Starting up a small business can be a daunting prospect. Not only do you have to sell your USP and reel customers in, but you also must ensure that your digital marketing strategy amplifies your business for it to stand out. Without a concrete marketing strategy in place, you run the risk of slipping into the background, losing existing customers and being unable to attract new ones.
Marketing doesn’t need to be complex, in fact you can have lots of fun with it. Through careful analytics you can see what resonates most with your target consumer – whether that’s motion graphic design videos, email marketing campaigns or SEO you can have fun in the process.
Why do small businesses need to consider marketing?
Small businesses need marketing because, without it, your business may as well not exist. Marketing helps your customers know about your products and services, it also ensures your business stands out from the crowd and can help you to increase your sales and revenue.
There are plenty of great ways for you to market your small business that don’t cost the earth too, including:
Motion Graphic Design
Motion graphic design videos (sometimes referred to as explainer videos) are a cost-effective way to market your small business online.
They are incredibly effective and can help to sell your brand, product, or service in a fun and engaging way. They use a variety of 2D & 3D graphics in a mixture of colours to help draw-in viewers and keep them engaged throughout.
The great thing about motion graphic design videos is that they can make the most boring topics more exciting, allowing you to create a more engaging narrative than posting text-heavy infographics. They can also be used across a variety of platforms too meaning you can tailor the length of them to where you want to show them. Working with a motion graphic agency will enable you to create all the motion graphics you require.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
Having a website and a USP is just one part of the job. Online, you need to ensure that your small business can be found, and this is where SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) comes in. SEO is all about improving where you rank on search engine results pages (SERPs), which makes it easier for your business to be found.
Improving your SEO is a sure-fire way to gain new customers. In fact, research has shown that just by appearing on the first page of Google you can get up to 75% more organic traffic to your website proving that a robust SEO strategy is needed to remain competitive.
Animated Social Media Ads
Animated ads are a brilliant way to communicate with customers as they allow you to convey the most complicated products and messages in a fun and engaging way. With animated social media ads, you can break down complex ideas into smaller, more digestible chunks for the audience which is why they’re so popular.
Animated social media ads are also incredibly effective and are one of the main drivers of click-throughs and conversions.
Customer Testimonial Videos
Customer testimonial videos are one of the best marketing resources you can have in your marketing catalogue. After all, what better way to sell to your future customers than customers that are already impressed with your products?
Customer testimonials help to give your brand credibility and instil in new consumers that you are a trustworthy brand. They’re also incredibly effective with over 75% of consumers saying that reviews from real customers make them trust a company more.
Company Story Videos
A five-star product or service might not be enough to grow your brand. To build your consumer base you need to ensure that you talk to your customers and company story videos are just one great way to show the human side of your brand, which is what most customers will resonate with.
Email Campaigns
When it comes to marketing your small business, an effective email campaign is one of the best strategies that you can implement. Believe it or not, email marketing campaigns are the most effective way to gain new customers and establish brand loyalty.
Utilise your creative content
If you want to attract new business, then where you publish your creative content matters. By publishing your creative content over a variety of platforms (web, social media, traditional advertising) you can attract new consumer groups. For example, a retired person looking for gardening services might prefer to find information through traditional media such as newspapers or local advertising pages whereas a busy mum of 3 might prefer to look for gardening services via social media.
When you utilise your creative content over different platforms, it allows you to branch out and reach a breadth of audiences – and the more varied consumer base you have, the more potential your business has to reach new consumers.
