Top 12 marketing tactics for small businesses: Boost your digital presence
Are you a small business owner looking to make a big impact in the digital world? In today’s competitive landscape, it’s essential to have a strong marketing strategy that will help your business stand out from the crowd.
Build a successful marketing strategy the right way
With the right marketing tactics, you can increase brand awareness, attract more customers, and ultimately, drive business growth. In this article, we’ll explore 12 effective marketing tactics that are specifically tailored for small and medium sized businesses. From search engine optimisation (SEO) and social media marketing to video content, we’ll cover it all. So, let’s dive in and discover how you can boost your digital presence and bring customers to your website!
1. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
When it comes to digital marketing tactics, SEO is king. It’s all about optimising your website and content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). By implementing SEO best practices, you can increase your organic visibility and attract more targeted traffic to your website. Start by conducting keyword research to identify the terms and phrases that your target audience is searching for. Then, optimise your website’s on-page elements, such as meta tags, headings, and content, to align with those keywords. Additionally, focus on building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites to boost your website’s authority.
A Long term marketing plan with real value
Remember, SEO is an ongoing process, so keep monitoring and refining your strategy, search engines also like new and current content so by writing blogs or adding projects to your site – something we do a lot of at Nettl – you’ll stay ahead of the competition.
- “High-quality web content that’s useful, usable, and enjoyable is one of the greatest competitive advantages you can create for yourself online.” Kristina Halvorson’s, Owner of Brain Traffic
2. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
If you’re looking for quick results, PPC advertising is the way to go. With PPC, you pay for each click on your ads, which appear above the organic search results. You’ll notice these first when you visit search engines or even in some social media platforms.
Google ads work and are a good entry point to digital advertising for your business
The most popular PPC platform is Google Ads, where you can create text-based search ads, display ads, video ads, or even in-app mobile ads. By targeting specific keywords and demographics, you can reach your ideal customers and drive immediate traffic to your website. Remember to continually monitor and optimise your PPC campaigns to maximise your return on investment (ROI).
“According to Global Search Network, 63% of people have clicked on a Google ad.” thesocialshephard.com
3. Social Media Platforms – Social Media Marketing Strategy
In today’s digital age, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. As a small business, you can leverage the power of social media to connect with your target audience and build brand awareness. It’s a cost effective strategy whereby you can immediately reach existing customers and highlight campaigns using snappy visuals and content. Start by identifying the social media platforms that your target audience is most active on, whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Then, create engaging content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to interact with your brand. Don’t forget to utilise social media advertising options to reach a wider audience including potential customers and drive more traffic to your website.
Re-enforce brand awareness
An added benefit as well as the low cost of running social media channels is that you can amplify brand awareness and also improve SEO by providing links to accounts on your website. By using visuals and photography you can quickly enhance your brand identity which will help customers remember your business and services, user generated content adds to appeal and authenticity. You’re also able to run segmented and precise campaigns through social media channels, that focus on products or services that you want to market specifically as part of a digital marketing campaign.
“It’s not about the amount of time you devote but rather what you devote to that time that counts.” – Neil Patel, Marketing expert
4. Content Marketing
Content is king, and content marketing is the key to unlocking its power. By creating valuable, relevant, and consistent content, you can attract and engage your target audience. Start by identifying the pain points and challenges that your audience faces, and then create content that provides solutions and adds value. This can include blog posts, videos, infographics, eBooks, and more. Share your content across different channels, such as your website, social media platforms, and email newsletters, to reach a wider audience. Remember to optimise your content for SEO to increase its visibility in search engines.
“Content marketing is like a magnet that attracts your target audience. The more valuable and relevant your content is, the stronger the attraction.” – Mark Thompson, Content Strategist
5. Email Marketing Strategies
Email marketing is a powerful tool for reaching your audience directly and nurturing relationships with your customers. Start by building an email list of subscribers who have expressed interest in your products or services – these can be existing customers or potential customers who have been to your website. Then, create personalised and engaging email campaigns that provide value to your subscribers. This can include exclusive offers, helpful tips, product updates, or even a monthly newsletter.
Targeted content marketing
Remember to segment your email list based on demographics, interests, or purchase history to deliver targeted and relevant content., for example, if you have a product discount, target potential customers who have viewed that product previously.
“Email has stayed relevant thanks to unceasing waves of innovation in terms of design, content, and targeting..” – Chad S. White, author of the book Email Marketing Rules
6. Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is all about leveraging the influence and reach of individuals with a large online following to promote your brand and generate awareness. Identify influencers who align with your target audience and industry, and collaborate with them to create content or endorse your products or services. This can be through sponsored posts, product reviews, or brand ambassadorships. By selecting sponsors wisely you can reach your target market from an authentic source which translates across to your brand. Influencers with a particularly strong social media presence are a necessity, you might also find that most influencers have a broad appreciation of mixed media and are happy to work with design colatoral or video content which can is an effective marketing strategy. Just be sure to do due diligence and ensure that the influencer you want to work with has a similar code of ethics as your brand and so you aren’t at risk of damaging your brand reputation.
“If people like you, they’ll listen to you. But if they trust you, they’ll do business with you. Brands no longer own their message. They can try to control it, but they do not own it.” Kim Garst, Marketing Strategist & Keynote Speaker
7. Video Marketing Strategies
Video is one of the most engaging and shareable forms of content, making it a great tool for marketing your small business. Videos should form a chunk of your digital marketing strategy as they have such a broad range of applications and production styles. You can create videos that showcase your products or services, provide tutorials or demonstrations, or share customer testimonials. Videos can be hosted by a multitude of platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram to increase website visitors or embedded on your website. Optimise them for SEO to increase their visibility. You can pair video content with other forms of marketing to create simultaneous campaign material through social media that targets specific audiences. Read more on our blog, 8 ways video and animation can help your business.
Expressive video campaigns create buzz and add personality to marketing strategies
Videos can increase brand awareness by adhering to your brand identity and give your customers a flavour of your brands tone of voice. Don’t be afraid to get creative and think outside the box when it comes to video marketing, video is also a great way to show off your personable side, encouraging customers to do business with the human side of the business.
“Video marketing is about understanding a problem and solving it with one piece of content.” – Jon Mowatt, Video Marketing Specialist
8. Local Search Marketing
For small businesses with a physical location, local search marketing is a crucial marketing tactic for attracting customers in your area. Start by claiming and optimising your Google business listing, ensuring that your business information is accurate and up to date. At Nettl we have experience with Google business profile management and optimising listings for clients, ensuring that customers find businesses quickly. Encourage customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or Facebook, as positive reviews can boost your local search rankings by increasing the ranking of search engine optimisation (SEO). Additionally, engage with your local community by participating in local events, sponsoring local organisations, or partnering with other businesses. Read more on our blog Unlocking the Power of Google Business Profile Management.
“We have to find ways to make our brand what searchers seek out.” – Rand Fishkin, SparkToro CEO and co-founder
9. Referral Marketing
Referral marketing – alternatively known as, word of mouth marketing – is all about leveraging your existing customers to drive new business. Encourage your satisfied customers to refer their friends, family, or colleagues to your business by offering incentives or rewards. This can be in the form of discounts, freebies, or exclusive access to special events. It’s a useful marketing strategy because customers will trust referrals from family and friends and so there is already an implemented brand trust associated with these types of leads. Implementing a referral program not only helps you acquire new customers but also strengthens existing customer loyalty.
“Focus on good quality connections. They can last a lifetime.” – Kelli Doorne-Millott, marketing consultant
10. Mobile Marketing
With the increasing use of smartphones, mobile marketing has become essential for reaching your target audience. Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and responsive, as most users access the internet through their mobile devices. Consider implementing mobile-specific marketing tactics, such as SMS marketing, mobile apps, or location-based advertising. By optimising your marketing efforts for mobile, you can engage with your audience anytime, anywhere.
“Mobile marketing is like having a pocket-sized billboard that travels with your customers wherever they go. It allows you to stay connected and engage with them in real-time.” – Alex Turner, Mobile Marketing Specialist
11. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Building strong relationships with your customers is essential for long-term success. Implementing a customer relationship management (CRM) system can help you streamline your interactions with customers, track their preferences and purchase history, and provide personalised experiences. By understanding your customers’ needs and preferences, you can tailor your marketing efforts to deliver targeted and relevant messages. In the long-run it can help you organise your strategies and save you time and money by seeing which customers are open to marketing.
“The more you engage with customers, the clearer things become and the easier it is to determine what you should be doing.” – John Russell
12. Analytics and Data-driven Decision Making
To make informed marketing decisions, it’s crucial to analyse data and measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Implement analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to track key metrics, such as website traffic, conversion rates, or social media engagement. Use these insights to identify what’s working and what’s not, and make data-driven adjustments to your marketing strategy that can target potential customers specifically. Remember, marketing is an iterative process, so always be open to testing, learning, and optimising.
Cost effective marketing tactic
The best thing about Google Analytics is that its free-to-use, which means for a small business you can make a real difference to your marketing messages for very little cost.
“Google Analytics is the best friend of all Digital Marketers as it dictates the decision making and success of every websites.” – Dr. Chris Dayagdag, CEO of Marketlink Web Solutions
Nettl’s summary
In conclusion, marketing tactics play a crucial role in the success of small businesses in the digital world. By implementing a combination of these 12 effective tactics, you can boost your digital presence, attract more customers, and drive business growth. Remember to continuously monitor and refine your marketing strategy to stay ahead of the competition. Using a variety of these tactics across a consistent marketing campaign will show re-enforce your marketing messages. The best marketing strategies do this the best and lead to organic traffic as well as direct traffic to your website. So, embrace these tactics, get creative, and let your small business shine in the digital landscape!
“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” – Bruce Lee
