Expand your entrepreneurial venture using digital marketing – Here’s how!

In this century, the power of digital tools cannot be overemphasized. Thriving businesses these days conduct and run their business activities  using several digital marketing tools. They use the tools to reach more customers, penetrate more markets and in return make more money.

But first, what exactly does ‘digital marketing’ mean?

Digital marketing employs the promotion of a product or service online using a variety of digital channels. It could be the use of the internet marketing channels or  non-internet digital channels. Internet marketing includes the use of the mediums you can find on the web such as search engines, emails, social media and online banners and the likes. Non-internet digital channels include the use of television, radio, SMS, and digital billboards, etc.

According to statistics obtained by Advanced Web Ranking through their SEO stats report for 2017, it was noted that 48% of 1,200 global digital marketers say on-page search engine optimization (SEO) was one of the most effective SEO tactic. Other statistics show that Facebook has over 500 million active users, Twitter has over 250 million monthly active users, 21% of marketers say that social media has become more important to their company over the past six months, and so on.

How then can you tap into this and make your own profit from the enormous benefits of digital marketing?

Create a website for your business

Customers and investors are more likely to take a business serious when there is a website in place. When people come across your business, they would want to know more about what you are doing, how you are doing it and the team working for your business. Customers will also have the opportunity to sign up to newsletters and other updates which would serve as an avenue to further engage them. Another benefit of having a website is that once you are able to generate traffic to your website, you could also attract other businesses wishing to advertise on your website; and so,  you make more money.

Register your presence on social media

The benefits of having a social media presence are enormous.  With the likes of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc., you can get active followers and reach a lot more people than you would have without being on social media – thus, increasing the visibility of your business. Create profiles on relevant social media platforms and ensure you stay active on them. Consistency is the key with social media.

Registering your brands in the minds of people cannot be done overnight. However, when you are consistent with your posts, you will gradually begin to get followers and in turn customers in no time.

You might need to get someone to manage your social media platforms and you should also ensure the person you hire is well vast in what your brand is about and must be a professional who can adequately project your brand in a positive light. With social media, you also get to follow credible and resourceful persons and organizations, leveraging on their own brand and followers to attain the goals of your own business.

Create Mobile Apps for your business

Creating mobile apps for your brand is also another way to keep in touch with your customers. Some people enjoy using mobile apps to source for information and to keep themselves updated. If your business is on an app, they will have yet another channel to get updated information and to reach out to you if they have questions. You could also consider incorporating a ‘live chat’ session so customers have always have their enquiries answered in real-time.

Tap into non-internet digital channels

You can’t underestimate the huge number of viewership a TV platform can get you, neither can you also underestimate the huge number of listeners a credible radio platform will have. Based on your budget, you should also consider doing an advert on TV or radio (However, radio is cheaper and can be used for a start). You can also create a program based on what your business is all about and have people call in or send in SMS messages from time to time

These are some of the channels you can explore to promote your entrepreneurial venture via digital platforms and you would realise that in no time, your customer base will increase as well as your income.