Marketing should be at the forefront of your mind as a small business owner if you are serious about scaling.
Smartphones, tablets and computers are ingrained into peoples everyday lives now, so if your business is not doing everything to market itself through these appliances, you are at a severe disadvantage.
Combine this with users dependence on social media platforms and search engines; it is clear that marketing your products and services through digital marketing is vital for growth.
There is a misconception amongst small business owners that digital marketing is complicated and cannot be simplified, which is wrong. It is not difficult to create a digital marketing strategy, utilise social media platforms or create content that engages your target audience.
Like most things, the failure will come if there is no clear marketing plan for you to follow.
You can draw up a basic marketing plan, fill it with your goals you want the business to achieve and use it as a reference point for how your marketing strategy is performing.
It is important to remember that many businesses tend to neglect marketing, which normally means the market neglects them.
We also know that times are hard now, so here are several simple marketing functions a small business can implement without breaking the bank.
To show you how important it is to implement marketing functions into your business, below are several statistics that highlight the need for you to act now.
Statista - Five years of continuous growth for smartphone users across the world, currently at 3.8 billion.
Bright Local - 93% of consumers used the internet to find a local business.
So, how do you as a small business, implement digital marketing for free?
Digital Marketing Strategy
Setting clear goals for your business to achieve through marketing is free.
Ensuring these goals are achievable for your business while using the SMART method is free.
Creating a fill-in document to review your businesses marketing performance regularly is free.
Social Media
Creating business profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok is free.
Creating high quality and engaging content via Canva is free.
Creating a basic content plan of products or services, testimonials and promotions is free.
Email Marketing
Linking your website to boost traffic, leads and sales for your business are free.
Writing basic emails marketing your business through testimonials and promotions is free.
Using basic plans through email marketing platforms to reach your target audience is free.
Search Engine Optimisation
Posting a monthly blog with news that will engage your target audiences is free.
Using industry-related keywords on your website to push you up the search engine rankings is free.
Placing the same keyword filled content onto your social media platforms for your business is free.
Reviews
Linking your Google My Business page to customers to leave a review is free.
Requesting video reviews from your customers to display on your website is free.
Creating a Trustpilot account for your business so potential customers can search for you is free.
Content
Ensuring you execute social media posts regularly is free.
Thinking of interesting facts that will engage your target audience is free.
Sharing engaging content from external media outlets that your target audience would enjoy is free.
Unsure of the tools you need to action these marketing techniques?
Here are some tools you can use to implement digital marketing for free.
SEO Checker: SEO Analyser.
Reviews: Trustpilot, Google My Business.