You’re likely familiar with the old adage, ‘it takes money to make money.’ Yet, in a time when budgets for many businesses are shrinking, companies almost always reduce spending on marketing first. In reality, cutting your marketing budget is the last thing you want to do. Instead of helping your business recover, substantially lowering your marketing budget is actually reducing your ability to drive business forward. Instead, right now is the perfect time to invest in promoting your business online.
Organizations that are in the best position to not only survive but thrive after a recession are the same companies that are strategic in reallocating their marketing budgets. They realize that the ways to market their businesses are changing, and they are placing a greater emphasis on promoting their businesses online. It’s important for business leaders to look ahead at the future of their businesses. If you aren’t already marketing your business online, now is the time to start. Learn how promoting your business online makes smart business sense.
Yes! You Should Continue to Market Your Business
Increasing, or even continuing, your marketing in a recession likely feels like going against standard operating norms and may even feel like going against your instincts. But what you are actually doing is keeping your business top of mind with customers and prospects. At the same time, many of your competitors are reducing their online presence, leaving the door wide open for your business to fill in the gaps.
The ways that you can promote your business have changed, with an increased focus on getting more online attention. That makes right now a particularly good time to capitalize on online marketing trends. Small business research shows that over 90% of business owners believe that having a website is an effective part of promoting their business online. Yet, as recently as 2018, 80% of small businesses were not investing in content marketing. And while a vast majority of people research a company online before making a purchase with them, far too many business owners feel that their business is too small for a website.
Whether you start by focusing on SEO, social media, content marketing, or email marketing, you have a great opportunity to use digital marketing to promote your business in 2021 and beyond.
How can you promote your business online right now?
Boost your visibility online and drive business forward using these six techniques to promote your business right now: Search Engine Optimization, Content Marketing, Social Media, Directory Listings, Online Workshops and Webinars, and Email Marketing.
Six Ways to Promote Your Business Right Now
Search Engine Optimization
There is a significant opportunity to boost online and in-person awareness, traffic, and sales through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). When you are working on gaining organic traffic, it’s important to focus on the usefulness of your website. Create a website that answers your prospects’ questions and provides them with solutions to their problems. Choose relevant keywords, make sure your links are all working properly, and check for any incorrect or outdated information. Gaining backlinks from other websites will also help increase your SEO.
Content Marketing
Content marketing and blogging are key parts of search engine optimization as they play a leading role in determining your website ranking. Use your blog to talk about your business, keep your customers up to date with any industry news, share behind-the-scenes information, talk about your mission, or interview employees. Make sure you are writing high-quality articles and using keywords throughout your content.
Social Media
If you’re not active on social media, you’re missing out on a powerful tool for promoting your business online. Social media platforms provide an opportunity to create awareness about your business, attract new customers, and increase website traffic. The content that you create on your website can be shared across your social media channels. Additionally, social media channels provide a quick and easy way to interact with followers and answer customer questions.
Directory listings
89% of prospective customers start their buying process on a search engine. 75% never scroll past the first search page. Help customers find your business online through directory listings like Google My Business. Showing up accurately in directory listings places you higher in search engines and builds credibility for your company. These directories are free and allow local searchers to find businesses near them.
Online Workshops and Webinars
Everyone has become used to online meetings and events over the past year, which is why online events, workshops, and webinars are another good source for bringing in organic traffic. After the live event ends, you can continue to promote recorded versions of the event on your website and social media channels. Additionally, make sure you collect contact information for those who attend so you can follow up with them in the future.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is still one of the best ways to connect with your audience. In fact, many consumers prefer to receive communications via email. Email marketing is a high-impact and low-cost way for you to build brand credibility and loyalty. More than that, email can inspire readers to act. That’s why it’s important to keep your products and services top of mind with customers and prospects through email marketing.
Adapting to the times and creating a marketing plan to promote your business online will allow you to keep building your brand and driving sales. At Safeguard, we know that there are many ways to promote your business; that’s why your Advisor is here with ideas and new products and services to help build a path to your success. Call 855.778.3124 to get started with a specialized Advisor for your business.
Key Takeaways
- Businesses have a great opportunity to use digital marketing to promote their organizations in 2021 and beyond.
- Organizations that are in the best position to thrive after a recession are the same companies that didn’t cut their marketing budgets.
- In a recession, cutting your marketing budget is the last thing you want to do.
- Creating a marketing plan to promote your business online will allow you to keep building your brand and driving sales.
- You can depend on your local Safeguard Advisor to help build a path to your success.