When it comes to running a small service-based business, it can be challenging to stand out from all the other competitors in the market. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in 2019 they reported that there were 30.7 million small businesses accounting for 99.9 percent of all U.S. businesses.
Now the SBA defines a small business as a firm with fewer than 500 employees. However, if we further refine that definition to fewer than 20 employees, then it makes up 89% of all businesses in the U.S. (Source: Oberlo.com)
If your business falls within the latter statistic, you know that spending your hard-earned money on ads and marketing when times get tight is usually one of the first things you want to cut. However, I am here to tell you that is the last thing you want to do.
While traditional advertising methods can be very costly and nearly impossible to measure, small businesses have never had easier access to low-cost, measurable marketing tools. The best way to market your business may be much more accessible than you think if you look to the techniques outlined here.
If you own and operate a small business in Western North Carolina, undoubtedly, you have tried to reach out to new clients or strengthen your connection with existing ones. You are also probably familiar with several digital marketing businesses and their solutions.
While many individuals define digital marketing differently, it is nearly always about connecting with new and existing clients about your business, the services you offer, and what both of those can do for them. Some technologies, such as email marketing and/or marketing automation, only offer a few functionalities. Others are more sophisticated, offering whole platforms known as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software or solutions. The fundamental purpose of any of these solutions is to turn client communications into sales, but it isn't the only piece of the puzzle.
Small businesses today don’t want to just sell their services. You have to be top-of-mind with clients, fostering goodwill and engagement. Many Western North Carolina small businesses do this by creating custom landing pages, social media posts, newsletters, emails, and various other forms of content on their websites across a number of platforms (social, email, desktop, mobile, etc.).
Of course, creating this type of marketing content requires time and expertise. Many small businesses in Western North Carolina will look for help by selecting digital marketing software solutions that automate and improve the execution and optimization of their efforts. But how do you, a small business owner, decide? Well, there are several options available, but very few of them provide the same services or are appropriate for every type of small business.
Don’t worry. I have rounded up seven of the best digital marketing software service options available today to help you find the exact tools you're looking for.
Search engine visibility is essential for any small or local business in North Carolina wanting to stay competitive. Paid advertising is a terrific method to acquire instant awareness and highly targeted visitors, but it's also important to concentrate on your long-term organic visibility. The issue is that search engine optimization (SEO) is a time-consuming and complex marketing strategy that needs regular work.
And thus lies the conundrum. Most North Carolina local businesses aren't making use of one of the most important and effective marketing strategies for local small businesses because of the very fact that they are local businesses. You also don't have time to do SEO, but you also don't have time to learn enough about it to employ the best small company SEO services.
That's why I wrote this post. I want to help you change that problem! So let's get started by looking at what we're going to cover:
- What is Small Business SEO?
- Why Hire an SEO Services Company?
- What are the benefits of hiring small business SEO services?
- What Will an SEO Services Company Do?
- What Are Some Tips for Choosing a Small Business SEO Service Provider?
- What Questions Should You Ask During an SEO Service Consultation?
- Does your North Carolina Small Business Needs SEO Services?
Search engines such as Google and Bing are is where your clients are, and it is there that you must distinguish yourself from the competition. So let's get you set up to do that.
Maintaining a healthy online presence is vital for the well-being of your business. Before making any sort of purchase or committing to a certain company’s services, most people will first look up their reviews online.
And if the average review score for your business is less than 4 stars, chances are they will turn to your competitors with a better score instead.
The problem with reviews is that people are much more likely to share negative experiences with your product/service than positive ones. So, even if you think your business is perfect, a bad review is an inevitability rather than a possibility.
And just leaving one unattended is a terrible practice: it will both show people that you provided a poor product/service and didn’t even bother to do anything about it.