Improve Online Presence: Proven Ways for Small Businesses

So, you have seen the bright opportunities of implementing digital marketing for your business. You are probably thinking of your next move on how to start your campaigns for better online visibility. As a business owner, it is imperative to find new heights on how to promote your products and services, especially in today’s growing marketplace and competitive business world.

There is no doubt that technological advancements and digital developments have changed everyone’s lifestyle. Today, people prefer the most convenient way to search for products and services. According to a poll conducted by Marist College and National Public Radio (NPR), 76% of consumers in the United States shop online. Experts also forecasted that the number of online shoppers can increase to about 300 million by 2023 in the US.

Given these numbers, it only makes sense why small businesses are now looking for ways to expand their network using digital marketing. In fact, even the most established enterprises are also shifting to online marketing.

Without a strong online presence, it can be difficult for your business to compete with others. There are several things, however, that you need to have in check before working on your digital marketing campaigns. Take note that this requires strategic planning and the right execution to become successful with your goals.

To enlighten you further, we will provide a brief guideline on how to develop a strong online presence.  Feel free to use the following tips below:

Understand your Business Needs

Before jumping to any online marketing campaign, you need to determine your business needs. Start with your vision. How do you see your business in 2 to 5 years? What kind of growth are you aiming for? Do you see your business in the ecommerce industry?

Are you trying to tap your potentials as the main distributor? Once you have your vision in place, you can proceed with shaping your brand identity. How do you want your audience to see you? Who is your target market? These are some of the things you need to have in check before establishing a strategy for your online marketing campaigns.

Set Specific and Realistic Goals

Goal setting is crucial in digital marketing. Make sure to enumerate specific and realistic goals. When setting your goals, you can follow the SMART principle (S – Specific, M – Measurable, A – Actionable R – Realistic, T – Timeline).

For instance, you choose Social Media Marketing for as your primary digital marketing platform, you can determine your goals by referring your business needs. Are you building your own community? Do you need more positive engagement?

Are you aiming for more followers? How much reach do you need for your campaigns? From there, you can cite some actionable plans such as developing a content strategy, running a paid ad, and so on. Provide a timeline for each goal so you can easily measure the progress of your campaigns.

Explore your Options

This is where online marketing gets a little bit tricky. Don’t get confused with so many digital marketing options available. Again, focus on your business needs and goals. Start with your current channel you’re using.

If you use business website as your primary platform, then you need to explore your options with Search Engine Optimization and Pay-Per-Click campaigns—as these two options are the most effective tools when it comes to boosting your website on major search engines.

On the other hand, you can also explore having multiple campaigns for your business. If done effectively, the results can triple in no time! For example, you can always merge SEO with Social Media Marketing. These two can go hand-in-hand, and could complement each other.

Develop a Solid Content Marketing Strategy

Boosting your online presence is impossible without a solid content marketing strategy. Up until today, content is the foundation of every digital marketing campaign. Focus on the niche of your business. Search for the most trending topics from your industry. Create a topic outline. .

Make sure to produce original, relevant, engaging, and well-written articles. You should also incorporate competitive keywords for both on-page and offsite optimization.

Be Consistent with your Strategies

Consistency is one of the main keys to success. Make sure all your digital marketing efforts are aligned with your goals. Revisit your campaigns and check the progress. Cite the areas you need to improve and make necessary adjustments. Keep in mind that every strategy is trial and error.

This is why you need to keep track of your campaigns. Use tools such as Google Analytics for more data analysis. These are just some of the things you can do to boost your online presence. Again, you need strategic solutions to achieve your goals. Be proactive and find more innovative ways to keep improving your digital marketing strategies.

Author Bio

John Ocampos is an Opera Singer by profession and a member of the Philippine Tenors. Ever since, Digital Marketing has always been his forte. He is the Founder of SEO-Guru and the Managing Director of Tech Hacker. John is also the Strategic SEO and Influencer Marketing Manager of Softvire Australia – the leading software eCommerce company in Australia and Softvire New Zealand.