If you’re a small business owner, you’ve got a lot on your plate. The last thing you may be thinking about is how to market your services online – but failing to so do can cost you a lot of business. 93% of all business experiences begin with a search engine, such as Google – so you need to capture online interest and outrank the competition to succeed. How? Here are a few of our top online marketing tips for small business owners. Find out how you can beat the competition and bring in more customers without spending an arm and a leg.
1. Start with A Modern, Mobile-Friendly Website
To start, you need a modern, mobile-friendly website – preferably optimized for SEO. For this step, you may need to spend some cash. Hiring a professional developer to create and optimize your website is a good investment, even if you need to take a small business loan to cover the costs of building a new website. 48% of people have said that a poorly designed website reflects badly on a business’s services, and 38% of people will stop engaging with a website if it’s outdated and unattractive, according to a survey by Blue Corona. A brand-new, mobile-friendly, well-designed website will help you boost your business dramatically.
2. Get Listed on Search Engines and Business Listings
You’ll definitely want to list your company with Google My Business, to make sure it shows up on Google and Google Maps. You should also create a listing on Angie’s List, Yelp, and on any other website which allows you to set up a local business listing. This is will help you rank more highly in search engines.
3. Make Use of Social Media
Using social media like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest is a good way to connect with customers. A good social media presence will also enhance the credibility of your business, and your SEO rankings. In addition, you can use promoted ads on these platforms to help bring in more local customers.
4. Encourage Users to Review Your Services Online
For small businesses, great customer reviews are as good as gold. 95% of customers will read online reviews before using a product or a service, and 97% of shoppers say that online reviews – or a lack of them – will influence their shopping decisions.
Because of this, you should encourage your customers to review your services and products online. Consider offering them a freebie, or a coupon for a discount if they review your services – even if they give you a less-than-stellar review. The more honest reviews you get, the better!
5. Consider Pay-Per-Click Advertising to Boost the Profile of Your Business
Organic SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and the above techniques can only bring in so many customers. To reach even more people, you should consider PPC (Pay-per-click) advertising on Google, Facebook, and on other ad networks.
By paying for ads, you can reach a much larger audience – and bring in more customers. It may be a good idea to consult with a professional to learn more, and to ensure that you maximize your ROI (Return On Investment) when using PPC ad platforms.
Use These Tips – And Market Your Business More Effectively Online!
With these 5 simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to marketing success. So, keep this advice in mind, consult with a professional to optimize your web presence, and watch your business grow – and outpace the competition.
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