Marketing
Digital marketing includes social media marketing and all the individual networks that go along with it. As a business in today’s world, social media is a “must have”. Let’s look at the number of users you can reach with social media. Expandedramblings.com keeps updated stats on the number of social media users, here are a few of the networks:
- Facebook – 2.01 billion monthly active users
- Instagram – 800 million users
- LinkedIn – 500 million users
- Twitter – 328 million monthly active users
A complete list of networks is available at https://expandedramblings.com/index.php/how-many-people-use-social-media/#.WedhC2hSw2w
Even though social media is a “must have” if you are in business, that doesn’t mean you need to have a profile on every network. The best social network for you is the one where your target audience hangs out and that can vary from business to business. So, do some research to find your people.
Here are a few of the reasons your business needs to be on social media:
- Real-time communication – Customers can communicate freely with you in real-time. Often people will use social media to ask questions or thank you for a great product/service. It could work against you though if you have a disgruntled customer. Just be sure to reply quickly and address each situation individually.
- Brand awareness – By using social media consistently, you can keep your name in the forefront of your customer’s mind. Connecting with them basically on a personal level will keep your customers engaged.
- Promotions – What’s the point of social media if you can’t share new products/services? Share them with your following to help create buzz around your new item, but be careful not to do it in a salesy way, but in a more conversational mode. And be careful not to post constantly about new products or services, just sprinkle those posts in among the posts you are using to build your engagement and following.
- Increased SEO – Each new blog post that is shared on your social media networks helps to attract new customers, build your authority, and helps to increase SEO.
- Web site traffic – Successful social media will improve the traffic to your website. The more traffic you get the better your SEO ranking will be.
If social media seems a little overwhelming, there are many individuals and businesses that can help you get set up and teach you how to use it to your advantage. It will be well worth your time! Schedule your consultation with us if you would like to talk about letting us help you.
Next week we will focus on marketing automation platforms.
Branding
Welcome to the first blog post in the series to help you get started marketing your new business! Now that you know what you want to sell, whether it’s a product or a service, you need a business name. Deciding on your business name requires some thought and research. Take it from me, I’ve renamed my business three times in the last 10 years. The first time because I changed the focus of my business, but the second time because I just didn’t like the name. Hence, I should have put more time and research into it!
Naming your business really is the first brick you lay in building your business. It’s the foundation on which your entire business will rest. A few things to take into consideration while deciding on a name include:
- Think about what your business objectives are or what describes your company.
- Try to stand out in a crowd. Be memorable.
- Do not use odd spellings. This makes it hard for a potential customer to find you online.
- Don’t get so cute that people have no clue what you are talking about. Avoid puns that only you will understand. Check the list of business names at Funnynames.com and you will understand what I’m saying.
- Avoid being a cliché. Words such as next level, precision, solutions, services, affordable, global, and enterprise are overused.
- Avoid using a geographically based name. What if your business expands to other areas of town or even globally? Don’t burden yourself with a name that keeps you rooted to one place.
- Be careful if you try to combine two names into one. It needs to make sense and be easy enough to spell so that people can find you online.
- Don’t pick a name that is too long. This is important when registering your domain name that you will be using for your email address.
- Naming your business goes hand in hand with finding your domain. Your business name and your URL should be the same. Check if your domain is available with individual domain name registrarsor at http://www.register.com.
- Know that it is okay to change your name as your business grows and changes. (Remember, I’ve done it three times!)
After deciding on a business name, be sure to check with your local county or state office to register it. Registration requirements vary from place to place. Deciding on a name can be confusing at times but just take these few things into consideration, do your research, and you will be building a strong foundation for your business.
Next week we will be discussing branding and websites!
Marketing
Congratulations, you have decided to start a new business!
So, now that you have decided to start a new business, what’s next? More than likely you have a lot of questions. If you have done your research and know your next step, that’s great! When I started my business, I had no real experience in marketing and as the saying goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know”. I thought I knew what I was doing, until I started setting things up. Suddenly I realized I didn’t have a clue. I always say you are never too old to learn something new and that’s what I did. I read everything I could to learn how to build my website and promote my business.
While the “do it yourself” option isn’t for everyone, some people are like me in that they like to do it themselves. One of the problems when I finally decided that I needed to learn a few things was the terminology used in articles that I read was over my head. I felt like I had no clue what they were saying! Now I see other new business owners struggling with the same thing. With that in mind, I decided to start blog series to help other people who may be in the same boat and explain things in terms a novice would understand.
In this 5-part series we will cover:
- What’s in a name – Things to consider before deciding on a business name
- Building a website – Platform and branding/design options along with recommendations
- Setting up your social media – Which networks should you be one and what info to include
- Marketing automation platforms– Why you need one
- Other marketing – What, when, and how
Your business is unique. What works for me or for someone else may not be the best option for you.
Your business is unique. What works for me or for someone else may not be the best option for you. It’s difficult for someone to recommend what is best for your business until they have taken the time to familiarize themselves with the details of your specific business.
Watch for a new post in this series each Wednesday or add it to your feed reader. Once you have read each post take the time to research the options mentioned, then you can make an informed decision as to what is best for you.
Starting my own business was the best decision I ever made and while it’s not always fun, I still love it. I have also found that one of my favorite things in business is the set-up process. Deciding which systems to use, what platforms and social media networks I should be on and all the tech work involved to get a new business set up. I enjoy it so much I have now incorporated it as a service to help other people just starting a new business.
If you would like more direction in getting your new business systems in place, we offer different consultation packages, you can choose which one fits your needs. Click here to schedule a free 30-minute call to discuss these options.
It’s exciting started a new business and you will have ups and downs. But jump in anyway and enjoy the ride!
