Small Business Marketing Tips for 2015
Embrace Technology: There is a tendency in small business to “stick with what works”, and while that is definitely true for the products and services you provide and the customers you serve, that’s not enough.
Mobile technology has changed the world. We are in a revolutionary time and smart phones, tablets and other hand-held devices have changed marketing forever and it will continue to evolve at the speed of light for the foreseeable future. Things to consider:
It doesn’t matter what your small business is, your customers are on social media, have mobile devices and in order to retain your customers and attract new ones you need to “invade” their devices with your value proposition. This is done through your new or existing website, adding a mobile “app” to spread the word of what you have to offer and finally start your own social media presence starting with Facebook and adding Twitter and Instagram. Find an expert who can help.
Traditional Marketing: This is an annual tip but too often overlooked. Small business owners fear losing existing customers and attracting new ones every day. Competition is fierce, especially if your business is successful. There are some who say you can’t spend enough on marketing. Embracing technology enhances your presence, but traditional media advertising like newsprint, radio, cable and local television is tried and true. If your business is in a cost cutting mode, the expense of marketing should be last to cut. If you are in a growth mode then investing in marketing is equally as important as investing in additional capacity or equipment. You have to stay out front with your current and future customers.
In-Depth Content: In addition to technology, advertising across websites and mobile devices, the search engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing) need to find you and place you on or near the top of the results page. These searches are initiated more and more from mobile devices then from conventional computers and the search algorithms are more complex with each passing year. The result of which is the content on your web, in order to be recognized by these algorithms need original, in-depth content. These are the blogs about your goods and services, your customers’ testimonials and case studies (sometimes referred to as white papers) that should be included on your updated site. Simply stated, search engines no longer search sites for keywords, they search for content. Sites with 2,000 to 5,000 word articles are more likely to be returned by search engines than simple statements.
The best way to ensure SEO is finding what you have to offer is to check with your current Webmaster for advice and upgrades that will satisfy the latest search algorithms. They will make sure your content is original because algorithms know plagiarism when they find it. They will enhance and develop the in-depth content necessary to place your site on the first results page. You may have a great site, but you need the searchers to find it.
Network: This is another traditional approach that never grows old. Join your industry’s association. Become a member of your local Chamber of Commerce. Share some of these marketing tips, and their related expenses with your neighborhood businesses. Seek out complimentary businesses and link your site to theirs and theirs to yours.
Take heed. Each year is more competitive than the last and 2015 will be no different. Arm yourself with these tips and be ready.
Mobile technology has changed the world. We are in a revolutionary time and smart phones, tablets and other hand-held devices have changed marketing forever and it will continue to evolve at the speed of light for the foreseeable future. Things to consider:
- Advertising on social media
- Web enabled order taking
- Mobile enabled order taking
- Electronic scheduling
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
It doesn’t matter what your small business is, your customers are on social media, have mobile devices and in order to retain your customers and attract new ones you need to “invade” their devices with your value proposition. This is done through your new or existing website, adding a mobile “app” to spread the word of what you have to offer and finally start your own social media presence starting with Facebook and adding Twitter and Instagram. Find an expert who can help.
Traditional Marketing: This is an annual tip but too often overlooked. Small business owners fear losing existing customers and attracting new ones every day. Competition is fierce, especially if your business is successful. There are some who say you can’t spend enough on marketing. Embracing technology enhances your presence, but traditional media advertising like newsprint, radio, cable and local television is tried and true. If your business is in a cost cutting mode, the expense of marketing should be last to cut. If you are in a growth mode then investing in marketing is equally as important as investing in additional capacity or equipment. You have to stay out front with your current and future customers.
In-Depth Content: In addition to technology, advertising across websites and mobile devices, the search engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing) need to find you and place you on or near the top of the results page. These searches are initiated more and more from mobile devices then from conventional computers and the search algorithms are more complex with each passing year. The result of which is the content on your web, in order to be recognized by these algorithms need original, in-depth content. These are the blogs about your goods and services, your customers’ testimonials and case studies (sometimes referred to as white papers) that should be included on your updated site. Simply stated, search engines no longer search sites for keywords, they search for content. Sites with 2,000 to 5,000 word articles are more likely to be returned by search engines than simple statements.
The best way to ensure SEO is finding what you have to offer is to check with your current Webmaster for advice and upgrades that will satisfy the latest search algorithms. They will make sure your content is original because algorithms know plagiarism when they find it. They will enhance and develop the in-depth content necessary to place your site on the first results page. You may have a great site, but you need the searchers to find it.
Network: This is another traditional approach that never grows old. Join your industry’s association. Become a member of your local Chamber of Commerce. Share some of these marketing tips, and their related expenses with your neighborhood businesses. Seek out complimentary businesses and link your site to theirs and theirs to yours.
Take heed. Each year is more competitive than the last and 2015 will be no different. Arm yourself with these tips and be ready.