By Owning and operating a small business can be a lot of work. In the beginning, it may feel like you need to take on everything yourself. This can run you ragged if you aren’t careful. But the truth of the matter is that you are not alone. In fact, many people have gone before you and set up tools and apps to assist overworked business leaders just like you.
And one of the area’s best assisted by tools and apps is marketing. There are numerous examples of inexpensive (or even free) marketing apps for SMBs to leverage. Want some examples? Below are a few small business marketing apps essential to effective marketing.
HootSuite:
Small businesses everywhere know they need a social media presence to remain relevant. That’s not to say social media is a burden, of course. Social media is a boon for SMBs because it allows for two-way conversations between brands and consumers. In other words, it’s a marketing method with which customers actually want to engage.
Still, manually posting to your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages can get tiresome. Thankfully, Hootsuite is here to help. This tool allows users to schedule posts and track engagement with multiple accounts on a single dashboard. Think of it as your one-stop solution for social media management.
WordPress:
One of the best ways to generate interest in your business is to establish a blog. This does a few important things. First, it adds legitimacy to your brand by building a history of quality content for web users to peruse. Second, it opens a new avenue to reach customers who might not necessarily be looking for your brand. Here’s an example.
Let’s say your business connects notary publics with title companies in need. A web user might not be familiar with your brand name, but they might stumble upon your website or blog after searching “how to find work as a notary public.” This is what is known as search engine optimization (SEO), and it is a major benefit of a well-managed blog.
Now, there are dozens of affordable blogging platforms available but WordPress is probably the most popular. Take advantage of this platform’s website compatibility and SEO add-ons.
Quora:
Sometimes the best marketing strategy is to meet customers where they already spend time. Take a moment to tap into existing customer communities on Reddit or Quora. These platforms are perfect for answering consumer questions and getting your name out there. For instance, if you repeatedly provide quality answers to questions about camera equipment, people may begin to associate your brand or your name with quality camera equipment.
Just be careful not to seem too advertorial. These platforms are meant to be communities, not billboards for your brand. It takes a deft hand, but with enough practice and time, it is a great way to market your business.
Eventbrite:
Every now and then, you need to take your networking offline and into the real world. This method can take many forms. Maybe you want to put on an event, a meetup, a workshop or a conference. Whatever it may be, Eventbrite has you covered.
Eventbrite is a trusted and easy-to-use event management system. It even includes a free app which allows business leaders to track registrations and provide updates to attendees. Even better is that you don’t have to host events yourself. The app also connects you to similar events in your area, so you can chat up your burgeoning business.
Are you ready to take control of your marketing efforts? Follow the tips above and you’ll enjoy the benefits of a robust marketing strategy with minimal demands on your resources.
