It has never been easier to set up your own small business. Not only has technology provided us with fantastic software to facilitate all operations, but the internet has also given us access to a larger market, including customers from across the globe. Unfortunately, this does mean that the competition is much fiercer, too. Small businesses can have their voices drowned out by big corporations who have monopolised the marketplace. So, what can SMEs do about getting themselves heard? How can they stand out from the crowd? Through marketing. Marketing is the number one tool at our disposal. If done successfully, it can help your small business to thrive and create a real name for itself, despite tough competition. Of course, SMEs do not have the same marketing budget as big corporations, so they need to be a little savvier. Luckily, we are here to help. Here are some invaluable tips for marketing your small business:

1. Optimise Your Website

People often underestimate the importance of a good website for their marketing campaign. Your website is where everything happens – it’s the foundation upon which the rest of your online business is built. If shoddily constructed and not fully optimised, then you could be missing out on hundreds of new customers. So, what can small businesses do about improving their website? Well, first and foremost, ensure that everything is working correctly. Do the links take visitors to the right pages? Is the user interface intuitive and easy to navigate? Does the layout look aesthetically pleasing? Even if you have a modest budget, it is worth spending a decent amount of money on your website. Trust us, this will be worth every penny in the end. We also recommend fully optimising your site and pages for SEO, as this will help drive traffic to your business. But we’ll discuss more about SEO in a moment.

2. Be Consistent with Social Media

Everyone knows about the power of social media in marketing. And it’s perfectly easy to do. Businesses don’t need to spend a dime to create their own accounts, publish some posts, and interact with customers. However, most small business owners become disillusioned with social media marketing after just a couple of weeks. This is usually because they haven’t gained the traction they would have liked to. Unfortunately, social media marketing does just require patience. Sure, if you’re lucky, then you’ll gain hundreds of followers within the first few days of signing up. But this doesn’t happen in most cases. Success is something that happens gradually, with hard work and consistency. So, don’t lose momentum with your social media marketing. Make sure to post at least twice a week, keeping content fresh. Eventually, you’ll reap the rewards for your efforts.

3. Don’t Underestimate Aesthetics

Though we should never prioritise style above substance, you also shouldn’t underestimate the power of aesthetics – especially in marketing. Call it superficial, but there’s no denying the fact that attractive content draws in more customers. So, make sure everything you push out for your marketing campaign is aesthetically appealing. This includes your social media posts, website graphics, and pictures. Be eye catching, not garish. Focus on details, adding a flair that helps to establish what kind of brand you are. Don’t worry if you’re not a talented artist. There are loads of incredibly helpful tools nowadays which make it easier than ever before to create beautiful content, like these fantastic art programs for mac. Take your time making everything look good and see the results for yourself.

4. Use Search Engine Optimisation

The term ‘search engine optimisation’ is pretty intimidating at first. But it’s actually one of the most effective methods at generating traffic to your business. SEO is about making sure your website is one of the first to appear on Google, Bing, or Yahoo when people search a term that is related to your business. If you create bespoke jewellery, for instance, then you will want to be one of the top websites to appear when people search these keywords. Without SEO, your small business will simply have no presence on the internet. Nobody will be able to locate it unless they have a direct link. But how does one apply SEO? It’s difficult to explain all in one blog post. We suggest going to Google Ads, as they have a free short course which should tell you everything you need to know. Though SEO sounds scary, it really isn’t. Anybody can do it with a bit of practice. After you’ve brushed up on your knowledge, go back to your website and ensure that each page has been optimised. Include your keywords, use different links, add images and meta data. This will make an immediate difference to marketing your small business online.

5. Create a Business Blog

What does blogging have to do with marketing a small business? Quite a lot, actually. People used to think that blogs were simply for venting all your innermost thoughts and feelings. But now digital marketers have adapted them for a much greater purpose. With blogs, you can generate far more leads to your website. But how, exactly? Well, your blog should focus on creating content that is relevant to your business industry. For example, an estate agent might write about recent developments in the property market. The next step is search engine optimisation. Use keywords which people might google, and this should lead them to your website – giving you the chance to convert them into a customer. Finally, post your blogs onto all your business socials. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn. If the headline is grabbing enough, then you should be able to direct your followers to your website, too. Blogging is an easy and affordable way to advertise a small business, so don’t forgo this part of your marketing strategy.

We hope you have found these 5 tips helpful. Follow our advice, brush up on your marketing knowledge, and you should be good to go.

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