Studies have shown that 70-80% of people will research a business online before making the purchase or even entering a box storefront. It is no wonder that digital online marketing is more important for a small business than ever before. America is plugged in, online and ready to research and buy products.
Small business owners in Phoenix are taking notice and trying to figure out how to get a little slice of the digital pie. The great news is that there are easy ways to get your business online and noticed for less than you think.
Once your business has been launched, you will need to create an online presence and eventually an online buzz. Keep in mind, you do not necessarily need to do this all on your own. There are many experts in Phoenix, like Orion Sol Consulting, who specialize in launching businesses in this exact fashion. Right now, consumers are very in tune with researching products and you want to make sure that yours stands out. Taking it to the bare bones, you’ll need the following to get off and running:
Brand
Website / SEO
Social Media Accounts
PPC
Blog
Email Campaign
Brand
To be a the top of your game, you need to have a brand or a recognizable identity. This is usually in the form of an eye-catching logo and tag line. Having an identity that is recognized not only promotes consistency, but also creates brand loyalty. People become loyal to brands that give them a good feeling and positive emotions. You need to know your audience and create a brand that speaks to them.
Designing Logos is definitely best left to the professionals. There are many companies like fiver.com that offer freelancers to make bids for logo design at a very low price. Be aware that you do get what you pay for. If you expect your company to go far, it is wise to invest in a logo that will stand out and attract the right crowd. Digital marketing companies, like us at Orion Sol, have the expertise for creating a logo to get you in the game.
Website
You pretty much cannot do anything online without a well optimized and designed website. Your website now becomes your storefront. It must tell the viewer who you are, what your product is and how you are the best in Phoenix’s Valley of the Sun.
Optimization is also key when building and designing a website. Some of the factors that will help your website’s ranking include things like using relevant keywords, length and quality of your content, how often you post new content and more.
It is estimated that 90% of people do not go past the first page results when searching on Google. You want to be on page one without a doubt and having a well optimized website will help get you there.
Social Media Accounts
When you consider that 81% of Americans have at least one social media profile, you know that your company must get into the social media game. In the past it has been seen more has an extracurricular activity, but now it is booming with advertising and interaction. It is a way to get personal with your audience and engage them like never before.
Social media accounts can help with search engine ranking and improve your local awareness. You will want to be sure to get a Facebook, Google business and Yelp account setup. These particular platforms will help establish your local authority in your industry and give a chance for your customers to review your service.
The content you post on social media platforms is also important. Your audience wants to see fresh, consistent and current content. A successful online presence will also get people liking, commenting and sharing your posts.
Finding a Phoenix Social Media Marketing firm is certainly one of the first steps you will want to take.
PPC
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising is a great way to launch your business into the digital world and start directing web traffic to your site. You will need to develop a strategy, understand your target audience and targeting keywords. PPC can be a very successful way to advertise immediately to your target audience, increase profit margins and provide measurable results.
The strategy of using PPC can become convoluted if you are not well versed in using it. Many small businesses are better off finding a PPC expert to develop the objective and execute the plan. Every platform that PPC can be used on has its pros and cons, therefore it is often best left to the professionals.
Blog
Blogging is a very important part of digital marketing and setting up your small business for online success in Phoenix. The importance here is that blogging directly correlates to your ranking on search engines like Google, just like the other content that is on your website. The strategy with blogging is for your company to become the authority in your field through writing content with desired keywords that will in turn, produce great ranking results.
You might be a small business owner that finds blogging a daunting task. Blogging needs to be done consistently and with proper keywords to make it useful. Most businesses end up outsourcing their blogs to freelancers or marketing companies. Outsourcing your blogging means you will likely have higher quality content and allowing you the extra time to focus on other aspects of your business.
Email
Email marketing continues to be an important part of online communication. Especially once you have established an audience, keeping them informed about your company and products is vital. Fortunately, there are inexpensive and even free programs that can help you organize your email list, newsletter format and replies. Automation is key here, as you again want to delegate your time wisely.
If your small business is ready for online success in Phoenix, there are many steps you must take before you start getting noticed by your target audience. Make sure you check all of these off your list and then expect great things to happen in the digital marketing world.