Local Online Marketing Tips to Help You Get Started
You’re armed with a great idea. Now you just need a solid business strategy to get your product off the ground.
Not sure where to start?
Well great news – you’re in the right place.
Gaining Momentum
The first step to any great business plan is a great idea. The next step is a bit harder – how do you get your great idea out into the world?
As you look for ways to bridge the gap between your client base and your business, consider these local online marketing solutions.
Why Online?
One of the best marketing tools at your fingertips is: your desktop. Digital advertising is fast becoming the most effective way to meet clients, build a brand, and grow a business.
With an endless customer base at the touch of a button, you’ll be able to connect with your target audience right from your office.
Paid advertising? Not so efficient.
Conference booth networking? Costly commutes & expenses.
Cold calling? Lacks that personal pizzazz.
Here are some ways online marketing solutions can be your best friend.
1) Create Your Google Business Portfolio
Getting started with your brand might mean starting from scratch. A key part of getting your clients connected to your brand is to first create a Google business portfolio.
When you order a pizza, the first thing Google will show you is a list of local pizza vendors in your area. These vendors have a portfolio of their store info, hours of operation, website, and directions to their services. Creating this portfolio helps get their pizza in the hands of hungry customers.
By listing your brand as a service provider on Google, you’re getting free advertising through Google’s search engine.
When potential clients google your product or service in their area, they’re more likely to be directed towards your brand. You can include information about your product or services, where you’re located, and even direct web traffic to your personalized website.
To get started, set up a free Google business account today.
2) Fire Up Your Brand’s Social Media
Another form of free online advertising is the use of social media. Meeting your client base while they’re browsing the web for entertainment is an easy way to showcase what your brand has to offer.
Start with a social media platform that fits your audience. Are you marketing to kids and teens? TikTok is your main squeeze. Connecting with professionals and job seekers? Try LinkedIn. Hoping to find a more female audience / moms? Pinterest is here to help.
Top social media platforms for online marketing success include:
- TikTok
- Snapchat
The first step is to define your target audience. Know your client base. What are they looking for? What is driving them to your website? How can you brand bridge the gap between your brand and your customers?
By understanding your customers, you can market online to the clients who are most likely to connect with you.
3) Design a Killer Website
One of the most effective ways you can connect with your clients is to design a website that speaks volumes about who you are.
Your website is as unique as your brand. It’s your client’s first impression of what they can expect from your services. Moreover, it gives them a sneak peak into your worldview, your mission statement, and your overall business vibe.
Consider the last stellar website you visited. What made them stand out to you? Did you engage with the company – using a “Contact Us” form, buying a product/service, signing up for a newsletter? What did you like about their brand?
The answers to these questions will help you build a site that drives website traffic to your brand, and encourages your web visitors to engage with you. Your website is an opportunity to reflect the heart of your brand through visual media.
Free website builders like Wix and WordPress are available to you. These online resources can be tailored to your brand, and inform your website visitors of who you are and what you can offer.
By utilizing these online marketing tools, you’re seizing the opportunity to introduce your brand and your business to the world of eager clients who want what you have to offer.
4) Customer Reviews are Huge
Has a business ever left such a strong impression on you that you wrote a customer review online?
If so, consider the impact their product or service had on your experience. Whether it was a positive or negative experience, your review leaves a lasting impression for potential customers in the future.
As a result, customer reviews can be a great opportunity to engage with your existing customers, while also showcasing your brand to potential customers who are reading the reviews.
If your customer writes about a positive experience, engaging with their feedback can keep them coming back for more. Thanking customers for using your product or service is a great way to show them you appreciate their business. It also sends a message to potential customers that your clients matter to you!
Negative feedback can be intimidating, but don’t fear. They’re another opportunity to display your company’s stellar customer service.
Whether it’s a company mistake or simply a nasty and negative comment, responding to negative feedback is a great way to show customers what they can expect if they’re unhappy with your product or service.
Every Google site has a Negative Nancy who can complain about unimportant things. Sometimes, the most fun your potential customers can have is reading ridiculous complaints – most of the time, it shows more about the complainer than the brand.
Either way, your customers can get a kick out of negative feedback, and applaud the way you handle even your worst reviews.
5) Help Google Find You
To help evade search engine anonymity, your brand may want to optimize localized content. By creating multi-faceted content like blogs, videos, infographics, and more, search engines are more likely to show your brand to eager internet browsers.
Decide on some topics that reflect your brand. Are you a florist? Writing a short blog about the trending wedding bouquet arrangements can help lead web traffic to your site.
Making great content exposes potential clients to your brand, and makes it easier for search engines like Google to showcase your content to users.
Use your knowledge of your customers to attract the client base who needs your brand. By producing content relevant to your client base, you help the client feel seen.
This goes a long way to encouraging your client to engage with your brand.
What’s Next?
Starting your business doesn’t have to be a chore. For more tips on getting started, check out the JuiceBox for other industry secrets on our website, Creative Juice.
From brand building, to UX/UI design, and everything in between, we’ve got the tools you need. Whether you’re a start up, a small business, or an innovative goal setter, Creative Juice is your one stop shop for brand building how to’s.