Whether you are expanding your business online or opening your first online store, you need to promote it. The UK’s online business space is expected to grow by 5.16% each year until 2025, making it an increasingly profitable venture. But it is also very competitive. To help you stay ahead of your competitors, you need to develop marketing strategies to attract prospective customers and retain your existing ones. This article covers some of the best marketing strategies to promote your online business.
- Optimise your online store for SEO
You might not be a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) expert, but at the very least, you know that it is what will keep your website visible. In simpler terms, it involves getting several website pages to rank high in search engines like Google and Bing. So how do you get your business to that coveted top spot?
The first thing you have to do is think like your target audience. Consider what they’d like to know and how they talk about your product or service. Once you have a clear idea of that, ensure that the content on your website uses the language or keywords they might use when they are searching for related products or asking related questions. Include these terms on your site’s pages, including your product descriptions and the metadata of your web pages.
However, this does sound technical, if not done properly could bring about undesirable results. Fortunately, you can consult with experts who work in the digital marketing for small business space to set your business up with an effective SEO strategy.
- Advertise on social media
Social media is a great place to promote your online business. The UK has over 53 million active social media users. These platforms help users decide what and where to buy. You can succeed with your social media marketing if you position yourself as an expert and build an organic following. Social media marketing helps you target your audience more accurately as you group them according to various factors, including demographics, hobbies, and socioeconomic status. It is also a great way to increase your brand awareness because you can expand your business worldwide. The bigger your business’s social media presence, the more likely people will remember your brand.
When advertising your products or services, ensure that you use good-quality photos and videos to attract potential customers. As you get more established, you can begin to experiment with other strategies.
- Build your email list
Email marketing is still an effective way to promote your online business. Ensure that you collect as many email addresses as possible, including customers and potential leads. You can email these contacts about new features of your store, share important updates and announcements, run contests, and offer discounts to loyal customers. You must continue to build your email list even when you are operating. You can use pop-up boxes to prompt visitors to enter their details when they open your page. You must also ensure that you keep in steady contact with your email list.
There are many ways to promote your online business, but you have to ensure that your strategies align with your store’s goals.