In today’s digital world, having an online presence for your business is more important than ever before. Yet, with so many options and platforms available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To help with that, here are seven tips for marketing your business online and offline that you might have overlooked.
1) Audience Research
Start by researching your target audience to actually target your audience – doing so will teach you how to attract them by discovering their spending habits, what products and services they’re interested in, how they respond to marketing, and what makes them tick. Be genuine and authentic in how you portray yourself and your product or service so that you can learn if your brand is indeed a good fit for the customers you have in mind.
2) Branded Products
Branded products can be especially effective for small business owners and their brand image. You can create and design your own product or buy them custom-made from a third-party vendor.
The great thing about branded products is that they advertise your business and company logo and offer more exposure – not to mention customers wearing or using your branded goods are essentially promoting your company for you. For example, you can buy anything from branded stationery and household items to printed t-shirts, hats, and even custom Converse by Anthem Branding.
3) Video Marketing
Creating a video marketing campaign for your business is an effective way to connect with customers, even if they live far away. For instance, you can always use YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter video ads or other social media sites.
The most important thing is to convey a message and tell the story of your business in short, emotion-inspiring videos so that people feel something for your brand. Making people want to share the video is also key, so it needs to induce emotions, spark conversation, be relatable, and be interesting to your target audience.
4) Social Media
As much as you may want to ignore social media, as a business owner, you must be active on all platforms, from Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin to Pinterest and Twitter. You can use these platforms not only to network with customers but also to connect with other businesses.
5) Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is vital for any business to have a strong online presence. Start by optimizing your website, blog, and social media platforms to improve your search engine rankings. Also, create useful content around trending topics to keep people coming back to your site.
You might wish to seek the services of a digital marketing agency if you’re a beginner in this industry; SEO is tricky and takes a while to master – especially since it’s always changing and evolving.
6) Attend & Participate
It’s important for your company to be an active and interested party in the local community. If your business serves the community and becomes a strong, valued part of it, its reputation will improve and people will look favorably on it. Hire local experts, give local people jobs, attend meetings, be a follower of other local businesses on LinkedIn, and find a sense of belonging in your community.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions either – pose questions to other companies and residents in the area to increase brand awareness, show that you’re interested in the community, and value what people have to say.
7) Ask Questions
You will only get better as you gain knowledge and skills by asking questions from experts in your field. This is especially important when you are new to a certain industry, such as web design, SEO, marketing, and so forth. Getting involved with the events of the community is vital because it’s beneficial for business and personal growth.
Moreover, the most important thing is to stay open-minded, optimistic, and passionate about your business. It’s easy to be diverted by the hype of the digital world, but it’s more important than ever to stand out with the product or service you provide. Building up an online presence takes time and effort, so start early and be consistent in what you do.
