80 Online marketing ideas
Marketing for a micro or small business is one of the top struggles – you are not alone.
Most people have a few ideas that may or may not work, but once they are exhausted, they struggle to come up with new and improved ideas.
This blog aims to give you more ideas than you will ever need to spread the word about your micro or small business.
Micro Business
A business that operates on a very small scale, a solo operator or an operator with no more than two employees.
Small Business
A business that operates with less than 2million turnover (according to the ATO) or less than $15 employees (According to fair work Australia).
Website Online Marketing
- A professional website – Don’t cut costs or DIY your Website unless you are also a web designer. Please leave it to the professionals, get a recommendation and go with someone who does beautiful work. Ask if they do the work in-house rather than outsource it to another country so you can ensure that you support Australian Business.
- Mobile responsive Website – As one of its algorithms, Google prioritises mobile responsive websites in search results. If you have a website, it needs to be mobile responsive and if you are setting up a website, make sure you ask the question.
- Content relevant website – Whether you are writing the content yourself or getting a copywriter to do it, your content must be relevant to your ideal clients. Remember, they don’t want to hear about you; they want to know how you will benefit them.
- Fast loading website – The faster your Website loads, the more likely people will take the time to view what you have on offer. You don’t want people going elsewhere because your Website didn’t load quickly.
- WordPress Website – WordPress is a fantastic platform on which most websites are built. It is incredibly Google-friendly and can be relatively easy to use. Make sure to ask your designer what platform they will be using and why.
- Your Website linked to social media – Have your social media accounts linked directly to your site. This needs to be in two ways, one for people to share your information and two for people to find your social media channels.
- Search engine optimised website – SEO, the mystical beast that it is, makes it easier for you to be found online. Yes, you can do a lot yourself, but sometimes it is better to leave it to the professionals.
- Optimise for local – If you are a local business, your Website needs to mention the local area you work in and service. As part of your content conversation, you must frequently talk about your local area.
- High quality – This speaks for itself, and if you have had a professional create your site, then this is what you should expect. Don’t forget to purchase high-quality stock images for your web design.
- New relevant content – Don’t just create your site and forget about it. You need to develop and add relevant new content ongoing.
- Reuse content – Your content should be timeless; a blog, for example, can be reused and updated as required.
- Share your content – Make sure you share your content to social media, your database and anywhere else you can to get in front of your ideal clients.
- Offer a free consult – Offering a free consultation as a taste of your services can be an excellent way for people to get to know you. Be careful not to give too much away; you want to give out just enough so that you leave people wanting more. When they come for more, you can get paid for your offer.
- Provide a coupon – A coupon for services, % discount etc., is a great way to entice people to purchase.
- Translate to other languages – Are your other clients potentially from non-English speaking backgrounds? Consider offering your Website in that language or languages.
Offsite Online Marketing
- Newsletter template – Sending a newsletter is a great way to stay in touch. Have a template created that shows off your brand and presents a professional image when people open it?
- Email signature – Having an email signature with your logo and business information as standard practice is marketing without even trying. Here you can have links to your Website, social media, booking information and more.
- Article publication – As a professional in your industry, you can aim to have articles published in industry-specific journals. This helps with your exposure, backlinks, potential to collaborate and authority online.
- EBook – Increasingly popular, the EBook is a cost-effective way to be published, market yourself and passively generate income from a product people can download.
- Host an online class – Online classes are commonplace and are a way of reaching clients who are not always placed locally to your business.
- Webinar – A webinar can be live and interactive and can be recorded so that it can be watched again in the future. Ideally, you want it to be a limited offer so that the people who pay to participate get value then and there.
- Podcast – The voice-only version of a webinar and often done as an interview-style are also fast becoming where people access information. Podcasts can be listened to anywhere and distributed through large channels.
- Online Sponsorship – Various methods of online sponsorship are available, and whichever you choose, you need to ensure that that choice gets you the maximum exposure to your ideal clients. You may sponsor a page, Website, blog, local radio etc.
- Vlog – This is the video version of a blog; it may cover one topic or your day or weeklong adventure. Have a quick look on YouTube and see what people are doing! Daily vloggers and more, with exciting stories to tell and education covering many topics.
- Video – This can be a way of showing off your business, your talents, products, how-to, and so much more. It can be a way of showing testimonials and interviewing past or potential clients.
- Competitions – Running a competition can be a great way of generating interest in your products or service. Take care, though, to not just give to the competition followers; you want to attract clients.
- Events – Various events may suit your business, such as product launches, seminars, etc.
- Referral networks – Do you have a network of people that you can refer to, and they can refer business to you?
- Set up an affiliate programme – Have you considered well-positioned website advertising? Or positioning your business on other people’s websites?
- Cross-promotion – Do you have another business you can work with and cross-promote them and yourself? For example, a graphic designer and a copywriter.
- Constant contact – How often are you in touch with your clients so that you remain top of mind with them? How many ways can you stay in constant contact?
Social Media Marketing
- Review your channels – Are you using the same social media platforms your ideal clients use? Are you posting often enough and with the suitable types of content?
- SEO your channels – Have you optimised your channels to help your Website perform well on Google?
- Share your other social media on all channels – Take the opportunity when you post to your social media to remind people to follow your other social media. Have your social media channels on your Website, email signature, newsletters, blogs and anywhere else you see fit.
- Participate in promotional Hashtags like #throwbackthursday – Hashtags are a great way to be found by new clients and a new area to share your business where you have the potential of being found.
- Facebook – Facebook remains the number one social media platform. Love it or hate it, everyone is using it, and it helps with your Google search engine results. You should be posting daily, and at the time of day, your ideal clients are online. Make sure you also participate in groups that are relevant to your business.
- Twitter – While Twitter is not suitable for all businesses, it remains a highly active platform and a place where business-to-business can do well. There is no limit to the number of tweets you can do daily.
- LinkedIn – This social media platform can work very well for some, and again it is participation, and group performance that will help your business. All these channels are social media for a reason; you need to be social.
- Instagram – A hugely popular platform, Instagram is popular with a broad audience and particularly if you have a visual product or service to promote. However, it can be used for MANY different types of businesses.
- Google My Business – This is important for location-relevant businesses and a great place to give and receive testimonials for your business. You can share posts just like the other leading social media, and your business will be marked on google maps.
- YouTube – Making videos that you can share and work to display your business in a new light can generate business. Not to mention there are many running their entire business through YouTube.
- Snapchat – Younger generations still use this platform as a communication tool.
- Pinterest – Continues to be popular; it has many benefits, and just like any platform, you need to use it and evaluate if it will work for your business. Sharing images, you can link to your Website may be beneficial, particularly for handmade and product industries. It can also work wonders for service businesses too.
- TikTok – Short, often funny videos which may be an excellent fit for your small businesses.
- Live Videos – Instant live video with instant viewers and responders can be a great way of exposing a new product or service. Remember that Facebook and Instagram offer live videos.
- Online testimonials – Social Media is one of the best ways to give and receive testimonials. Remember that all your testimonials may not be positive, so if you get a negative one, respond immediately.
- Share case studies – Case studies are a great way to show how you work. You don’t need to share names and details, just an example of how the process worked for you and the client.
- Share hot topics – Trending topics when they are relevant to your business is a great way to be found online.
- Share your sense of humour – Social media is a great way to share a funny meme, funny video etc.; make sure that your sense of humour aligns with your business and your clients’ view of your business.
- Remind people to subscribe – If you send out a newsletter or blog, reminding people to subscribe via your social media posts is a great way to build your database.
- Share samples – Are you unsure about purchasing a new product? Ask your social media followers? People love to put their 2 cents in and feel like they are a part of the process; plus, you may receive early orders for that product before you have even stocked it.
- Ask for input – Your audience can answer surveys and topics you may be unsure of; again, people love to be a part of the process, so allow them to be.
- Respond quickly – You must respond promptly to social media questions. So if you are doing this yourself or outsourcing, make sure that answering is a priority.
- Share infographics – Infographics that show the process is a perfect tool for social media and may be shared by others online.
- Compare your products – Show product comparison to your followers and the benefits of buying from you.
- Compare your services – when compared, services can help people decide the service they want to choose from you.
- Use paid promotions – Make sure you have a budget for paid marketing on social media. Most platforms are now offering it, and Facebook is extremely targeted, allowing you to choose exactly who sees your ads.
Branded Online Marketing
- Stay relevant – Regardless of your marketing type, it must be relevant to your business and your ideal clients today.
- Be visual – Good visuals are important as this is most likely what people will see and stop scrolling online for.
- Stay true to your brand – Your brand must shine through in everything you do online. Aim also to brand all your images with your Website, logo or social media handle.
- Comment on others – Comment and interact with your business on other posts; this will increase your exposure and show your knowledge.
- Review your online competition – What are others in your industry doing? Note: Don’t spend too much time watching the competition; focus on your business.
- Brand everything – Wherever you can stick your business name or logo, stick it! Get in front of your ideal clients, so they have no choice but to notice you.
- Ask for business – Sometimes you have to ask for what you want, don’t be scared, just go for it.
- List in local directories – Most local guides are now online; you need to ensure your business, and its details are correct and up to date in the most relevant ones.
- Claim your listing – Some directories will have listed your business automatically, so make sure you claim yours.
- Share your logo – If you have a cool logo that was professionally created, get it out there. I know that McDonald’s is number one globally for being recognised, but do your clients know what your logo is?
- Show how you exceed expectations – Under promise and over deliver, share online how you take your client’s expectations and blow them away.
- Share your milestones – Are you celebrating an office move, number of years in business, etc. sharing these online can bring your customers closer. Be careful not to over-share and drive your customers crazy by being too personal!
- Educate your clients – teach them how you benefit them and how your products/services benefit them.
- Talk to your ideal clients – Speak in a language that your ideal clients understand, and use images they relate to and the language they relate to.
- Join online communities – being a part of forums relevant to your business and your ideal clients is another way to generate interest in what you offer. Example: If you repair drones, participating in their forms and answering questions helps people see that you are an authority and may remember you if they need something.
- Answer questions on forums – Answer questions without expectations for business but make sure your business details are part of your signature and online profile.
- Guest blog – By having your writing shared by other websites, you have the opportunity to reach more potential clients, gain backlinks to your Website and, naturally, online exposure.
- Support a cause and share – If you support a charity, perhaps you can also publicise that charity.
- Be helpful – Help people without expectation but don’t give everything away for free. A little advice can go a long way, but if all you do is give free advice, you won’t be in business for very long.
- Share your value – Show people the value they receive by doing business with you. After all, you are not selling a product or service; you are selling the perceived value of that item.
- Share your benefits – What are the benefits of doing business with you, and how can you illustrate that online.
- If you do outdoor marketing, share your marketing images/videos online. Signage on vehicles, signage on storefronts, t-shirts, gorilla marketing or any other outdoors marketing/events you have.
- Shout from the rooftops – online or offline; you need to shout out loud about your business so that your potential clients can find you. Don’t be afraid to tell people what you do; the online world is the perfect platform.
Finally – How are you evolving and spreading the word about your business within the online community so that your ideal clients can easily find you? My Sassy Business is here to help you with all these points and much more; contact us today.
