In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, there is no denying the importance of digital marketing, especially when it comes to small businesses. Did you know that digitally optimized content with relevant images gets 94% more views? So, let’s take a further look at why this type of advertising is important and how you can do it right.
What is Digital Marketing?
Online advertising is a type of marketing that utilizes digital technologies and platforms for advertising and selling certain products or services. It allows businesses to follow the latest marketing trends, reach their target consumers, and connect with them online. If you know that an average user spends six and a half hours on the internet every day, then it shouldn’t come as a surprise that online channels have become a successful promoting tool.
Digital Marketing Is Important for a Small Business – Why?
Online advertising is crucial for smaller companies as it provides an opportunity for them to approach a larger audience, increase their revenue, and grow – even with limited resources. Channels like social media or search engines are essential for reaching potential clients and earning their trust. Approximately 74% of consumers use social media platforms to help them make their shopping choices.
Besides it allows you to select a specific audience, online advertising makes it easy to track advertising efforts and measure success. However, small business owners often hesitate to invest in online advertising. Approximately 26% of small firms allocate less than $500 per month for their digital marketing expenses.
The Benefits a Small Business Could Get From Online Advertising
Did you know that nearly 80% of people conduct service or product research online? But yet, many small enterprises don’t even own a website. If you wish to stay competitive and have the maximum reach, you need to create your presence in a place where most of your customers are – an online world. So, take a look at the main advantages investing in online advertising will be able to provide you with.
Reaching a Wider Range of Your Audience
With the right online advertising plan, your audience won’t be limited to newspaper subscribers or people who watch a specific TV channel at a specific time. Besides reaching clients worldwide, you’ll also reach potential clients based on their age, gender, location, and interests and even adjust your message to the demographics you wish to reach. By studying visiting patterns, you’ll be able to learn who is engaging with your online posts and get a better insight into who your target audience is.
Providing a Better Return on Investment
Traditional methods like billboard space, local newspaper, or, for example, local radio ads will help you reach potential clients. However, with online advertising, you can choose the audience that is more likely to become your purchasing customer.
There’s no denying that hiring a professional SEO marketing agency is the most cost-effective way of promoting your business. Not only that, but one of the well-known benefits of SEO and other forms of inbound advertising is lower costs – some studies show that this type of advertising costs approximately 62% less per lead.
Easier Tracking of Strategy Performance
Traditional ads usually don’t allow you to effectively track how many leads were generated from the strategy. Online channels you decide to use, on the other hand, can provide you with this valuable information. Also, online platforms allow you to stay in touch with potential customers who haven’t decided to use your services or buy your product just yet. That way you’ll build trust over time and convert a lead into a sale.
Improving Customer Engagement
Engaging with customers (something traditional ads can’t provide you with) will allow you to gain better brand recognition and earn your customers’ trust and support. Providing your customers with online content regularly means you’re reminding them about your business and brand frequently. Not only that but offering an interactive experience through social media posts, for example, is a type of advertising that will help you connect with your target clients better.
Staying Competitive in Your Field
It’s only natural that large companies and well-known brands have all the means to help them meet their goals. However, that doesn’t mean that small businesses can’t grow visibility and audience. By implementing well-planned local SEO strategies, social media campaigns, and a strong content distribution system, your business will be able to meet high search engine ranks, get more traffic – and evolve.
Maximize Impact With Adaptable Digital Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses
Digital marketing strategies are adaptable and cost-effective, making them ideal for small businesses with limited resources. They allow for real-time adjustments in response to the dynamic online landscape, ensuring campaigns remain relevant and impactful. This flexibility enables small businesses to reach a broad audience efficiently and with precise targeting, maximizing their marketing spend.
Key Components of a Successful Digital Advertising Strategy
Small companies should focus on a plan for the maximum reach without breaking the bank. Therefore they need to work toward their brand awareness building and ways of generating more leads. Luckily, hiring a professional and affordable SEO agency will help them with implementing online marketing’s key components, such as:
Website Development
Did you know that more than one-quarter of small enterprises don’t own a website? Think about the number of opportunities they’ve lost because of it! Your web development should aim for a user-friendly interface with an aesthetically pleasing and consistent design. It should also be responsive across different platforms – don’t forget that mobile devices lead up to 63% of organic search visits.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
What is the importance of SEO in digital marketing? SEO stands for search engine optimization, and it allows you to gain a better ranking and become more visible. Still, 50% of small businesses lack an SEO plan. It’s because they haven’t experienced the benefits of SEO marketing services.
SEO can help you generate more organic traffic on your website and, therefore, get more opportunities. Smaller enterprises, however, can significantly benefit from local SEO since there is a vast number of online searches with local intent – it accounts for around 46% of all Google searches.
Content Writing
It is estimated that the pandemic led to a 207% rise in content usage. Rich and quality content writing allows you to improve your brand value and reputation. Providing current and potential clients with relevant and interesting material will help you achieve your desired goals, such as reaching new audiences and growing relationships with existing ones.
Social Media Marketing
Studies show that more than 40% of local businesses rely on social media for their profit, while even more than 95% claim they have implemented social media in their advertising plan. Using different platforms for promoting your brand can be a great way of reaching target clients, connecting with them, and bundling brand recognition.
Pay-per-click advertising (PPC)
Displaying ads through PPC on Google or online platforms is yet another way of gaining visibility and generating leads where you can easily track your results. However, a PPC and SEO need to work together if you wish to increase the number of clicks to your web page.
A successful online advertising strategy is essential for SMBs looking to thrive. It involves a comprehensive plan with small business data analytics in mind that leverages various channels and techniques to reach and engage with target audiences, drive traffic, generate leads, and ultimately increase sales.
Possible Marketing-Related Challenges Small Businesses Face
According to the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the first two years, around 20% of small businesses fail – and advertising difficulties they face are a significant part of it. But which marketing-related challenges are placed in front of them? Consider the following:
- Limited budget and resources – Budget is one of the biggest problems small enterprises have, but one of the biggest mistakes they tend to make is not setting aside any money strictly for advertising purposes.
- Lack of knowledge and expertise – When it comes to long-term benefits, it’s always a better solution to hire a professional SEO digital marketing agency familiar with all the latest internet advertising trends and the ability to get people to your website.
- Competition with larger companies – Gaining visibility and leads next to companies in your field, especially those with quality advertising teams, can be tough. However, with the right SEO agency by your side, your business can reach more customers.
Keep the Importance of Digital Marketing in Your Mind and Invest in a Strategy That Will Help You Grow
If you want to be among those small businesses that successfully survive the first few years, you need to find a way to implement an internet advertising strategy and not harm your daily business operations. The best way of doing so is to get help from an experienced and skillful agency – and that’s where Made Online comes in.
Whether you need website development and design, SEO services, content writing and distribution, or social media promotion, our team got you covered. Therefore, don’t hesitate to contact us – and we will help you achieve long-term growth and success in a highly competitive market.