 |
| photo credit |
Anyone
who has ever run their own business knows that getting it off of the
ground and running can be one of the most daunting tasks known to
man. Even those who have companies already well on their way to
profit sometimes need a bit of help to make the business "stand
tall" and be profitable. Fortunately, whether a company is
successful or not isn't really about luck, and this is especially
true in this digital age. Small businesses have the same online
marketing tools as their huge competitors, and as long as they take
the time to use them, they can easily become a success.
Social
Media
Social media marketing has become an absolute necessity for businesses of all sizes. In fact, the chief operating officer of Facebook recently announced the fact that around 11 million businesses actually have a social media presence on the site. This was back in mid-2012, however, that number has likely expanded. The statistic that businesses should actually be paying attention to is the one that found that well over half of all American internet users have a Facebook page.
Social media marketing has become an absolute necessity for businesses of all sizes. In fact, the chief operating officer of Facebook recently announced the fact that around 11 million businesses actually have a social media presence on the site. This was back in mid-2012, however, that number has likely expanded. The statistic that businesses should actually be paying attention to is the one that found that well over half of all American internet users have a Facebook page.
Having
a social media presence allows businesses to easily reach their
current and potential customers. It's an easy way to update people on
sales, contests, store openings and anything else that goes on within
a business. The page can also be used to bring potential customers to
the store's physical location or main website, and an increase in
either of these types of traffic often leads to an increase in sales.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is continuously growing in the business world. The content in this technique can consist of blogs, articles, videos and even photos. Whether you consult with a Los Angeles or Atlanta SEO agency, you will hear that the goal of this type of marketing is to make customers feel as if they've visited a web page because they wanted to, as opposed to because they saw an advertisement.
For instance, a bait-and-tackle shop could create a video called "how to scale a catfish." People who want this knowledge will seek out this video and feel as if they are simply learning something. Of course, the company will always try to make sure the potential customer becomes a client, but this is done through nuance rather than direct advertising. People don't like feeling as though if they are an advertising target. Content marketing that avoids this is sure to keep growing.
SEO Practices
The overwhelming majority of those who use search engines never go past the first page of results. Since many buying decisions often start online, it's imperative for a business to be as high on these result pages as possible if they hope to expand. Many companies use search engine optimization (SEO) methods to accomplish this.
Search engines look for certain things, like the occurrence of certain keywords and how many reputable pages link to a page, when choosing which sites to rank high. Arranging a website to meet some of these requirements is what SEO is all about. Some business owners choose to handle this on their own, but the simple fact is that it's a time-consuming endeavor that can be fruitless if not handled correctly.
In fact, SEO techniques can be used in conjunction with the above content and social media marketing plans. These marketing methods can create backlinks, additional keywords, higher traffic and several other benefits when paired with SEO practices. The simple fact is that, in the long run, the combination of SEO practices, content, and media marketing is sure to bring in new clientele for your business.
It's difficult to be a successful business owner, but as the old saying goes, nothing in life worth having comes easy. Business owners will need to put in hard work and long hours to be successful and knowing the tricks of the trade can go a long way in making a company excel. While it is possible to gain consumers without all of the above techniques, expanding your company's media presence is always a smart business move.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is continuously growing in the business world. The content in this technique can consist of blogs, articles, videos and even photos. Whether you consult with a Los Angeles or Atlanta SEO agency, you will hear that the goal of this type of marketing is to make customers feel as if they've visited a web page because they wanted to, as opposed to because they saw an advertisement.
For instance, a bait-and-tackle shop could create a video called "how to scale a catfish." People who want this knowledge will seek out this video and feel as if they are simply learning something. Of course, the company will always try to make sure the potential customer becomes a client, but this is done through nuance rather than direct advertising. People don't like feeling as though if they are an advertising target. Content marketing that avoids this is sure to keep growing.
SEO Practices
The overwhelming majority of those who use search engines never go past the first page of results. Since many buying decisions often start online, it's imperative for a business to be as high on these result pages as possible if they hope to expand. Many companies use search engine optimization (SEO) methods to accomplish this.
Search engines look for certain things, like the occurrence of certain keywords and how many reputable pages link to a page, when choosing which sites to rank high. Arranging a website to meet some of these requirements is what SEO is all about. Some business owners choose to handle this on their own, but the simple fact is that it's a time-consuming endeavor that can be fruitless if not handled correctly.
In fact, SEO techniques can be used in conjunction with the above content and social media marketing plans. These marketing methods can create backlinks, additional keywords, higher traffic and several other benefits when paired with SEO practices. The simple fact is that, in the long run, the combination of SEO practices, content, and media marketing is sure to bring in new clientele for your business.
It's difficult to be a successful business owner, but as the old saying goes, nothing in life worth having comes easy. Business owners will need to put in hard work and long hours to be successful and knowing the tricks of the trade can go a long way in making a company excel. While it is possible to gain consumers without all of the above techniques, expanding your company's media presence is always a smart business move.
Author Bio:
Nadine Swayne presents these tips to small business owners. Everspark Interactive, an Atlanta SEO agency, can guide your company in the right direction for the optimal SEO method for your digital landscape. It is their goal to be the 'eyes and ears' for your business market while tracking trends to help increase your website traffic.