Growing your business using online content might be a good idea if you are just starting out and don’t have a lot of money to spend on marketing.
In this article, we will share 10 practical tips on how you can use online content to develop your business on a small budget.
1. Select the right platform for your website
Before you launch your own website, you need to consider selecting a platform to build it on. Although there are numerous website engines, using WordPress might be the most suitable option. It currently powers more than 34% of all websites in the world.
By selecting WordPress, you will get access to a cost-effective, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) friendly solution. WordPress can be seamlessly integrated with social networks, which is another advantage of this platform that can allow you to integrate your marketing efforts and increase their effectiveness.
2. Stick to simple website design
Although professionally designed websites are more attractive to consumers, good website design does not necessarily mean excessive costs and expenditures. By using ready-made free or premium themes, you can create a good-looking website for a fraction of a price. If you are looking for a more unique design, you can always use page builders or write some code. But remember that your website layout should be simple, attractive, and functional.
3. What about website speed?
A study by Google demonstrates that more than half of mobile site visitors abandon a page if its loading time took longer than 3 seconds. That is why website optimisation plays a crucial role in making sure it performs well under high traffic. Optimising background processes, splitting comments into pages, using faster plugins, and limiting post revisions just a few techniques to boost the speed of your website.
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4. Add social media buttons
Social media is perhaps, one of the most valuable sources of growth for your business. You can directly communicate with a large number of potential customers and advertise your products and services on social media. Having social sharing buttons on the content of your website is a good strategy that can help you build brand awareness and generate word of mouth.
5. Add daily posts
Keep your visitors and followers engaged by sharing daily posts with them. The frequency of adding posts may need to vary depending on the type of business. Nonetheless, you need to be active on social media if you want to attract your target audience and make sure your business is growing. You should also make sure your content is relevant and interesting to read/watch.
6. Use images and videos
You could use images and videos when posting content on social media. According to a study by Sprout Social, 58% of all consumers prefer visual-first content, meaning posts with images and videos receive a much higher level of engagement as compared to regular text. Make sure you create and post attractive cover images and profile photos so they leave a long-lasting effect in the mind of social media users.
7. Encourage users to share content
Understanding the sharing habits of social media users is key to building strong brand awareness and engagement on each network. For instance, some users share content for entertainment purposes, while others may try to evoke an emotional response. Users can also share content to express themselves about who they are by letting their peers know what they like and enjoy. By understanding your target audience’s sharing habits, you can not only create content that people love but also encourage them to share this content.
8. Aim at your target audience
Don’t try to target everyone as this strategy often leads to significant financial expenditures and mediocre results in the long run. Instead, focus your business on those consumers who are most likely to spend money on your goods and services. Thus, the more your content is streamlined, the more targeted your marketing efforts will be.
9. Drive traffic with SEO
In addition to producing great content to post on social networks, you should also optimise it for search engines. You should also consider guest blogging, which can increase traffic to your website and help to build stronger brand awareness. The more active you are online, the more traffic you can drive to your website.
10. Participate in online communities
Finally, you can use online communities, such as forums and question-answer websites to get access to consumers interested in topics associated with your products and services. Provide people with helpful content to build authority and mention your business or website only when it is appropriate.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is possible to do a lot of marketing-related things without any money in the online environment. By adopting a suitable content generation strategy and using the power of information technology, you can successfully grow your business on a small budget.