When it comes to being a successful entrepreneur in today's demanding market, it is important that you not only know how to market your business but that you learn how to market your business online. There are so many different tools and resources available for business owners today and opportunities that they can utilize in order to grow their business. Here are seven of the online marketing skills that every entrepreneur should know. Being aware of these online promotional opportunities can go a long way in helping any company get the expose that it needs to thrive.
1. Facebook Advertising
Most companies today at least have their own Facebook page, but very few organizations are actually using Facebook to their advantage and utilizing the social media platform to promote their company. Facebook advertising is a great way to reach both current and potential customers. It can be a budget-friendly solution where you only pay for customers who click on your ads. When executed properly, Facebook ads have proven to be some of the most effective solutions available for entrepreneurs looking to garner new interest for their company. When testing out an ad campaign on Facebook, make sure to split test. Ben Simkin, the CEO of BusinessNET, which has generated over $1 billion in sales using the Facebook ad platform says, "Split testing is very important and KPIs can vary from industry to industry. For most ads we will know within 150 clicks how we are tracking and know how to act accordingly, whether we adjust the ads, landing page or offer. For other industries, we've run ads for over 350 clicks each before determining split test winners."
2. SEO
If you aren't aware of the power of SEO, then it is time to learn more about how the right SEO efforts can transform your search engine results. Simply put, a campaign that includes SEO optimized content increases your chances of appearing high on search engine results. There is no denying that search engines such as Google are the number one way that people find new companies online. The higher you can get your company to appear on these results rankings, the more people will find their way to your business. Manish Bhalla, the CEO of FATbit Technology has said that companies who are not taking advantage of an SEO strategy, regardless of their industry, are missing out on major opportunities.
3. PPC Advertising
There are many entrepreneurs that may not know about PPC advertising, or pay per click advertising. This online model is used to drive traffic to your company website. Essentially you pay an existing website owner, such as Google whenever an ad for your company appears on their website. This is a great way to start getting more people to visit your site, and essentially you only pay when the strategy actually works.
4. Content Marketing
With content marketing plans, your main goal is to create and distribute valuable and relevant content that will attract a large audience of followers. Your goal should be to educate the public on your company while proving that you are an expert in your niche. Content marketing can include blogs, articles, posts on other people's blogs and a variety of other content. They key is to always make sure you are delivering quality content that truly reflects your brand.
5. Building a Brand on Social Media
If you don't already have a social media account, then you need to make one for your company. Social media is one of the best ways you can build a strong brand identity or reputation and really get in touch with current and potential customers. Social media allows for a more personal relationship with your customers and is a great place to communicate one-on-one with the public, all you need to do is make sure you are taking advantage of the power of a variety of social media platforms. Make sure that you utilize LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, among others to reach as many people as possible.
6. Using Video to Your Advantage with YouTube, Snapchat, FB Live and Periscope
Video is one of the most powerful tools that you can use to advertise online, yet so many people do not take advantage of video. While making videos may not come naturally to you, there are all different types of ways that you can use video to your advantage. Perhaps you create "how-to" guides, give tours of your facility, showcase new tips or advice or simply provide your insight as a professional for 5-10 minutes. There are all different types of ways you can utilize video, you just need to make sure you aren't forgetting about this type of content.
7. Email Marketing
In the world of online advertising, email marketing isn't exactly a new concept, but it is something that is still valuable in today's market. Don't forget the influence that email marketing can have. People check their email constantly throughout the day and for most people their emails go directly to their phones. Email marketing campaigns that reach out to customers, remind customers of sales or provide incentives to get them to your business are all powerful ways to reach out to the public and let them know your company is there.