It’s now 2013 and SEO, social media and blogging have all been around for some time. However, I still see online companies doing nothing at all on any of these fronts.
There’s no excuse to hide a business away online. Every activity could be providing extra sales and enquiries. Listed below are five of the most common ways companies of all sizes hide away when it comes to online marketing.
- Social media shrinking violets
Social media sites such as Twitter are not a magic wand for any business. I’ve heard all sorts of objections regarding social media in the past ranging from “it’s just people talking nonsense” through to “why would anyone care what I’ve got to say?”
The main problem with being a social media shrinking violet is that sites such as Twitter and Facebook are where your potential customers are active. Ignoring social media completely is fine for some businesses that are targeting technical B2B markets for example, but for many it’s akin to commercial suicide.
If you don’t understand social media, take the time to learn about it. A simple Google search will open up a world of free information on how to go about it. And of course, I have a social media section right here on this blog too.
- Bloggers without a cause
I’ve talked about this before but it’s a point worth mentioning again. Keeping your website fresh by adding regular, fresh content is an important part of online marketing.
If you don’t have any ideas regarding what to write about on your company blog, look at other industry blogs and put your own spin on topical industry news.
- Website owners with SEO-itis
Again, if you think there’s too much jargon in SEO and that’s putting you off, take the time to learn about it. View it as an investment in your business. Even if you decide to outsource your SEO work, having a basic knowledge will stand you in good stead.
If you just decide to ignore SEO completely, you’re definitely missing out on brand awareness, website traffic, enquiries/online orders.
SEO is all about getting your website in front of the right customers at the right time i.e. when they’re looking for the product/service you provide. If you’re not visible at all online, you will lose out to your competitors, whether you’re aware of it or not.
- Giving up on things too quickly
Many small business owners try out online marketing activities such as Google Adwords or Twitter then give up when they don’t get instant results.
It’s similar to having a shop and then taking the sign outside down after a couple of weeks because people aren’t coming in. Online marketing needs to be a consistent activity – even when you’re busy.
If your online marketing activities aren’t bringing a good return, it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t right for your business – you might just need some help to tweak what you’re doing.
- No website, no cry
I admit, it is rare to find a business without some form of website these days, but they are still out there. Some people still don’t fully appreciate the sheer power of online marketing and still rely solely on traditional offline methods to generate business.
Having no online presence whatsoever in this digital age is criminal. I’ve seen companies go out of business because they refused to adapt to the way people search for goods and services nowadays.
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