No matter what kind of online business you run, be it a blog, ecommerce site, or something else entirely, you will need to focus on marketing if you want to generate an income. Thankfully, this is one area of your business where savings can be made. You don’t need to hire an expensive marketing team or spend a lot of money on promotional materials, as you can market your business fairly inexpensively. This will surely be good news for anybody starting out in business, and/or trying to manage on a shoestring budget!
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Marketing #1: Master the art of SEO Keywords
You’re probably familiar with SEO already, but if not, know that this is the art of increasing your website’s visibility on search engines through the use of keywords. Wordpress users already have access to a free and premium SEO tool – check out this guide on how to use Yoast SEO in WordPress – but if you are using any other website builder for your online business, you can use the keyword planner on Google AdWords to help you find the words and phrases that your potential customers are going to be using in search engines. You can then implement these words into your website content. SEO can be overwhelming to beginners, but we have written a useful guide to SEO, and there are many tutorials across the internet that will give you all the information you need.
Marketing #2: Use social media
Social media is a great way to market your business for free. Using all of the social media channels available to you, post regular updates about your business, and encourage your followers to promote your posts across their networks. Connect your website by providing a link in your posts, and connect your website users to your social media accounts through social sharing tools on your website. Be sure to check in on your posts too. When people comment on what you have written, or should they ask any specific questions, ensure you provide a response. It’s about building up a relationship with your customers, and the more you engage with them in a friendly and positive way, the more likely they are to regularly return to your website.
Marketing #3: Explore the internet
Going beyond social media, you can market your business across the internet. Submit your website on free online business directories, including Google My Business, Bing Places, and 192.com. Contribute to online forums, and provide a link to your business in your posts. Search for relevant blogs that allow guest posts, and include a link to your website within the content you produce. Connect with online businesses that complement yours, and ask them to promote your business, and do the same for them. Explore other options available to you on the internet, and use the resources available to you to push your business into the consciousness of web users.
You don’t need a massive marketing budget to promote your business. Use the advice we have given to you, and continue to find other avenues where you can market your business cheaply or for free. Let us know what you think, and if you have any ideas of your own, then be sure to let us know.
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