It’s a well known fact that more and more consumers now use the Internet as a trusted resource for everything and anything; from booking holidays to checking local cinema times. With over 40% of all UK households accessing the Internet on a regular basis it makes sense to market your business using key sites where customers can find out more about the products/services you provide at the simple click of a button.
SMEs are estimated to account for 80% of global economic growth so bear in mind there’s a lot of competition out there. But, what can you do to set your business ahead of the rest? With online marketing and advertising spend growing year on year it seems many businesses are making the most of the online options available and in certain sectors online spend is the greatest proportion of overall marketing expenditure.
If your business doesn’t have a strong presence online then don’t despair; there are some easy ways of promotion to help guide customers into finding you online.
First and foremost is to ensure you have a website. Nowadays most people head for their computer and favourite search engine in order to find out more about a business. A website is the ideal place to communicate key messages about your brand and promote corporate image and identity. Having a domain name that stands out while being easy to remember will help your business ‘stick’ in the minds of customers and help keep you one step ahead of the competition.
Once you have a website established and running smoothly make sure you promote it at every possible opportunity. The URL (the website ‘address’) for your company should appear on all printed business materials, from letterheads to newsletters. Anything your customers receive should have the URL clearly visible.
Gather staff and customer feedback on the website and ensure it is constantly improved and updated. Offering online promotions and discounts is another easy means of attracting site traffic. It also pays to gather website sales and buyer data so you can evaluate customers buying habits and work out exactly how they use your website.
There’s no point in having a business and website if no-one can find it. A final tip for successful marketing is to ensure potential customers are aware your business exists and can find your contact details quickly and easily. One of the best methods of doing this is by appearing in a business directory where your business details are accessible and professionally presented.
Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
