Make no mistake about it – getting a new business off the ground isn’t cheap. Even if you’ve come up with a winning idea and a fool-proof business model, you still need to announce its arrival.
If your target audience doesn’t know you exist, you’ll never step out of neutral.
Once you’ve identified your ideal customer, it’s a case of doing whatever you can to reach them. As a smaller or newer business, you’ll probably be looking at a strictly limited marketing budget. One that doesn’t provide a great deal of scope for experimentation.
In which case, you need to focus your time, effort and money on the marketing channels most likely to deliver a decent ROI. The following five having proven most effective and accessible of all for smaller businesses worldwide:
- SMS Marketing
First up, don’t underestimate the power and influence of a good SMS marketing strategy. Retro it may be, but studies have shown that effective SMS marketing can generate up to 800% more interest than a comparable e-mail marketing strategy. Given the fact that pretty much every consumer worldwide is now surgically attached to their mobile device, SMS marketing is something of a no-brainer. It’s also comparatively affordable, simple to work with and ideal for delivering powerful marketing messages in real-time.
- Social Media Marketing
It takes time, effort and commitment to create and optimise a powerful social media marketing strategy. On the plus side, it’s within the reach and budget of any small business owner. Social media has become part of the everyday lives of billions of people worldwide. An enormous global audience, right there for the taking. Best of all, a social media marketing strategy doesn’t have to cost you a penny. Paid social ads can deliver an exceptional ROI, but aren’t mandatory. But what matters most is engaging your audience through conversation, participation and consistent communication.
- Content Marketing
In essence, content marketing refers to anything you publish for the benefit of your target audience. Tutorials, blogs, newsletters, general articles on your website – anything that enhances your credibility and gives your visitors a reason to take you seriously. These days, it’s not all about quality products and low prices. It’s about the effort you make to differentiate yourself from your competitors, providing relevant and useful content that nurtures engagement and loyalty.
- Search Engine Optimisation
SEO isn’t something than simply takes care of itself. If you want to appear prominently in the SERP rankings, you need to make it happen. These days, SEO is all about focusing on what your website visitors demand and expect. Rich and regularly updated content, outstanding website performance, quality links to and from other resources and so on. A Quality SEO company will give you full-time commitment, so this is one marketing task that is advisable to outsource as early as possible.
- Pay-Per-Click
Last but not least, a good PPC marketing strategy can be a great way of generating a quick burst of interest in your new online business. With PPC platforms like Google AdWords, you only pay in accordance with how many clicks you attract. Hence, if your website is up to scratch, you’re almost guaranteed a strong ROI. If you lack the knowledge and experience required to create and present engaging PPC ads, consider hiring an expert for the duration of your campaign.
This article was brought to you by iConquer.
