In a fiercely competitive online world, trying to advertise your service or products can sometimes feel like you’re fighting a losing battle. Bigger businesses have more freedom with their budget, and can advertise on all of their social media sites and on Google; some may even be able to advertise on TV. Just because you’re a small business doesn’t mean you should be missing out on those vital customers and clients. Anyone can implement effective marketing campaigns; it’s all about finding the right digital marketing agency.

You can commence ad campaigns on social media yourself, but you need to know exactly where to start, what your target audience likes, and you need to make sure that what you’re paying for is working. Online advertising can be a great way to showcase your business and attract new customers, but if you want to succeed, you need to do it right…

Social Media Advertising

Social media marketing campaigns are a great place to start, especially if your budget is small. Determining the best place to advertise all depends on your service and where your main target audience usually congregates. There are currently around 2.89 billion active monthly users on Facebook, so it’s a great place to start. With Facebook advertising, you can choose your audience based upon who is more likely to want your services. For example, you can choose the gender, age range, location and even their interests and lifestyles. This way, you can manage who sees your ad, and reach the people you need to reach.

You can also manage your budget, but remember, the less money you spend, the fewer people are going to see your ad. It’s one of the cheapest ways to advertise, so it’s always recommended if you’re just starting out. No matter your marketing budget, you can display ads on the social media platform of your choice. Our digital marketing brand Be My Social has operated successful marketing campaigns for a range of clients, from lotteries to solicitors. They can also manage your social media, creating bespoke templates to appear more professional to your audience.

Search Engine Optimisation and PPC

It may not be a conventional method of advertising, but it’s effective, nonetheless. If you have a successful search engine optimisation (SEO) strategy, you can appear higher on Google for the terms your target audience is searching. This makes you more visible and generates more traffic to your site. By improving traffic through organic search terms, Google can identify your site as a reliable source, boosting your site up the rankings.

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is similar to social media advertising campaigns. When you search for something on Google, you’ll normally see that the first three or four sites that appear have the word “Ad” next to them. These are sites that have paid for PPC, and when the site is clicked, the advertisers pay the publisher. It’s a great option if you’re focusing your efforts on site conversion, but prices can vary.

Regular Social Media Posts and Engagement

If you don’t have it in your budget for paid advertising, there are plenty of other ways in which you can get your brand out there. Back before computers, businesses used to hand out flyers or spread the news about their company through word-of-mouth. With access to the internet, we can now post on social media to reach hundreds of thousands of people all at once. With relevant graphics, hashtags and content, you can make yourself known to your target audience, and generate a following.

When posting to social media, make sure you’re consistent. Differing tones can confuse an audience, so stick to your brand guidelines wherever possible. In the early days of a business, changing your branding is common. But don’t do it too often, as it can have a negative effect on your conversion and engagement.

How We Can Help

Here at Humana, we operate complimentary online brands that work together to create an improved experience. Our advertising campaigns and services include Google ads and Facebook advertising alike over at our sister brand Be My Social. If you would like to find out more, please fill out our online form here.