If there’s one word to describe the world today, it’s connectivity. The internet is such a pervasive force that more than half of the world’s population is online. This connectivity shows how companies today conduct their business.
It’s a double-edged sword though. The internet makes sure we’re connected. But it also makes it harder for businesses to reach the right people. There’s so much information available online. Because of this, many small businesses have a hard time getting noticed.
Online marketing can help your side above the noise and make sure you’re visible. This isn’t a simple task, and this article will help you make sense of it.
What Is Online Marketing?
Specialists define online marketing as any means or strategy that uses the internet. The goal is to get a company’s name out in public. It uses online channels like email, SEO, and social media. Like traditional marketing, it can also use radio and video advertisements.
The aim here is to reach prospective clients via digital channels. These are the sites or platforms people often use to socialize, research, or shop. For example, social media, emails, and search engines.
There are many tools and strategies used in this type of marketing, like:
- Search engine optimization (SEO)/ search engine marketing (SEM)
- Email marketing
- Social media marketing
- Content marketing
- Website optimization
- Affiliate marketing
- Webinars and virtual events
- Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
- LinkedIn advertising
Online marketing is also a good method to build one’s personal brand. What is personal branding? This is how you promote your company or yourself. It’s the combination of experience and skills that sets you apart from others. These also draw people to your brand. Ad specialists know how to use digital marketing to build up your brand and expand your reach.
How Online Marketing Benefits Small Businesses Today
Online marketing has a lot of benefits. The pandemic brought home how crucial this strategy is, especially for small businesses. You should focus more on this type of marketing if you have a small or medium-sized business. Here’s why:
You Can Build Good Relationships with Clients
Keeping clients engaged and interested is the biggest challenge small businesses face today. One reason for this is the sheer number of new businesses launched every month. This means your product or service isn’t as unique as you would hope. But the good thing about online marketing is it doesn’t stop once the client has bought a product. You can continue to engage and build a good relationship with them so they’ll remain loyal to your brand. There are several ways to do this. Here are some suggestions:
- Use testimonials from satisfied clients. You can post them on your website or share them on your social media accounts. This has the same effect as a word-of-mouth recommendation.
- Send out an automated but personalized thank you note. You can follow this up with an email or newsletter. You can tell your client of new deals or useful information. A good email campaign can reach a lot of people for less money.
- Be active on social media. Your clients will see any new products or events you have. It will also keep your brand on their minds.
Its Multichannel Approach Helps with Conversions
The internet is so vast that you can’t tell where your customers are or where you’ll find prospects. It’s why the best reputation management companies ensure your brand is in every channel. Most businesses have a website and several social media accounts because of this.
42% of the world’s population is on social media. Some of the most popular platforms are Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Facebook alone has about 2.9 billion monthly users now. Think of how many prospects your brand is going to get on that platform alone.
You need a different strategy for each channel. What works for one might not be effective on another. It’s a good thing that adjusting your content to fit the platform and the audience is easy to do. For example, you can do a blog post on the advantages of using your service. You can then pick one key piece of information to share on Twitter. You can also transform the post into an infographic to share on Instagram or Pinterest.
It’s Affordable and Convenient
Small businesses can’t compete with big brand names when it comes to commercials or ads. But many online marketing strategies don’t cost a lot. Blogging, social media marketing, and newsletters are good examples. You can write your blog content yourself. You might spend $20 to $50 on content, but you can use it for years if it’s evergreen. But a TV or radio ad could set you back $700 to $1,000.
You don’t even need to shell out money on some techniques. You can claim your Google My Business profile to boost your SEO visibility. It can also increase foot traffic as people use their smartphones to search for a local business. A good online review can also do wonders to your reputation.
It Helps You Compete with Big Businesses
You can find many David vs. Goliath success stories online. There are many small brands that do better than big companies at marketing. And they’ve done this with a good online strategy.
You don’t need a big budget or any expensive tools or programs to get noticed online. You’ll need some tools, but sales can happen with simple knowledge and experience. That’s one of the best things about online marketing.
Get Your Message Across
Small businesses often need help to reach their market. Tulumi Digital Marketing can make that happen for you. We are a full-service digital marketing firm based in Florida. We’re dedicated to assisting small businesses to reach the success they deserve. Our team of experts can help design your website and manage your online reputation. We can also help with social media marketing, SEO, and paid ads. You can reach us at (800) 481-1720 or at hello@tulumi.com.
