SEO Versus SEM and How to Use Them Both to Get the Most out of Your Online Marketing Campaign
Tired of dealing with all the numbers and facts that go along with traditional SEO methods (Link to article titled ‘SEO versus SEM and how to use them both to get the most out of your online marketing campaign’)? Don’t get me wrong. SEO is extremely important to your business and it definitely shouldn’t be ignored, but wouldn’t it be nice to utilize a few marketing tips that don’t require so much math?
Here are 5 easy marketing tips for small businesses that want to take a break from all that SEO mumbo jumbo.
- Google Business Listings
Google really is your best friend when it comes to marketing your business. There are many ways to utilize Google, and most of them require SEO methods, but not Google Business Listings.
All you have to do is register your business with Google using Google Business Listings. When Google knows that you exist, you can expect to show up in the top of the search results. Google will also list your website and contact information, which is extremely helpful when it comes to attracting new customers.
Looking to take things one step further? Consider building your follower list on Google+. It’s an effective way to connect with people in your area.
This one probably seems obvious. Of course you should use Facebook to market your business, but here are a few ways you may not have thought of.
Posting updates and pictures are both great, but nothing compares to creating an advertisement on Facebook. The platform makes it really easy, but there is a teensy bit of math involved. Simply choose a budget, a picture, and a message, and Facebook will share your ad with the masses. They make it even easier by giving you the option of having customers click for directions or click to call.
That’s not all! How about this cool tip? Host an event on Facebook! Not only is it a fun way to gather people at your physical location, Facebook will actually display your event to others in the area, providing you with greater visibility, word of mouth, and a little free advertising.
Don’t forget about Twitter! Although it’s not as interactive as Facebook, over 300 million people use this platform, so it’s worth utilizing.
Twitter is a great way to promote those events that you have listed on Facebook. It’s a great way to connect with other people and businesses in your area. Perhaps the best way to use Twitter is to post local news and then provide a hashtag with your city (#Austin). It’s a great way to find more followers in your area.
- Industry-Specific Portals
There are so many websites out there trying to connect people with the quality products and services they’re looking for. It’s definitely worth your time to seek out portals and websites that are specific to your particular industry.
For example, if you own a restaurant, consider a listing on Zomato. Hotels or bed and breakfasts would benefit from using a site like Booking.com. You may also want to look into Angie’s List or the Better Business Bureau.
One great benefit of using these types of websites is that people are able to leave reviews. Encourage your customers to leave positive reviews and make sure you respond in a respectful, helpful way to negative reviews. A four or five-star rating is a great reason for people to step foot inside your store for the first time.
- Meetup Group
Creating a Meetup Group is a great idea in areas where these types of websites are well utilized. Meetup.com is a great place to post events in your local area. By posting a local event, the website will then promote your event to other people in your area who visit the site.
Have a little fun and relax a bit when it comes marketing your small business online. Try a few of these tips and your business will definitely grow as a result.
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