Marketing Steps You're Skipping (But Shouldn't)

Are you taking the proper marketing steps to ensure you’re getting the most effective return for every dollar you spend?

11 Marketing Steps You’re Probably Skipping (But Shouldn’t)

Only one-fourth of small businesses invest in online marketing. Is yours one of them?

If so, are you taking the proper marketing steps to ensure you’re getting the most effective return for every dollar you spend?

There’s no one-size-fits-all method for marketing a company. How you get the word out about your product or service depends on the type of business you have. However, there are vital steps you might be skipping that can benefit any company.

While cutting corners saves time, you’ll likely miss out on the potential to grow your consumers. Keep reading to help get your marketing plan back on track.

1. Posting Engaging Content

One of the best ways to steer consistent eyeballs to your website is a blog section. However, this requires a commitment to keep it up. Articles marked “Posted 7 months ago” give off a stale look.

So start a series or collection of posts that builds an audience who will remember to come back week after week for more content.

2. Maintaining a Social Media Presence

With that said, the best place to spread the word about these posts, along with company news in general, is on social media accounts. And don’t be discouraged if your number of followers or likes is low when you get started. If you frequently post relevant material, the numbers will grow.

You can even get creative and make your own hashtags. Or post contests to get consumers buzzing around your business, besides just around its website.

3. Using Eye-Catching Graphics

Take a look at your company’s logo. Does it define your business with an eye-catching look? Do the colors complement each other?

Professional-looking graphics go a long way. In fact, many consumers will make an assumption about your business when they first glance at its logo. If art isn’t your strong suit, enlist a graphic designer’s help.

4. Identifying a Target Audience

You might already be taking the proper steps to market your business, but do you know who your target audience is?

Rather than focus on marketing your business to every person on the planet, home in on a specific demographic that’s most likely to use your product. Further refine your targeting by taking a look at your current customer base. This will help you to determine the type of people you should be reaching.

5. Structuring a Budget

Spending money on marketing can sometimes be frustrating. It could feel like you’re flushing money down the toilet when you see no results for your efforts.

Therefore, sit down and analyze your budget. Which areas are working and which aren’t? For example, you could be shoveling out money to air television or radio commercials when most of your target audience is on the Internet.

6. Enhancing Your Website

Two decades ago, it was impressive just to have a website, but that’s no longer the case. Today, on average, you have 10 seconds to entice a visitor to stay on your website a little longer. Otherwise, they’re likely to close the tab.

Therefore, fix up your site. Make it look inviting. Feature landing pages you can post on social media. If you’re unsure about which design is most effective, do research. For example, learn more about what is A/B testing.

7. Utilizing SEO

Usually, when most of us think about digital advertising, we think it’s just paying to have your company’s advertisements featured on sites as people surf the web. However, the capabilities of digital advertising go far beyond this simple idea.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a great way to target an audience without the gimmicks of cheesy ads. It uses relevant content and keywords that attract users organically. In this way, the right people discover your business. Learn more about SEO and begin to rely more on search engines to build your business, instead of buying those annoying pop-up ads.

And if you’re having trouble getting started, turn to an SEO company near you. For example, there is Columbus SEO, which has boosted more than 100 companies up to Google’s first page.

8. Researching the Competition

As you spend all of this time improving your marketing approach, take a look around to see what rival companies are doing.

Of course, never copy or plagiarize someone else’s work. However, it helps to see how other businesses in your field approach marketing. What’s more, their methods can inspire ideas that might work for you.

9. Writing Guest Posts

As you build a blog section, the content you write doesn’t have to just be for your website. Ask other companies with relevant products or services if you can write guest post articles for their blog sections.

This is a great way to freely advertise your brand to a whole new audience. Then, return the favor and ask others to contribute guest posts on your website. This will strengthen your blog section.

10. Showcasing Reviews

Don’t waste too much time aimlessly typing away about why your company is superior. Let satisfied customers do it for you!

Have a designated review section on your website. Additionally, use reputable sources like Google or Yelp to highlight the positive things people have to say about your business.

11. Setting Goals

As you combine these various steps into a strategic marketing plan for your business, create benchmarks. Having goals provides a reassuring boost toward successful results.

For example, have goals for increasing numbers such as social media followers or website visitors. These are good places to start. Plus, your new goals will enhance your continuously evolving marketing plan.

Take the Right Marketing Steps

There’s no specific order or formula required for applying these marketing steps in your marketing strategy. In fact, not all of them will work for every business.

The best approach is to determine which marketing steps will make the best use of your time and investment toward boosting your brand. Think quality over quantity.

How strong are the marketing steps you are taking to improve your company’s business? Browse our marketing section for further tips and articles.