Growing a business isn’t easy. First, you need a viable idea. From there, you need to discover a profitable niche, define a target demographic and have something of value to sell them. Whether you’re peddling products, services or information, getting the word out has become increasingly burdensome. And without the right marketing strategies to fuel your growth, churning a profit and staying afloat is virtually impossible.
What is a marketing strategy?
It’s important to understand how a marketing strategy differs from a digital marketing strategy before implementing one or both at your company.
A marketing strategy is a plan for reaching a specific marketing-related goal (or goals) in a focused and achievable way. It takes into consideration what your business is currently doing well and what you’re missing in regards to the objective you set, so you’re more likely to accomplish it.
1. Use social media.
You can’t ignore social media. That’s where all the so-called magic is happening. Some businesses have been built solely on the backs of social media. It can be intimidating at first. Sure. But as you build momentum, you’ll find posting on social media to get easier and easier over time.
2. Updating old content
It’s harder than ever to stand out from the competition when it comes to content, but that doesn’t mean we always have to keep creating new, better content. Sometimes we can actually get great results by revisiting and updating old content.
3. Collaborate with influencers
Another way to gain a new audience and extend brand awareness is by collaborating with the top influencers in your industry. Home improvement store Lowe’s allowed “top designers and mom bloggers to take over its Instagram account for a few days at a time.” By allowing these influencers to share inspirational content, Lowe’s was able to tap into a new audience.
4. Create video tutorials
One of the most effective ways to get the word out on your business is to create video tutorials. Teach people something useful. Walk them through it. Hold their hands. Step-by-step tutorials are all the rage. The better you are at this, and the more value you provide, the quicker you can boost your visibility, and ultimately, your sales.
5.Use big data to target customers
Big data is now helping retailers target specific customers. Red Roof Inn uses cancelled flight information to send messages to stranded travelers. A pizza chain uses data to send out coupons to customers who are experiencing bad weather or power outages. In short, big data can be used to predict purchasing trends. With this information, you can get in touch with consumers before they search for your products or services.
6. Use Facebook ads with re-targeting
One of the most powerful methods you can use to market just about anything these days are Facebook ads. With Facebook, you can reach a very specific audience and you can do it very easily. You can target by interest, age, relationships status, geographic location, and so much much more.
But the trick here to getting great results isn’t just about click-traffic. You have to focus on conversions and re-targeting through pixels.
7. Use LinkedIn the right way
Do you have a video on your LinkedIn profile? Did you know that you can easily add one? Why not take the time to introduce yourself and your business. Link that to your profile description. This is an easy way to passively market your business, and when it’s done right, it can lead to shocking results.
8. Get employees involved
Let employees be your biggest champions and brand advocates. That’s what happened with Caterpillar’sBuilt for Itcampaign. The videos tapped into the allegiance of the brand, which motivated them to share the videos with friends and family.
9. Don’t forget about existing customers
I know it is important to obtain new customers if you want your business to grow. But don’t forget about the customers you already have. As Belle Beth Cooper notes on the Buffer Blog, you could use the “upside-down funnel” approach. This could include making customers feel like they’re part of an exclusive club, giving them something extra, and making them feel like VIPs.
10. Use SMS Chat
In many cases, live chat is the platform of choice for customers looking to communicate with a company they do (or are considering doing) business with.
Specifically, 30% of customers expect websites to offer a live chat option. For customers on mobile devices, that percentage climbs as high as 62%.