Marketing Your Small Business: Strategies for Growth and Success
Introduction
If you’re anything like me, the idea of cold calling or meeting strangers in person to promote your business sounds dreadful. It’s time-consuming, uncomfortable, and frankly, ineffective. Did you know that 87% of Americans don’t answer calls from unknown numbers, and less than 2% of cold calls lead to a meeting—let alone a sale?
With such poor results, it’s no wonder B2B sales can feel discouraging, leaving small business owners like us weary. While building relationships over time through farming or networking can work, it requires patience—and it might not pay off if the audience simply isn’t interested in your offerings.
Take the charming shops in downtown Guthrie as an example. Many local businesses rely on word-of-mouth marketing or foot traffic, but in today’s digital world, that’s not enough. Sadly, I’ve seen beautiful storefronts close because they couldn't attract enough customers to afford the rising rents. It’s heartbreaking—these businesses offer incredible products and experiences, but people can’t visit places they don’t know exist.
This is why digital marketing—and especially having a website—is vital for the success of any small business. These days, the first thing people do when they need something is Google it. We’ve even turned “Google” into a verb because it’s become second nature! If your business isn’t online, you’re missing a huge opportunity to connect with customers. However, marketing a small business takes more than just a website. Let’s explore the key strategies that will set your business up for success.
Small Business Marketing Tips
1. Engaging, Functional, and Safe Websites for Business Success
Having a website isn’t optional anymore—it’s a necessity. Your website needs to be more than a placeholder on the internet; it should be a powerful tool that reflects your brand, encourages customer interaction, and drives both online sales and in-person visits.
A professionally designed website offers several advantages:
User-friendly experience: Visitors can navigate with ease, find what they’re looking for, and interact with your business effortlessly.
Mobile optimization: Over half of web traffic comes from mobile devices, so your site must look great and function well on smartphones.
Built-in functionality: Your site should offer easy ways to book reservations, shop online, or learn about upcoming events.
At Blessed Ohana Web Designs, we go beyond just building beautiful websites—we work closely with clients to develop custom solutions that align with their business goals. We also provide monthly content updates to ensure that your website stays fresh and your business continues to grow.
2. SEO: A Necessary Investment for Your Website’s Success
Building a website is just the first step—Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the next critical piece of the puzzle. SEO ensures that your website ranks well on search engines like Google, making it easier for potential customers to find you. Without SEO, your website might get lost in the digital noise.
While SEO can seem overwhelming, it’s essential to understand that it’s an investment—and a worthwhile one. SEO services help your business by:
Driving organic traffic: Attract visitors who are actively searching for your products or services.
Improving search rankings: Make your website more visible on Google and other search engines.
Targeting the right audience: Ensure that the people visiting your site are those most likely to convert into customers.
Some companies charge a premium for SEO services—SEMrush, for example, offers plans starting at $139.95 per month (as of October 2024). But there are more affordable options. Tools like ChatGPT’s paid version (just $20 per month) offer SEO insights, keyword suggestions, and optimization tips at a fraction of the cost. By leveraging AI-powered tools, you can integrate effective SEO strategies into your website without breaking the bank. Our go-to tool is ChatGPT, but we encourage you to choose the one that best suits your needs. Most AI platforms are backed by large, dedicated teams focused on delivering top-tier results—I know this firsthand from my experience as an AI trainer, a role I previously held full-time and now continue as a side endeavor.
3. Email Campaigns and Drip Campaigns for Automated Marketing
In addition to having an engaging website and solid SEO, email marketing is an incredibly effective way to nurture leads and stay connected with your audience. One of the best strategies is to use drip campaigns—a series of automated emails sent over time to guide your audience through the sales funnel.
Here are some key benefits of email campaigns:
Personalized engagement: Send targeted messages based on your customers’ interests, encouraging them to take specific actions.
Cost-effective marketing: Email campaigns offer one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) compared to other marketing strategies.
Automation saves time: With drip campaigns, emails are sent automatically, freeing you up to focus on other areas of your business.
For example, you could create a welcome email series to introduce new subscribers to your brand, followed by promotional emails highlighting your best products or services. Using platforms like MailChimp or Pipedrive, you can design email campaigns that nurture customer relationships, encourage engagement, and drive sales.
4. Social Media: Amplify Your Online Presence
While having a website is essential, social media marketing helps you amplify your reach. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn allow you to connect with your audience, share updates, and promote your business in real-time.
Social media also provides a space to:
Engage with customers directly through comments, messages, and reviews.
Showcase your brand personality through posts, stories, and videos.
Run targeted ad campaigns to reach new customers based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.
Social media marketing can be time-consuming, but the benefits far outweigh the effort. Consistent posting, combined with engaging content, will help grow your following and build brand awareness over time.
Conclusion: Grow Your Business with
Strategic Marketing
Marketing your small business requires more than just word of mouth or foot traffic—in today’s world, a strong online presence is crucial. Start by building a professional, user-friendly website, invest in SEO to boost visibility, and use email and social media marketing to stay connected with your audience.
At Blessed Ohana, we offer comprehensive web design solutions that include SEO optimization, content updates, and support with email and drip campaigns to ensure your business continues to thrive. With the right strategies in place, you can grow your business, attract more customers, and achieve long-term success.
