The tech world is constantly changing, which means businesses constantly need to adapt to these changes. For example, COVID-19 fundamentally changed the way people go shopping. That means any business, whether online or in person or both, has to revamp their digital presence and the ways they promote their business. Inflation is clearly having an effect on how much people are learning (or according to some research, not understanding) how to separate their wants from their needs.
To survive in this strange world, you need to adapt your online and face-to-face promotion strategies. That doesn’t mean tactics to promote your business should all be online. Studies show people still crave in-person experiences – whether that means shopping at a brick-and-mortar store or going to college face-to-face.
The best ways to advertise your business include finding a balance between digital strategies and face-to-face interactions. Here’s some advice.
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Make Sure You’re Listed in Google My Business
Let’s think like the average person whose basement is flooding. They need a plumber, pronto. So the first thing they’ll usually do is search for “plumber and their town/neighborhood.” If a person is throwing a theme party or kids’ party, they’ll do the same thing – just changing out the word plumber. You want your business to be one of the first things they see.
You can do this by creating a Google My Business profile. This is an easy way to make sure your business is included whenever someone ties your town or neighborhood to a specific location. Don’t forget to include pictures, videos, and reviews to further advertise your business to potential customers.
Get on TikTok
TikTok used to be about sharing videos of weird dances and funny songs. But new research has found that younger audiences use TikTok as they do search engines. Plus, according to TikTok, 52% of people who find a small business on TikTok eventually make a purchase from that small business.
You make sure your website is listed in Google, right? Getting on TikTok is just as important. Like Google, TikTok has an algorithm that surfaces content related to what a user is searching for. Don’t assume you’re “too old” for TikTok. TikTok videos, with features that clearly identify and link to your website, are easy to create, especially for experienced professionals like us at SEO Design Chicago. We can even help you sell products through TikTok.
At the very least, you want to create regular content for TikTok. Remember how Facebook dominated the social space ten years ago? That’s TikTok now. Don’t dismiss it.
Make the Press Take Notice of Your Business
There’s a common misconception that people don’t trust journalists anymore. To some degree, that’s true. Distrust in the media has grown, especially when it comes to what most people define as hard news. But people still trust journalists who review restaurants, businesses, movies, and TV shows. That’s why newsrooms still employ review writers and editors.
To advertise your business to journalists, you can experiment with a variety of strategies. The DIY route is to create quality content for your social media platforms. Follow journalists, tag journalists, and hope they take notice. Another option is to attain the services of public relations specialists, like those at SEO Design Chicago. We have ongoing relationships with journalists and specialize in putting together press releases.
Stay Active in Digital and Local Communities
Whatever business you are in, there’s a devout audience out there interested in the goods or services you offer. You just have to find that audience. Often, a major part of doing that is being a regular visitor to the places they meet online or in person.
Do you sell plants or gardening tools? There’s a whole world of Instagram influencers and followers who devour content that’s about anything green. Do you offer security services? There are loads of Reddit boards dedicated to home security tips and tricks.
In addition, don’t just show up to virtual gatherings. Show up in person too. If you sell jewelry, you can check out the weather forecast and reserve a table at a nearby farmers market.
At SEO Design Chicago, we specialize in finding and targeting your audience. We know how to craft words, images, and videos so that people are redirected to your website. That redirection can result in more sales or inquiries, which eventually increases your bottom line.
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