Digital technology has changed the way businesses work. Today, you do not need to bank on outdated channels to promote your brand. Whether your motivation is increasing your brand awareness or attracting more qualified customers, you can leverage digital technology to impact your business’s digital marketing strategy. Whether you run a small-scale business or a multinational company, digital marketing levels the playing field and allows you to expand your reach within any budget. So, if you are a startup and looking for a fast yet cost-effective way to grow your business, then a strong digital marketing plan tailored to your small business will help you achieve these goals.
Digital Marketing for Small Businesses
Today, almost 59.5% of the global population is active on the internet and your business can benefit from leveraging digital marketing as a result. Using the right combination of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and digital ads will help your business grow its reach and find more customers today.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO or Search Engine Optimization is one of the most important digital marketing techniques you can incorporate into your digital marketing strategy. SEO is a technique that benefits your small business by ranking you higher on search results for keywords you target. This is achieved when you prioritize certain keywords in your website that your potential customers may search. The higher your website ranks on search engines, the greater credibility you gain and the more people will view your website.
To optimize your SEO efforts, you must consider a variety of measures, including incorporating the right keywords into content, crafting compelling meta descriptions, creating targeted URLs, claiming your Google My Business listing, and building backlinks. Ensure that the design of your website is user-friendly with meaningful and engaging content. Improving your user experience benefits your SEO ranking and in turn, benefits your small business.
Google My Business Page
As a small business, you should prioritize your local market. Claiming your Google My Business listing is a great way to increase your local exposure. A Google My Business listing benefits your business by ranking it higher in local searches, making it easier for your potential customers to find you in Google searches. Activating this service also allows you to list your business on Google Maps, an important feature, especially if you have a physical location where your customers can find you. On Google Maps, you can easily share information about your business including address, contact number, website and opening/closing time with your customers through search engines.
Email Marketing Campaigns
Email marketing is a cost-effective method of communication that you can leverage for your small business and is a great option if you want to use digital marketing on a smaller budget. Known for reaching customers in real-time, email has the highest conversion rate due to its engagement abilities. Email marketing can be used to promote new product launches, build better relationships with customers, and allows you to update your customers quickly with personalized content.
Social Media Marketing
Specifying the geographic area for your ad targeting helps you pre-qualify relevant groups of Google searchers. One of the greatest mistakes that marketers make when creating their restaurant’s Google Ads is not targeting the right audience group, but you can minimize this problem by driving traffic from searchers only within your restaurant’s geographic area.
Having conversations with front-of-house staff and managers can help you learn your geographic reach by asking how far clients travel to your restaurant. Typically, diners generally don’t drive more than about 30–45 minutes to visit a restaurant. Unless there is a big event happening, customers like to look for restaurants in their area. You can use this information to help you target ads at people who are likely to visit your restaurant on the basis of physical proximity.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Campaigns
n digital marketing, generating organic traffic might take some time. However, if you prefer to invest in short-term, faster growth, a PPC campaign is the perfect digital marketing tactic to help your small business. It enables your business to gain higher visibility on search engines instantly. Though your business needs to pay for PPC campaigns, you only pay for the clicks you generate.
Moreover, it allows you to have control over your budget and schedule. If you decide to cut back spending on PPC, you have the freedom to reduce your spending on this channel by changing keywords. With PPC ads, you can also set a target and only pay to find qualified leads.
Digital Marketing Tactics Can Help Grow Your Small Business in Ottawa
The above-mentioned digital marketing strategies for small businesses are time-tested. When incorporated into your marketing strategy correctly, these tactics can benefit your business immensely. However, it is important to remember that every business is different and has individual needs and goals. While designing a digital marketing strategy, always consider consulting an experienced digital marketer for maximum opportunity and growth.
