When it comes to digital marketing for small businesses, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. With so many different strategies to use it’s hard to know where to start. Whether it’s building up your social media following, updating your website, or running paid advertising, you should always begin with content in mind. We’re not only talking about what you’re going to post on Facebook today but your overall plan for building a relationship with your prospects and existing customers online, also known as content marketing.
Simply put, content marketing is the creation and sharing of online materials such as videos, blogs, and social media posts to promote your business by inspiring interest in your products or services.
What makes content marketing so effective is that the goal of a small business is to engage and build brand loyalty with customers and your content fulfills that role. While it’s more of a long-term strategy, spending time developing your messaging is vital for small businesses that don’t have the marketing resources that larger companies do. With 82% of consumers feeling more positive about a company after reading custom content, don’t overlook the impact that your social posts, blogs, and articles have on your brand. (Demandcentric.com)
Start With A Content Marketing Plan
What are your overall business goals for the year, quarter and month? The content you produce should go to support those initiatives. Are you launching a new service, running a special for a product, or introducing a new location? Content marketing is how you get the word out.
For example, if you are adding a new service and want to build awareness start with adding a landing page on your website or writing a blog post that you also link to your email newsletter. Build a social media campaign that includes organic posts and paid advertising that introduces the service over a period of time.Take it one step further and write a press release announcing the new service and send it to local news outlets or trade publications.
Especially for local based businesses, how easily you can be found online is going to play a big role in getting you more sales opportunities. By distributing content across the digital landscape you increase those chances.
If you would like more information on how you can leverage content marketing to grow your local business, please contact us at kristina@hathawaymarketing.com or schedule an appointment for a free 20 minute consultation.
