In today’s world, there are so many ways to market products and services online. And while it’s tempting to adopt a “one-size-fits-all” approach and use the same marketing techniques that worked for your competitors, that method can get you into trouble if you aren’t careful.
Instead of following a path that was laid out for you, how about you chart your own course and use the following list of ten online marketing techniques to supercharge your business?
1. Build A Community.
Do you have a blog? You can use it to establish yourself as an expert in your field, and build a community of people who are actively seeking your advice. Once you have established yourself as an expert in your industry, you can use your blog to advise people on the best ways to navigate this field.
Blogs aren’t just about posting content. They can serve a number of purposes for your business. If you’re looking for an easy way to establish yourself as an expert in your industry, consider using your blog to promote your expertise. People will come back for more, and you’ll be able to nurture a community of folks who are interested in what you have to say.
2. Use Social Media.
If you want your product or service to reach the right audience, you need to look no further. There are hundreds of millions of individuals active on social media, and chances are, they’re all connected to one of the following networks: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Why? Because they want to stay connected to friends, family, and other people they admire. If you want to reach the right audience, jump on social media and engage with people where they’re hanging out.
To get the most out of social media, you need to focus on creating content that will engage and retain your audience. Studies show that people visit social media sites to get content that is both valuable and interesting. If you want your content to stand out, consider focusing on creating high-quality blogs regularly.
3. Use Email Marketing.
If you’re looking to grow your business, you don’t need to limit yourself to social media. One of the simplest and most effective ways of getting the word out there about your business is through email marketing.
Why? Because people love receiving emails, and they’re much more likely to click on a link in one. So if you want to grow your business, consider using email marketing to generate leads and make sales.
There are many email marketing platforms, like MailChimp, that can be easily integrated with your existing platforms, like Shopify, to form a complete email marketing strategy.
4. Get A Website.
If you want to be able to market your business online, you should consider getting a website. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just a basic HTML template that serves as a portal for your business.
Why? Because having a website will give you a platform to promote your business, and eventually, lead to more sales. If you want to get the most out of your website, consider using a platform like Shopify that can provide you with a fully functional eCommerce store inside your website. This way, you’ll be able to sell your products online and generate revenue while you build your brand.
5. Start A Blog.
If you want to be able to market your business online, you should also consider creating a blog. A blog isn’t just about posting content, it can be a platform for your sales team to engage with potential customers, develop a rapport, and eventually, bring in the revenue that you need to grow your business.
Blogs aren’t just about posting content, they can serve a number of purposes for your business. If you’re looking for an easy way to establish yourself as an expert in your industry, consider using your blog to promote your expertise. People will come back for more, and you’ll be able to nurture a community of folks who are interested in what you have to say.
6. Use Relevant Language.
If you’re looking to attract your ideal customer, you need to use the correct language. In a study conducted by HubSpot, it was determined that using business-related language on your website can increase your conversions by as much as 20%. So, while it’s important to find the right words to describe your products and services, it’s also important to use terms your customers understand. For example, if you sell travel insurance, but you use terminology that a business owner or an entrepreneur would understand, you’ll be able to connect with them more easily.
One of the simplest ways of ensuring your content is relevant is by using language that is understandable to your intended audience. For example, if you’re writing for an entrepreneur website, you can use business-related language, but you should also make sure that your writing is approachable to those readers. Include words or phrases that they’re familiar with, and you’ll find that your content is much more likely to be read and understood.
7. Add Real World Value.
People don’t want to just read about your product or service, they want to hear about your experience with it. So the question is, how are you adding value to the conversation? Everyone is a potential customer, so consider what you can offer to make them better equipped to make a purchase.
You can add real world value by speaking from experience. So, instead of stating that your product is good because it meets certain standards, tell them your story about how it helped you satisfy a personal need. For example, if you’re selling skincare products, tell them about the products you tried and how they worked for you.
People want to feel like they’re getting value for money, and studies show that if you can prove to them that your product will solve a problem they face, they’re more likely to be persuaded to buy it. So while honesty is an important factor when it comes to marketing, don’t be afraid to play it up a little bit, especially when you’re starting out. Tell them what they’re getting into, and you’ll be able to build trust between you and your customers. And when you have trust, you have sales.
8. Measure And Improve.
You can’t manage what you don’t measure, so it’s important to measure the results of all your efforts. In this case, measuring and improving your online marketing efforts mean using tools that can tell you precisely how many people are visiting your website, how many people are engaging with your social media posts, and how much money you’re generating from online marketing.
If you’re unable to measure these things, you’ll never know if your online marketing strategies are working or not. Fortunately, there are tools like Google Analytics that can give you a clear picture of how effective your strategies are, and allow you to track the results of your efforts.
9. Follow The Rules Of Good Marketing.
Just because an online marketing method worked for your competitors doesn’t mean it’ll work for you. Marketing is an ever-changing field, and while some methods are very effective, they may not be suited for your particular business. Instead of trying to force-fit yourself into a mold that won’t give you the results you want, follow the rules of good marketing and continue to experiment until you find what works best for you.
Here are some general rules to follow:
- Do your research
- Don’t take shortcuts
- Measure and improve
- Be consistent
- Put yourself in your customer’s shoes
- Focus on the long-term
- Be persistent
These rules will help you find your way to effective online marketing, and keep you from getting stuck in a rut. Remember to experiment until you find what works best for you.
10. Stay Flexible.
Last but not least, we have flexibility. Marketing methods and tools are always evolving, and that’s a good thing. If you want to be prepared for the future, you need to be willing to change with it. Instead of getting frustrated that a method you tried worked for your competitors, but doesn’t seem to be effective for you, consider the possibilities. There may be a better way to do this, and with the right tools, knowledge, and experimentation, you may just find it.