Effective Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses  

There’s no denying that the world has drastically changed and whilst some of those changes were temporary, the way we do business has shifted forever. As a result, the way that small businesses market themselves must change too. This shift certainly presents its fair share of challenges, but the move towards hybrid, flexible working has created many opportunities too. Here are some easy marketing concepts to cash in on in 2022.

1. Implement 24-Hour Live Chat Support to Your Website  

The huge shift in remote working means that businesses are no longer restricted to operating with customers in their local market. Now that the world is working remotely and employees are benefiting from agile working conditions, it makes sense for your business to offer round-the-clock support for customers on all schedules, in all time zones.

92% of customers feel satisfied by using human-initiated live chat and it’s a helpful solution for those with busy schedules to get their questions answered instantaneously. Live chat also functions as a sales tool and can engage prospects in conversation, increasing the likelihood that they will convert into paying customers.  

2. Initiate Video  

87% of business owners using video marketing confirm that it has increased traffic to their site, whilst 80% say it has directly increased sales.  

Videos allow you to create engagement with your audience and build personal connections. With viewers retaining 95% of video content, compared to around 10% of text this tool is by far a more effective medium.

Users respond well to live streams, vlogs and simple how-to videos. This is easily achievable in-house so many SMEs can implement this in their marketing strategy.

3. Focus on Customer Retention  

The costs to acquire a new customer than retain an existing one are on average five times higher with loyal customers spending 31% more overall. This means rewarding your loyal customer is an excellent way of boosting your bottom line. Your existing database is invaluable when putting together your marketing strategy.

4. Listings Management  

Google isn’t the only place to target customers. Social media, digital maps and review sites can also help create brand awareness. It’s essential to keep your business information accurate and up-to-date. This may sound time consuming, so automate this process using a listings management tool that will update your progress across multiple sites. Check out Outbound Engine, BrightLocal or WhiteSpark.

5. Outsourcing   

Consider outsourcing your social media for your business. Outsourcing allows you to offload duties to an expert saving you a lot of time and money. In addition, you can focus your valuable time on other areas of your business.

For instance, having an expert navigate through LinkedIn, communicate with prospects and communicate with your audience. Or having an agency design, produce and schedule social posts can save you valuable time, which can be a full time job in itself. 

Adapting your marketing strategies to reflect the new normal and boost your bottom line doesn’t have to be challenging. Implementing strategies such as live chat support, automation and outsourcing allow you to reach audiences and nurture new customers whilst remaining conservative with your spending. Meanwhile, putting more energy into customer retention will enable you to earn more and spend less. The strategies will require consistency and patience. Remain disciplined in your efforts and you will see your small business grow throughout 2022 and beyond.