Changing With the Marketplace
In today’s world, small family-owned businesses are starting to realize that they do not own that corner of the market. They have to compete with big-box stores that cater to people looking for the best deal. This is where online advertising comes in and why it is a must. Targeting radio and newspaper ads simply won’t cut it anymore. You rarely reach out to even half of your potential audience by using these methods.
When you are a brick-and-mortar business such as a garden center, it is essential to have an online presence. Beyond that, it is equally as important to be drawing people to it and driving up sales.
The truth is that 91% of customers visit a business or store because of an online experience. Another fun fact is that there are about 35% of small businesses don’t have a website because they believe they are too small to have one. This often pertains to family-owned businesses, like a small shop or restaurant, who operate in a local area. Even if you are small, if 91% of customers need a positive online experience before visiting a store for the first time, then you are losing out on new clientele.
Ideas for Integrating an Online Advertising Scheme
Facebook Advertisements
The average user on Facebook clicks on about 11 ads each month. The wonderful thing about this Facebook Advertising is that it works very well for beginners in the advertising scene.
Not social media or Facebook savvy? Well Facebook has a highly user-friendly tool to make it easy to set up a new advertising campaign and keep track of the statistics to make sure it is having a prime effect.
Send Out E-Newsletters
Email is one of the top marketing tools used by small businesses, topping the charts with 54% use.
This is one of the reasons that it is valuable to get a visitors email when they come onto the page. Follow this up with informational newsletters to let your customer base know what your greenhouse is doing.
Promotions Through Social Media
Since social media is such an influential aspect of online advertising, it must be included in the top suggestions to implement. Cultivating social media channels helps to set the stage for better results when you try to run promotions for your business.
Instagram is one of the best platforms for social media marketing, followed closely by Facebook and Twitter. Engagement rates are 58% higher on Instagram than Facebook and 2,000% higher compared to Twitter. One essential aspect of finding success is enlisting the right person to strategize and implement your online advertising scheme.
Expanding Your Client Base
Expanding your client base isn’t something you do only if you are looking to grow your business. It is also a method of maintenance as the competition comes ever closer. Reaching out to people through social media is one great way to get your business right in front of them without them having to pass by your storefront.
Some businesses are under the misconception that online advertising is expensive. In actuality, 47% of businesses invest less than $10,000 into digital marketing. If you are a very small business, then you should start small and you can find yourself spending less than $1,000.
Appealing to the Right Audience
What is your focus as a business owner? Do you have a specific audience you are trying to appeal to? If not, then figuring out the prime audience is the best way to make your money count in marketing. Figure out your demographics, who buys the most from your business? How could you convert demographics that you currently have trouble reaching out to?
Online advertising can not only help you reach out to a wider pool of potential customers, it can also make it clearer who your main audience is.
For example, Facebook uses its advertising algorithm to give the user insight into what kind of people click on the links. They also allow you to specify the demographic you want your advertisements to appear in front of since you do not want to waste money on appealing to non-potential customers.
