If you are a small business owner, COVID-19 has probably come as quite a scare. JBC has been hard at work developing integrated marketing strategies for local businesses during COVID-19. From our experience, we are confident that the most effective way to stay in business is to remain visible. Consumers are continually looking for places to patronize, and if your location falls off their radar (even for a week or two), it isn’t easy to get back on. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of the most effective marketing tips to help you stay prominent in the public eye!
Create Relevant Local Content with Keywords
Small businesses (especially in times of discord) often work with small budgets. Content marketing is a great way to work on increasing visibility without the massive payout. It does, however, take a little patience and skill. Create content that appeals to your local audience. Creative content includes material such as digital marketing content, social media, and blog posts. This content can focus on highlighting the benefits of your products and services but should not sound too “salesy.” Focus on educating your audience through discussing your services!
Maintain Your Social Media Presence
Your social media presence allows you to interact with your customer base regularly. Additionally, it gives your business the opportunity to alert your customers if there are any immediate updates of which they need to be aware. Social media outlets are constantly changing and appeal to different demographics. Do not spread yourself too thin by trying to develop followers on all social media platforms. With limited time and budget, you should put your efforts into the platforms that target your customer demographic. JB Communications marketing tips will help you determine where your business should concentrate its marketing efforts.
Pro Marketing Tip: Sometimes, businesses need to go above and beyond, which means engaging with actual “groups,” rather than only posting on their own page. The best way to meet new people and spread the word is to interact.
Register on Local Listings
For immediate visibility, research listing your business on local search services, such as Google My Business or Bing Places for Business. Another easy way to find free listings is to run a Google search using keywords for your business. (Ex: personal trainer, bakery, etc.) You can easily find websites with directories to help people search for local goods and services.
Shop Local NOLA. ShopLocalNOLA.com is a free directory for locally owned businesses in the Greater New Orleans area. JB Communications developed Shop Local NOLA in response to the city’s urgent call to action: Shop Local in New Orleans and Surrounding Areas. Claim or add your free listing to increase your visibility in as little as five minutes!
Keep up With Your Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
The best way to noticed is to maintain your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is the practice of developing and optimizing content in a way that allows consumers to discover your business through a search engine’s organic search results. Well executed SEO involves research and creativity. Furthermore, SEO goes beyond written content. It includes headers, alt-tags, and backlinks. You can include search terms and keywords in your content that appeal to your local audience and appear when they search those terms.
Sometimes it takes a little while for SEO to take effect, and it requires constant monitoring, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right on the first try.
Embrace Reputation Management and Reviews
Get used to asking your customers for reviews. A review will encourage your customers to think about what they (hopefully) enjoyed during their experience, and proof of patronization will encourage more business! In fact, most shoppers resort to popular search engines in order to decide which businesses will best suit their needs. Reviews also make your business look trustworthy. It’s not a perfect system, but when people see enough five-star ratings, they will associate your company with success!
In addition to encouraging reviews, businesses must be hypervigilant about reputation management. A prompt response to a negative review can turn a one-star rating into a five-star rating! Polite, professional responses also lend credibility to your operation. It proves that your business is run by real people who care deeply about customer experiences.
Contact JBC Today for More Marketing Tips!
Are you working on new marketing strategies to improve the visibility of your business? For over 25 years, JB Communications has been helping businesses large and small to define their brands, reach their marketing goals, and become stronger members of their communities. Need more marketing tips? Start with a free consultation and contact JBC!
