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Budding entrepreneurs understand the struggle of starting their business with little to no financial capital. Starting a business is no easy feat, but the growing popularity of online shopping in South Africa makes entrepreneurship more accessible and starting a business with minimal capital is a possibility. Once you get over the hurdle of just starting, the next challenge becomes driving traffic to your website and increasing sales.
There are various ways to market your business online, and we’re giving you a few tips that you can utilise today to market your business for free.
Get your business listed on Google My Business
Google My Business is essential for local businesses, plus, it’s a free business listing that allows your business to appear on Google Maps.
What are the benefits of getting your business listed on Google My Business?
- Earn customers’ trust
- Increase traffic to your website
- Free Google advertising
How do you register your company on Google My Business?
Follow this detailed guide on how to registering your business with Google My Business
Work on your SEO
SEO is an essential part of online marketing that allows your business to show up organically on Google search results. Your potential customers are searching for the services or products that you offer, and you want to be on the first page of the Google search results. You won’t get instant results with SEO, because it’s a gradual process that takes time to yield results.
A good starting point is conducting a free website audit that will give you your website’s SEO score and tell you the factors that need improvement. Ensure that your SEO strategy covers the following key points:
- Optimising metadata
- Optimising images
- Updating your website regularly
Click the links below for a beginner guide to SEO:
How To SEO your Company Website During Lockdown
SEO Your Site: 5 Beginner-Friendly Tips To Win At SEO
How To SEO your Company Website During Lockdown
Free Website Audit: Check Your Website SEO
5 SEO Tips To Improve Your E-Commerce Sales
Start a blog
Why is blogging important for businesses? A business blog contributes to organic traffic and is the key for targeting long-tail keywords that you can’t target on your product pages. A blog also builds your profile as a leader in your industry. Plus, a blog allows you to connect with your customers and provide compelling content that relates to your products or services.
Get social
Social media is a useful tool for businesses to connect with their customers and get new customers. Plus, it’s a free marketing channel that has measurable results. Develop a clear social media strategy that speaks to your brand.
Your social media strategy should:
- Have clear targets
- Research your target audience
- Have a competitor analysis
- Create engaging content
Here’s a guide on how to create a cohesive social media strategy.
Use word-of-mouth marketing
Word-of-mouth is still the backbone of marketing. In the age of the internet, it has evolved to include other forms of communication, but the concept remains; telling your friends or family about a good experience you have with a brand.
Encourage your customers to share their experience with friends and family and to post about it on their social media pages. Repost what your customers’ post as a way to encourage them to keep doing it and creating social media content and engagement.