20 Digital Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

It can be difficult for small business owner's to find the resources and time to dedicate to digital marketing. It can also seem like a waste of time when after a week you don't see results. The important part about digital marketing, is remaining consistent and sticking to your strategy. No longer can a business just scrape by on the minimum effort social media posts.

1. Identify Your Target Audience:

Knowing who you're trying to reach makes your marketing efforts more focused and effective. It can mean the difference between spending your time posting to linkedIn vs posting to Facebook, both can be good but are two completely different audiences. It's important for you to outline who your ideal customer is and outline their buyer persona.

2. Invest in a Professional Website:

Your website is often the first point of interaction between your business and potential customers. Make sure it's mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and has a clean design. People will immediately close out of your site if it is slow or has an unfriendly design. Google rewards websites that are fast and user-friendly.

3. SEO Optimization:

Use relevant keywords and quality content to improve your website's search engine ranking. This helps drive organic traffic to your site. Long tail keywords that show intent are extremely powerful and can lead to high quality traffic for your business. It's important to spend time thinking and strategizing for SEO.

4. Utilize Local SEO:

As a small business, local customers are your bread and butter. Use location-specific keywords and claim your Google My Business listing. GMB combined with local directories like Yelp, Yellowpages, and Bing Local can GREATLY boost your online presence for your area.

5. Content Marketing:

Consistently produce valuable content to establish yourself as an authority in your industry. Blogs, e-books, and videos are good formats to consider. Make sure that you are providing relevant and quality content so that you make yourself trustworthy and provide actual value to potential customers.

6. Social Media Engagement:

Be active on social media platforms where your target audience spends their time. Share content, answer queries, and interact with your followers. Remember, it's better to narrow down your social media channels to focus on where your customers are, you wouldn't post to twitter in hopes of finding a business to business deal.

7. Email Marketing:

Build a mailing list to send out newsletters, special offers, and updates. Make sure to segment your list for personalized messaging. Online tools like Hubspot, Mailchimp, and others can make this super easy and it's a great way to send new information out to your visitors & customers.

8. Leverage Testimonials and Reviews:

Authentic customer reviews can enhance your credibility. Feature them prominently on your website and social media. Every happy customer should be leaving a review, the simplest way to get them to do it is to ask!

9. Use Analytics:

Tools like Google Analytics provide invaluable data on visitor behavior, helping you tweak your strategies for better results. In this day and age data is like gold, the more you have the better off you'll be. You can find which pages aren't performing on your site, what kind of posts get the most engagement, etc.

10. Conversion Rate Optimization:

A/B testing can help you understand what elements of your website or marketing campaigns are most effective in converting visitors into customers. This is a bit of a in-depth topic but trialing different creatives, copy, and other elements can provide insight into what your customers will best respond to! There are a multitude of online tools that can with this.

11. Pay-Per-Click Advertising:

This can be a cost-effective way to drive targeted traffic, but make sure to start with a small budget and scale as you learn. This one is similar to social media strategy, you want to carefully select your advertising platform based on your audience, google ads vs. facebook ads, etc.

12. Remarketing:

Remind potential customers of your products or services after they leave your website without making a purchase. This is an insanely powerful tip when done right, e-commerce brands consistently notify you of when you left something in your cart without buying. You can even offer discount codes to incentivize a purchase now!

13. Quality Over Quantity:

Don’t spread yourself too thin. Choose a few marketing channels that work best for you and focus on them. Once you do some testing you'll quickly find out where you should be focusing your marketing efforts. It's always good to hammer down on the winners and trim the fat to save you time and money!

14. Influencer Partnerships:

Partnering with influencers who align with your brand can expose your business to a larger, yet targeted, audience. If you have the budget for it using influencers and micro-influencers can boost your sales immediately. Just make sure you are picking an influencer that is within your niche.

15. Utilize Video Content:

In today's digital landscape, video content reigns supreme. Why? Because it's immersive, engaging, and often easier to digest than a wall of text. Videos allow you to showcase your brand in action, be it through product demos, customer testimonials, or behind-the-scenes looks at your operations. With platforms like YouTube and Instagram's IGTV, there's a whole universe of opportunities to engage your audience. In terms of SEO, videos can also improve your website's visibility on search engine results pages. So, grab your camera, hit the record button, and let your brand shine!

16. Optimize for Voice Search:

Hey Siri, how important is voice search for businesses? Extremely! As voice-activated devices like Google Home and Amazon's Alexa become household staples, optimizing your content for voice search is crucial. The game changes here as people speak differently than they type. They’re likely to use full sentences and ask direct questions. By optimizing your website to answer these queries, you position your brand to be the go-to source when a voice-activated device spews out a recommendation. So, include natural language keywords and FAQ sections in your content to stay ahead of the curve.

17. Online Courses/Webinars:

Why keep all your expertise locked up when you can share it with the world—and get brand loyalty in return? Offering online courses or webinars does exactly that. By delivering high-value, specialized knowledge directly to your audience, you're not just providing a service but building a community around your brand. It’s a win-win: they get to level up their skills or solve problems, and you get to establish your brand as an industry leader. From short tutorials to multi-week courses, there’s a format for every topic and audience.

18. User Experience (UX):

An incredible product or service is worthless if customers can't find their way around your website. User experience (UX) is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity. Prioritize a clean design, intuitive navigation, and speedy load times to make your visitor’s journey as seamless as possible. The easier you make it for them, the quicker they’ll convert from casual browsers to paying customers. Don't forget to A/B test different layouts and features to see what really clicks with your users!

19. Community Building:

Ever heard the phrase, "Your vibe attracts your tribe"? This rings true in digital marketing. Creating forums or dedicated social media groups can offer invaluable insights into your customer base. These platforms become spaces for customers to interact, ask questions, and share experiences. It’s also an excellent way to gather customer feedback without the formalities of surveys or reviews. Consider it a focus group that’s always in session!

20. Affiliate Marketing:

Turn your most loyal customers and fans into brand ambassadors through affiliate marketing. By creating an affiliate program, you motivate others to promote your products or services, extending your reach without multiplying your efforts. It's basically word-of-mouth on steroids. The kicker? You only pay for results, making this a cost-effective strategy for increasing sales and awareness. Just ensure your affiliates align with your brand values to keep your messaging consistent.

There you have it! These are key strategies that can significantly amplify your digital marketing efforts, driving more engagement and, ultimately, more revenue. So get out there and start optimizing!