Digital Marketing 101 for Your Small Business

Hey there, savvy entrepreneur! So, you’ve got a small service-based business, and you’re ready to conquer the online world. Great! Getting started with your marketing can seem like a daunting task though, since there are so many options available.

So we’ve created a simple, effective internet marketing plan to get you started. This is a simple checklist that your business can follow and refer back to often to help keep you headed in the right direction with your marketing efforts.

Step 1: Define Your Audience

Before you dive into the marketing jungle, figure out who you’re trying to reach. Who are your ideal customers? What are their needs and pain points? Knowing your audience is like having a treasure map to guide your marketing efforts.

Step 2: Build a User-Friendly Website

Think of your website as your digital storefront. Make it clean, easy to navigate, and most importantly, mobile-friendly. It should be easy to locate important info like where you’re located, prices / pricing options, contact info and common service questions and options.

Step 3: Master the Basics of SEO

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is like the secret sauce of online visibility. Use relevant keywords related to your business in your website content. Google loves this, and it’ll help potential customers find you when they search for services like yours. Doing this well can also get your site to rank better than your competitors in search results.

Step 4: Claim Your Google My Business Listing

Picture this: someone Googles a service you offer, and boom, your business pops up on Google Maps. That’s the magic of Google My Business. Claim your listing, fill it out completely, and watch your local visibility soar. You should check your listing often for accuracy and add business updates periodically.

Step 5: Get Social

Don’t be shy – dive into the social media pool! Pick platforms where your audience hangs out. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter – choose wisely. Share valuable content, engage with your audience, and don’t forget to sprinkle in a bit of your business personality.

Step 6: Content is King

Start a blog on your website. Write about things your audience cares about. This not only showcases your expertise but also boosts your SEO. Videos are great too – they don’t need to be Spielberg-level productions; even smartphone clips can work wonders.

Step 7: Email Marketing

Collect those email addresses (with permission, of course) and start an email list. Send out regular updates, promotions, or helpful tips. Email marketing is a direct line to your audience and can turn one-time customers into loyal fans.

Step 8: Ask for Reviews

Encourage happy customers to leave reviews on your website, Google, or other relevant platforms. Positive reviews build trust, and potential customers love hearing about other people’s positive experiences.

Step 9: Paid Advertising

When you’re ready, dip your toes into paid advertising. Platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads can help you target your audience precisely. Start small, analyze the results, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Step 10: Analyze and Adapt

Use tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s performance. See what’s working and what needs tweaking. The digital world moves fast, so be ready to adapt your strategy based on what resonates with your audience.

There you have it – a straightforward internet marketing plan to kickstart your small service-based business into the online spotlight. Remember, consistency is key. Now go out there and conquer the digital landscape! 🚀

Having helpful information and advice on your website is generally appreciated by potential customers, but did you know that this is also one of the best way to increase your visibility online?

Google uses a variety of factors to determine the ranking of websites in its search results, including the quality and relevance of the content on the site. One key factor is the presence of original, helpful content that provides value to users and sets the site apart from its competitors.

One way that Google assesses the quality of content on a business website is by looking for signs of expertise, authority, and trustworthiness. This includes factors such as the credibility of the author, the depth and accuracy of the information provided, and the overall user experience on the site.

To take advantage of this and boost your website’s SEO, it’s important to focus on creating original, high-quality content that provides value to your target audience. This can include blog posts, articles, videos, and other forms of media that offer helpful information, solutions to problems, or unique insights into your industry.

In addition to providing value to users, your content should also be optimized for search engines. This means using relevant keywords and phrases throughout your content, organizing it in a logical and easy-to-follow structure, and ensuring that it is free of spelling and grammar errors.

Another important factor to consider is the user experience on your website. Google looks for sites that are easy to navigate, load quickly, and provide a positive experience for users. This can include factors such as a clean and visually appealing design, clear and concise information, and user-friendly navigation.

By creating original, helpful content and optimizing it for search engines and user experience, you can improve your website’s ranking in Google’s search results and attract more traffic to your site. This can help to increase your visibility, build your brand, and ultimately drive more business for your company.

As a musician you already likely have a personal page where you interact with friends and fans, and share music releases, shows and other news. Should you also create and maintain a separate Facebook page for your music / band?

Yes, it is a good idea for a musician to have both a personal Facebook account and a page for their music. Here is how they could ideally be used to promote your music:

• Personal Facebook account: This is where you can connect with friends and family, share personal updates, and post about your music. It’s a great way to stay in touch with people who are already supportive of your music, and it can also be a way to reach new people who are interested in what you’re doing.
• Music Facebook page: This is where you can connect with fans of your music, share news about your releases, and promote upcoming shows. It’s a great way to build a community of people who are passionate about your music, and it can also be a way to generate buzz for your career.

Having both a personal Facebook account and a page for your music can help you reach a wider audience and build a stronger fan base. It’s also a good way to keep your personal and professional life separate, which can be helpful when you’re trying to focus on your music career.

Here are some additional tips for using a Facebook page to promote your music:

• Post regularly: The more you post, the more likely people are to see your content. Try to post as often as possible, and make sure your posts are interesting and engaging.
• Use high-quality images and videos: People are more likely to stop and look at a post that has a great image or video. Make sure your visuals are high-quality and relevant to your music.
• Use relevant hashtags: Hashtags are a great way to get your content seen by more people. When you use relevant hashtags, your posts will show up in search results for those hashtags.
• Run Facebook ads: If you want to reach a wider audience, you can run Facebook ads. Facebook ads can be a great way to promote your music to people who are interested in what you’re doing.

By following these tips, you can use Facebook to promote your music and reach a wider audience.

If you’ve setup / claimed your business profile on service like Google Business, Yelp, Nextdoor and other similar sites, you’re on the right track to getting more business, especially for local service businesses.

These sites allow customers to leave reviews, which can make or break your business. How? Reviews are one of the key factors that potentials customers use to decide whether they will do business with you or one of your competitors. Too many bad reviews will cause potential client to look elsewhere.

The good news is that you aren’t powerless in this situation. In addition to generally providing high-quality, prompt service with good communication, each of these services allow you to respond to reviews, both positive and negative ones. Here are some tips on how to respond to online reviews:

• Respond promptly. Customers appreciate a prompt response, even if it’s just to say that you’re looking into the matter.
• Be positive and professional. Even if the review is negative, try to stay positive and professional in your response.
• Acknowledge the reviewer’s concerns. Even if you don’t agree with the reviewer, take the time to understand their concerns.
• Apologize if necessary. If you made a mistake, apologize sincerely.
• Offer to make things right. If you can, offer to make things right for the customer. This could involve offering a refund, a discount, or a free product or service.
• Thank the reviewer for their feedback. Even if the review is negative, thank the reviewer for taking the time to leave feedback.

By following these tips, you can show your customers that you value their feedback and that you’re committed to providing a great experience.

Here are some additional tips for responding to negative reviews:

• Don’t take it personally. It’s important to remember that negative reviews are often about the customer’s experience, not about you personally.
• Don’t get defensive. It’s tempting to defend yourself when you receive a negative review, but this is usually counterproductive. Instead, focus on understanding the customer’s concerns and addressing them in a positive and professional way.
• Offer a solution. If the customer is unhappy with their experience, offer a solution that will make them happy. This could involve a refund, a discount, or a free product or service.
• Follow up. After you’ve responded to the negative review, follow up with the customer to make sure that they’re satisfied with the resolution. This shows that you’re committed to providing a great customer experience.

Also don’t forget that almost all of these services allow you to share a link with your customers that allows them to leave you a review. Share these links with your best customers!

By following these tips, you can turn negative reviews into an opportunity to improve your business and build stronger relationships with your customers.