Are you a small business owner looking to improve your digital marketing efforts in 2023? In this article, we’ll be looking at digital marketing and it’s importance as well as sharing a list of the 15 best digital marketing tips for small businesses.
From search engine optimization to social media marketing, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for a while, these tips will help you reach and engage more customers, drive business growth, and stay competitive.
What is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing is the use of the internet and technology to promote and sell products or services way.
It includes a wide range of marketing activities, including search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content marketing and email marketing.
The goal of digital marketing is to reach potential customers where they spend their time: online.
Source: gwi.com
By using digital channels, businesses can target specific interests or demographics and reach a wider audience than they could through traditional marketing methods.
Digital marketing also allows businesses to interact with customers in real-time and build relationships with them through personalized content.
Why have Digital Marketing Efforts and Budgets Increased?
According to recent data, marketing budgets in 2022 made up an average of 9.5% of a company’s overall revenue. This is a significant increase from the 6.4% we saw in 2021, and it’s expected to continue increasing in 2023.
Here are several reasons why:
Lower production costs
Digital marketing campaigns often have lower production costs than traditional marketing campaigns.
For example, creating a social media post or email marketing campaign typically requires fewer resources than producing a television commercial or print ad.
More targeted reach
Digital marketing allows businesses to target specific demographics or interests, ensuring that their marketing efforts reach the right audience. This can be more cost-effective than traditional marketing channels, which may reach a broader, less targeted audience.
Measurable results
Online marketing campaigns can be more easily tracked and measured than traditional marketing campaigns, allowing businesses to see the return on their investment and optimize their marketing efforts. This can help businesses make data-driven decisions about their marketing strategy and allocate resources more effectively.
Higher conversion rates
Online marketing campaigns often have higher conversion rates than traditional marketing campaigns, as they allow businesses to interact with customers in real-time and deliver personalized content.
This can help drive more sales and leads, making digital marketing more cost-effective in the long run.
The Future of Marketing is Digital
The is no contesting this, it’s a reality.
Digital Marketing allows for greater reach than traditional marketing channels and with the ability to track and measure the effectiveness of campaigns, businesses can target specific demographics or interests and reach a wider audience effectively.
It’s also more cost-effective than traditional marketing, particularly for small businesses, as it allows them to reach a large audience without incurring the same level of costs as traditional advertising channels.
The increasing importance of technology and the internet, coupled with the ability to reach and target a wider audience and the cost-effectiveness of digital marketing strategies, make it clear that the future of marketing is digital.
What Does a Digital Marketing Strategy Include?
Some common tactics used in an effective digital marketing strategy include:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is the process of optimizing a website to improve its ranking in search engine results pages. This is done through the use of keywords, content optimization, and technical optimization to make the website more attractive to search engines.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing involves using social media platforms to promote a brand, product, or service. This can include creating and sharing content, running social media ads, and engaging with customers on social media.
Source: Google Trends
Email Marketing
Email marketing involves using email to promote a brand, product, or service. This can include sending newsletters, promotional emails, or targeted emails to specific segments of a company’s email list.
Online Advertising
Online advertising involves placing ads on websites, search engines, or social media platforms to reach potential customers. This can include display ads, search ads, video ads, or sponsored content.
Content Marketing
Content marketing involves creating and sharing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience. This can include blog posts, articles, videos, info graphics, and other types of content.
15 Tips to Stay Ahead of you Competitors
#1 Have professional website!
Having a professional website is essential for businesses. Without a professional website, businesses risk missing out on so many benefits- this blog would take hours to read if we were to list them all.
#2 Be sure your website is fast and mobile-friendly
According to Google Research, it takes 15.3 seconds for a mobile web page to load.
Websites should load on mobile devices within 1-4 seconds for the best user experience.
If it takes longer than 4 seconds to load, 53% of mobile visitors will leave the site.
In 2022, 59% of all Google searches were done on a mobile device.
It goes without saying that you also need to make sure your website is optimized for mobile, so the layout and structure look equally as good no matter where it’s being viewed.
#3 Improve Your Online Presence With SEO
Improving your online presence with search engine optimization (SEO) is important because it helps increase the visibility of your website in search results.
This can lead to more traffic and potential customers finding your business. SEO is a key part of any digital marketing strategy, as it helps businesses reach and engage customers that are currently searching for their products and services online.
#4 Create Long Form Content
Get your coffee ready! When it comes to content marketing and writing blogs, shorter is not better.
Longer blogs that are in-depth will establish your expertise and generate 11x more organic traffic than short blogs do, making them an excellent digital marketing tactic for your overall seo strategy.
It’s all about long form content.
The average blog article length on Google is between 1,500 and 2,000 words and this number will only grow as marketers such us ourselves write longer, more in depth articles to ensure their clients rank.
The number depends on the niche and subject matter but we often recommend writing no less than 2000 words if you goal is to get organic traffic and rank.
#5 Publish good and original content
Publishing interesting, original blog content is crucial for businesses to stand out and build trust with customers.
When including content marketing in your digital content strategy, It’s important to focus on creating unique, high-quality blog post and avoid plagiarism, as it can lead to legal consequences and negatively impact search rankings.
Always strive to create original content that adds value for your audience as search engines reward high-quality, unique content.
#6 Create Video Content
It’s no secret that video marketing content is better for lead generation. Video content creation is incredibly in demand because it works in engaging user more than any other type of content:
Videos are shared 1200% more than text and images combined. Making them the best form of digital ads.
Video marketing is more efficient because viewers are naturally attention-grabbing due to the movement and are 27 times more likely to be clicked on.
Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text.
#7 Social Media is Your Friend
Staying on top of content on digital platforms is crucial as a lot of people are using them for organic search.
Abstaining from social media makes for poor online representation and will not help your online marketing efforts.
Producing engaging social media posts is one of the best digital strategies to bring website visitors and generate sales.
According to Neal Schaffer, 84% of young adults (18-29 years old), 81% of adults in their 30s and 40s (30-49 years old), 73% of adults in their late 50s and early 60s (60-64 years old), and 45% of adults 65 and older are active social media platform users.
Tip: Don’t get stuck on one channel. Create content for all your social media accounts to engage your viewers. Post social media images that are easy to interact with and even explore with paid ads and influencer marketing campaigns to bring more views to your online channels and acquire new customers and clients.
#8 Build an Email List
According to OptInMonster, 18% of companies see a return on investment of over $70 for every $1 invested in email marketing.
Source: Aweber
Email marketing has an average ROI of around 122%, making it one of the most effective forms of digital marketing.
All marketing leaders can agree that email is a key tool engaging customers, generating leads and sales, and building brand loyalty. These types of emails help you get seen by people that are interested and already subscribed to you: your target audience.
Personalized subject lines lead to a 26% increase in open rates. Poor online personalization can have negative consequences, so it’s important to always tailor your email subject lines.
Email is significantly more effective at acquiring customers than social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, with shoppers spending 138% more when marketed through email.
Make sure to include email marketing in your digital marketing strategy to maximize its potential to increase sales.
Tip: Use the right email marketing tools to keep everything organized. For simplicity, we recommend Mailchimp.
#9 Know Your Target Audience
Knowing your target audience is important because it allows businesses to create marketing campaigns and products that are tailored to the specific needs and interests of their target customers.
This means understanding where your customers are in their decision-making process and creating content that addresses their specific needs and concerns at each stage.
Focusing your digital marketing strategies on your target audience can lead to higher conversion rates and increased return on investment (ROI).
#10 UX/UI
UX/UI or user experience/user interface, is the design and functionality of a website or product.
Good UX/UI involves considering how people will use a website or product and designing it in a way that is intuitive and easy to use. It helps create an easy and enjoyable experience for users, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction and conversions.
This includes elements like layout, navigation, and usability.
UX/UI designers focus on creating a design that meets the needs of the target audience and looks good. See 12 reasons why you need a good website.
How is having a good website going to help your digital marketing strategy?
You can be doing everything right and using all the right digital marketing tools but if your website design is poor, you might lose your customer.
This goes along with our number #1 You need a professional website to be successful at digital marketing today.
If you downloaded a free template, chances are it won’t be fast.
If you only have a landing page with little information, this might leave your users annoyed as it can be hard to navigate and you will leave a lot of question unanswered.
A successful digital marketing strategy need to include focusing on the user experience.
#11 Answer Popular Questions
Don’t leave potential new customers in the dark.
You can follow all these top digital marketing tips and spend a fortune on paid advertising but if you really want to succeed online, you have to value the time of your current and prospective customers.
Have a properly put together FAQ on your website as well as make sure you answer popular questions in video reels, posts and social media captions.
The faster you answer all their questions, the faster they will be to purchase what you are offering.
#12 Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
In the digital marketing world, it’s important to be ready for change at any time. While a particular channel or platform may be effective for reaching and engaging your target audience now, it can change at any point in the future and you have to be ready to move with it.
Social media platforms can rise and fall quickly. We’ve seen this in the past with platforms like MySpace, Vine, and Snapchat.
Instead of relying on a single platform, it’s important to focus on creating valuable and engaging content that will attract and retain an audience.
By building a loyal customer base, you can take those customers with you no matter what changes in the future.
Focus on creating great quality content and building an audience, and you’ll be well-prepared for whatever the future holds.
In our opinion, this is one of the most valued digital marketing tips we can give you.
#13 Focus on the Long-Term
By focusing on the long-term, businesses can create a sustainable marketing strategy that is focused on building a strong and loyal customer base with a more stable foundation for success, rather than relying on short-term trends that may be subject to change.
This does not mean you shouldn’t pay attention to what’s trending. Just don’t focus all your efforts and budget on a trend.
To ensure long-term success, it’s important to diversify your digital marketing efforts and consider a range of digital channels and platforms to reach and engage your target audience.
#14 Stay consistent with your branding
Consistency helps create a cohesive and recognizable brand identity. When a business’s branding is consistent across all channels and platforms, it is easier for customers to recognize and remember.
• Create a brand style guide
Consistency helps create a cohesive and recognizable brand identity. When a business’s branding is consistent across all channels and platforms, it is easier for customers to recognize and remember.
• Use the same logo and colors
Your logo is often the first thing people notice about your brand, so it’s important to use it consistently. The same goes for your brand colors – choose a palette and stick to it.
• Use the same font styles
Choose a few font styles that represent your brand and use them exclusively across all of your digital marketing materials.
• Keep your story and messaging consistent
Whether you’re writing social media posts or creating marketing materials, make sure your messaging aligns with your brand’s values and tone of voice.
• Use similar templates
Whether you’re creating social media posts, emails, or marketing materials, use the same or a similar template to maintain consistency.
• Use consistent imagery
Have a photo shoot or choose a set of images that reflect your brand’s style and use them consistently across all platforms.
• Review your content regularly
Set aside time to review all of your visual content to make sure it’s consistent with your brand guidelines.
• Train your team
Make sure that everyone on your team understands your brand guidelines and knows how to apply them to their work.
In addition to these tips, it’s also important to regularly review and update your brand guidelines to ensure that they accurately reflect your brand’s evolution and growth.
In a few words:
All your pieces of visual content need to be on brand as you stay consistent to your target market with your messaging and tone.
Ensure that all your content adheres to your brand guidelines – use the same templates and designs across all platforms & review your content regularly to ensure that it is consistent with your brand identity.
#15 Stay on Top of Trends
…and don’t be afraid to try new ideas!
Staying on top of trends is important if you’re looking to stay competitive and relevant in the digital world.
By staying up to date with the latest trends, you can identify new opportunities and keep your marketing efforts fresh and engaging.
In addition, it is important to be open to trying new ideas and experimenting with different approaches.
Here are 4 ways you can do to stay on top of trend in your industry:
#1 Follow industry news and blogs
#2 Attend conferences and events
#3 Monitor social media posts and hashtags
#4 Test and experiment, you’ll never know until you try!
Why is a Digital Strategy Important?
A digital strategy is not just important, it’s essential in 2023.
Use the many digital marketing tools and digital marketing channels available to ensure that your business stays current and ahead of competitors.
It’s also a free way to promote your business. Sure, you can pay for google ads or social media advertising to increase your sales but you can also make visual content a priority in your digital marketing plan and focus on creating valuable content that engages your audience without having to spend money.
Follow our tips above to improve your digital marketing skills and ensure for a successful marketing strategy.
Why Your Business Needs Digital Marketing
As a business owner, it’s important to recognize the value of digital marketing in today’s digital age.
By implementing a well-planned digital marketing strategy, you can reach a wider audience, build brand awareness, and drive more sales and revenue.
Not only does digital marketing allow you to target specific demographics and interests, it also allows you to track and measure the success of your campaigns.
This means you can make data-driven decisions about your marketing efforts and allocate your resources where they will be most effective.
In addition, digital marketing is more cost-effective than traditional marketing methods and allows you to reach a larger audience at a lower cost, making it a smart investment for any business.
