Copywriters like me help businesses by writing websites and other content like online articles, directory listings, social media profiles, etc. But if you’re a small business owner, it can be overwhelming just knowing where to start. What’s really necessary and what’s not? Do you need a blog? A Facebook page?
There are literally thousands of things you can do online to promote your business. Much of it will depend on what you offer, the niche you serve. However, there are some things that every small business must do nowadays. And a copywriter can be a very helpful friend when it comes to getting it all done.
1. Get your website in order
Make sure it’s conveying what you’re all about, your unique brand identity.
Plan to build more content on a regular schedule, even if it’s just one article a month. This is one of the cornerstones of online marketing. Everything feeds off your content. (This could be in a blog or a knowledge center, for example.)
If you go with a blog, and every business needs to have a blog nowadays, it’s important to market the blog, too. This is time-consuming (networking online with other bloggers, etc.) but it pays off bigtime down the road by compounding your site traffic and links, which drive your site’s authority in Google’s eyes.
2. Set up directory profiles
Especially important to local businesses, directories and review sites like Yelp.com are fueling the consumers’ search for reliable businesses. Google also relies on them to rank your site, and they are an additional way to show in the first page of search results (your profile on the directory can show up in addition to your actual website).
There are also likely to be directories that contain existing profiles of your business, added without your knowledge. You will want to claim those and make sure all information is accurate.
3. Set up social media profiles
Google also looks at social “likes” and “followers” related to your site. It’s enough to start out very simply here, but having a Facebook page is pretty much a must. In addition, it’s a good platform for promoting your website content, which helps you get more traffic and links to your site. Consider Twitter and LinkedIn, too, depending on your business.
4. Use other ways to promote your content:
- Bookmarking websites
- Local press releases
- Build your email marketing list (very important – this is a big asset you will be building)
- Videos on YouTube (interviews, how-to’s, brief intro to your company, and so on)
All of this requires a lot of legwork, and starting with high-quality content is the most important factor. This is where a high-quality copywriter (like me) can be most valuable to a small business. Ask me what I’d recommend for your small business
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