5 Ways Small Businesses Can Get Going with Online Marketing
You’ve done all the first steps when it comes to getting your business online. You’ve got a website, signed up with a hosting account, and maybe even learned how to accept payments.
But have you thought about marketing? Have you figured out how you can begin marketing your small business effectively and affordably? Often times this is left for last, and unfortunately it is probably the most important piece.
When you’re first starting out, you have to watch your pennies! Let’s take a look at some first steps when it comes to starting to market your business online.
5 Tips for marketing your small business online
Begin with a Blog – A blog is an excellent way to begin to build an online following for your small business. You can go a long way toward branding yourself and gaining the trust of people by being both accessible and knowledgeable.
Take social media seriously – We live in a world where social media rules the day. That’s where the people are, and if choose to not be there, you’ll soon be eclipsed by your competition.
Monitor your online reputation – Set up alerts so you can be aware of and respond to any social or website mentions of you or your company. It’s much easier to do this and catch something when it’s a small spark before it ignites into a firestorm.
Start building a list from Day One – One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to not start building a list of leads from the beginning. Your list is your lifeline to a lasting and profitable business. Don’t neglect to start one!
Use online directories and be consistent – Take advantage of the numerous and influential online directories, such as Yelp, Google My Business, Merchant Circle and others. Be sure that your information and locations are correct across each platform.