Starting a new business is hard, as it takes much time and effort. You need to work on your offerings, choose the right sales channels, research your audiences, and more. However, regardless how good your products or services are, people won’t know about them when you don’t market them.

Due to the continuing pandemic and economic uncertainty, most small businesses are focused on survival. Even those that are considered essential have seen their opportunities for growth shrink in the past 2 years. This doesn’t change the fact that marketing is a vital part of branding and lead generation.

While anytime is a good time to change your strategy, the first quarter of a new year is preferable. That’s why we have compiled a list of tips so you stay updated on where your efforts must be concentrated on this year.

Before anything, know the facts…

Here are a couple of things that all business owners have to be aware of when working on your campaigns:

• 74% of consumers use social media to make informed decisions when shopping
• 81% of shoppers research products or services online before purchasing
• 60% of people do their research on search engines before visiting specific websites
• 93% of brands gain new customers when posting videos on social media
• 46% of buyers confirm a business’ inventory online before making an offline visit
• 64% of small businesses have a website while others don’t see the value in one
• 47% of small business owners perform the marketing on their own
• 91% of customers have visited a physical store due to a good online experience
• 92% of online reviews about small businesses were positive
• 35% of small businesses think that they are too small to have their own website

Smart marketing strategies for small businesses

When your digital marketing strategy is well-researched and well-planned, it’s easier to consistently and diligently execute it to keep your sales and branding going. There is no sure-fire way to earn a high ROI but we believe a combination of these ideas will pay off.

Asking for reviews

In the eyes of many a consumer, a small business with lots of good reviews is trustworthy. This is why it’s important to ask your happy customers to leave a review. This is the kind of social proof that people are looking for when researching your reputation.

To achieve the best results, send your requests via email or text message. This makes it easier for your customer to click on the link and write a review. Don’t make them download an app or type in a URL to leave a review.

Staying active on social media

As you may have gathered from the facts listed above, social media plays a huge role in building your brand these days. You might already have a profile page on Facebook but ensure that you are active on it by posting regularly and responding to comments.

Facebook has a low reach for organic posts since they want you to invest in their advertising features. All the same, followers expect you to be visible by posting regularly. A low-effort way to reach your audience is by sharing positive reviews and tagged posts by customers.

Boosting your PPC campaigns

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising enables you to display adverts when people search for certain keywords and key phrases in a search engine. Though it may lead to expensive bidding wars, you may have better luck with local markets as long as you regulate your budget.

If you’re already running these kinds of ads, have a look at Google seller ratings which allow you to showcase your overall star rating. Data from Podium reveals that 38% of customers look for at least a 4-star average review before trusting a provider.

Working on your listings

Searches for businesses “near me” have been growing exponentially in recent years. They’ll become even more important with the rise of voice searches as 22% of them tend to be location-based. A global survey shows that 74% of in-store shoppers search online about hours, directions, and more.

The first step is easy as you just have to claim your Google My Business profile. Considered as the most visible listing, it shows up every time someone does a search of your brand or company name. Simply open Google Maps, search for your business, and click ‘Claim this business’.

Invest in your content marketing

This is the act of creating and publishing high-quality copy that is of value to your target audience. It has to address their needs while positioning your business as the number one provider of the solution. To achieve that, you’ll have to do some creative storytelling.

Take note that content marketing is a long-term strategy. It takes time to build rapport with your readers and to optimise for search engines. When you do it correctly, you may establish yourself as an authority in your specific industry and make long-lasting relationships with your customers.

Improving the customer experience

If there’s one thing you must remember, it’s that a happy customer will recommend your business to their family and friends thereby creating more happy customers. The trick lies in going through feedback you’ve received from customers and working on areas that need improvement.

One of the easiest ways to gauge customer satisfaction is through net promoter surveys. These ask customers how likely they are to recommend your business to their loved ones on a scale of 0 to 10. Facebook polls and website forms are also useful for gathering feedback and data.

Small business marketing strategies made easier

Although it’s possible to do all of these suggestions for 2022 on your own, it takes time away from other aspects of your small business. Hiring a marketing virtual assistant will help you in taking care of all of these processes.

We at Remote Workmate are here to connect you with the right candidates for the job. With connections to qualified remote workers in the Philippines, we are sure to find someone who is familiar with your specific niche and meets your specific requirements.