12 Online Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

According to a study by BrightEdge, 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine, making it clear that your online visibility is critical to your business’s success.

For small businesses, this presents an immense opportunity to attract customers through the right online marketing strategies for small businesses. With a well-rounded plan, you can increase your visibility, drive more traffic, and convert leads into loyal customers.

In this blog, we’ll explore 12 online marketing strategies for small businesses that can help you strengthen your brand presence, boost engagement, and accelerate growth.

Top 12 Online Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

12 Game-Changing Online Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

1. Invest in SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Investing in SEO is essential for small businesses looking to increase their online visibility. By optimizing your website for search engines like Google, you can significantly enhance your chances of being discovered by potential customers. Key strategies include optimizing your website content with relevant keywords, building quality backlinks, and improving your site’s load speed.

Local SEO is particularly important, helping your business appear in local search results when customers search for services in their area. For example, when someone types “plumber near me,” effective local SEO can ensure your business is listed among the top results.

Broadly’s Local SEO tool maximizes your online visibility by tracking your business’s ranking for local searches and the top keywords people use to find your services. This helps you connect with local customers effectively.

Broadly's Local SEO Tool - online marketing strategies for small business


For further insights into SEO for small businesses, check out our article on Small Business SEO.

2. Build a Strong Website and Optimize for Mobile

A professional, fast-loading website is essential for small businesses aiming to make a strong first impression. Your website is often the first point of contact for potential customers, so it needs to be visually appealing and easy to navigate. A slow-loading website can deter visitors and result in lost opportunities.

Given that many users browse on mobile devices, it’s critical to ensure your website is mobile-friendly. A responsive design adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes, offering a smooth user experience regardless of the device.

Moreover, incorporate clear calls-to-action (CTAs) on your website to guide visitors toward the next steps—whether it’s scheduling an appointment or making a purchase. Broadly’s websites for small businesses are designed to be fast, mobile-optimized, and user-friendly, helping convert visitors into loyal customers.

3. Be Active on Social Media

For small businesses, being active on social media is vital for connecting with your audience. Focus on platforms where your target customers spend their time, such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok. 

Creating and sharing valuable content consistently is key; share updates, special offers, and industry news that resonates with your audience. This guide on Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses provides essential tools to help you maintain a consistent online presence and effectively engage your audience.

Engagement is necessary, so encourage two-way communication by responding to comments and interacting with your followers. This builds a sense of community and loyalty around your brand.

Broadly’s Social Media Manager simplifies this process, allowing you to plan, create, schedule, and publish content across all major social media platforms. With this tool, you can maintain a consistent online presence and effectively engage your audience, making your social media efforts more impactful.

Broadly’s Social Media Manager - online marketing strategies for small business

4. Engage Customers with Email and SMS Campaigns

Engaging customers through tailored email and SMS campaigns can significantly enhance your marketing efforts. By segmenting your customer list, you can create personalized messages that resonate with specific audiences, increasing the likelihood of engagement. Whether it’s for new product launches, special offers, or abandoned cart reminders, automation plays an important role.

Setting up automated email sequences helps streamline your outreach, ensuring timely communication with customers. Additionally, regularly monitoring open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates will allow you to optimize your future campaigns for better results. For SMS strategies, visit our article on SMS Campaign.

Broadly’s Email and Text Campaign feature provides an AI-enhanced user-friendly campaign builder that allows you to create and send customized messages. This helps you engage customers effectively, nurture leads, and boost sales, all while saving you valuable time.

Broadly’s Email and Text Campaign - online marketing strategies for small business

5. Build a Content Marketing Strategy

Creating a robust content marketing strategy is essential for small businesses looking to connect with their audience. Develop a variety of content types, including blogs, videos, and resources that provide real value. Focus on how-tos, industry tips, and product insights to engage your target market and position your brand as an authority.

Consistency is key; publish content regularly to maintain engagement and enhance your SEO. Additionally, consider reusing and adapting content across multiple platforms, such as social media, your website, and email newsletters, to reach a broader audience and reinforce your messaging.

By doing so, you not only improve your online visibility but also establish lasting relationships with your customers, keeping them informed and engaged with your brand.

6. Create Strong Business Profiles

Having a strong online presence starts with maintaining accurate and appealing business profiles. Ensure your profiles are up to date with correct information, engaging photos, and links to your website. It’s crucial to set up and maintain profiles on popular directories like Yelp and Facebook, as well as industry-specific platforms.

Consistency is vital; ensure that your business information—such as your name, address, and phone number—remains uniform across all platforms. This not only improves your credibility but also helps customers find you easily. 

Broadly’s platform can assist small businesses in managing and updating their online profiles, keeping them accurate and visible across the web. By leveraging this tool, you can enhance your online reputation and attract more customers. For more on managing your reputation, check out our article on Reputation Management.

7. Encourage Customers to Leave Reviews

Customer reviews play an essential role in building trust and influencing purchasing decisions. Positive feedback not only enhances your brand’s credibility but also serves as powerful social proof. To encourage reviews, make simple, clear requests via email, social media, or right after a transaction.

Consider implementing a follow-up strategy to ask satisfied customers for their feedback. You might also incentivize reviews by offering discounts, loyalty points, or other rewards to those who share their experiences.

By actively seeking customer input, you can create a culture of feedback that benefits both your business and your clients. Broadly’s automated review request tool simplifies this process, making it easy for you to gather reviews and build a strong online reputation that attracts new customers.

Broadly’s automated review request tool - online marketing strategies for small business

8. Use Digital Ads to Reach Your Audience

Digital advertising is a powerful way for small businesses to reach their target audience effectively. Utilize platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads to promote your products and services to specific demographics, increasing your visibility and attracting potential customers.

Experiment with different types of ads, such as search ads, display ads, and social media ads, to determine which formats yield the best results. This experimentation allows you to tailor your strategy based on what resonates most with your audience.

Regularly monitor ad performance using metrics like click-through rates and conversions. This data is essential for optimizing your ad spend, ensuring that every dollar invested drives the maximum return. By strategically using digital ads, you can enhance your online presence and grow your customer base effectively.

9. Engage Website Visitors With Web Chat

Web chat is an effective tool for businesses looking to engage website visitors in real-time. It allows you to provide immediate support, answer questions, and assist potential customers who may be hesitant to make a purchase or book a service. By offering live assistance, you can guide visitors through the sales funnel, ensuring they have the information they need to make informed decisions.

Additionally, web chat can significantly reduce bounce rates by keeping visitors engaged on your site longer. Broadly’s web chat tool empowers you to instantly connect with website visitors using AI technology that is preconfigured with your business details. 

Broadly’s web chat tool - online marketing strategies for small business

It captures lead contact information automatically, allowing you to continue the conversation via SMS or email and nurturing those leads for future engagement. For more on enhancing customer interactions, check out our article on types of chatbots.

10. Explore Influencer Marketing Opportunities

Influencer marketing is a powerful strategy for small businesses looking to boost brand awareness and credibility. Collaborating with local or micro-influencers who align with your brand values can significantly enhance your reach. These influencers have established trust with their followers, making their endorsements valuable.

By partnering with influencers, you can promote your products or services to a targeted audience that fits your ideal customer profile. This strategy increases your brand’s visibility and helps you connect with potential customers more authentically.

To measure the success of your influencer partnerships, track engagement metrics and monitor sales generated through these collaborations. By assessing the effectiveness of these campaigns, you can refine your influencer marketing strategy to maximize results.

11. Respond to Positive and Negative Reviews

Engaging with customer feedback, whether positive or negative, demonstrates that your business values customer satisfaction. When responding to reviews, provide thoughtful and personalized replies that show you appreciate their feedback. 

For positive reviews, express gratitude and highlight what makes your product or service special. When addressing negative reviews, remain professional and empathetic; acknowledge concerns and outline steps you’re taking to resolve any issues.

Timely responses can help mitigate the impact of negative reviews and potentially turn unhappy customers into loyal ones. For more guidance, refer to our articles on how to respond to positive reviews and how to respond to bad reviews. Broadly’s AI software can quickly and intelligently respond to reviews on your behalf, saving you time and enhancing your online presence.

Broadly's Review Management - online marketing strategies for small business

12. Don’t Shy Away From AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers small businesses a wealth of opportunities to streamline operations and improve efficiency. AI can automate various tasks, such as customer service interactions, personalized content recommendations, and data analysis. By leveraging AI tools, businesses can save time and resources, allowing them to focus on strategic growth initiatives.

AI enhances targeting efforts by analyzing customer behavior and preferences more quickly and accurately than traditional methods. Tools like Google Analytics and Broadly’s Customer Insights can help you gather and analyze data effectively. By leveraging these insights, you can refine your strategies and make data-driven decisions that propel your business forward.

Broadly acts as your AI employee, handling repetitive tasks for you while engaging in conversations with customers. It responds instantly, manages multiple tasks simultaneously, and learns about your business from you and your website, ensuring that it meets your specific needs effectively. 

Build Effective Online Marketing Strategies for SMB Success

Implementing these 12 online marketing strategies for small businesses is essential for companies seeking to build a robust online presence. From investing in SEO to engaging with customers through social media, each strategy plays a vital role in enhancing visibility, driving engagement, and ultimately increasing sales. 

By adopting these techniques, small enterprises can create meaningful connections with their audiences, nurture customer loyalty, and gain a competitive edge in the market.

Discover the future of your business today! Dive into Broadly’s tools and see how they can streamline your marketing efforts and drive results. Schedule a demo today and see the difference for yourself!

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