Mastering the art of digital marketing for your business is one of the most important things you can do to make your website successful. You’ve created a beautiful website and set up your social media accounts, but how do you get people onto your website? How do you convince Google that your site is worthy of ranking well on search engine results (SERP)?
The world of digital marketing can feel very daunting at first but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re new to digital marketing, read on to discover some of the most effective digital marketing techniques you can use to promote your business.
Be Google-Friendly
You would love to see your business on the first page of Google search results, right? SEO is how you get it there. Paying for your site to appear using Adwords is costly and doesn’t help your site in the long run.
SEO is key to Digital Marketing For Your Business
SEO, otherwise known as Search Engine Optimisation, is the strategy you use to ensure you are using the right keywords and key phrases on your website so it displays high in Google search results, this is called “ranking”.
Start by thinking about the keywords a customer would use when looking for your business. Experiment with typing different phrases that relate to your business into Google and see where you currently rank and who is outranking you. If your keywords are really popular, these are called high volume keywords, and they are hard to get as there is a lot of competition.
Use Long Tail Keywords
Use your location for Digital Marketing For Your Business
For small businesses, localization and niche versions of high ranking keywords are vitally important. If you own a shoe shop and are hoping to rank first for “shoes” you’d have a difficult task on your hands as you’d be competing with the international retail giants! Keep it relevant to your area.
Focus on your niche for keywords
When digital marketing for your business you may also want to look at keywords that relate to your business, say if you are a shoe shop selling designer shoes, you probably want to include the designer’s name in your content. It is easier to get “long-tail” keywords, such as “Gucci loafers in Sydney” or “shoes for children” rather than just “shoes”.
Contact an expert in digital marketing for your business
Understanding the key search terms for your town and area of specialty can be tricky, so you might want to contact local search engine optimisation specialists for some expert guidance setting these up.
Be sociable
Business owners are often shocked when they realise how specialised social media marketing (SMM) is. But you can master it, at least in part, using social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
Scheduling and Planning
First things first, get planning. Create a calendar of topics you can post about that are relevant to your audience. Commit to a certain number of posts a week – start with 3 per week and build from there.
Look at what your competitors are posting for ideas and try to follow the “80/20 rule” . Make sure 80% of your posts are non-sales focused. You might choose to share a topical article or a funny quote related to your sector. Then 20% of the time you can post your sales messages. This approach builds a connection with your audience and keeps them engaged so they are more responsive when you do hit them with a promotion.
For more ideas, read the 6 ways to get your business noticed on social media.
Embrace email marketing
Email is a powerful marketing tool. If your website doesn’t already have one, set up an email newsletter sign-up form to create a genuine database of potential customers. Use an email marketing platform like Mailchimp where you can choose from a selection of design templates to ensure your emails look super professional.
Plan Your Campaigns
Just as you did with social media, create a plan. Start small with a monthly or bi-weekly newsletter (also known as an EDM – electronic direct mail) to everyone who signs up. In the email, you could include a mix of new products or service updates and content your customers would find interesting.
Track The Effectiveness of Digital Marketing for Your Business
After a few months of sending emails, you will get an idea of what’s working by looking at open rates and clicks through to your website, because EDMs are highly trackable, especially when using Mailchimp.
From how to budget to improving your customer experience, you will find a wealth of information on running a successful business on this website and you’ll learn so much about digital marketing for your business.
