If you are running a small business, the chances are that you do not have a large budget to utilize. This does not mean that you can afford to neglect your online marketing. Every small business needs to optimize returns from online marketing in order to help it to exist and grow.
So, how can anyone who is running a small business afford to create and implement effective online marketing? The answer is simple; make use of budget online tools. These are the four tools we feel are an excellent choice for any business, it’s important to make reference to social media. Your social media channels are one of the best resources when it comes to marketing your products or services.
Mailchimp
You may be thinking that MailChimp is an expensive tool; but you can check the Forever Free package, available from the Mailchimp site, which is perfect for many small businesses. If your business has fewer than 2,000 subscribers, you can send up to 12,000 emails each month, completely free of charge.
Using the MailChimp system you can build your subscriber list using the built-in forms. The good news is that you can gather subscribers across all of your social media sites. You can also use the available templates to create attractive and professional looking newsletters and social media adverts.
MailChimp also includes useful analytics, so that you can measure the performance of your marketing campaigns. You can also check your performance against industry averages.
The free version of MailChimp is sufficient for most small businesses. If you do find yourself needing additional features, plans are available from just US$10.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is not free to use on an ongoing basis, but you can use it completely free of charge for the first thirty days. We feel that the benefits of Hootsuite’s professional package for around $7.99 per month is definitely money well spent. You can buy it on discounted rate by using coupon codes available at Frugaa.com. If you have a social media presence then Hootsuite enables you to manage it, and monitor its effectiveness; all in one place.
You have access to information about your competitors across social media and you can keep the check on what people are saying about your brand. You can save on a lot of manual effort by auto scheduling social media posts. This also means that you can easily schedule posts to appeal to audiences in different time zones.
One of the most useful aspects of using Hootsuite is that you have access to analytics in real time. This enables you to make dynamic decisions in order to optimize the effectiveness of your marketing.
YouTube
YouTube is the second largest social media platform in the world. It’s one of the best places to put your video content to ensure that it’s seen by the biggest possible audience. If you are not already using video as an integral part of your marketing strategy, then you need to start.
The biggest advantage of using video is that it enables you to tell a story. People relate well to stories; they help them engage with and understand your brand. One video lasting just a few seconds can end up saying a lot more about you than a whole stream of text on your website.
Google Analytics
We have shown you tools that you can utilise, in order to maximise the effectiveness of your online marketing. But how do you measure that effectiveness? One of the best options for doing this is Google Analytics.
This solution encompasses numerous tools and features that enable you to see whether your marketing is working. The tools are all available to use completely free of charge. The only thing you need to do is learn how to use them correctly. This is not as hard as it may seem.
You just need to put some time aside to complete the Google Analytics training. Once you start the training, you are directed through a series of modules which deal with the different aspects of Google Analytics. You have access to a wealth of examples and information. You get to test your knowledge by answering a series of questions. You need to score 80% or more in order to pass the training. Once you have completed the training it’s then all about using the analytics in order to get used to them, and fully understand them.
All of the online marketing tools we have included in this article can help optimize your online marketing. We hope you find them useful to increase your sales and build your business.