How ToEmpower Your Small Business through Digital Marketing?

by

03 June 2019

Marketing

Digital Marketing

Ten years ago, if any small business wanted to promote itself, chances are that there were not many credible platforms around. Credible in terms of affordability and ensuring definite ROIs. For small businesses with low budgets, competing with big brands and Above The Line (ATL) advertising, was simply not possible.

However, in the past few years, the surge of the digital revolution meant that small businesses could make their presence felt in this world. As digital becomes a part of human existence, digital marketing has emerged as a reasonable, definite and direct marketing tool to help small brands.

From a brand website to Social Media Marketing, small brands have embraced the digital revolution wholeheartedly. This has helped them-

  • Drive traffic to their website
  • Make more sales conversions
  • Increase their revenues
  • Build an online community
  • Reach out to newer consumers

In this article, we look at the top 3 digital marketing strategies that are being used by small brands to help them grow their businesses.

1. Brand Website:

Let us start with the foundation of digital marketing. A brand website is like an online address for your brand. In many ways, it is similar to the physical store that the brand may or may not have. By being on Google search, every brand improves its chances of being discovered.

This helps more and more people know about the brand. By climbing the search pages, small brands vie for more clicks and revenues. This also opens up different avenues of growing businesses. Like an e-commerce store, Google AdSense revenues, collaborations, and other sources.

A brand website is a first and foremost thing that a small brand should invest in. It does not require huge investments or technical know-how. By outlining your major products and services, small brands can attract a huge consumer base.

2. Social Media Marketing:

When social media burst onto the scene, no one had expected it to have such a great impact on human civilization. As human beings spend more time on social media than on any other life activity (apart from work or sleep), small brands have flocked to the medium aggressively.

The most attractive proposition that drives social media is good content. In addition, the medium is free, unless you want to promote yourself in a paid fashion. By maintaining social media presence, brands have been able to reach out to newer audiences and build engagements and communities.

From Facebook to Instagram, from Snapchat to Pinterest, small brands are competing aggressively with big brands. When it comes to social media, great content and strategy take priority over outright infusion of money. You can learn more here about ways of using digital marketing for social effectively.

3. Google My Business (GMB):

Like social media, Google My Business has helped small brands integrate their online-offline presence. In other words, GMB helps local businesses find audiences by linking them to local populations and geographical locations.

For example, if anyone Google’s ‘Cake Shop’, Google located the person’s GPS and shows him the nearest cake shops in the area. If a small cake shop maintains its GMB page and is active on it, GMB will show that establishment right at the top.

This is one of the best digital platforms for small brands to maintain their online presence. Not only is GMB free, but it is also very credible and effective. All small brands need to do is maintain a thriving GMB profile.

Conclusion

Gone are those days when hoarding, billboards and TV primetime were the only ways of reaching audiences. The digital transformation has made digital marketing a potent force for small brands to excel. By maintaining an online presence, small brands can transform their businesses completely.

Read Also:

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Marketing

Your Business Needs Marketing To Survive – Here’s Why

Marketing is, as many people argue, the backbone of all business success. Creating and running a business that offers a fantastic service and/or product line is just the beginning. How do you get the word out about your business to attract customers or clients effectively? Marketing is one common factor that all successful businesses share. Without it, business owners are effectively working in the dark. Here Are 3 Prime Reasons Your Business Needs Marketing To build revenue and to continue doing so, people need to know what sort of business you are and why your service or product is worth their time and money. 1. You need marketing to build a strong reputation Businesses need marketing to show potential customers why they're trustworthy and why they're the best at what they do. It can take the form of product demos, customer reviews, or even some persuasive text! Think about advertising we all see daily, whether on social media, TV or elsewhere. It all exists to help convince people that the advertisers are the ones to trust. Reputation is key to driving regular business, too. Marketing isn't just a one-step job. A successful business is constantly growing, always pitching and reaching out to people. Otherwise, the money dries up, and people lose jobs - simple! 2. You need marketing to stay relevant One of the critical principles graduates learn when studying for an online master's in marketing is the importance of relevance. Society - and tastes - move very quickly and change as people develop and age. Regardless of a business' industry or demographic, it's vital to look carefully at technological trends, for example. Relevance is tricky to balance if a business isn't actively communicating with its customers. Market research is crucial when gauging opinion. Marketers need to learn more about why customers invest in specific services and what they'd like to change (if anything). Evolving business marketing is vital to survival. Consider a huge brand such as Kodak, which made billions from traditional photography. As digital photography phased out mainstream photo development, they changed their marketing, pivoting towards printing supplies and selling their own digital cameras. Adjusting to a changing market - and keeping a finger on the pulse - keeps a business alive. 3. You need marketing to make the money From content marketing to active outreach, there are many ways to speak to customers. However, you can't expect to generate revenue if you don't talk to them. Simply running a service and developing products isn't enough. People need to know who you are. Marketing is, essentially, shouting about your business repeatedly, thereby building awareness. Sometimes, it's not even about how loud you shout, but what you shout - and when! Businesses that don't market themselves will only ever have a client pool as large as they currently have. Therefore, the need for marketing experts (and in-house teams) will never go away. The role of a marketer, too, is one that changes day after day - it's always interesting to work. Additionals: Case Study as a Marketing ToolHow to Manage Your Marketing DataWhy A Business Should Use Facebook RemarketingShould You Consider Outsourcing Your Brand’s Marketing Campaign?

READ MOREDetails
Automation Tools

How Automation Tools Are Transforming Digital Marketing?

When it comes to digital marketing, automation tools are no longer just a futuristic concept; they have become a fundamental part of the marketer's toolkit. Automation not only enhances efficiency but also brings a level of sophistication and precision to marketing campaigns that were previously unattainable. To explore its applications further, here’s a look at how automation tools are transforming the field of digital marketing, backed by facts and recommendations that may not be commonly known. The Emergence of Automation in Digital Marketing The digital marketing world is inherently fast-paced and dynamic, with an ever-growing need for more efficient and effective strategies. This is where automation tools step in. They are designed to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks such as email marketing, social media posting, and ad campaigns. But apart from streamlining repetitive and time-consuming tasks, there are several other ways in which automation tools have impacted the field of digital marketing. These are as follows: Enhanced Personalization and Targeting One of the most significant impacts of automation in digital marketing is the ability to personalize content at scale. With advanced data analysis capabilities, automation tools can segment audiences more precisely and tailor messages to meet the specific needs and interests of different groups. This granular approach to targeting not only increases the relevance of marketing messages but also boosts engagement rates. For instance, automated email marketing campaigns are known to result in a 70.5% higher open rate and a 152% higher click-through rate compared to standard emails, as per Campaign Monitor’s data. Streamlining Marketing Operations Automation tools streamline various aspects of marketing operations, from lead generation to customer retention strategies. They allow marketers to set up triggers based on user actions, ensuring timely and appropriate responses. For example, a user visiting a particular product page can automatically receive targeted emails or ads related to that product. This streamlined approach not only saves time but also ensures a cohesive and consistent marketing effort. Other Benefits and Recommendations Here are some other benefits of using Automation tools in the field of digital marketing: Predictive Analytics for Future Planning Beyond just automating tasks, some sophisticated automation tools now incorporate predictive analytics. This feature uses historical data to forecast future trends and consumer behaviors, allowing marketers to plan more proactive and strategic campaigns. Automated A/B Testing for Optimized Results While A/B testing is a known practice, automating this process can significantly enhance its effectiveness. Automated A/B testing can simultaneously test multiple variables, providing quicker and more accurate results to optimize marketing strategies. Integration with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Integrating automation tools with CRM systems can create a more seamless customer journey. This integration ensures that all customer interactions, from initial contact to post-sale service, are tracked and managed effectively, leading to improved customer experiences and loyalty. Data-Driven Insights Marketing automation tools provide valuable data on user interactions, allowing marketers to make informed decisions. It helps identify audience preferences, optimize campaigns, and improve overall performance. Consistent Branding Automation tools maintain a consistent style across marketing channels, including visuals, content, and communications. This consistency enhances brand reputation in the competitive digital space. Social Media Integration Social media automation tools enable scheduled posts across platforms. Marketers can create content in advance, post at optimal times, and engage with audiences more efficiently. This results in better social media presence and increased engagement. Lead Nurturing and Generating Quality Leads Using automation tools allows marketers to nurture leads at every stage of the customer journey. For instance, when a user downloads a brochure from your website, marketing automation can automatically send personalized follow-up emails based on their interactions. This personalized approach increases the chances of conversion. Furthermore, 86% of marketers believe that marketing automation has improved lead quality. By analyzing user behavior and personalizing content, automation tools help attract and retain high-quality leads. The Challenges and Ethical Considerations While the benefits are substantial, there are challenges and ethical considerations in using automation tools. One major concern is the potential for a lack of personal touch. Marketers must balance automation with human interaction, especially in customer service and content creation. Additionally, data privacy and security are paramount. This is one of the most crucial considerations when it comes to using automation tools in digital marketing. Transparency and consent are absolutely essential. Hence, marketers must always inform users about data collection and usage beforehand. Moreover, with automation tools handling vast amounts of personal data, marketers must ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR and prioritize data security to maintain consumer trust. We have discussed some other challenges and ethical considerations of using Automation tools in digital marketing: Quality vs. Quantity Using automation tools can help to generate large volumes of leads but not all of them will be high quality. Focusing on the quantity of leads as opposed to quality can harm conversion rates. Hence, marketers should prioritize lead quality along with quantity to build meaningful relationships with customers. Customer Experience Overuse of automation tools can lead to impersonal interactions and can make brands seem robotic and detached. This spoils the consumer’s experience with the brand and results in a loss of authenticity. Hence, organizations should only use automation to enhance personalization not replace genuine human connection. The Future of Automation in Digital Marketing Looking ahead, the role of automation in digital marketing is set to become even more significant. Advances in AI and machine learning are expected to introduce even more sophisticated automation capabilities. As per Gartner’s prediction, by 2023, 40% of infrastructure and operations teams in large enterprises will use AI-augmented automation, resulting in higher IT productivity. We have explored some of the predictions and trends below: Automating High-Value Actions: Brands will move beyond automating repetitive tasks. They’ll focus on automating quality customer experiences, especially as consumers prioritize personalized interactions. Marketing, Sales, and Success Alignment: Teams (marketing, sales, and success) will collaborate more closely. Automation workflows will account for user behavior beyond marketing, ensuring a seamless customer journey. Automation as a Vital Part of CRMs: CRMs will integrate automation seamlessly. Sales professionals will leverage technology to close deals, enhancing efficiency and customer relationship management. Across a Company’s App Stack: Automation won’t be limited to marketing. It’ll extend across various business functions, optimizing processes and improving overall productivity. Business Chatbots as Full-Time Agents: Chatbots will evolve beyond simple responses. They’ll handle complex interactions, provide real-time assistance, and enhance customer support. AI for Automated Decision-Making: Artificial intelligence will drive data-driven decisions. Marketers will rely on AI algorithms for campaign optimization, targeting, and content recommendations. Automating Data Collection and Reporting: Automation tools will gather and analyze data efficiently. Real-time insights will inform marketing strategies and performance measurement. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) RPA will help businesses become more productive by automating repetitive tasks, reducing errors, and freeing up human resources. Improve Efficiency and Productivity With Marketing Automation Today, automation tools are not just transforming digital marketing; they are redefining it. By embracing these tools, marketers can unlock new levels of efficiency, personalization, and strategic insight. In this process, it’s crucial to approach automation with a balance, ensuring that the human element of marketing remains intact. As we continue to navigate the ever-changing digital landscape, the integration of automation in digital marketing strategies is not just a trend – it's a necessity for staying competitive and relevant in today’s digital marketplace. For further support, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an experienced digital marketing agency. Read Also: What Makes Automation Testing Essential For Retail? What Is YouTube Automation? Everything You Need To Know The Rapid Growth In The Global Industrial Automation Market

READ MOREDetails
Marketing Strategies

The 4 Essential Marketing Strategies To Help Boost Any Small Business’s Revenue

When your small business needs to bolster its revenue, you may want to revamp your marketing strategy. Although you may not think that your approach to marketing can have a dramatic effect on your bottom line, the truth is that good advertising can help attract new customers, make new sales, and even improve the company’s reputation within the industry over time. Small businesses should look to aggressively pursue digital marketing strategies to ensure a strong online presence. With search engines and social media becoming the most important platforms for reaching new customers, building visibility, and driving sales. Effective digital marketing strategies like SEO, SMM, PPC, and Content Marketing can generate revenues and profits for a small business. However, settling on an effective marketing strategy can seem difficult, especially if you’re a new small business owner. Fortunately, there are four essential strategies that can help any business expand its efforts, gain name recognition, and eventually boost revenue as well. Check out the top options you should consider adopting for your own small business. 1. Writing and Posting Tailor-Made Company Content Whether you’d prefer to write your content yourself, hire the best content writing services out there to help with writing and editing, or hire a new staff member to handle content matters, writing and regularly posting tailor-made company content is one of the top ways to take your marketing strategy to the next level today. A company blog, website, or social media channels can allow your customers to get to know your business better anytime, anywhere. Moreover, having a business book increases business value and it can open doors to numerous off-shoot opportunities for reach and sales. This strategy not only allows you to put out marketing materials on a low budget, but it can also help you: Keep readers updated on news in the company Improve SEO efforts to get additional website clicks Demonstrate professional expertise Hone and strengthen a distinctive, professional brand voice 2. Expanding Advertising Across Numerous Digital Channels If you’re still stuck advertising on a single channel, such as print media, now is the time to consider expanding your marketing horizons. Using social media for business purposes is one modern trend that can help your company reach out to large numbers of consumers at once. If you don’t have profiles set up already, you may want to look into starting company pages on: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook YouTube Twitter 3. Crafting Highly Creative and Strategic Print Advertisements Are your ads exciting to consumers, or are they coming off as generic and stale? If your print advertisements are a little on the boring side, you may have a hard time seeing a strong return on investment. That’s why it’s crucial to craft creative and strategic print ads that grab customers’ attention. For instance, you may want to consider: Advertising in the magazines your customers are most likely to read Strategically placing ads in highly circulated local newspapers Expanding a marketing campaign across multiple print channels, potentially even including highway billboards 4. Boosting Word-of-Mouth Advertising Among Longtime and Loyal Customers Finally, don’t discount the effectiveness of word-of-mouth advertising. If you have a strong base of longtime, loyal customers already, you may be able to lean on them to get the word out about your business. This strategy could help boost overall revenue while generally offering: Low to no financial burden Organic marketing An expanded base of trusting customers In order for any small business to survive and thrive, having strong revenue month after month is essential. However, if you don’t currently have a great marketing strategy in place, you may struggle to maintain current customers, attract new ones and gain name recognition within your industry. Thankfully, there are numerous tried-and-true marketing ideas that can help any small business gain a foothold in its sector and eventually boost the bottom line. If your company needs some financial help and you’re looking to revamp your approach to marketing, try posting tailor-made company content, advertising across several types of channels, crafting creative print advertisements, and boosting word-of-mouth advertising. These approaches can help you reach more consumers and possibly even improve your revenue streams over time. Read Also: Which Marketing Mix Element Deals Specifically With Retailing And Marketing Channel Management? The 7 Most Common Email Marketing Mistakes Content Marketing Mistakes You Shouldn’t Be Making Digital Marketing Classes: What You Need To Know

READ MOREDetails