“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
We’ve all heard this somewhat vague and confusing philosophical question at some point in our lives. Surely the tree still made a sound, right? Well it doesn’t really matter. The point is that no one heard it. Just like no one will know about your business or what is does unless you make them pay attention. How exactly do you make them pay attention? With a killer marketing strategy.
We’ve all heard this somewhat vague and confusing philosophical question at some point in our lives. Surely the tree still made a sound, right? Well it doesn’t really matter. The point is that no one heard it. Just like no one will know about your business or what is does unless you make them pay attention. How exactly do you make them pay attention? With a killer marketing strategy.
Here at Fifth Avenue Lifestyle, we have witnessed firsthand, countless start-ups and business’ in their infancy. Below are some of the marketing strategies that they have used to help fast track their business to success:
1. Blogging
Blogging is just for millennials, right? Nope. Definitely not. Whether you are a hairdresser, an architect or a lawyer, blogging is one of the most powerful marketing tools that you have at your disposal. Here’s why…
- Google loves blogs: In fact, all search engines crave fresh and relevant content on your website. Companies that blog consistently can receive 97% more links to their website. Yep, you read that right. 97%.
- Maintain and develop relationships with new and existing customers: In an age of instant content and information, you have to be in it to win it, so to speak. Blogging will keep your audience engaged. It’s a more casual and often conversational form of communication that forms a strong business to customer bond.
- Strengthen your reputation: Publishing a blog which relates to your industry or sector will automatically make you an authority within your field. Consumers or customers will rely on your business as a trustworthy source of information. Essentially, you’re the best mate that everyone goes to for advice.
- Brand Awareness: Blogging helps to contribute to your business’ overall brand or personality. Establish a voice and project your company values and practices. The more personality your brand has, the more people will be drawn to your business over your competitors. Also, blogs are a prime opportunity for people to share links to your blog, which really drives growth.
Whether you write your own posts or hire a copywriter to do it for you, blogging is sure to be a successful investment for your business. In fact those companies who prioritise blogging as part of their marketing strategy are 13x more likely to see a positive return on investment.
2. Make A Website
Some people may have read that and rolled their eyes… duhh, of course you need a website. Well, unroll those eyes because 50% of small business owners in Australia don’t have a website.
In a world consumed by social media some of you may be thinking that a Facebook page and Instagram account are enough. However, Telstra’s Small Business Intelligence Report indicates that 62% of customers will rule out a small business if they don’t have a website. Here are the top two reasons that you should have a website:
- Business credibility: Your website is your digital address and storefront. This is where clients, potential customers, associates and even competitors find you. Think about it, how likely are you to trust the business whose address is listed on Google as “Unknown”? Not likely? Well, this is pretty much the same thing.
- Build your brand and online presence: Over a decade ago, websites simply acted as an informational platform. They were pretty stale and overwhelmed viewers with reams of text. However, today we have interactive web design, busy comment sections and clever SEO practices. By 2020 there is set to be 6.1 billion smartphone users, all of whom will be invested in the companies and brands who have the largest online presence.
Here is a list of must-have features for your website:
- An ‘Our Story’ Consumers like a brand that they find relatable.
- Testimonials/Reviews
- FAQ’s. This will save you and your customer some time. And you can include a call-to-action in your answers.
- Products/ Services page
- Prices
- A ‘Contact’ page
3. Email Marketing
Email was so 2009, right? Well, not really. There are 4.9 million active email accounts today which is significantly more than Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. However, in 2019 we should be focusing on inbound emailing rather than outbound emailing. Inbound email marketing focuses on contacts who have opted in to your emails rather than contacts from a bought email list.
Below is a step-by-step email marketing strategy for your small business:
- Make it easy for consumers to sign up. Include subscribe buttons on your website pages and social media feeds. Include a call-to-action at the bottom of your blog posts.
- Organise your contacts. Create contact groups based on gender/age/location. You will sell to different audiences in different ways.
- Make your emails mobile-friendly. Most of your contacts will see your email pop up on their smartphone so make sure your emails are mobile responsive.
- Ace your subject line. The average office worker receives 121 emails a day. Make sure your email stands out with an attention-grabbing subject line.
- Personalise your email. Address the email to the customer directly using their name. Write using language that your customer can relate to. No jargon or technical terms.
So, there you have it – the next time your tree falls there will be plenty of people around to hear it. And just in case you haven’t realised by now, the tree is your business. If you’re thinking of creating your own start-up, contact us at Fifth Avenue Lifestyle to enquire about renting a space!