The internet has made it increasingly possible for small companies to market their goods and services affordably and effectively. Tools such as social media and email make it easy for companies to build a base of followers who can be sent promotional materials within minutes. From there, that content can be either acted upon or shared with others to drive sales or general awareness about the brand. What specifically should small business owners do to maximize their online marketing efforts?
Create Content Regularly
Whether you have a blog, write a newsletter or post to social media accounts, make sure that you are creating content regularly. This allows your followers to get into a habit of receiving emails or having something to look at when browsing their Facebook page. How often you post will be determined by the size of your audience as well as the type of content that you provide.
If you create shorter blog posts or post links to other articles online, you may want to post several times a day. However, if you create longer pieces or focus on timely content, you may only need to post once a day or once a week. Regardless of how often you create content, make sure to post it to as many relevant channels as possible to get maximum exposure for it.
Cater to the Channel That You Post To
Every social media channel is going to cater to different tastes and interests. For instance, Twitter users tend to like shorter bursts of content that they can share with their friends. Facebook users may want to watch live content or share memes with their friends or other followers.
Those who use sites such as LinkedIn are looking for more sophisticated content that they can use to build their professional networks. If you post to a site like Reddit or StumbleUpon, you should be more playful or silly as that is what the users of those sites are apt to appreciate.
By creating content that is appreciated by the community in which it is posted, you are more likely to get likes, shares, and mentions. It is also more likely that you will be accepted as a member of that site's community. This may make it easier to market your goods and services in the future and gain an extended reach for your brand.
Focus on Quality over Quantity
You are more likely to get shares and traffic to landing pages if you create quality content. If you don't think that you are a good writer or understand how to write for your audience, don't hesitate to find a freelance writer who can do the work for you. In fact, outsourcing to someone else may help to save both time and money that can be used to find customers or otherwise grow your business.
Your Ads Should Deliver What They Promise
;
If you choose to advertise on search engines or on other sites, the content of the ad should be consistent with what a customer sees. In other words, if you tell a customer to click on your ad to receive a coupon on his or her next purchase, the customer should be taken to a page where he or she gets a coupon. If a customer is misleading, it will render the advertisement ineffective as well as tarnish your brand.
Online marketing can be an effective tool for business owners who understand what their customers are looking for. By taking the time to build up a base of followers, it may be possible to increase sales without increasing marketing costs. That could result in higher profit margins that can then be used to help grow the business further.
Related Posts
How to Boost Your Online Store Business10 Most Used Tools in E-Commerce Marketing
A Simple Guide to a Successful Email Marketing Campaign Today
What Digital Marketers Need to Understand About Their Target Audience
Inbound Marketing – How to Convert Website Visitors into Leads
