Promoting your business online is essential these days, but you don't have to be an online marketer to take advantage of Facebook marketing, virtual event marketing, and other tools essential to your digital marketing strategy. In fact, learning how to market your business online, and meeting your marketing objectives, is as easy as using a few powerful tools that you have at your disposal online. Let's take a look at the eight must have tools that will help you to meet your marketing objectives, and take your business to the next level.
1. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is basically a social media platform for business professionals looking to network with one another, and can be a great way to find valuable employees and contractors. You can also find lots of information and articles on how to market your business, among other things. Regardless of what kind of business you run, you should be taking advantage of the LinkedIn platform.
When are the best times to post?
- Wednesday at 9–10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
- Best day: Wednesday.
- Most consistent engagement: Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Lowest engagement: Occurs on Sunday and the least popular times to post are every day from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
2. Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing platform that's become extremely popular in the past few years. This social media platform is a great way to share visual content related to your business, giving you an easy way to work on your branding. As any online marketer would tell you, connecting with your demographic on Instagram is an excellent way to gently introduce new people into your sphere of influence.
Bonus info! When is the best time to push out your content to Instagram?
· Best times to post on Instagram: Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Friday at 10–11 a.m.
· Best day: Wednesday is the overall best day to post to Instagram
· Most consistent engagement: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m–3 p.m.
· Worst day: Sunday receives the least amount of engagement on Instagram
· Lowest engagement: Occurs during late night and early morning from 11 p.m.–3 a.m
Source: https://www.ama.org/marketing-news/the-best-times-to-post-on-social-media/
3. Facebook
While not quite the juggernaut of social media that it used to be, Facebook is still a very powerful marketing tool when used correctly. While Facebook marketing mostly consists of running paid ads these days, there are other strategies you can use as well. For example, creating a Facebook group on a topic closely related to your business can be a great way to get your marketing message out there. In fact, Facebook marketing is one of the best ways to expand your market penetration online if you're smart about it.
Want to get the best bang for your buck? Here are the best times to post based on global engagement studies:
- Best times to post to Facebook: Wednesday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Best day: Wednesday is the best day to post on Facebook.
- Most consistent engagement: Weekdays from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Worst day: Sunday has the least amount of engagement for Facebook during the week.
- Lowest engagement: Early mornings and evenings, before 7 a.m. and after 5 p.m. have the least amount of engagement per day.
Source: https://www.ama.org/marketing-news/the-best-times-to-post-on-social-media/
4. Promotional Products
Giving away promotional products is a powerful form of branding that any online marketer can use. As a core component of a solid digital marketing strategy, promotional products such as pens, mugs, and caps with your logo on them basically turn people into walking advertisements for your business. This makes promotional items a great way to help your business meet your marketing objectives while building up goodwill among your demographic.
Here are five interesting statistics about promotional products and why they're a great digital marketing strategy:
- 85% of people remember who gave them the promotional products
- 10 out of 10 people will go out of their way to get promotional products
- 72% of people believe the quality of the products reflects the quality of the company that gives them away
- 74% of businesses say promotional products contribute to the success of their marketing campaigns
- Most consumers keep promotional products for one year while 79% pass them along to others when no longer needed.
5. Graphics Platforms
Another indicator of the quality of a company is the quality of the graphics design used in its promotional efforts. Tools such as Canva, Photoshop, Gimp, and Adobe Illustrator allow you to create professional quality graphics with ease.
6. Networking Groups and Events
There are many more networking groups and events online than just LinkedIn and Facebook. By searching out and joining these groups you can reach new people, and find new opportunities for your business. Networking events can cover a variety of topics from how to market your business online, to reaching local customers in the digital age.
7. Email Marketing
The best way to get customers to do business with you on an ongoing basis is to form a relationship with them, and that's why email marketing is so powerful. By building up the bonds of trust and respect with your customers you'll see big returns as they decide to spend money on your business over and over again.
8. Virtual Event
Virtual event marketing, sometimes known as "digital virtual event marketing," is a powerful strategy where you hype up a virtual event in order to showcase a new product, service, or make new connections. Virtual event marketing is a strategy that can help you achieve your marketing objectives in a variety of different ways.
How to Market Your Business the Smart Way
As previously mentioned, you don't have to be a online marketer to use Facebook marketing and digital marketing strategy to grow your business. All you need is a basic understanding on how to use the powerful tools available online. Mastering the tools we've just covered will not only give you an advantage over your competition, it will also help you to take your business to the next level.