When I started my business, I naively thought I would only make websites. Then, I realized that the world underneath needed my undivided attention before I even breached the subject of Website Design.
Without these ingredients, a website may crawl into the infinite unknown and get lost in the Internet black hole.
1. Accept that a Google Business Profile is not a luxury you should avoid
Have you considered your Google Business Profile? My recent trip to Costa Rica made me realize that word of mouth can be somewhat insufficient when finding the best mechanics in town or the business hours of a gym you’d like to go to. You're missing out on many opportunities if you’re not on Google Maps.
2. Embrace the Power of Video Content
Video marketing is no longer a ‘’nice to have’’ option but a necessity. With attention spans decreasing with each generation and the popularity of video content on the rise, it's time to harness its power. Consider creating short, engaging videos for social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to showcase your products, services, or behind-the-scenes action. Remember to optimize your videos for search engines with SEO-friendly titles, descriptions, and tags.
3. Local SEO: Target Customers in Your Area
Want to attract more customers in your local area? Focus on local SEO. Start by claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing (yes, I’m repeating myself), ensuring all information is up-to-date and accurate (so frustrating to get to that gym and realize that not only their hours are wrong but that it actually closed during COVID!). Get more local citations and reviews to improve your online presence.
4. Build Trust with User-Generated Content (UGC) - or in lay terms - testimonials ;)
User-generated content (UGC) is one of the most powerful tools for building trust and credibility with your audience. Encourage your customers to share their experiences, reviews, and images of your products or services on social media. Repurpose it on marketing campaigns to showcase the real-life impact of your offerings, ultimately driving conversions and brand loyalty.
5. Master the Art of Email Marketing
Email marketing is far from dead! In fact, it's still one of the most effective ways to nurture leads and retain customers… If, and I’m serious here, you don’t drown your client base with it. Personalize your emails using dynamic content, segment your audience based on interests and behaviors, and automate your email campaigns to maintain consistent (not excessive!) communication. Remember to track your performance with key metrics like open, click-through, and conversion rates.
6. Leverage Influencer Partnerships
Influencer marketing can help you reach new audiences and boost brand awareness. Collaborate with influencers relevant to your niche (of course, you’ll have to find them first 🙂), and make sure their values align with yours. Provide them with unique promo codes, exclusive content, or product samples. You have nothing to lose: everyone likes gifts 😀. This will allow you to track the success of your influencer campaigns and adjust your strategy accordingly.
7. NOW it’s time for the website
It’s not that a website is not good or useful without the above elements, it’s only that it will reach almost only those loyal clients or referrals. If you want to grow your business, then focus on the key ingredients quoted above before. Then, optimize it with location-based keywords, schema markup, and mobile-friendliness. Local SEO can help drive foot traffic and online engagement from customers in your area.
8. Don't Forget About Voice Search
As voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant become increasingly popular, optimizing your website for voice searches is crucial. Focus on conversational, long-tail keywords, and make sure your website loads quickly. Also, consider using structured data to help search engines better understand your content.
Learning this, and I’m still learning every day, helps me tremendously. I admit it scared me at first. No wonder big firms have a specialist for every element of what I described above, which of course, also comes with a price tag that not all small businesses can afford.
If you feel overwhelmed because this world is new to you, but know your business needs it, book a call. We’ll chat. Not everything needs to be done all at once. If you need help in the process, I’m here, ready to help or talk. As always, I believe relationships come first.