Most businesses today know about the advantages of the web for their business, but not all of them are taking advantage of this strategy to the fullest extent. If mobile-ready web design, social media advertising, and pay per click marketing elude you, it may be time to reassess your online marketing strategy — if you even have one at all.
If you’re new to internet advertising, you’re not alone. Check out these three marketing tips for small businesses that are sure to boost your reputation on the web (and even your sales, too):
Create or redesign your website.
The benefits of having a website are numerous. Not only does this give customers an easy way to find out about your business, but it also helps to legitimize what you do. Think about it: when was the last time you saw a business that didn’t have a website. It had to be quite a while ago, and the ones without websites are unlikely to be very well known by most people. Also, along with developing a website for laptops and PCs, many types of marketing services can also create a mobile-ready site that will help smartphone users find your company while they’re out and about. Around 100 billion search engine inquiries are performed each month all around the world, and more of those inquires are coming from mobile phones each day.
While you’re looking into website design, this may also be a good time to take at your company’s IT managed services and network security systems, especially if your customers regularly use your website for bill pay or purchasing. Nothing can hurt your business faster than bad publicity, and the security of consumer information is a hot button topic given the numerous high profile data breaches that have occurred recently. Find out how you can beef up your website’s security when you work with a designer, especially if that site is used for eCommerce.
Promote using social media.
In addition to redesigning and hosting your website, you may also want to look into social media advertising services. These types of marketing services are excellent for promoting your business (and your newly created website). How does social media help businesses? Using platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and even review sites like Yelp gives consumers an easy way to look up your business at home or on the go. It also gives you the chance to connect with those customers, receive feedback from them, and more easily track your customer engagement. Around 93% of marketers use social media for promotion, and with 91% of American adults using these websites and apps on a regular basis, it’s no wonder that it’s become so popular for advertising.
Advertise with pay per click promotions.
Finally, there are a few other ways that you can bring customers into your store or onto your website without waiting for them to look you up. One such way is to promote with pay per click advertising to display ads pointing to your website. How does pay per click work? Pay per click advertising places your business’s website link on Google and other search engines for specific terms, so users looking for information will see your name above the search results.
Have any more questions about the different types of marketing services on the web that can help your business? Leave a comment below.