Businesses need to start somewhere to get themselves out there. Creating a digital marketing strategy is a daunting thought when local businesses are in the same field as some enormous companies.
These big companies come with financial backing that you likely won’t match. Below, we share digital marketing tips to help you sneak past large competitors without going bankrupt.
Keep Your Social Platforms Up to Date
If a business doesn’t have a social media marketing strategy, it’s setting itself back five steps. Social media is free advertising. It’s vital to take the opportunity to build a voice and image for your brand.
Social media offers direct communication to customers. Each platform is a place to post company updates and customer stories, creating a personality for your business. Respond to comments, and create engaging content for your brand to post.
With a modern smartphone and free editing tools like Canva, your business can create high-quality content for social media. Plus, many social platforms have built-in ads suites where you can set a budget as small as your budget for as little as $1.00.
Besides paid content, social media is a powerful tool for local businesses to reach customers in their area. When creating your content, have shareability at the root of your idea. Share buttons are great for local spots to extend their reach.
Invest Time into Building a Good Website
If your customers land on a poor-quality website, they won’t stick around. Your website needs to be optimised, easy to navigate, and provide users with a smooth path to conversion.
Put some personality into your website. A personal touch will entice customers and help you stand out from large competitors, who often exude a stiff corporate image.
Ensure that you have detailed content on each page to explain the relevant product or service. Every element of your website should lead your customer to where you intend.
Ensure your web developer uses Google’s Page Speed Insights. This tool indicates areas where you can improve page speed and performance for a better visitor experience. Speed is everything in 2022, so don’t leave people waiting; a fast website should be a priority. If you haven’t taken the time to create a quality website, your digital marketing strategy is essentially ineffective.
Interact With Customers any Chance You Get
Social media comments are a great start, but you can go beyond that. In-store or online, connecting with customers will do a lot for your brand. Be active on your Google My Business profile. On the platform, respond to all reviews, positive or negative.
Responses to reviews will show customers that you want to provide them with the best experience possible and take all criticism to enhance that experience. Your customers will see that you’re grateful for their business or ready to apply critique.
Besides showing that you care, the more you interact with customers, the more you can understand them. Knowing your target audience is crucial, but sometimes you may have unexpected audience groups. Customer interaction at every opportunity will help you tweak your approach based on who is engaging with and purchasing from your brand.
Don't Pay for Services Without Weighing Your Options
There is an array of digital marketing agencies to help you optimise your strategy to overtake your competitors. Unfortunately, you’re wasting money if you haven’t taken the time to weigh out your options.
Social media paid ad platforms are a great place to start, but if you’re meeting with agencies, don’t sign on immediately. Find what you can do in-house without spending extra cash, and then see where your business needs to invest in professional services.
Consider your goals and what you’re looking to gain from the investment. Once you understand your intent, you can research the various paid digital marketing options available. Do you want more visibility in search results or more telephone leads? You don’t want to funnel all your budget into long, data-riddled whitepapers when you’re an e-commerce site trying to connect with everyday mums. You don’t want to invest in local SEO services if you don’t have a physical location.
Start at the end; your goal. From there, you can build the path towards it. Don’t put all resources into areas that won’t significantly benefit your business. Build your website with care, create a personal online presence, and maintain your connection with customers. Follow these steps, and you may start growing past the big competition.
Ready to take take your business to the next level?
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