The business environment keeps on growing with every tick of the clock. Every now and then, there are new gaps to be filled by new entrepreneurs. However, having a startup, especially in a field that is already occupied, is usually a challenge. Most of those who’ve been in it for a while, often create an unwelcoming environment.

Thanks to the power of digital marketing today, newbies can have a fair share of the pie. But it’s not always easy to be successful in digital marketing as a startup. It requires lots of planning, knowledge, and strategic skills on how to go about everything. In this small businesses’ guide to digital marketing, here are some pointers on strategies you need to utilize in digital marketing.

1. Have a mobile responsive website

As much as it is still somewhat effective in this age and day, relying solely on mainstream media advertising is overtaken by events. It somewhat belongs to the old era. More and more people are today spending most of their time on the internet. The fact that almost everyone owns a smartphone, therefore, making it possible for even the small business to easily reach their customers through their website. This means that to reach out to the larger percentage of your target market, you have to ace it on website design. Your website has to be easily accessible through a variety of devices, including laptops, desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Platforms such as WordPress and Wix have made it possible for those with a little know-how about designing to create magnificent sites of their choice. Although creating a good website may not always be free, it’s worth a shot. For success, it is advisable to design a user-friendly site that targets every audience, especially the mobile on-the-go user. As a matter of fact, so of the most successful business are the ones that have a mobile app for their products and services.

2. Directory listings

The information you provide about your business online matters a lot when it comes to digital marketing for startups. There are many directories online, through which you can provide information about your business for better online presence. This makes it easy for your target clients to find you and contact you on the internet. Some of the most important info may include your business’ name, location, contacts, website URL, and working hours just to mention a few. Also, the availability of the info on search engines boosts your customer’s trust in your business.

We both know that there are many fake businesses out there, and no customer is willing to risk transacting with them. Google My Business is among the platforms that ensure you stand out from the crowd. The platform allows a business to shine in the rankings, and google maps. However, it’s advisable to list your business in almost every local directory available such as Yahoo!, YellowPages, Bing, Yelp, and even Facebook and LinkedIn. Directory listings with consistent info across the various platforms will help your business to reach out to more internet users from your target market.

3. Influencer marketing

A lot has been said about influencer marketing. Many people insist that it’s going to take over social media and content marketing. However, this may not be the case since influencer marketing heavily relies on both social media and content marketing. Surprisingly, many people are not sure of what influencer marketing is. We can say it’s just a combo of the new and old marketing tools. In other words, it involves adding the celebrity endorsement idea into content-driven campaigns

Many platforms insist that influencer marketing has mystical powers, and who are we not to agree. The process may also require involving a public influencer in a high-impact conversation related to your brand. Allowing real people to market your brand improves your customer’s trust, which is one of the most important things when seeking to grow a startup.

4. Invest your time and effort in contact building

Business professionals insist that an entrepreneur builds his or her name from the current connections. However, not all businesses understand this. Today, many small businesses find themselves directing more focus on attracting new customers, that they end up neglecting the old or current ones. Existing contacts are one of the most significant growth opportunities for your startup business, especially when it comes to digital marketing. Existing customers play a huge role in every business’ growth. In addition to making new purchases and ordering new services, they play a critical role in recruiting new customers through referrals. Not only is focusing on contact building good in boosting referrals, it also does wonders when it comes to client recruitment and retention.

5. Go live with creative videos

Thanks to the power of the internet, today, you can easily share your products or brand online using live videos. Live videos are an amazing digital marketing tool in the present age of advanced technology. Today, you can easily market your brand, products, or services using creative live videos using platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.

In most cases, all you need is a smartphone and you’re set to go live. The biggest benefit about live videos is that they’re based on real-time. This means that your customers get to engage you one-on-one. Small businesses can utilize live videos to inform their customers of a new product and how to use it, for example. Besides, the live feeds enable the company to know about the customer’s complaints, which would have taken quite a substantial amount of time to note from reviews, customer service channels, and email messages.

6. Invest in SEO & search optimization tools

The internet has changed the digital landscape substantially, especially the world of business. It plays as a link to your potential clients. Unless you’re not anticipating the survival and thriving of your business, it’s advisable to invest well in search engine optimization. Also known as SEO, search engine optimization is aimed at ensuring that your business is as visible as possible on search engines. In digital marketing, SEO may also involve optimizing content for use in email marketing, website marketing, video marketing, content marketing, and social media marketing.

The truth be told, SEO is vital and the many benefits that it offers are unquestionable. Besides, utilizing the various available SEO tools and strategies, you’ll want to ensure that your presence in the search engines is not only seen but felt. This means winning your current and target customers’ trust. It is this trust that generates traffic for your business over time.

Digital marketing is the bone and marrow of almost every business today. It is a huge necessity and the heart and soul of success for most startups. With the above tips, planning your digital marketing strategy becomes easier and much more action-oriented. However, you’ll need to work with a competent digital marketing agency to achieve the best success.