In today’s business world, the competition is more fierce than ever and the struggle is on the develop top of the line marketing strategies that will speak to the masses. World class businesses are funding advertising campaigns that add an emotional aspect to their products and are more likely to be shared on social media sites. While, as a small business owner, you may not be able to fund huge global campaigns or test numerous styles of advertisements, there are a few online marketing tactics that can accelerate your company’s growth and reinforce your marketing strategy.
Marketing Strategy vs Marketing Tactic
Marketing can be a difficult subject to understand as there are so many different aspects to building a successful marketing strategy. However, to begin, you need to understand the difference between a marketing strategy and a marketing tactic.
- Marketing Strategy
- A marketing strategy is your destination. It’s an outline or goal that states where you want to take your business over the course of the next year, five years, or even ten years. The goals you decide upon should be specific and quantifiable, like achieving 100% more in gross annual sales. You should be able to use data to determine whether or not your company is on track to achieve your goals or if adjustments need to be made.
- Marketing Tactic
- Just as a marketing strategy is your endpoint, marketing tactics are the steps along the path to reach those goals. When thinking of marketing tactics, they should be tailored for your ‘perfect customer,’ the partially fictional consumer whose needs or wants are perfectly fulfilled by your product.
Online Marketing Tactics
There are many different types of marketing tactics, but online, the options become even more limitless. From locally owned businesses to world renowned companies, everyone uses at least one type of online marketing tactic. Each one has a list of benefits and draw backs, depending your company’s ‘perfect customer.’
While e-mail may seem like a lost art to some, many people still prefer receiving e-mails over using social media. Plus, e-mail usage is ever growing. In a study from July 2017, e-mail usage for consumers between the age of 13 and 50 years old is expected to increase by almost 48%. If consumers are using e-mail more frequently, then sending promotions, newsletters, and even friendly reminders via e-mail could be the perfect way to get in touch and make a lasting connection. With e-mail, you can really let your creativity soar, but be sure to keep your messages clear, concise, and devised with the consumer in mind.
Of all the various forms of social media, Facebook is by far one of the most well known. For those whose business is geared towards the millennial generation, its the perfect platform. According to Statista.com, 25% of consumers who frequent Facebook are between 25 to 34 years old. While the users that fall within this age range may not be your target audience, the versatile posting methods and built in ad service make Facebook a wonderful starting point for any company seeking to leverage marketing tactics. You can connect with potential customers through videos, GIFs, articles, and so much more all in a shareable format.
Social Media
There are new social media outlets being developed almost every day, each one offering something different and catering to a different age group. From Snapchat and Instagram for those whose business focuses on consumers between the ages of 13 and 25, to YouTube, which pulls views from all age ranges. The sharing structure for each varies. However, depending on the ‘perfect customer’ you have in mind for your business, each one offers different benefits and opportunities to make a personal connection with potential clients.
Blogs
Blogging, much like e-mail, can seem a bit antiquated, but lately this marketing tactic has gotten a revamp. Instead of focusing on what you as a business have done, blogging is now more about creating content that is useful for your ‘perfect customer.’ If your business participated in a fundraising event, blogging is still a great way to showcase what your business has to offer the community. However, your blog should be written with the consumer in mind. For instance, a local florist shop might blog about floral arrangements for weddings or centerpieces for a sweet sixteen celebration. The topics should be relevant to your business while still being intriguing enough to catch potential customers’ attention.
While this isn’t a complete list of all online marketing tactics available, these options are some of the most common. Here at Bash Foo, we pride ourselves in helping small businesses achieve big goals. Our expertise in online marketing combined with outstanding customer service allows us to boost our customers to new heights. Whether you are wanting to increase your sales or just to make your business known, we’re here to help. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you join the ranks of the elite.
