Wondering how to do online marketing for small business? Then this article is for you. Online marketing is a term, comprising of two words which are ‘Online’ and ‘Marketing’.
Online simply means activeness on social media platforms. Marketing is the creation of awareness and publicity of a product, service or brand, to potential customers.
Online marketing is creating awareness of a product or service, using web-based channels, also known as social media platforms.
So far, big businesses have thrived online, and this gives small businesses the hope of thriving too, only when the right tools are used.
A small business is owned by a sole proprietor. Read on to find out how to do online marketing for small business.
How to Do Online Marketing for Small Business
- Through Ads
- Creation of an Online store
- Content Marketing
- Website Creation
- Target Customers
- Google tools
- Email Marketing
- Influencer Collaboration
- Blog posts
- Online Communities
- Customers Reviews
Ads
Ads are also known as advertisements. Ads are a great way to create visibility online for a small business. Advertising can be done on various social media platforms.
A large range of internet users views ads. Advertising helps to increase sales. The more people see it, the more they are likely to purchase the product.
Ads give brand visibility and create a lasting impression of the business in people’s minds. Advertising shows your customers and competitors that you’re open and credible.
It can attract customers to try out your products or service, regardless of the economy. Ads help you to reach your target customers.
You can use advertisements for your small business, to alert customers about:
- Changes in the service you provide
- A new product you launched
- Competition
- Upcoming events
- Fundraisers
- Sales
Creation of an Online store
An online store is another way for small business owners to market their products online.
An online store allows people to review products and buy them after it has been set at a fixed price by the business owner.
The online store takes the business to people, where it is not possible for the business owner to be physical.
By having an online store, you can sell your products to different locations from a single location. It helps to keep your business operational costs on the lower side. The following website offers the creation of an online store for free.
- Wix
- Shopify
- Branchbob
- Big-commerce
- Ecwid.
Content Marketing
Content Marketing requires the usage of well-written and structured content to create awareness for a product.
A small business owner, that makes use of good content to market a product, will sell more than a business owner that begs for patronage online.
The audience will prefer to see more of the contents if they are helpful, informative, and intriguing. So, if your business content ideas are good enough, it will get a greater return on investment (ROI).
ROI will help enhance your business exposure, increase commitment, and eventually sales. Content should have a C.T.A (Call to Action), that will prompt people to buy.
Website Creation
Creating a website will make Google give the business the relevance it needs. People will be able to see the website through a search on the internet.
The website will also make it easier for a small business owner to reach potential customers.
A small business owner can get a professional to help in setting up the website and stocking it with the right tools.
Target Customers
Target customers are people who are in need of one’s product. They are people that would patronize a business owner.
A small business owner needs to identify target customers. A business owner that sells stationeries needs students as target customers and not nursing mothers.
The same applies to a business owner selling baby formula, the business owner needs nursing mothers as target customers and not teenagers. Identifying and having target customers is very essential for small business owners.
Their target audience is automatically their customers because they need that product. A small business owner can identify target customers, by carrying out a survey, following the targeted customers on social media, or through referral.
Google tools
Every small business owner needs a Google account to promote their business. Google provides the following tools that are useful and vital in marketing small businesses online.
Google my business gives an online presence and a free website. Google keep is for keeping notes of bookings. Google Drive is a cloud space for storing pictures of the business owner’s products.
Google mail is for a bank account, payment, and everything the business needs mail for.
Google contact is for saving customers’ contact. This makes it easier to reach customers when advertising a new product in vogue.
Google map will put the business on the map, so that customers can find the business easily. Google calendar can be used to plan bookings.
Google account also gives a YouTube account. A YouTube account can be used to post videos of the product. Google ads can help you reach more relevant customers.
Google Analytics helps you to understand and improve how Google sees your site. Google trends is a valuable tool for SEO keyword and content creation, as you can analyze keyword performance.
Email Marketing
E-mail marketing is a direct marketing channel that let businesses share new products, sales and updates with customers on their contact list.
Some of the type of marketing e-mails are:
Promotional E-mails.
Promotional emails have a call to action (C.T.A). The C.T.A represent the specific action the business owner wants the reader to take. The action could be visiting a page or making a purchase.
Informational E-mails
Informational e-mails come in form of newsletters and announcements.
Newsletters shares news related to a business. Newsletters help to maintain consistency with your e-mail subscribers. A newsletter is an opportunity to share insight about your products with your audience.
A small business owner needs email marketing in order to reach a variety of people. Announcement: E-mail is also used to inform customers of new products release and changes in the service of the business.
Re-engagement Emails
Re-engagement Emails help to reconnect with customers or subscribers who haven’t been active or purchasing your products.
A small business owner can re-engage with customers by making them take a survey, or give their feedback. E-mail marketing is important, and it gives direct, individual access to your audience’s inboxes.
Benefits of E-mail marketing
- Conversions ( selling your products and services). You can send your subscribers an e-mail to drive sales.
- Business awareness: Sending e-mails will create awareness for your business.
The following are E-mail service providers you can choose for your email marketing:
- Mail chimp.
- Concert kit
- Hub spot
- Mailjet
- Constant Contact
Blog posts
A blog is a type of website that is regularly updated. It can be used to fulfill a business need. Blogs give business owners more leads.
A small business owner needs to make blog posts in order to give their business an online presence. Blogging drives traffic to your website. It enables you to convert traffic to leads.
It allows your business to establish authority in an industry.it continues to help your business grow and attract new customers. A blog does the following to your business:
- It helps your business rank on search engines.
- It attracts visitors to your site and turns the visitors into leads.
- It helps to identify the target audience.
Influencer Collaboration
Influencers are popular and widely known. They command respect and they have massive followers. A small business owner can collaborate with an influencer, in order to gain visibility.
A small business owner can pay influencers to help showcase their product to people. Paying influencers to market products will generate more leads and sales.
When an influencer showcase a product to people(the influencer followers), 60% is likely to connect with the business owner.
Influencer collaboration is a great online marketing strategy for small business owners.
Online Communities
Joining online communities will also help a small business owner scale up the brand. Online communities contain diverse people from different walks of life.
A small business owner can market the product in an online community. People from foreign countries are also likely to patronize the business owner.
Online communities will open small business owners to new strategies and prospects.
Customers Reviews
People tend to believe things more when they see others testifying positively. Someone that just came across a product will need a conviction to satisfy their curiousity.
Customer reviews are very important when selling online. The more positive reviews a business owner get, the more people will trust and patronise.
Reviews help to build customers trust. Customers won’t be afraid to exchange their money for a product when they see people’s testimonies.
Reviews play an important role in making sales for small business owners. A small business owner that showcase customers reviews on its site, will get more leads and make more sales.
Online marketing is also known as digital marketing. The main aim of online marketing is to gain visibility for the business,and also get more leads and sales. All the aforementioned will help a small business owner gain relevance online.
