[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.7″ collapsed=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.22.7″ z_index_tablet=”500″]
As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you wear many hats.
Receptionist, sales manager, accountant and marketing coordinator are just some of the positions that need to be filled by yours truly. Dependent upon your professional background, these extra tasks can range from incredibly easy, to horribly frustrating. If marketing your business falls into the latter category, you are in luck! To alleviate some of your stress we have listed 5 ways you can boost your online presence and ease your way into the world of digital marketing.
Before we deep dive into the solution, let’s first discuss the problem, what is digital marketing and why is it important for your business?
Renowned marketing expert Neil Patel describes digital marketing as “advertising delivered through digital channels. Channels such as social media, mobile applications, email, web applications, search engines, websites, or any new digital channel.”
It is important for businesses to evolve alongside modern society, which is transitioning to a future that will be almost completely digital. If you think about your own interactions with technology, you will see how reliant we have become on digital mediums vs physical mediums.
For example, how many people start their day by scrolling on their phone or PC to catch the latest news headlines? In your inbox, how many emails do you have from various retailers advertising their new products? And let’s not forget everybody’s favourite teacher YouTube, who consistently provides ‘how-to videos’ on just about anything.
To get the attention of your audience it is important to place yourself in front of your audience.
Now that we have established why it is important to utilize digital marketing, let’s discuss some easy ways to incorporate it into your marketing strategy.
- Update your Website
When was the last time you updated your website? If the answer is in years, then it needs your attention immediately. Your company’s website is your first interaction with a prospective client, it is the first impression they get of you and your business. If your website contains old or irrelevant information, broken links or an outdated style, this may deter customers. Investing in a web developer or graphic designer to freshen up the look and feel of your site will convey to customers that you are professional, reliable and tech-savvy.
- Google your business
Everyone uses Google. So much so that ‘Google’ has become a verb in most people’s vocabulary. Therefore, it is important to know how easy it is for your potential customers to find you on Google. The best place to start is by updating your Google Listing via ‘Google my Business’ to ensure all your details are up to date, such as telephone number, opening hours, location and even photos. The more up to date this information is the easier it will be for your customers to find you.
- Test your SEO – (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO is a very common term in marketing which stands for search engine optimization and relates to your business ranking in a Google search. LYFE Marketing describes SEO as “the process of optimizing your website to get organic, or un-paid, traffic from the search engine results page. In other words, SEO involves making certain changes to your website design and content that makes your site more attractive to a search engine.” You can test your SEO by entering search phrases into Google, related to your business, and seeing what page your business is displayed on. For example, when assessing the Guinness Business Centre, we search ‘Office Space Rental Vancouver, ‘Vancouver Coworking Space, ‘Virtual Office Vancouver’ and see where our business ranks. If it is hard to find your business, investing in a digital marketing firm that specializes in SEO may be a good idea.
- Get Social on Social Media
Creating a social media page for your company can be an easy and fun way to introduce yourself to the digital marketing world. Creating a Facebook, Instagram or Linkedin page is a fantastic way to connect with potential clients, and it’s free! Setting up the page can be relatively easy, then it’s just a matter of plotting out your content. If you are unsure how to get started, looking at what your competitors are doing is a great start. There are many great examples of popular and successful social media accounts that can offer inspiration and ideas for new users. Once you are confident apps like Planoly, Plann and Hootsuite can event assist with scheduling your content.
- Create an Advertisement
Now, this is exciting! Did you know that you can quickly and easily create your own advertisement within minutes? Instagram and Facebook both allow business accounts to create advertisements in the form of promoted posts in user’s feeds or stories. These ads are a great way to get creative with your content as well as understand who your target audience is with the ability to target your key demographic. You can even post an ad on your company website promoting a special price for new customers. Digital media allows even the most novice marketers the ability to create their own ads, which is an incredible tool for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Don’t put off your marketing strategy any longer! Digital marketing can save entrepreneurs and small business owners time and money, as well as boost sales by reaching new customers all over the world.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
