Competition is fierce, and it can be challenging to attract and reach customers, let alone persuade them to be loyal to your brand. If you are launching a new business, or you’re looking to expand, this guide contains top tips to help you get your business noticed.
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization is a digital marketing technique, which uses the reach and popularity of search engines to enable brands to generate leads and boost sales. The aim of SEO is to get web content and links to the top of page 1 to encourage web users to find out more about your business, get in touch or visit your site. Over 75% of users don’t make it past the first page and Google now processes more than 60,000 searches per second. If you have an effective SEO strategy, it can help you build your client base, drive traffic and introduce your brand to a much wider audience.
SEO is complex, and if you don’t have expertise in digital marketing or marketing experts on your team, it’s wise to think about outsourcing this area of the business to increase sales and put your brand on the map. Experts can analyze the way you market your business, identify weaknesses, make recommendations and create tailored plans to enable you to achieve key objectives. Your SEO strategy should target your ideal buyer, maximizing the chances of connecting with them and encouraging them to take the next step.
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Social media
Social media was once a means of connecting with friends and family, but today, it is a powerful marketing platform for businesses of all sizes across multiple industries. Social media gives you an opportunity to promote products and services, but perhaps the most significant benefit is the ability to connect and engage with customers and followers. If you have social accounts, you can communicate with followers, answer questions, provide information and build strong relationships. It’s also a brilliant platform to show the human side of your brand and give customers an insight into what the business is all about and what makes it stand out from others.
Social media marketing involves creating and sharing content, which is designed to resonate with and appeal to the target audience. Visual media is hugely popular, and statistics show that posts with images and videos are more likely to be shared than text. Social videos generate more than 1200% more shares than text and images combined. As a business owner, you can use video content for everything from how-to guides and tutorials to product promotions and interviews with influencers, staff members or real-life customers.
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Branding
When we talk about branding, we usually think about logos and straplines. While these are essential components of branding, there is much more to creating a successful brand than choosing a name and designing a logo and coming up with a catchphrase to accompany it. Building a brand enables you to inform customers and prospective clients about the ethos and culture of your brand, the message you want to convey, what you want to achieve and what makes your business unique.
Research suggests that more and more consumers want to get to know the brands they buy from. Over 90% of consumers buy from companies they follow on social media. There are several ways to enhance brand image and establish a strong identity, including using video production services to create adverts, informative content, guides and marketing campaign materials, connecting with clients via personalized emails, social media and your website blog, and taking advantage of opportunities like TV, radio or press interviews.
Corporate social responsibility is another key factor to consider when thinking about brand image. A growing number of businesses are choosing to support good causes or initiatives as a means of giving back. Statistics show that over 70% of consumers actively seek to buy from brands that align with their values. When working on strategies, it’s wise to think about your target customer, ask employees for input and choose charities or programs that are linked to your business. From planting trees and conservation to supporting animal charities or helping to provide education or employment in the local community, there are several options.
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Reviews and customer service
Reviews play an increasingly important role in influencing buyer behavior. More than 90% of us now read reviews before making a purchase or getting in touch with a business. If you run a company, generating positive feedback and achieving rave reviews should be a priority. Excellent reviews will enhance your brand image, but they will also encourage shoppers or prospective clients to choose your business over rival firms. If a consumer has a choice between a website with 3 stars and 5 stars, they will almost certainly go for the option that has the best rating.
There are many ways you can improve your ratings and get more reviews if your scores are average or you don’t have many reviews to share. The first step is to pay attention to customer service and experience. Provide your clients with a memorable, enjoyable experience, eliminate hassle and stress and make sure you provide responsive support and useful information and advice. Most people abandon carts because they can’t find the information they need to make them complete the order. Including an FAQ section, providing detailed product descriptions and offering live chat and round-the-clock email or phone support is an excellent idea. It’s also beneficial to ask existing customers to review the products or services they have bought and to share testimonials and comments on social media and your website. You can offer incentives for leaving feedback, such as a discount on the next purchase, for example.
If you’re urging customers to provide reviews, it’s essential to make sure that you take the time to read the comments and act accordingly. If people point out problems or they make suggestions to improve the service, for example, take these ideas on board and address issues promptly.
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Your website
Online sales are booming, and we are spending more time online than ever before. Your website can make the difference between converting leads and losing customers. Use analytics to evaluate your performance and make changes to your website. If your site is drab or slow, the content is poor or the pages are repetitive, customers will lose interest. See where you are losing visitors and try to create a website that not only looks professional and appealing but also delivers a positive experience. Your site should be slick, the pages should be mobile-friendly and they should load quickly. Use high-quality content, vary content types and choose themes that are relevant to your brand and your ideal customer. Use links to facilitate simple, speedy navigation, provide useful information and add features to enhance the experience. If you sell clothing, for example, you could include size or style recommendations based on previous purchases, videos and images of the products and buyer reviews. Make sure your site is easy to use. Customers today expect to be able to find a product, add it to their cart and make their payment in a matter of seconds.
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Events
Business events are a fantastic way to create a buzz around a new brand, a new product or the launch of new restaurants, cafes, salons, hotels, bars or stores. If you are thinking about organizing an event, it’s advisable to work through a checklist. Consider the venue, the guest list and the budget before you start sending out invitations. You want your event to be memorable and to stand out, particularly if you are pitching to buyers, eager to encourage them to purchase products. If you have invited industry experts or buyers from retail giants, for example, it’s highly likely that they attend similar events regularly. Make sure your presentation stands out. Showcase your passion, tell your story, let the audience see or try the product, use video content to provide more information about your brand and the product or service in question, and make sure you have facts and figures to hand. Involve the audience, network, and follow up on leads after the event. If you’re limited in terms of numbers, live streaming on social media is a great way to connect with a larger audience.
If you are planning a venue launch rather than an event to promote products, prepare thoroughly. Organize run-throughs to help your staff feel more confident, make sure you have enough staff on duty to provide the level of service guests expect and pay attention to detail. Simple things like decorative touches, a personalized welcome and a gift bag to take home can make all the difference.
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It can be challenging to get your business noticed when competition is fierce and brands are fighting for the same customers. If you’re launching a startup, or you’re on a mission to attract new customers and raise your profile, take these tips on board. Use innovative, targeted marketing techniques, build strong relationships with customers and followers, prioritize customer service and focus on establishing a unique, powerful brand.
