your marketing strategy and ensure maximum effectiveness from your endeavors.
9. Experiment with Online Advertising
If you’re unsure about how to get started, begin by experimenting with various platforms and strategies. Online advertising offers an excellent opportunity to connect with potential customers, although it can present certain challenges.
Ensure that you conduct thorough research in order to comprehend the various forms of online advertising, namely pay-per-click (PPC) ads, display ads, and social media ads. Experiment with several platforms to determine which ones yield the most favorable results for your business.
It is important not to underestimate the dedication required for this task. You will have to develop various ad types and allow them ample time to run, typically ranging from three weeks to three months depending on the platform. This timeframe is necessary for an accurate evaluation of their effectiveness.
Experiment with various ad copy and images to determine their effectiveness. Continuously assess and fine-tune your campaigns to maximize the ROI from your marketing budget.
Ensure that you carefully monitor your results as advertising can incur significant costs. Only persist with running advertisements that yield profitability.
10. Automate Your Processes
After discovering the effective methods, it is crucial to automate the process to a maximum extent. This will not only save time but also facilitate the expansion of your business.
You can automate your marketing in various ways, including utilizing social media management tools, establishing email drip campaigns, and employing marketing automation software.
Make sure to monitor the outcomes closely so that you can make necessary adjustments, while automating your small business online marketing will allow you to allocate your time to other areas of your business.
Final Words
You can easily market your small business without difficulty or spending excess time. By emphasizing the correct aspects, you can automate the procedure and witness positive outcomes. Just ensure that you consistently generate value for your target audience.
