81% of SMB owners own the success of their business during the pandemic to their marketing strategy.
71% felt their marketing strategy was critical for the survival of their business.
No matter the objectives your business wants to achieve, you need an effective marketing strategy to achieve them.
Here are the top digital marketing strategies for SMBs and agencies' growth that you can use to boost your business.
Keep Your Customers In The Loop
Digital communication is super important nowadays. Businesses have really changed the way they interact with customers.
You gotta keep your customers in the loop by sharing community updates about your business. It's a big deal if you wanna grow your business today. It helps build trust and makes people more aware of your brand.
Here are some action tips for you:
- Make sure you update your website and landing pages whenever you make changes to your business.
- Double-check that all your info is correct on Google My Business and other platforms, like your Facebook page. That includes your contact info, business hours, and any updates to your services, like take-out and delivery options.
- Don't forget to share important updates on your social media pages. It's a great way to keep your followers in the know.
Our latest collab is about to make a big splash… #ShowMeTheOREO pic.twitter.com/5rl6x6kks9
— OREO Cookie (@Oreo) June 14, 2023
- And last but not least, use email marketing to inform your customers about any changes or special deals you have going on.
Ensure Your Marketing Is Reaching The Right People
It's important to actively and empathetically think about your target audience's needs and concerns. Put yourself in their shoes and figure out how you can provide them with value.
Don't be shy to ask your customers what they want! Once you know, respond accordingly to them.
Now, when it comes to advertising your offerings, do it consciously and with a purpose. You want to make a maximum impact, right?
So, find that sweet spot where you address your customers' short-term needs while keeping your long-term goals in mind. It's all about balance, especially depending on the industry you are in.
Here are some action tips to help you out:
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Figure out how your products or services can meet the demand remotely. Adapt and find creative ways to deliver what your customers need, even if they can't physically come to your location.
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Create and share content that directly addresses your customers' current needs and concerns. Let them know you understand what they are going through and that you are here to help.
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Boost your performance with retargeting campaigns. These are awesome because they allow you to show focused and well-timed targeted ads to people who have already interacted with your business online. It's a great way to stay on their radar.
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Reach out to new customers through paid search marketing and social media advertising. These channels let you precisely target your key demographics.
Image Source: Trello
Engage With Your Community
If your business relies on the local community, then localized marketing and engagement should be right at the heart of your strategy.
These days, your community, whether it's physical or virtual, really wants to support local businesses. They are all about ordering take-out or delivery from neighborhood restaurants, shopping online at local stores, and using services virtually.
Since your business thrives on community support, it's important to make sure your content strategy reflects local intent. Offer products or services that cater to your specific local market and audience.
Here are some action tips to help you out:
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Get your website optimized with local search engine optimization (SEO). This way, you will have a strong presence in geographically-targeted searches. When people in your area search for businesses like yours, you want to show up front and center.
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Don't forget to post community updates on your website and social media channels. Keep your customers in the loop about what's happening locally. Put some extra effort into delivering top-notch customer service. That will keep them coming back for more.
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Show some love to your customers and followers on social media. Thank them for their support, and let them know all the different ways they can continue to support your business.
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Give shout-outs to any businesses you partner with. It's a great way to strengthen those local connections and show that you are all in this together.
Use New Marketing Channels To Innovate Your Business
Creatively connect with your audience. It's all about finding unique ways to position your business. If it's feasible, consider offering your products or services online or tweak your current eCommerce strategy.
Share content that is relevant to the current situation and aligned with your brand. This way, you can virtually educate your followers and give your business that human touch.
Show them why they should continue to support you, your awesome employees, and your business as a whole.
Here are some action tips to get you going:
- Set up an online store right on your website or through Instagram Shopping. People can easily browse and purchase your products or services online. It's all about convenience for your customers.
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Share educational tips related to your products or services on your website's blog and across your social media channels. This not only showcases your expertise but also provides value to your audience. Plus, it's a great way to keep them engaged.
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Get creative with video content! You can create engaging videos, do live streams, or even give a platform like TikTok a shot. Visual content is super powerful and can really capture people's attention. Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things.
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Promote what makes your business unique. Highlight your most relevant products or services, showcase the hard-working employees behind your brand, and let people know about any specialties your business has. Show them why you stand out from the crowd.
Boost Brand Loyalty Via Thoughtful Positivity
In times like Covid, the world could definitely spread more good news and generosity. So, here's what you gotta do:
Align with your company's values and be inspiring in a helpful and authentic way. Connect with your audience and address the current situation head-on.
Show them an upbeat and useful take on your products or offer extra services that are practical and necessary right now.
Spread encouragement by supporting and giving back to the community. And don't forget to share with your online community how you are making a difference!
Here are some action tips to put this into motion:
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Keep it real but positive! Share encouraging news and relevant, inspiring content in your content strategy. It's all about lifting people's spirits and giving them something to look forward to.
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Get visual! Post eye-catching images and user-generated content to engage with your loyal customers. Visuals can make a big impact and keep your audience hooked.
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Showcase your company values and philanthropic efforts on your website and social media channels. Let people see the heart behind your business and what you stand for.
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Run a giveaway contest featuring your products or services. Get people excited and involved. And if you wanna amp it up, collaborate with other brands for a shared giveaway. Double the fun, double the impact!
Social Media Is A Contact Sport
On social media, it's not enough to just have a presence. You gotta actively connect with your audience and customers. It's all about establishing those meaningful connections.
You want your customers to feel like they truly matter. So, show them that they are an essential part of your brand.
This builds loyalty and turns your online followers into brand ambassadors. They will be spreading the word about you!
Here are some effective marketing strategies for engaging with your audience:
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Online communities or forums: These are fantastic platforms to foster interaction and conversation with your audience. It's a space where people can come together, ask questions, share ideas, and connect with others who have similar interests.
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Loyalty or reward programs: Offering rewards to your loyal customers is an excellent way to keep them engaged and make them feel appreciated. Plus, it can encourage repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals.
Image Source: Blume
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Customer reviews: Encourage your customers to leave reviews and feedback. Authentic reviews can go a long way in building trust with potential customers. And you know what they say, referral-based sales have a higher chance of closing!
If you are confused about how to ask for reviews from your customers, our guide is the perfect place to start!
Go Beyond Just Content
Let's get to the dynamic duo of marketing: content and simplicity. Content may be king, but don't forget that simplicity is queen.
When you are crafting your marketing strategy, these two factors should always go hand in hand, especially when it comes to raising awareness of your brand.
After all, what good is your content if it's too complicated for your audience to understand?
But content creation is just one piece of the puzzle. Search engine optimization (SEO) and link building are other crucial strategies that should be paired with content marketing.
You want your unique and relevant content to be easily discoverable by people searching the web. So, here are some strategies to make your content shine and get noticed on the vast internet:
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Create high-quality content that adds value to your audience's lives. Think about what they want, and craft content that resonates with their needs. When your content is valuable, people will naturally want to share it with others, resulting in expanding your reach.
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Use specific keywords that are relevant to your content and your target audience. This helps your content rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) and makes it more likely for people to find it when they search for related topics. Remember to optimize those keywords regularly to stay on top of the SEO game.
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Don't forget to include reliable third-party links and citations on your web pages. This adds authority to your content. When you reference reputable sources, it shows that you have done your research and that your content can be trusted.
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Use social media and other websites to share links that lead users back to your website. Sharing your content on social media platforms and collaborating with other websites can help drive traffic and increase visibility.
Say No To Hard Selling
The days of hard selling and cold calling are long gone. Why? Because your consumers have evolved. They are now powered by the vast amount of information they can find online about any brand.
This means they are more likely to do their homework, research thoroughly, and make informed decisions instead of impulsive ones when it comes to spending their hard-earned money.
So, instead of pushing for direct sales, it's time to switch gears. Educate your audience on why they need your products or services.
Make sure you have all the important information available on your website and social media platforms. When potential customers have access to this knowledge, it becomes easier for them to make a decision.
But that's not enough! Share data-driven knowledge and show your audience why your product or service is the perfect fit for them.
By doing this, you will not only raise brand awareness but also build authority and establish trust in what you have to offer.
Adapt to the new consumer mindset. Be informative, be helpful, and let your expertise shine. This way, you will capture the attention of your audience and guide them toward making the right choice.
Image Source: Omsom
Tell Your Brand Story
If you really want your audience to know and remember you, it's time to tell your brand story.
Having a brand story can make your audience relate to you on a deeper level. To craft a brand story, you need to be genuine, tap into your audience's emotions, and show them how you can enhance their lives.
Incorporate social causes into your brand story. Whether it's about sustainability, environmental initiatives, or giving back to your community, these can be fantastic additions to your brand narrative.
Not only does it strike a chord with your customers' hearts, but it also raises awareness for the amazing causes you support.
And if you are still not convinced, let me show you some stats. Did you know that 77% of consumers are more likely to purchase from companies that are committed to making the world a better place?
People want to support businesses that have a positive impact. Even investors take notice of this. 73% of them say that a brand's efforts to improve the environment and society influence their investment decisions.
This is how you create a brand that truly connects with your customers. Tell your story and change the world together!
Image Source: Story of Inception
Data Beats Opinions
How can you ensure that you are on the right track with your marketing strategies? That's where data and analytics come into the role. By diving into the numbers, you get to know what your company truly needs and discover the unbiased truth.
Having a data-driven marketing strategy gives your initiatives a much-needed direction. Start with some good old market research and competitor analysis.
By understanding the market - what your audience wants, what works, and what doesn't - you can position yourself for success.
Many social media platforms offer built-in analytics tools that give you a glimpse into how your business profiles are performing. And if you want to dive deeper, you can take the help of advanced social media analytics tools like Statusbrew.
Advanced social analytics tools like Statusbrew come with a lot of benefits that native analytics doesn't provide, such as:
- Cross-platform analytics
- Competitor reporting
- Sentiment analysis & social listening
- Advanced Audience Segmentation
- Campaign tracking
- Easy sharing & exporting of reports
And there's a lot more inside the store. Just sign up for a free trial to experience how we are different from other analytics tools.
Statusbrew is an all-in-one social media management tool that supports Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, and even Google My Business.
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