Small business ownership is not for the faint-at-heart. Whilst on the outside small business owners like afterfivebydesign might bask in the role, they will often reveal that theirs is a life of self-sacrifice, juggling a multitude of responsibilities and constant focus on the business at least until it’s off the ground.
In fact, whilst many see them as enjoying the benefits of doing what they like most and having no ultimate boss to face, this is only part of the picture. Many of them confess excessive worrying and agonising about the many decisions that they face.
From a digital perspective, there are several ideas that can assist small businesses. Here are our favourite five tips that are focused on ensuring that one is set up to grasp opportunities and engage in quick wins.
1) Make sure you understand the click ecosystem in which you need to thrive
The digital marketplace can be a complicated place with so many channels, competing websites, 3rd party platforms, directories, social media platforms and search engines.
Understanding the flow of traffic is crucial. One needs to be clear about how people who already know about the business are reaching the business and how those who as yet are not aware of the business can stumble on it.
This exercise serves to highlight which are the essential platforms in which one needs to invest.
2) Online Competitor Audit
Before building one’s own website, it is essential to analyse who exactly is the competitor, where is his or her location, what are the major products or services and most essentially the unique selling proposition.
This is needed to ensure that your website is geared towards building a brand image that is different from your competitors. In a densely crowded market, standing out is not an easy task.
A solid competitor audit is needed to identify the most important features that the websites in certain sectors have. These features need to be present in the website that you will provide for your market.
A serious competitor audit will take note of the best-of-breed competitors and also identify those which need to be followed closely or on a regular basis.
3) Website Design, Development and Testing
Since the website is the online headquarters, it merits special focus. The design of the website’s interface needs to mirror the brand such that there is consistency across all traditional and digital channels.
The core business units need to be present on the main page and any central facilities should be prominently displayed. Website design needs to keep in mind the target audience or segments to which it needs to appeal.
When it comes to website development choosing a solution that is suited to the business at hand is a make-or-break decision. The right type of content management system, e-commerce or e-business system along with customer relationship management systems that have to be roped in, are all part of the overall factors to be examined.
Aspects like search engine optimisation, online campaigns, social media and content marketing have to be balanced out according to the needs of the small business.
Small business owners face the question of in-house website design and development versus outsourcing in different ways than larger firms. Smaller teams and less budget means that decisions are weighed in a different manner.
Asking an employee to design and develop the website means taking him away from the daily job and employing an agency can mean relying on 3rd parties and disclosing some information about operations.
A balance is often found by establishing a working relationship with the right sort of agency. In choosing between agencies, one should not only look at the portfolio of projects but also look at results delivered and ask for testimonials.
A small business would also be better off dealing with an agency that providesall the different related services as in this way one avoids developing many business relationships with a variety of firms.
On the other hand, if one opts to tackle some of the digital marketing in-house, one is bound to discover an excess of many competing tools which can be used to handle different aspects of digital marketing.
Small firms do not usually have enough time to test out different tools until they identify which is the best for them. The best tools are the ones which are not a hindrance in daily business operations. The litmus test of any tool is asking those who already use it if it has improved or hampered their daily operations.
4) Think in terms of evolution
Once your website is launched, keep in mind that a website is an ongoing project and once it is launched it needs to be maintained, monitored and kept fresh. Information needs to be accurate and up-to-date at all times. Plan your digital campaigns and social media activity accordingly.
5) Monitor and measure
The failure to monitor and look at analytics on a regular basis can mean that there are some opportunities and quick wins that are derived only from the insights, which you might miss.
If you’re too busy to look at the website regularly you will never get familiar with the click data.
Small businesses know that they do not have the luxury of big teams, time and resources backing them. Digital marketing needs to be approached with the attitude of quick continuous learning where lessons are learnt quickly, adaptations implemented wisely and information shared with colleagues to ensure that at any point in time, the business is improving and strengthening its digital stance based on knowledge and experience.
Vineet, Great article. I think you did miss one important aspect of digital marketing for your website… promotion. Once your website is built, you’ve got to spend some time promoting it through syndication… or paid marketing… or partnerships with others in your industry. A blog alone is just an Island. At Betwext.com, we use text message marketing (it’s our software) to promote our website… and it’s very effective. you might check it out.
No doubt that No#2 is the key to success! Vineet, Do you recommend email marketing and niche relevant link building for digital marketing? Did you try them? By the way, I am waiting for your next article.
Yes, It works a lot
Thanks Vineet for your info.Your tips are highly appreciated and it has already changed my business perceptions.A digital marketing strategy building for a new venture needs to require some serious brainstorming to determine the best outcome. I was simply stumped on choosing the best digital marketing tips for a new venture which could work effectively for me.Even tried a different online search but I failed.I found your article more interesting and useful as a tool which could help me explore my business planning ideas in this sector.
Digital Marketing moves at the speed of light. To keep up, you need a strong foundation with the judgment to think critically, act independently, and be relentlessly creative. That’s why we wrote this guide — to empower you with the mental building blocks to stay ahead in an aggressive industry.
Hi Vineet, I read your exclusive article here and you know, I have all those equipment without a website. Have a well-known fb page and most of the audience is active. One thing I want to know, does a website create an effect on digital marketing? Actually, I’m not interested to make a website for my business.
Hey, Buddy!!
Such an informative post you shared with us.
As we all know that, the digital marketing is the marketing of services or products using digital technologies, mainly on the Internet.
Digital marketing is also known as data-driven marketing and is used for small business owners.
So, it is very important to know some important tips about digital marketing.
As you cleared all the important tips about digital marketing. But I want to add some of my views on digital marketing.
Like, Digital marketing is also used in the digital era as there are many different brands that can easily use digital marketing to benefit their marketing efforts.
Thanks for sharing this valuable post with us.
Regards,
Anjali Desai
Outstanding tips on posting here.
I think this website design and competitor analysis is the main part.
And me also do like that.
hi Vineet,
you did an amazing article regarding digital marketing. Nowadays digital marketing has a wonderful role and by the way, your presentation is amazing it will help a lot of startups to present there own. And your tips make a change for a beginner. keep on doing an article.
It is tough but really important to take care every aspect of digital marketing. From the website development to public’s demand and needs. We have to face the competition at every place. The most important things are to make a website user-friendly. Well now there are many tools are available in the market but to select any one of them is difficult.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You delivered as promised!
Thank you so much, Vineet! I am also running a website for small business and your articles are always helping me a lot to get organic traffic.
You always share an informative post.
Thanks for sharing relevant information about small business. small business are not aware of online presence. they do not get idea that with the help of website they can target relevant customer according to their business
Thanks for the article first of all. It was very informative
Nowadays digital marketing is at a peak. Everyone who is business owner wants to connect digitally and wants to promote their business digitally. Thanks for this informative article.
I have a small business. Your article will help to improve my business.
It is intense yet extremely vital to take care of each part of advanced showcasing. From the site improvement to open’s interest and needs. We need to confront the challenge at each spot. The most vital things are to make a site easy to use. Well presently there are numerous instruments are accessible in the market however to choose any of them is troublesome.
Hey, i just love to read your artecles.. thanks to elorating like this.
Thanks for sharing. It may come as no surprise that the marketplace has become increasingly more digital as technology continues to evolve. The benefits of digital marketing are becoming more prevalent every day. More and more consumers are researching and buying products online. So, these tips are going to be really useful.
thanks for such a great information
I find it great that you suggested that businesses can avail of search engine optimization services in order to increase traffic through a business website and the physical store in real time. In my opinion, another way topic such a 3rd party company for this task is to check their Better Business Bureau rating. If their rating it at least an A, hiring them would ensure that a small radio broadcast station or a small restaurant can dominate their respective markets.
A much detailed tips giving article on digital marketing for growing business..thanks for sharing with us.
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Best 5 tips of digital marketing in here. Really it will be very helpful tips for about that. Nice sharing.
your article such very informative for improving the digital marketing business.Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks for sharing relevant information about small business. small business are not aware of online presence. they do not get idea that with the help of website they can target relevant customer according to their business
Thank you Vineet! I am following your tips.
I discovered your article as amazing as it should be. Digital Marketing. You advised that businesses can avail of SEO services to boom website visitors via a good search engine reputation. & also towards the real shop.
Thank You so much for discussing your secrets.