We live in a digital age, where many things are now virtual rather than physical. Even in the business industry, this is true: no longer are physical brick-and-mortar shops a requirement when establishing a business. Sure, they’re a welcome feature, but an online presence is considerably more valuable nowadays.
However, increasing your reach online can be difficult. Especially with how competitive the business industry is nowadays, businesses need to use every edge they can get. Below are some tips to help you with increasing your reach and gaining more customers.
Focus on Something Instead of Everything
There are thousands of marketing strategies available, and newer ones are created all the time. There are many avenues to accomplish your campaign, too. But anyone in the business long enough understands that it’s important to choose just one and to focus on it.
From senior citizens to youngsters, you can tap into a very diverse client pool online, so long as you know where to interact with them. Consider which generation of consumers you are talking to and which platform you are on. If your customer target is Gen Zs, it’s more likely that you can interact with them through Snapchat or TikTok. If you want to gain more influence with Millenials, then Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube would be more effective. There may be some overlap, but knowing where your target segment will help you in directing your efforts into an avenue that can yield results.
Make It Easier for Your Customers
Being accessible and approachable as a brand is something a lot of consumers value nowadays. We no longer want the illusion of luxury. Instead, we want relatability and accessibility. A great way to engage with your customers is to make your services easy to reach.
As an example, website navigation is something that may seem easy to make. Still, the importance of User Interface / User Experience (UI/UX) can actually make or break your online customer engagement. Think about it. Customers will most likely be driven away if your online interface is difficult to navigate.
Therefore, consider taking the time to gather customer feedback regarding your website design so you can further improve it to serve them better. Knowing what kind of platform they normally use can also help considerably when it comes to tailoring your user experience.
Know What to Post
Traditional advertising uses appealing ad materials, often employing popular celebrities or eye-catching content. Throughout the years, we’ve seen ‘Got Milk,’ or ‘Sega Does What Nintendon’t’ and other similar striking ads. While the same rule applies to online marketing, there are some key differences to take note of.
Online users are very particular about what kind of ads they see. After all, internet use is a very personal experience, and having an intrusive ad can turn them off. Understanding your customers is the key to knowing what kind of content they would appreciate. Younger generations might go for humorous content more, while older generations prefer a much more direct type of advertisements.
Interact and Engage Online
Consumers are quite active and vocal online. They will usually comment on your ad campaigns, post questions on your pages, and leave reviews as well. Use this as an opportunity to interact with them and make them feel that their concerns are not thrown to a blank wall. This approach can be endearing and can show your clients that you truly care about them.
Interacting with your clients online also increases your reputation as it shows potential customers that you’re willing to answer questions. The speed at which you can reply to questions also affects your business’s favorability. Don’t just ignore comments or messages on your online media accounts. They can be the key to turning leads into paying customers.
When All Else Fails, Hire a Pro
Of course, managing your own marketing campaign can prove difficult. There are many factors involved, many data to analyze, and ad materials to create. Ultimately, marketing is a serious job that requires intense focus and concentration and can be accomplished better by a professional.
Consider hiring an advertising expert, like a digital campaign marketer or a franchise marketing company. An interesting upside to hiring third parties to do your marketing work for you is that they can approach it differently from how you would approach it. Different perspectives can often bring a unique and interesting spin on your ad content, making it fresh and new. This way, you’re increasing your chances at success thanks to having a professional go at it.
The key to any online campaign is consistency. It often starts slow, but with enough patience, your engagement will increase. And as your engagement increases, your customer count will follow soon after.