10 Tips for Marketing Your Small Business Online

As a small business, it can be difficult to keep up with the various marketing options out there. Communicating with your customers is key, though, so don’t give up! Whether your small business is selling candles online or freelance graphic design, having an effective marketing strategy can be the tipping point in helping your business succeed.

If you’re struggling to figure out your own marketing, we’ve got you covered. Check out these 10 tips for ideas on how to market your small business!

#1. Build a Strong Website

Having a website is one of the top ways to reach your customers and market your business online. Building a website allows you to have an online presence and credibility. This also establishes who you are, what your business is about, and customer attraction.

Not only is your website an important way to communicate with your customers, but it can also help you convert. Offering online booking or shopping can help you make sales while you sleep!

#2. Host Local Events

Hosting local events can be a great way to meet your community and attract new customers. You could host a holiday party at your clothing boutique, or raise money for a cause. It’s all about bringing people together.

If you are a small business that’s had to shift your business online due to uncertain times, that’s okay. Events aren’t limited to in-person businesses. Hybrid or virtual events can still be great ways to generate buzz and get the word out about your business safely.

The sky is the limit, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Plan a grand opening event
• Host a holiday party
• Invite the community for a tour
• Offer recurring events, like karaoke Mondays
• Hold a virtual educational summit

#3. Create Coupons

Customers love being rewarded! Try offering promotions that add value rather than simply give discounts. For example, if you’re a solo hairstylist, try coupons that offer a free deep conditioning treatment with the purchase of a haircut, rather than simply offering 25% off a haircut. This helps you introduce customers to new offerings they may not previously have tried.

Coupons can also pair well with loyalty programs. For example, after a new customer comes in to try a deep condition and haircut, offer them a punch card. The card could offer a free cut after 10 paid cuts. This gives customers incentive to come back and stay loyal to your business.

#4. Build an Email List

Building an email list is a great way to grow relationships with current and potential customers. It’s also one of the most cost effective ways to market your business. In fact, email marketing has an average ROI of 122 percent. That means for every dollar you spend on email marketing, you’ll likely make back more than double.

Automating your emails with paid platforms can help you reclaim valuable time. Research a few options, and see what may be the best solution for your business needs!

#5. Build a Social Media Presence

Social media is an all-around powerhouse tool when it comes to marketing. It can help you build your brand, engage with your audience, and increase your customer base.

It’s also a great tool to increase conversions. About 3 in 4 consumers use social media to guide purchasing decisions. People are used to seeing sales and advertisements on social media, so use that to your advantage.

To use social media effectively, it’s important to stay active. Set a schedule to regularly post and engage with your followers across your social platforms. Scheduling tools can be a great way to stay consistent. Here are a few tools you may love:

• Later
• Hootsuite
• Preview
• Planable
• Buffer

Don’t forget to use hashtags to help push your content to new audiences. For example, you can take advantage of the popular hashtag, #SmallBusinessSaturday.

LinkedIn Tips For Small Businesses

If your small business is B2B, LinkedIn could be the perfect platform to market yourself on. Since this social platform is meant to connect business professionals, it’s a great place to connect with other business owners. Here are a few tips for marketing your small business on LinkedIn.

#6. Create a Business Page

One of the first things you’ll need to do is create a business page separate from your personal profile. This helps give your business credibility. It also gives you the opportunity to track analytics based solely on your brand page, which can offer important insights.

To create a company page:

• Login to your LinkedIn account
• Click the Work icon at the top right
• Click create company page
• Fill in your small business’s information

That’s it! You’re officially ready to start posting content.

#7. Post Regular Content

Don’t let your audience forget about you! Like any social platform, it’s important to post regular content on LinkedIn.

However, LinkedIn is unique in that it tends to push content further when it comes from a personal page. A great strategy is to post content to your business page, then share it from your personal page. If you have employees, ask them to do this as well so your content can be pushed to a wider audience.

For example, if you’ve got a small business of the year award in your area share it! To take it a step further, ask any employees to share it to their networks as well.

#8. Engage with Followers

Linkedin is primarily a networking site, so make the most of it. Network and build relationships with your followers. You will even begin to make new contacts in the industry that your small business represents.

Start engaging discussions on your page and contribute to other people’s posts. Following other people in your niche allows you to stay up to date with the latest in the shared industry and helps you think of more content ideas or your own.

#9. Use Relevant Keywords

Using the right keywords can help your small business show up in search. This helps you find the right person at the right time. Build a list of primary keywords that relate to your small business, and optimize your profile around them.

#10. Know Your Audience

With the use of Linkedin, you can conduct market research to better understand your audience. Seeing what your consumer posts can show their interests. This will also help determine what your target audience wants.

For example, if your audience is job seekers, see what they are talking about. Are they struggling with landing interviews? Maybe offering a resume writing course could benefit them. Or, maybe they are getting interviews but not getting the job. In this case, you may want to add an interviewing course to your list of offerings.

By listening to your audience on LinkedIn, you can learn what’s important to them, what their pain points are, and where you can help.

For a quick overview of these marketing tips, check out the infographic below, courtesy of Quicken Loans.

About the Author!

Jennifer Watson is a writer in the financial and marketing spheres. She has worked with clients like Quicken Loans as well as the sales insights blog run by OnePageCRM, the first action-focused CRM.