By Kristen Wilmer
The world of digital marketing is something that many small business owners
know little to nothing about. But expanding your business horizons to
include the virtual world can have many benefits for SMEs. If your
enterprise relies on steady trade from local custom and high street
footfall, you might assume that this doesn’t apply to you – but rest
assured, this is not the case.
Whether you’re looking to raise your local profile or hoping to expand your
customer base, here are just three online marketing practices that your
business can adopt to boost your success.
1. Perfect your website
Never underestimate the value of a truly great quality website.
Your web design has a huge impact on your customers’ initial impression of
your brand, and a poorly designed site is an instant turn-off. Common
website flaws to be wary of include outdated design, slow or confusing user
experience, and badly written content riddled with errors.
Remember that content is the backbone of your site, and while it shouldn’t
be excessive, it should be thorough and provide your customers with the
right information about your business, as well as keeping them engaged and
encouraging them to spend longer on your site.
This leads us swiftly on to our next point…
2. Switch it up
Of course, content needs to be useful and informative, but it should also be
imaginative. There’s no point in offering reams of detail about your
business if it’s only going to bore the reader.
Instead, you need content that will capture users’ interest instantly.
Features such as a regular blog series are a perfect opportunity to share
content regular and can be a good expression of your brand identity.
But remember, when it comes to creating content your users will connect
with, don’t be afraid to mix it up. Written content is by far the most
prevalent form, but visual content is a great way to get customers to engage
and set yourself apart from your competitors.
If you’re not sure where to start, it’s worth bringing in the professionals
– SNS Group are experts with extensive experience in producing highly
creative visual content for a range of purposes, from photography to video
and even graphic design.
This type of content is also a great way to garner attention on social media
– platforms like Instagram are prime for visual engagement. In fact, this
brings us on to our final point…
3. Use social media to build customer relationships
Social media lends itself to two-way communication between brands and
customers, which over time will not only secure customer loyalty but will
also grow your customer base.
Instead of spreading yourself and your content thinly over as many platforms as possible, target the channels your customers are most likely to use – for instance, Facebook is more commonly used with the over 50s, while TikTok and Instagram are generally the territory of the under 25s.
Well-targeted social media content will significantly increase engagement and lead traffic to your site, ultimately boosting sales.
We hope these three tips inspire your business’s next digital
direction.
