The world is moving quickly, and with it comes the development of technology.
If you do not have a strong presence online and an organized digital marketing scheme, you lose out on an entirely new customer base.
Studies demonstrate that between 70-80% of consumers research a company online before they visit a small business or make a purchase with them
Depending on your business you might see some of the same clientele. But what about reaching out to expand your client base? To replace clients that have gone elsewhere or have lost interest in the hobby?
It’s best to come up with your priority list and research the most effective areas when trying to structure a plan yourself and go into it prepared. Look through these tips and focus areas to develop an individualized systematic approach.
Take Advantage of Google My Business
According to the statistic listed above, most people will try and check you out before even visiting the storefront of your garden center. That means that no matter how great your curb appeal is, unless someone passes by, they won’t come in without going through Google first.
Why Google specifically and not Bing or Yahoo? Google has accounted for 75.74% of all the worldwide desktop and laptop searches in August 2019.
This percentage changes monthly, but it is more than all the other search engines put together. This makes Google a priority when developing an online presence for marketing.
Google My Business is the program the search engine has developed to enable businesses to make a profile and become recognizable.
They have made it very easy for a legitimate company to get listed. Going to Google My Business page on clicking “Get on Google” starts the process. Then, enter your business details, verify your business, and confirm it. It will walk you through the steps.
Doing this allows you to show up when someone searches “greenhouses near me” if you’re in the vicinity.
Optimize Your Website Design
Once you have your business listed on Google, it is important to attach a website link to the profile. Then a potential customer to your business has a way to deep dive into their search and satisfy themselves with your products and services before heading over.
First, step back and take a look at the aesthetic of your site. The website should reflect your brand and bring people in. Think of it as a virtual curb appeal.
If someone walked by your storefront and all they saw was trash and debris sitting outside, would they feel tempted to come in? Probably not. The same idea goes for your website. The homepage should be well done and filled with color, anything that you think represents your business.
Another part of optimization is making it mobile friendly since people are often doing these local searches from a mobile device and not a desktop.
Develop a Useful Blog
Another aspect of your website could be developing a useful blog. This takes more time and is not always high on the to-do list, but it could be worth looking into once the major aspects are completed.
One of the more significant pros to creating a blog for your business is to establish yourself online as a resource. Some people who are interested in your product, service, or intel might have a lack of confidence in these skills. Make it known that you are not only there to sell but for advice, workshops, and other skill-building exercises.
The blog can also give you a chance to feature new products, employees, seminars, and more.
Get on Social Media
Getting on social media is one of those tasks that need to be high on your priority list in your digital marketing scheme. There are currently about 3.2 billion social media users globally, and each month, 1.65 billion of these are active.
If that doesn’t convince you, we don’t know what will. Simply put, it’s a huge opportunity lost. Whether you use Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or a mix, anything you are actively using to promote your brand will help.
