How To Take Your Small Business’s Web Presence To The Next Level

How To Take Your Small Business's Web Presence To The Next Level

The internet is by far a small business\'s most powerful marketing tool these days, but it can be difficult to come to grips with how to best use it. Not everyone has the digital skills required to maximize their web presence, and not everyone has the budget to pay for expensive experts. In this guide, we will empower you with the basics to figure out your digital marketing strategy, no matter what your budget or skills are. 

Web Design

You would assume that, given how easy it is to build a website these days that every business would have an established internet presence. However, a surprising 40 percent of small businesses still don\'t have a website, often citing the expense or difficulty of it. If you are among these, it is time to bring your business firmly into the 21st century. 

You can do this on your own by using a web builder, but if you want an engaging, user-friendly website, you\'re best off hiring a web designer who can cater your site to what you and your customers need. Upwork explains that web designers should be able to create a smooth user experience and have a full understanding of a variety of design platforms (e.g., UI and UX design) and web fundamentals (e.g., HTML and JavaScript). 

Graphic Design

While web builders allow you to build an attractive website in a few clicks, the templates can seem quite generic. A professional graphic designer can elevate your website to something truly unique and creative, allowing you to stand out. They can also help you come up with a coherent brand identity, which can then be incorporated into your overall digital strategy. 

If you don\'t have the budget for bespoke graphic design, you may enjoy learning some design basics yourself. Skillshare is a great place to pick up on digital skills, including design, photography, or film editing. If you don\'t have time for lessons, Canva is a handy online tool that can allow anyone to come up with beautiful graphics and designs. 

SEO

It\'s not enough to have a website, and it\'s not even enough to make it look good: people have to actually be able to find it. Search Engine Optimization (commonly known as SEO) is the collective term for the strategies used by a company to make their website rank higher on search engines like Google.

SEO can be very complex, which is why experts charge on average $80 to $130 an hour for SEO services. However, there are a few SEO basics that small businesses can incorporate without spending any money, like having a blog section on your website where you post regularly and committing to high-quality useful content for your audience. 

Social Media

Social media can be overwhelming, especially when you can\'t afford to pay someone to manage it full-time. Make life easier for yourself by narrowing down your social media to two or three key platforms (the ones your audience is most likely to use). 

Then, use a social media management tool like Hootsuite to schedule and coordinate all your posts in one place. It helps if you set aside a couple of hours every week to do this. Hootsuite\'s free plan allows you to manage three different channels and schedule up to 30 posts and is ideal for a small business. 

As a small business, it\'s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you either don\'t need or can\'t afford a coordinated digital marketing strategy. However, by not working on your internet presence, you are making it harder for your target audience to find and engage with you. There are loads of great resources online to help you - take advantage of these, and watch your business grow and flourish.