“How to grow my small business online?” is a very common question that business owners have. Starting a new business is a daunting task filled with uncertainties and a million questions. One thing is clear and that is the importance of a resourceful and performance-based web presence.
There are plenty of businesses that are doing great but wonder how they could do better or take their brand to the next level. Here are some online business growth strategies that you can use to get the results you’re looking for.
Get active on social media and engage with your customers.
The general population is obsessed with social media. Everyone is looking for a way to connect with friends, family, celebrities, and local businesses. People spend hours on their phones scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many other platforms. This is a golden opportunity for your business to jump on to the timelines of people in your area and connect with potential customers.
Share images and videos of your business that catch the attention of your visitors. Analyze your target market and think about what they would want to see. Try out different approaches and see what works best for you. Small business growth is a lot of trial and error and it is no different online.
One of the best business growth strategies I can give you is to create quality content to share across your social media platforms. You need to find a way to educate your potential customers about your products and services but also help them. This content will drive more people to your website which will hopefully attract new customers and increase sales.
Another great idea is to hire a graphic designer and a photographer who can depict your brand’s identity. These services can come in handy when creating content that your audience wants to engage with. Being active on social media is a great way to humanize your brand. People are far more likely to do business with a company they can connect with and relate to.
Social media marketing and content marketing are great strategies to increase your rankings on search engines and inform your customer base about your business.
Here’s a tip: Get your business active on Alignable. This small business network is used by millions of small business owners to grow their network. It is a great way to get your name out there and get more leads.
Create a resourceful website designed to sell your products and services.
A website is your brand’s home on the internet. Your website should help users better understand who you are and how you can help them. A website allows you to control the narrative about your business, provide information 24/7, and give consumers more confidence in your brand.
Above all, keep your website simple and resourceful. Give your potential customers the information they came for. Don’t overload them with options and long paragraphs that will confuse them. When a visitor lands on your website, they should understand your brand and get the information they came for quickly.
Your website should be available on all mobile devices to ensure the biggest amount of traffic can access your website. Depending on your type of business, this could be the differing factor between a website that gets no results and one that sends tons of leads your way.
Growing a small business is a long road and one that takes a major investment of time and resources. Your website should be part of this investment. Business owners everywhere are taking advantage of the internet and you don’t want to fall behind.
By now it’s clear that if you don’t have a website, you’re missing out on opportunities for customers to identify who you are and if they want to spend money with you.
Nicole Leinback-Reyhle (Forbes)
Hire a web designer that asks questions, displays knowledge about their craft, and is committed to creating a successful business website for you. Your designer should be passionate about your success and work hard to make it happen. Check out our article on creating a resourceful website for your customers.
Leverage the power of online advertising.
Once you have built a website and social media that users can engage with, it’s time to get active with advertising. Google AdWords and Facebook Ads are two of the biggest advertising platforms.
Google AdWords allows you to promote your brand on Google, the biggest search engine on the planet. You can set your budget as low or as high as you’d like and drive more traffic to your website or business location.
There are many different ways that Google displays your content across its platform and with the right amount of research and budget, you can grow your website into a powerhouse to generate leads. You can use Google Analytics to track your ad progress and see what performs the best. Once you find something that works, you can invest in that strategy.
Facebook advertising is another great way to build your social media following. You can spend any amount you’d like and get results. Create engaging posts and promote them to a targeted audience and watch your business grow.
Effective online advertising takes research, time, and effort to be successful. If you don’t have any experience with this platform, hire a digital marketing consultant to assist you.
Hire the right professionals for the job.
Starting a new business means you are in charge of many different job roles. You’re the owner but you’re also the marketer, the social media manager, the web developer, the photographer, the customer service specialist, the list goes on and on.
You have a lot on your plate and it’s okay to relieve yourself and pass some of this work on to other professionals. If you’re looking for a website that really works for your business, find a designer who has the experience and let them take the reigns. Use a digital marketing consultant to assist you with your content marketing, social media campaigns, and advertising efforts.
9 times out of 10, you need one firm that will do everything for you. Your digital marketing consultant will be able to handle *most* of the work and if they can’t do it, they will know where to send you.
It’s okay to have strengths and outsource the weaknesses. When growing your business, there isn’t an exact recipe or formula, there is a lot of trial and error. You need professionals who will be by your side to assist you. Don’t get stuck in the mindset that you must do everything by yourself.
Conclusion
Through the use of social media, a resourceful website, advertising, and hiring the right professionals, you can grow your small business into something amazing.
The internet is a goldmine for business owners and it should be viewed that way. More and more people turn to the internet everyday to make purchasing decisions. Be sure that your business stands at the front of the pack.
1 comment
Join the conversationNina A Conway - September 28, 2019
Useful information sharing about social media marketing for businesses…..keep the good work going in future
Thanks @Kyle