Topics

  1. What You Need to Get Started with Digital Marketing for Your Small Business
  2. An Agency Can Help Small Businesses to Get Started with Digital Marketing

As a small business owner, it is vital that you have an online presence and a digital marketing strategy to promote your business. Many businesses in South Africa are falling behind when it comes to digital marketing, and with our current economic state, they cannot afford to do so. To help you get the ball rolling, we have put together a digital marketing checklist for small businesses that will help you get started.

What You Need to Get Started with Digital Marketing for Your Small Business

A Mobile-Friendly Website

You don’t need a multi-page website with complex features or an e-commerce website if you’re only getting started. A digital marketing agency with an in-house web development team can create a one-pager or a basic website (with 6 pages or less) for your small business.

A digital marketing agency will assess your needs and provide you with helpful insights on what will work for your business, and what won’t.

For example, professional services like lawyers, accountants, architects, and engineers require a website with a few pages that highlight their expertise and tell their potential customers more about their business. Website visitors looking for professional services do extensive research before committing to a specific provider, which makes an “About Us” page essential.

On the other hand, trade services like plumbers, electricians, carpenters, ceiling installers, etc. often only need a landing page if they specialise in a single field. However, if you’re a flooring installer, and you offer several types of floors and ad-hoc services, creating a multi-page website will be better for your long-term business goals.

A Professional Email Address

When building a website, you’ll need domain hosting. Domain, or “website hosting” is a type of digital real estate where you pay a hosting provider a fixed fee per month to make your website available online.

As an added bonus, a website host will offer a set number of email addresses that can be created with your website domain name. For example, you’ve registered at www.blushblinds.co.za, so you’ll be able to create an email account with yourname@blushblinds.co.za.

Having a professional email address adds credibility to your business, distinguishing you from other providers that use an @gmail.com or @yahoo.com email address.

A Professional Logo and Corporate Identity

Because a logo is the first impression a website visitor will get from your business, a well-designed logo will give your business credibility. It will also help your business attract new customers by showing them that you’ve put thought and effort into the way you want to get your brand across.

Additionally, small businesses do not need a fifteen-page CI (corporate identity) document. But if you have a document with a few rules on the use of font types and the way your logo needs to be used, you’ll create consistency and makes your business easier to remember.

A Means of Driving Traffic to Your Website

Getting a website is only the first step to building your online presence. There are several traffic-driving strategies that can be implemented to get visitors to your website. Each channel has different benefits and needs to be applied appropriately. Below is a short description of each channel.

  • Google Ads is Google’s paid advertising platform that provides several opportunities to get your business seen by potential customers. Small businesses often use Google Search campaigns to help customers find their business when they type in a search in Google.
  • SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the practice of helping Google understand, and trust your business’s website. Digital marketing agencies and SEO specialists do this by creating and publishing informative articles for your business, optimising the code on your website, and getting other websites to link to your website.
  • Social media includes all social media platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Twitter. It is important to select the correct platform for your audience and business goals. A digital marketing agency with a social media marketing team will be able to advise on what will work best for you.
  • Newsletters are the familiar staple of marketing. They’ve been around since 1978 which might make them seem redundant because they’re not a new thing.  But newsletters remain valuable if you have a database of a captivated audience and content that caters to their needs.

An Agency Can Help Small Businesses to Get Started with Digital Marketing

The above list may seem daunting, especially if you are new to the marketing scene, but don’t fear… you won’t have to do it alone!

There are a number of digital marketing agencies in South Africa that will be able to assist you with setting up and managing your digital marketing. Some agencies even offer training in social media, email marketing, Google ads, and more to allow you to take control of your own online presence.

Starbright is a digital marketing agency that offers a wide range of digital marketing packages for all businesses, big or small.

The Ultimate Digital Marketing Checklist for Small Businesses