Getting Your Business Online After COVID19
For many businesses, operating off of the internet was possible for most of the time. An occasional sell through social media might have hinted towards the potential that internet marketing had, but many never went all-in on it. Studies suggest that 6 out of 10 businesses are not actively marketing on the internet, and just as many companies don’t have a website. In a time where COVID19 has shut down operations for many small storefront businesses, it is more crucial than ever to have an online presence. Social media alone isn’t enough for you to generate enough interest in your business, especially now that virtually everyone is running to the web to try and keep their businesses alive. Internet marketing is more important than ever, and the level of competition is as thick as I have seen it. So how do you go from running a successful local business to scrambling to take your business online because of COVID19?
We have created an itemized checklist to help you get your business up and running on the internet as you adjust to life after COVID19.
1. Website
We recommend that you either build a website or have someone make it for you. It doesn’t need to have complex site architecture, a simple landing page, and a few product/service pages will be enough. Don’t forget to add a contact page and a contact form. The easier you make it for customers to contact you, the better. There are templated website builders out there that provide simple drag and drop solutions. Research the many platforms and find the one that is right for you. Below are some of our suggested builders.
• WordPress
• Wix
• Squarespace
• Weebly
Most of these website builders allow you to try free versions of the software without having to pay for anything. These free versions have limited features and design options but are great for getting started. Consider upgrading your plan if you need to add additional features to your website that are not available in the free version.
2. Social Media
You may or may not know the value play here, so we’ll share our insider knowledge with you so that you can make an educated decision about social media marketing. First, you should have a few branded social profiles to help build brand recognition on the internet. Social profiles offer multiple benefits, and they pass metrics needed to rank in Google. They send referral traffic from the social property to your website; they improve your online footprint and offer another place for you to post content and engage with users. If COVID19 recently impacted your business, a social media feed would be an appropriate place to share updates related to your business. If you are savvy with video, Youtube is one of the best social media platforms to use for engagement. Video is the most consumed form of content on the internet, and it converts well for small business owners. Many businesses set up social media profiles, but never use them to post regular content or engage users. Social media isn’t for every business, but every company should at least set up a profile.
3. Email Campaigns
After you have a website and social media presence, you should consider setting up email campaigns to drive users to your site. If you have a list of interested consumers, send out an email, and notify them of your new website. If you are not currently collecting email addresses, we suggest you start. If you are a B to B operation, seek out the sites of local businesses for contact information and acquire as many email addresses as you can. This is another opportunity to contact members of your list about any operational changes that have taken place as the result of COVID19. Do not spam these people; rather, send an email full of rich, actionable content that might help them learn more about a product, service, or need. Emails are great for generating clickthroughs to websites and landing pages.
4. PPC and Display Advertising
There are many other ways to drive traffic to your website besides organic referral traffic. Pay Per Click campaigns are precisely that; you pay per click to your site. These are not always an excellent option for businesses on a limited budget, and having a firm understanding of how PPC campaigns are set up and operated could be the variable that makes or breaks the campaign. Hiring a PPC expert to manage and track the campaign is often the better solution for small businesses. PPC and display advertising offers an almost instant opportunity to make money online. Make sure you have your funnels set up correctly so that you’re not just throwing money away on these campaigns.
5. Affiliate Marketing – For You / For Them
Affiliate marketing is a very lucrative model for businesses and internet marketers. Depending on how COVID19 has impacted your business, you can either get into an affiliate marketing model. Some options may include selling other people’s products or having other people sell your products and services for a commission. This business model is great if you have a product to sell and not as useful for service-based businesses. Either way, whether you are doing it for you, or doing it for them, there is money to made in affiliate marketing for any struggling small business owner.
There are five great ways to turn things around online post-COVID19. With the stability of our future in question, it’s more important than ever to understand the basics of internet marketing and how to get your business seen by those looking for it. Our team of expert marketers offers digital marketing solutions to businesses of all sizes. Our SEO strategists in Tempe have launched national marketing campaigns for enterprise businesses and have run successful SEO campaigns for small local businesses. There are budget solutions for every company on the internet; it’s just a matter of finding the right people to share the knowledge and help deploy the campaign. If COVID19 impacted your business and you require help, please share your story with us, and we’ll do what we can to help you out in these times of need.
