Why Your Small Business Needs Digital Marketing

Owning and operating a small business comes with some big challenges. Managing the day-to-day operations of your business can be incredibly time-consuming, leaving small business owners with little to no time to focus on their marketing.

Fortunately, digital marketing has become increasingly accessible for businesses of all sizes and is a highly effective way to reach new customers and grow your business. The right can help your small business gain a competitive edge, even over larger competitors.

Here, we will break down a few of the reasons why digital marketing is so beneficial for small businesses and provide some tips to help you get started.

Tip 1 | Why Digital Marketing Works For Small Businesses

Whether you’ve been in business for years or are just getting started, a strategic digital marketing plan can boost your business. It’s a common misconception that you need to be a big business with an even bigger budget to market yourself online, but there are ways for small businesses to affordably promote themselves online. Here are just a few reasons why digital marketing is the perfect tool for small businesses:

• It’s Efficient | Through digital marketing, there are many different ways to connect with your ideal audience. You can reach people who match your ideal customer with targeted advertising, stay in touch with current customers, and be seen by people who are actively looking for your products or services online.
• It’s Measurable | Adding to the incredible efficiency of digital marketing is how measurable it is. Using simple (and free) Analytics tools, you can monitor the performance of your digital marketing efforts to see what’s working (and what’s not). You can quickly optimize campaigns or adjust your budget and strategies to focus on the channels that are driving the most revenue.
• It’s Scaleable | Many marketing strategies require a major financial investment, which means you’re assuming a great deal of risk if your strategy falls flat. With digital marketing, there are many ways to promote your business at a cost that is comfortable for you. You can try a few different low-cost strategies and start learning what works. Once you’ve found the right approach, you can gradually scale up your budget.
• It’s Always “On” | One major benefit of digital marketing is that it never stops working. Even outside of business hours, your business is able to market itself online. With an effective digital strategy, you can connect with potential customers no matter where or when they are looking for your products or services online.
• It’s Perfect for Local Businesses | When you’re looking for a nearby restaurant, retail store, or other business, you probably turn to a search engine first. Your customers are doing the same thing. A strong digital presence can help you make sure potential customers are finding you online instead of your competition.

Tip 2 | How To Create A Digital Marketing Plan For Your Small Business

How do you create a stronger digital presence for your business? There are many components that can make up a complete digital marketing strategy. Often, it’s best to experiment with a variety of digital marketing channels in order to find the perfect mix for your business.

• A Quality Website | No matter what type of business you own and what overall digital marketing strategy you decide to use, your business needs an effective website. Your website serves as the foundation for virtually all of your other digital marketing efforts. To learn more about building an effective website, check out our blog, “5 Things Your Website Needs to Grow Your Business.”
• Search Engine Optimization | A beautiful website won’t benefit your business unless potential customers can find it. Through search engine optimization, or SEO, you can improve your rankings in key search results and make it easier for customers to find your business online. Effective SEO takes time and effort, so it helps to start with a solid strategy.
• Digital Advertising | While SEO enables you to connect with more potential customers online, digital advertising can help you reach an even wider (but still relevant) audience. By using digital advertising platforms, such as Google Ads and social media, you have the ability to share the right message with the right audience at the right time. If you need help choosing a digital marketing strategy that works for your budget and goals, read our blog, “3 Tips for Choosing the Right Digital Advertising Strategy.”
• Social Media Marketing | If you’re hoping to build and maintain relationships with your customers (while also boosting your visibility online), social media can be a valuable tool for your business. By building a presence on key social media platforms, you can share engaging content with your current customers and develop relationships with potential customers.

Digital marketing provides small business owners with many different opportunities to attract new customers and grow their businesses. However, before you invest in digital marketing for your business, it’s important to start by developing a strategy based on your goals and budget. Your strategy will serve as a roadmap that guides your various marketing efforts and keeps you on track.

If you’d like to learn more about how digital marketing can boost your business, but aren’t sure where to get started, contact our team for a free Digital Marketing Plan. Our team will take a look at your current digital presence and provide you with recommendations on what you can do to take your business to the next level online.