Small business website marketing can be a growth catalyst for any company looking to increase sales and bottom-line. Many times, small businesses understand marketing can get them new customers, but don’t know where to turn for a strategy that fits their budget. The most successful companies invest in themselves, and with the right strategy, online marketing can yield impressive results for small businesses in any industry. Here’s a small business website marketing strategy that maximizes return on investment.
Small Business Website Strategy Tip #1: Invest in a Website
While this might seem like an obvious statement coming from a web design company, it’s a no brainer for small business. With limited budgets, you may not have much to spend, and you will need to maximize your marketing potential with every dollar spent. Aside from the financial investment, small businesses are constantly adapting to new information about their customers and market in order to be successful – so flexibility is absolutely key.
Many small businesses look to common print media, like yellow page services, magazine advertisements, brochures, and other similar avenues to provide a ways to get the word out about their new venture. But what happens when a crucial piece of information demands adjustment in the hours of operation for the business? Or when a great deal on a better business location changes the address for the customers? Anything in print is now inaccurate, and needs to be reprinted with the same cost as before to stay up to date and professional.
Enter the small business website. While typically requiring a bit more of the budget than print, the flexibility and adaptivity of a website will always justify the cost for a small business. Business hours and location changes are simple edits for any web designer, or for the owner if the website is has a content management system. New features, services, and pages can be added and nothing has to be “set in stone”.
When you add in the potential of new traffic from Google, Bing, and other search engines, combined with a social media presence, return on investment of a small business website is maximized. Blogs and sharing tools built into most websites can help YOU be the marketer of your new business and make it successful.
Small Business Website Strategy Tip #2: Get Business Cards with Your Website Domain Printed on Them
While much of print should be avoided early-on in limited budgets, business cards are the exception due to their low cost. Every day provides opportunities for small business owners to generate leads and build relationships. Without business cards, there is no way to leave information with potential clients and connections that can become keys to your success. Business cards should be simple and represent the company’s brand well. Name, address, phone number, website url, and social media profile url should all be a part of the card as connection points for the business. With very little money, business cards provide a way for new contacts to remember you and your services.
Small Business Website Strategy Tip #3: Put Your Business on Social Media Sites
Millions of people are on social media every day for hours at a time. Don’t underestimate the power of marketing your site through profiles and pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and more. Posting updates and news to these accounts put your brand in front of your social media following, and provide an easy route to getting people talking about your business. Interacting with your business’s connections can lead to referrals, reviews, and more. Social media is a free opportunity no business should ignore.
Small Business Website Strategy Tip #4: Be Your Business’s Biggest Evangelist
No matter where you are in business, you should always be your business’s biggest evangelist. Believe in what you do, and use your business cards and social media accounts to generate interest about your business. While the person in front of you might not become a customer, they could connect you to a new account, generate referrals, or provide valuable information that can help you grow. Drive traffic to your website, where your services, features, and information can always be current.
Set-Up for Success
With a website as a central business marketing hub, business cards, social media, and word of mouth can be the full set of advertising tools needed to generate success. Changes in business information can be easily accommodated, without the need for reprinting expensive print pieces. With flexibility and marketing power, this website marketing strategy can help your business be set-up for success.
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