Small businesses are in a precarious condition. They not only have to focus on selling their product and services, but also have to work on shoe string marketing budgets. The key to success as a small business lies in doing a difficult balancing act that markets the product effectively without creating a huge hole in the bank account.
Content marketing is one way small business can increase their brand awareness across the internet and social media. In fact, creating relevant and valuable content about services, industry, and benefits offered and distributing that content across Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc is sure shot way to success.
As is well known, great content increases the standing of the business and the business owner in the eyes of potential customers. Plus this strategy does not require too much of money. Here is what you should focus on as a small business.
Ebooks
Ebooks play a big role in establishing yourself as an authority in your field of expertise. These books are essentially digital publications that viewers read on the internet. Every ebook download is a potential lead. Viewers get access to the ebook in exchange for a valid email address. The businesses can then follow up with direct mailers and keep informing viewers about new products, existing products, and new launches.
Ebooks can also be shared via social media where people can download it.
Blogs
This is a place where you can showcase your authority. Write about your product, service, or your industry. However, keep the blog post short, and make it an interesting read.
Blogs will give your business entity a voice and facilitate engagement with your potential customers. All published information eventually gets noticed, thus establishing you as a thought leader in your area of specialization/industry.
Blogs also play a major role in SEO, as whenever a viewer/customer seeks information about a product or service it is likely that they will find your blog and engage with you. Blog content also drives viewers to a company’s primary website, which inevitably leads to increased sales.
Links to blog posts can be shared on social media like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc to increase viewership.
Press releases
As a business owner you would want to spread positive news about your activities. What better way than press releases. Regularly write short and crisp press release and inform about your new products and services or any new announcements you wish to make. Journalists will pick up a press release, if written well, and make a story about your business. This is perhaps one of the most effective marketing tools available. Once you build up credibility; whenever a journalist wants to do a story about your industry he/she will contact you for information or a quote. This is free publicity.
Slide presentations
This is just like sales presentation. Make a slide presentation and publish it on your website. You may also share it on SlideShare, YouTube, or Vimeo. Distributing a well made slide presentation on social media will also fetch rich dividends.
These four techniques are a way of increasing your connectivity with your potential customers. When you create great content that potential customers’ value, you are establishing a relationship which can be cashed by way of sales at a later date. Plus all this activity creates a positive buzz around your business.