12 marketing strategy hacks to get your business noticed
Marketing influences the thought process of your target audience, raises brand awareness, builds trust, and improves customer satisfaction.
Whilst social media marketing is incredibly important for businesses, there are various other ways to drive your business forward, such as search engine optimisation (SEO) and paid advertising. One effective method is paid advertising, which can swiftly enhance your online visibility through targeted search engine and social media ads.
1. Start with a marketing strategy
A solid marketing strategy is crucial to any business’s overall strategy. Think of it as your guide for differentiating yourself from competitors, knowing who to target and how to talk about your business.
Some key components of a marketing strategy include determining your target audience through buyer personas, completing competitor analysis, setting your goals and objectives, creating intentional content and measuring your results.
Once your marketing strategy has been implemented, you can use Google Analytics insights to give you a real-time view of your social media and marketing analytics, all in one place. Additionally, these insights can help you monitor and optimize your content for better visibility on Google Search. Optimizing your content can improve how it appears in the search results, making it more likely for users to click on your link.
2. Bold branding
Stand out in the sea of same and ensure your business remains at the forefront of your audience's mind with bold branding.
Think about the entertainment powerhouse Netflix. You're thinking of the colour red and their tongue-in-cheek humour, right? This springs to mind thanks to their instantly recognisable logo and branding.
Your brand should favour authenticity over likeability. You won't please everyone, and that's okay. You will attract a loyal and aligned audience by remaining true to your brand values and goals.
3. Content that converts your target audience
Converting content will speak to your target audience, drawing on emotions including belonging, gratification, and empathy.
It’s been found that decision-making is emotional rather than logical, which is why psychology is crucial when marketing your business and creating content. Researching your audience through surveys and polls will make your marketing efforts more human-centred, allowing you to leverage the power of emotions.
Content that grabs attention and converts is typically the thumb-stopping type that interrupts your scroll on social media.
The kind that encourages people to look back over their shoulders at a mesmerising bus shelter advertisement.
It’s that out-of-home billboard that inspires someone to stop in their tracks, snap a quick photo and praise the brand’s creativity on their own social platforms. User-generated content is a valuable asset for brands, contributing to their online presence and engagement.
4. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
In the vast digital landscape, standing out can be a challenge. This is where Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) comes into play. SEO is the art and science of enhancing your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). By optimising your site, you can ensure that it ranks higher on search engines like Google, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
A strong online presence is crucial for any business to thrive in today’s competitive market. SEO helps you achieve this by improving your website’s ranking, driving more organic traffic, and ultimately increasing your chances of converting visitors into customers. Think of SEO as the foundation of your online presence management strategy, ensuring your business is visible and accessible to your target audience.
5. Listen and learn
Conducting customer research will help you get to know your customers better, improving the overall user experience at every touchpoint.
Once you know your customers and target audience inside out, you can create purpose-driven content and campaigns they will resonate with and enjoy. Optimising your online business listings on Google, the leading search engine, is crucial for enhancing your visibility in search results and engaging with potential customers.
Additionally, it is beneficial to claim profiles on other leading search engines, such as Yahoo and Bing, to further enhance your visibility and reach a broader audience.
That said, it’s important to stay on top of marketing trends and only create campaigns that align with your brand and business goals.
6. Get your emails opened
Your emails must be written with your customer in mind. Inboxes are overflowing nowadays, so you have to stand out.
Ask yourself: ‘what problem am I solving for my subscribers?', ‘what value am I providing them with?' and ‘why should they take action?'
The average email length is approximately 500 words (3.5-minute read time), but you can A/B split test your email marketing between long-form and short-form emails to see which gets the best open and read rate.
7. Write copy that sells
At the heart of all good sales copy, there's a story. If you want to write compelling copy, aim to trigger an emotional response in your reader. Copywriting lets you paint the picture and set the scene of a problem your target audience might face, allowing you to sweep in and show how your product or service is the solution.
The launch of Apple's first-generation iPod is a great example here. Instead of using descriptive jargon to understand the ‘what,' the slogan described the ‘why': "1,000 songs in your pocket." The audience's values and desires are placed over product features here.
Copy that converts is easy to understand and visualise. If you want to write copy that grabs attention and persuades the reader to take action from the get-go, bear that in mind.
8. Influence with influencers on popular social media platforms
Partnering strategically with influencers aligned with your brand can be hugely beneficial; an example is targeting a specific market by tapping into an influencer’s existing audience and community.
If you decide to go down the influencer marketing route, the content created by the influencer will have a higher chance of converting if posted by the influencer themselves. This is especially the case if the influencer is credible and already shows affinity to the products and brands they are promoting. Your website is your business’s digital home. Along with increasing authenticity and showcasing your brand personality, it’s an opportunity to leave a lasting impression.
Think of your website as your 24/7 salesperson. You want to tell the consumer what problem you are solving so that they take action and convert directly. In influencer marketing, leveraging popular social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) is crucial. Selecting the right social media platform can significantly enhance your reach and influence.
Enhancing your social media presence is essential for boosting online visibility and engagement. Many social media users rely on influencers for product recommendations, making it important to target content effectively through advertising and collaborations.
Software such as Adobe Customer Journey Analytics and Google Analytics is effective for tracking website traffic and developing a more comprehensive understanding of customer behaviours.
Don’t feel under pressure to nail all nine of these marketing tips. Whether you need help creating beautiful brand visuals, managing your community on socials or developing an influencer marketing strategy, many fantastic agencies and freelancers are available to support you and/or take control of your business marketing efforts. LinkedIn is always my go-to platform for finding incredibly talented agency owners!
9. Local search optimisation
If your business serves a specific geographic area, local search optimisation is a must. This subset of SEO focuses on making your website more visible for location-based search queries. Imagine a potential customer searching for “best coffee shop near me” – you want your business to be the first one they see.
To optimise for local search, start by incorporating location-based keywords into your website’s content and meta tags. For instance, if you run a bakery in Brooklyn, phrases like “Brooklyn bakery” or “best cupcakes in Brooklyn” should be part of your SEO strategy. Creating and optimising a Google Business listing with accurate and up-to-date information can boost your local search visibility.
Building high-quality local citations and links from reputable sources is crucial. These citations act as digital references, enhancing your credibility in the eyes of search engines. Lastly, ensure your website’s structure and content are easily accessible to search engines, making it simpler for them to index your site and display it in relevant search results.
Focusing on local search optimization can help you attract more local customers, increase your visibility in search engine results, and strengthen your overall online presence.
10. Online reputation management
Your online reputation can make or break your business in today's digital age. Online reputation management involves monitoring and managing how your business is perceived online. This includes tracking and responding to online reviews, social media mentions, and other content that could impact your reputation.
To manage your online reputation effectively, start by monitoring online reviews and responding to them promptly and professionally. Whether the feedback is positive or negative, showing that you value customer opinions can build trust and loyalty. Engaging with customers on social media platforms is equally important. Respond to their queries and concerns, and use these interactions to showcase your commitment to customer satisfaction.
High-quality content highlighting your products and services can also enhance your reputation. Share success stories, customer testimonials, and behind-the-scenes looks at your business to build a positive image. Building relationships with influencers and other online partners can help promote your brand and reach a wider audience.
By actively managing your online reputation, you can build customer trust, enhance your online presence, and improve your overall reputation. Remember, a solid online presence is not just about being visible; it’s about being positively perceived by your audience.
11. Building a strong website
In today’s digital age, building a strong online presence is not just an option—it’s a necessity. A robust online presence can help you reach your target audience, foster customer relationships, and drive conversions.
Given 15 minutes to consume content, 66% of people would instead read something beautifully designed than plain text. People are visually drawn to beautiful, effective websites, so you must invest in a website development company that can deliver.
And don't forget to focus on the user experience and make the website easy to navigate!
12. Paid advertising strategies
Paid advertising is a powerful way to boost your online presence and reach your target audience quickly. Here are some effective paid advertising strategies to consider:
Google Ads: Google Ads is one of the most popular paid advertising platforms. It allows you to create text-based ads on Google’s search engine results pages. You can reach potential customers actively searching for products or services like yours by targeting specific keywords.
Social Media Ads: Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn offer robust paid advertising options. These platforms allow you to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, ensuring your ads reach the right audience. Social media ads can significantly enhance your online presence and drive engagement.
Native Ads: Native ads blend seamlessly with the content on the platform they appear on, making them less intrusive and more engaging. These ads can be highly effective in capturing the attention of your target audience without disrupting their browsing experience.
Retargeting Ads: Retargeting ads are a great way to re-engage users who have previously visited your website or interacted with your content. By reminding them of your products or services, you can increase the chances of conversion and keep your brand top-of-mind.
Implementing these paid advertising strategies can help you achieve a strong online presence, drive targeted traffic to your website, and ultimately increase conversions.
Getting your marketing right can help your business get noticed, stand out from the rest, and ultimately grow at the expense of your competitors!
