If you’re running a small business, you’ll have plenty of options for marketing in front of you. Whether you choose traditional methods or online advertising, you’re sure to generate some business. However, small businesses usually have small budgets, so it’s important for you to invest in the marketing methods you know will work. When it comes to marketing online, there are an overwhelming amount of choices. Here are five of the best for getting results.
Blog
With the new Fred update that Google has introduced, it’s more important than ever for businesses to do whatever they can to rank in searches. One of the best ways to make sure your website ranks is to have a constant flow of fresh content. A blog is a fantastic way of achieving that. It’s important, as a business owner, that you contribute to your blog regularly. You’ll be able to give your customers and insight to your business that no-one else can give. However, if you haven’t got the time to write, it is okay to outsource your blog posts to someone else.
Social Media
Any business that isn’t using social media to market their products and services needs to start now. It is one of the best free gifts given to businesses. Not only do you get to reach people you would never reach with your business alone, you also get to advertise for free. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with your customers and gather vital information that could catapult your business into its next stage. For instance, a marketing company that works with lawyers and doctors could easily find the ones interested in law firm online marketing. However, social media can be time consuming, and you may find that your customers keep you busy with questions and messages, distracting you from the rest of your work.
Facebook Business
Although social media has already been mentioned, it’s important to give Facebook a whole category of its own. Facebook business pages are brilliant for advertising your business. It’s easy to find your target audience on Facebook and you have the advantage of using sponsored ads. You pay Facebook to place an ad on the newsfeeds of people they think would be interested in your business. Therefore, your business stays in the minds of the people who are most likely to use it. It’s best to use visuals when posting on Facebook to grab your audience’s attention.
Images
There aren’t many people without Instagram or Pinterest accounts these days. That means, you now have a unique opportunity to get a customer via a photograph alone. For example, if you sell handmade cushions and you place an image in a home section on Pinterest, you may suddenly find that your pin is being re-pinned by others and it’s likely to result in sales. Even if your image is pinned and saved for later, Pinterest is a great tool for reminding people what they like when they’re ready to purchase.
There are so many ways to market your business online and there are sure to be more as technology advances, so make sure you stay ahead of new innovations.
