As a small business owner, you wear so many hats – it’s a miracle anything gets done, right? Between managing yourself or your team, making sure your products or services are the best you can offer to a customer, and having enough customers to keep the lights on, marketing can sometimes feel like the last thing on your mind.
But – marketing should absolutely be a priority. Especially digital marketing.
“Okay,” you might be thinking. “But WHY does it matter so much?”
Well, the thing about digital marketing is that it’s kind of like having a superpower for your small business. Here’s how:
- Finding your perfect customers: Imagine being able to talk directly to the people who are most likely to love and buy what you offer. Digital marketing lets you target your advertising, reaching people based on where they live, what they’re interested in, even the websites they visit. It’s like having a customer magnet!
- Making a big splash on a small budget: In the old days, competing with the big-budget companies was nearly impossible. Digital marketing levels the playing field. You don’t need a Super Bowl ad – a clever social media campaign, targeted online ads, or even putting your business in front of people with Google Search ads can work wonders.
- Building relationships that last: Digital marketing isn’t just about shouting about how great you are. It’s about conversations – answering questions on social media, sharing helpful blog posts, or offering email updates that truly add value. This makes people become more than just customers, they become your fans.
- Seeing what works (and what doesn’t): Remember that feeling of crossing your fingers and hoping a newspaper ad would pay off? With digital marketing, that’s history. You can track clicks, see how many people read your emails, and learn more about your customers every single day. That means you can make adjustments and get the very best out of your marketing efforts.
“Alright, I’m getting excited now. So how do I start?”
It can be overwhelming at first, that’s for sure. Here are a couple of beginner-friendly places to focus on:
- Your website: This is your home base, so make it shine! Keep it clear, easy to navigate, and make sure people on their phones can use it easily. This means ensuring your website is mobile-friendly.
- Social media: Pick one or two platforms (where are your customers hanging out?) and focus on creating regular, useful content rather than just pushing sales. Depending on your industry this can be entertainment-based content, educational content, DIY content, etc. Just remember that when it comes to social media you want to do your best to create the kind of content people want to tune in to. Remember, most people don’t tune into ads.
- Google Search Ads: Put your business right in front of potential customers when they’re searching for the products or services you offer. This is a powerful way to drive relevant traffic to your site and grow your business. This is by far the most recommended thing we believe a business can do with a low budget and clear ROI expectations.
- Email marketing: This is one of the most powerful tools! Collect emails and send regular updates, offers, or even just fun stories to keep your business top-of-mind.
Small Business + Digital Marketing = Winning Combo
Digital marketing won’t solve every single challenge for your small business, but it’ll get you in front of the right people, build connections, and let you compete even when resources are tight. So dive in, experiment, and watch the amazing things you can achieve! You’d be surprised what you can accomplish with even a small monthly budget of under $500 per month.
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start, let the team at Artrageous give you a hand. We offer a free 30-minute consultation and tailor a plan to help you reach your business goals even on tight budgets.