5 Simple Online Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

For most small businesses, the web may seem like a realm full of opportunities, a place where they can connect with existing customers as well as reach out to new ones. Even tiny local businesses can benefit from being online, as the web drives local shopping. But if you want to survive as a small business in today’s tough online environment, you need to get online marketing right. Here’s how.

1. Invest in Professional Web Design

Forget about free website-building services or free themes – you need a unique identity, not a borrowed one. Depending on your budget and intent, you can use web design services to build a website from scratch, or at least to customize a high-quality, premium theme. Imbue it with the spirit of your business, and with your logo, too. And don’t worry too much about the cost — web design isn’t as expensive as it used to be.

2. Run a Blog and Update It at Least Once a Week

You don’t have to write all the content yourself – you can always outsource it.  Nevertheless, you must make sure it’s consistent with your mission and preferably includes links and references to your products and services – good for subtle marketing.

3. Put Your Physical Address and Contact Number on Your Homepage

A valid address and a real phone number are proof that you’re a real business and not some scam. Make people trust you even more by adding a photo of your shop. Other elements that help establish trust include:

• Visa/MasterCard Approved Badges (if you accept online payments)
• Virus-free badges available from Norton and other major antivirus software
• Any Verified or Trusted Brand badges available in your region

4. Use Social Media Marketing Consistently

Often, it’s best to start only with Facebook and Twitter and move on to other networks later. Post on them regularly content about promotions, discounts, special offers, as well as news about your market, the business milestones you reach, and the events you host.

Don’t expect social media to boost your sales right away though – look at it mostly as a way to interact with existing customers. Build familiarity and reach out to new audiences. With social media you can, without having to pay the high cost of traditional advertising.

5. Invest in Professional SEO

Using SEO services consistently increases your online visibility. It boosts your search engine ranking, which alone can serve as proof of your quality, popularity, and trustiness. Another reason to invest in SEO is that in the long run, it’s cheaper than conventional advertising.

We hope you enjoyed these posts. Stay tuned for more.