You’ve found this article and are currently reading it, so you hardly need to be told of the power and potential of digital communication. For small businesses, medium enterprises, and large companies of all kinds, digital marketing is an accessible approach for expanding your customer base. Continue reading for a quick overview of digital marketing and eight tips for online marketing success.
What Is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing is broadly defined as “the promotion of brands to connect with potential customers using the internet and other forms of digital communication.” Digital marketing applies to websites, email, social media, and even text messaging.
Cultivating a digital marketing strategy will help your business leverage the digital realm to attract more customers. By expanding your online presence and your business’s visibility on the internet, you’ll reach more people who are interested in your products and services.
Furthermore, digital marketing is not limited to large corporations. Small businesses, too, can use online marketing to great effect. Every business can access these tools. No matter the size or budget of your business, you can be taking advantage of digital marketing now.
9 Tips for Expanding Your Online Visibility
Ready to use the broad reach of online marketing to make your business more visible? Here are eight tips for internet triumph.
- Have a website that meets legal requirements.
Nowadays, customers expect to find your business online, and the most reliable way to do that is through your website. Your site acts as your online bit of ‘real estate’ that you own and control. It’s where potential customers will go to find all the information they need.
When setting up your website, be sure to consider legal and technical best practices. Make sure you’re in the clear by following any necessary regulations, such as ADA and GDPR compliance.
- Set your website up for success.
Once you have a website, it’s time to set it up for success. First, brush up on search engine optimization (SEO), which will help get your website in front of more potential customers.
You’ll also need to make your site appealing to those new users. Do this by considering user experience. Are the fonts easy to read? Is information readily available? Is the design pleasing? Think about how users will access your site. In 2020, 68.1 percent of all website visits came from mobile devices. With that in mind, you’ll want to make sure your website design is responsive, meaning it adapts to best suit each device, from computer to tablet to mobile phone. A pleasant user experience will earn you points in customers’ eyes.
- Engage in content marketing.
Content marketing is a leading strategy in the realm of digital marketing. Creating helpful, informational content and publishing it on your website provides more opportunities for people to find your business. Good content can generate traffic, introduce your brand to more people, and even convert readers into buyers. Take a look at these impressive statistics if you’re not convinced:
- 70% of people would rather learn about a company through articles than an ad
- 60% of people are inspired to seek out a product after reading about it
- Per dollar spent, content marketing generates three times as many leads as traditional marketing
Regularly producing quality content is a fantastic way to expand your online presence and can be a powerful tool for effective online marketing.
- Build an email list.
Your email subscribers are your most loyal fans. By signing up, they’ve invited you into their digital space and are expecting to hear from you. Periodically send them consistent (but not annoying) updates. They’ve demonstrated an active interest in your business, so these people are most likely to jump on what you’ve got to offer.
- Engage in social media marketing.
Social media is an undeniable part of daily life for many people. According to Pew Research Center, 72 percent of U.S. adults use social media. And if you think your target audience doesn’t frequent social media, you might be surprised. Although young adults led initial social media usage and continue to use various platforms, the demographics of social media users have expanded to be more reflective of the general population.
Meet your customers where they are! Head to social media platforms to expand your business’s online visibility. When jumping into social media marketing, be sure to consider both your target audience and your capabilities. Which platforms do your ideal customers use? Which platforms can you engage with effectively? A good general recommendation is to focus on one or two platforms well rather than using multiple platforms poorly.
- Keep your brand consistent.
As you expand your online presence, remember to keep your brand consistent. Present your business uniformly across your website, social media platforms, and other digital spaces. Know your brand identity, and keep it in mind to help you create a coherent online presence. Keeping a clear brand identity will help users recognize your brand wherever they encounter you. It will also add a level of professionalism and credibility to your business.
- Do some online public relations.
The internet vastly extends the reach of public relations. You can manage the perception of your business online in a variety of ways. Encourage your customers to leave online reviews. Engage with customers in ways that reflect well on your business. Use your website, content, and social media platforms to add your voice to your industry. You can even use online platforms to reach out to the press and form beneficial relationships.
- Set up your Google Business Profile, and register your company on other local directories.
Create your free Google Business Profile and reap the benefits by connecting with your customers through Google Maps and Google Search. Also, don’t forget to register your business on other local directories like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and more. Manage these listings to grow your business and expand your digital reach.
- Schedule time for maintaining your online presence.
There’s a glittering assortment of ways for you to expand your business’s online presence, and each of them takes time and commitment to do well. Consistency is key, and will always benefit your visibility. Block some time in your schedule to work on and manage your various online platforms. Even 15-30 minutes a day will help you make steady progress and see continuous improvement.
The internet is a dazzlingly vast and sometimes daunting space, but it comes with many opportunities. There are so many avenues by which you can grow your business’s online presence. Consider these tips, do your research, and develop a strategy that works for you. If you still need help, don’t worry. We’re here for you!
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