Marketing is not what it used to be. The times have changed, and if you are not adapting, you may be left behind.
According to research from McKinsey & Company, 61 percent of consumers will not return to a website if it had problems, and 40 percent reported they would just go to a competitor.
So what digital marketing skills are needed to get a step ahead of the competition?
Keep reading this guide to discover five small business digital marketing skills that are vital to growing your business.
1. Become a Search Engine Optimization Whiz
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most sought after marketing skills right now and for a good reason.
It is more important than ever to practice search engine optimization as 93 percent of all online experiences begin with a search engine.
Search engine optimization involves optimizing high-quality content on your website to increase the number of organic search results. SEO produces more organic search results than any other form of marketing.
2. Learn the In’s and Out’s of Video Marketing
Video marketing is becoming a particular interest among marketing professionals because of their unique ability to reach mass amounts of consumers.
Video marketing is so successful that 90 percent of consumers claim that videos helped influence their purchasing decisions.
With the rise of social media, videos are becoming the main focal point in online marketing for small businesses. The reasoning is simple – videos are easier to watch to translate information to the consumer.
3. Focus on the Customer Experience
With so many options available as competition increase, consumers are choosing companies that they feel focus on them.
Customer Experience (CX) goes far beyond just customer service. It involves every single interaction with your customers. Any interaction that can influence the consumer’s perception of your brand- from the design of the website to customer support is considered the customer experience.
Putting a focus on customer experience can quickly pay a return on investment (ROI). According to recent research, 84 percent of companies that work on customer experience reported an increase in revenue.
4. Master of Social Media Marketing
When it comes to digital marketing for small businesses, knowing how to utilize social media is a must-know.
Social media marketing can help your business in so many ways, including
- Building brand awareness
- Increasing leads
- Engaging consumers
- Testing Ideas
- Running surveys
Interacting with consumers on social media can lead to significant benefits for your small business. According to research from the PEW research center, 72 percent of the public has some sort of social media, giving companies the opportunity to capture a broad audience.
5. Develop Analytical Intelligence
Being able to analyze and interpret results are crucial skills in any digital marketing for business.
The reason analytics is so critical is because, as a digital marketer, you will be introduced to large amounts of data. It is up to you to decipher this data and come up with a plan to move forward in a way that will produce the most significant returns to your business.
Using services such as Google banner ads can help you avoid these headaches by making it easy for you to promote your business to your target market.
For the Latest in Small Business Digital Marketing
These five small business digital marketing skills are becoming increasingly necessary to keep up with the competition. Marketing professionals are expecting these skills to continue to dominate the market over the next several years.
To keep up with the latest in digital marketing for business, check out the rest of our blog!
