Budding entrepreneurs understand the struggle of starting your 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? Click the link below for a detailed guide to registering your business with Google My Business.

https://support.google.com/business/answer/6300717?hl=en  

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 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 SEO score and tell you the factors that need improvement. Ensure that your SEO strategy covers the following key points:

  • Optimise metadata
  • Optimise images
  • Update your website regularly

Click the links below for a beginners guide to SEO:

https://1-grid.com/blogs/online-marketing/seo/5-beginner-friendly-tips-to-win-at-seo/

https://1-grid.com/blogs/how-to/how-to-seo-your-company-website-during-lockdown/

https://1-grid.com/blogs/online-marketing/seo/free-website-audit-check-your-website-seo/

https://1-grid.com/blogs/online-marketing/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
  • Competitor analyses
  • Create engaging content

Click the links for a guide to creating a cohesive social media strategy:

https://blog.hootsuite.com/how-to-create-a-social-media-marketing-plan/

 

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.