As a small business owner, you work hard to build a business you’re proud of. You’ve set your goals, identified your target market and defined how you’re going to differentiate yourself from your competition. Part of your business planning should include a marketing strategy — how to tell the world what you’re up to and more importantly, how you’re going to meet customers’ needs or solve their problems.
In today’s digital world, an online presence is a table stake — a minimum requirement. I know the first thing I do when I’m curious (about anything really) is search online, and here’s why.
Show up online
Websites give readers a feel for the business you’re in. They provide key information like where the business is located, how long you’ve been around and what services, expertise or products you offer.
However, it’s not just the details on the pages that help me make my purchasing decision. A professionally designed website sets the tone for my experience. To me, it gives a business credibility.
Is the site well-laid out and easy to navigate? Is the information on its pages easy to read and understand, without being overwhelming? Is it well-written without a lot of grammatical mistakes?
It’s also important that contact information is easy to find. Think of your website as the virtual office. The experience I have with a brand’s website will leave me with a perception of what I can expect when I drop into the storefront or meet the owner in person.
Your website shouldn’t be a one and done. Keep it current so visitors will come back.
Engage with customers
A good way to engage customers is through social media. Digital marketing is a good place to start promoting your business, especially if you don’t have a big budget for out of home advertising — billboards, bus shelters, etc. — or expensive radio or television advertising.
In a report posted by Statista.com, “61.4 percent of the world’s population” are social media users. That’s a lot of people!
Social spaces are a good way to reach consumers in your target area. You can find creative ways to make them aware of your brand and talk about what you’re all about. You can connect with users with content that informs and builds interest. And, you can show off a little bit of your character at the same time. The more engaging your content, the more likely users will want to share it with their own connections. In turn, this will help you grow your followers.
Social content also helps you identify what people are saying about your business. For example, “likes, loves, laughter and shares” help you understand the content that’s most interesting to your readers. Comments can spark a discussion and provide feedback on the experiences customers have had with you and what they think of your brand.
By engaging in the conversation, you can build brand trust and loyalty. Bottom line, social media gives you access to your customers and potential customers and opens up opportunities to showcase testimonials or respond to customer comments, good or bad. This will help demonstrate your approach to customer service, show empathy or appreciation.
Part of the customer journey
Social media has become an important part of the customer journey as users seek to understand your brand. By engaging with users you have an opportunity to strengthen your reputation and build credibility.
With the right approach and using the right digital marketing tools and expertise, you can grow your customer base and build a strong recognizable brand!
Will I find your brand online?
Writing for you. 