When starting a brand new business, it can be easy to get caught up in a multitude of tasks and forget about the importance of marketing. There are always steps you can take to further improve your marketing strategy, but if you’re just starting out these 5 tactics will get you moving in the right direction.
Establish Your Online Presence
Having a presence online acts as the foundation for any other digital marketing you do. If you don’t claim your online presence, the public will fill the void for you. Be sure to claim and optimize any online listings on websites such as Google, Yelp, and Yellow Pages. Next, join any social media platforms that are relevant to your industry and target audience. If you’re running a jewelry business, Pinterest will be your new best friend. Running a staffing firm? Welcome to LinkedIn. Remember that accuracy and consistency is key when setting up your platforms across the web.
Post Fresh Content
Posting high-quality, fresh content on a regular basis reflects that your website and social media accounts are active, which not only draws in more traffic but organically boosts your SEO. Put yourself in the shoes of your ideal customer or client; what kinds of content would they like to see? Begin writing articles and blogs, posting relevant and interesting articles on Facebook, and using fresh images. Oh, and don’t forget to incorporate top keywords and hashtags.
Advertise Online
Digital advertising through platforms like Google AdWords, Yelp and Facebook is one of the most cost-efficient ways to spend your advertising dollars. With digital advertising, you can create a highly specific target audience including all relevant demographics to your audience such as gender, age, location, different interests, and even household income. Furthermore, digital marketing is far more measurable than print advertising. Of course, by utilizing tracking links or phone numbers, print can still be very beneficial. But there is no better way to spend your advertising budget than on the world wide web.
Engage and Respond
Being engaging and responsive is extremely important when it comes to digital marketing. When you receive messages or comments online, responding is a must. Often times you can utilize resources like ChatBots to automatically answer frequently asked questions about store hours or directions. Make sure to respond to online reviews, both good and bad, and have an emergency PR plan just in case.
Track Lost Leads
Many business owners let new clients get away from them by neglecting to track any lost leads. In order to avoid this, you can use email marketing platforms like MailChimp or Constant Contact to stay in touch with those who previously showed interest in your products or services. Offer discounts, trial days, or simply remind them what they’re missing with an abandoned-cart email. You can even retarget customers who viewed different products online but didn’t make the purchase. Figure out the best way to pull those customers back in and regain their interest.
You can use this 5 tactics to get your marketing off the ground, form a unique relationship between you and your customers, and bring in new business.