Top 11 Marketing Activities That Will Boost Your Online Business Growth
Effective marketing activities are essential for entrepreneurs aiming to build and grow a successful business. Here’s a guide to 11 impactful marketing activities that can help you attract and retain customers, build brand awareness, and scale your venture.
1. Content Marketing
Educate and Engage: Content marketing is a cornerstone strategy for entrepreneurs, focusing on creating and distributing valuable, relevant content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience.
According to Content Marketing Institute:
- 84% of B2B marketers say content marketing helped create brand awareness in the last 12 months.
- 76% say it helped generate demand/leads.
- 63% say it helped nurture subscribers/audiences/leads.
- 58% say it helped generate sales/revenue.
Why It Works: Content marketing builds trust by positioning you as an expert in your industry. Consequently, by providing solutions to your audience’s pain points, you foster a relationship that encourages brand loyalty.
Additionally, content marketing supports other digital marketing channels, improves SEO efforts, and can be shared on social media, maximizing reach.
Example Activities:
- Blogging: Regularly publish insightful articles on topics that resonate with your target audience. HubSpot found that businesses that blog see 55% more website visitors.
- YouTubing: Consistently produce valuable video content for your subscribers/audience with clear calls to action at the middle and the end of each video.
- E-books and Guides: Offer comprehensive resources that solve your audience’s problems in exchange for their contact information, helping to build your email list.
Additional Tip: Repurpose your content into different formats (e.g., turning a blog post into an infographic, converting videos into audio podcasts) to reach wider audiences across various platforms. The latest trend is to repurpose one long-form video into multiple short videos that you can post across all social media platforms.
2. Social Media Marketing
Build Your Brand: Social media platforms are vital for entrepreneurs looking to connect with customers, build brand awareness, and drive website traffic. A 2023 report by Sprout Social highlights that 71% of consumers who have had a positive experience with a brand on social media are likely to recommend it to others.
Why It Works: Social media allows for direct interaction with your audience, creating opportunities for engagement and brand loyalty. Additionally, it’s a cost-effective way to reach a global audience with targeted ads, with platforms like Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and many more.
Example Activities:
- Instagram/Facebook Stories: Use stories to give followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business, which helps humanize your brand.
- LinkedIn, Reddit and Discord Networking: Engage with industry professionals and potential customers by sharing insights, joining groups, and participating in discussions.
Additional Tip: Use social media publishing tools to monitor mentions of your brand, competitors, industry trends to stay ahead of the curve. In addition to staying engaged with your followers.
3. Email Marketing
Nurture Relationships: Email marketing remains one of the most effective channels for nurturing leads and converting them into customers. According to Campaign Monitor, email marketing has an ROI of 4400%, meaning that for every dollar spent, businesses see an average return of $44.
Why It Works: Emails allow you to deliver personalized messages directly to your audience, keeping them informed and engaged. With segmentation and automation, you can send targeted campaigns based on customer behaviour and preferences, ensuring that your message resonates with the recipient.
Example Activities:
- Promotional Emails: Send targeted offers and discounts to your subscribers, which can drive sales during slow periods.
- Educational Newsletters: Provide valuable tips, industry news, and updates that keep your audience informed and engaged.
- Automated Email Sequence: Create an email sequence after potential customers have opted-in to your lead magnet. You’ll be able to provide more value and CTAs to your email subscribers, all on an automated basis.
Additional Tip: A/B test your email campaigns to optimize subject lines, content, and CTAs, which can improve open and click-through rates. Consider leveraging SMS text marketing as they have open rates that are considerably higher than emails. These are highly effective for reminders and follow-ups.
4. Webinars and Online Workshops
Educate and Convert: Webinars and online workshops offer an interactive way to showcase your expertise, educate your audience, and generate leads. Research by GoToWebinar 73% Of B2B Marketers and Sales Leaders Consider Webinars as the Most Effective Method for Generating High-Quality Leads
Why It Works: These events allow for real-time interaction, providing opportunities for you to answer questions and address concerns, which build trust and credibility. Additionally, they can be recorded and repurposed as on-demand content, extending their value and reach.
Example Activities:
- Live and Pre-Recorded Webinars: Host sessions on industry trends or specific pain points that your audience is facing, which can position you as an expert and drive engagement.
- Online Workshops: Offer live online seminar sessions that provide immediate value, encouraging attendees to take the next step in their journey; being a potential customer/client.
Additional Tip: Promote your webinars and online workshops across all of your communication methods (email, text) and marketing channels (social media, email, website) to maximize attendance and engagement. More Webinar SECRETS can be found here.
5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Increase Visibility: SEO is essential for entrepreneurs who want to ensure their business is easily found online. Google’s search engine receives over 63,000 searches per second, highlighting the importance of being visible in search results. A study by Backlinko found that the first result in Google’s organic search results has a 31.7% click-through rate.
Why It Works: A well-executed SEO strategy increases your website’s visibility, driving organic traffic and improving your brand’s credibility. SEO also complements other marketing strategies, such as content marketing, by ensuring your content reaches the right audience.
Example Activities:
- Keyword Research: Identify high-volume, low-competition keywords that your target audience is searching for, and incorporate them into your content. Do this for all forms of content (blog, video, audio, etc.)
- Local SEO: Optimize your website for local searches by including location-based keywords and creating your Google Business Profile, formerly named Google My Business.
Additional Tip: Focus on mobile optimization as mobile devices account for more than half of global web traffic. That number is going up in correlation with mobile use across the world.
6. Customer Referrals
Leverage Word-of-Mouth: Customer referrals are one of the most powerful forms of marketing, with Nielsen reporting that 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family over any other type of advertising.
Why It Works: Referrals come from trusted sources, making them more likely to convert into sales. Additionally, referred customers have a 16% higher lifetime value than non-referred customers, according to Wharton School of Business.
Example Activities:
- Referral Programs: Create incentives for customers who refer new clients, such as discounts, freebies, or cash rewards.
- Testimonial Campaigns: Feature customer success stories in your marketing materials to build credibility and encourage others to share their experiences.
Additional Tip: Simplify the referral process with easy-to-use referral links and clear instructions to maximize participation. The same can be done with Google reviews.
7. Paid Advertising
Boost Your Reach: Paid advertising is a quick way to gain visibility and drive targeted traffic to your website. PPC (pay-per-click) ads can yield an ROI of 200%, according to WordStream, while Facebook/IG Ads offer detailed targeting options that can increase ad relevance and performance.
Why It Works: Paid ads allow you to reach a highly targeted audience quickly, making them ideal for promoting time-sensitive offers or launching new products. By setting specific goals and budgets, you can measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and optimize them for better results.
Example Activities:
- Google & YouTube Ads: Target specific keywords relevant to your business, ensuring your ads appear in front of users actively searching for related services. Choose a specific demographic and location as well to refine your target audience.
- Facebook Ads: Utilize Facebook’s advanced targeting options to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviours. Meta has one of the most robust advertising platforms, and most Entrepreneurs should leverage it. Don’t forget to instal the Facebook Pixel on your website. It allows you to retarget website visitors.
Additional Tip: Use retargeting ads to re-engage visitors who have interacted with your website, your ads, and the respective social media page but haven’t yet converted.
8. Networking and Partnerships
Expand Your Network: Networking and forming strategic partnerships can open new doors for business growth. According to this Harvard Business Review, 95 percent of people say “face-to-face meetings are a key factor in successfully building and maintaining long-term business relationships.”
Why It Works: Building a network of industry contacts can lead to referrals, partnerships, and collaborative opportunities that expand your reach. Partnerships with complementary businesses can also provide value-added services to your customers, enhancing your offering and competitive edge.
Example Activities:
- Industry Events: Attend or host events where you can meet potential partners and clients.
- Referral Agreements: Establish mutual referral agreements with businesses that serve a similar audience but aren’t direct competitors.
Additional Tip: Follow up with new contacts after events to maintain the relationship and explore potential collaboration opportunities.
9. Influencer Marketing
Leverage Trust: Influencer marketing involves partnering with individuals who have a significant following in your industry to promote your products or services. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, brands can earn $5.78 on average for every dollar spent on influencer marketing.
Why It Works: Influencers have established credibility and trust with their audience, making their endorsements powerful. By leveraging their influence, you can reach new audiences and build credibility quickly.
Example Activities:
- Product Reviews: Send your products to influencers for honest reviews, which can boost your brand’s credibility and reach.
- Sponsored Posts: Pay influencers to create content featuring your brand, which can drive traffic and conversions.
Additional Tip: Choose influencers whose audience aligns with your target market to maximize the impact of your campaigns.
10. Public Relations (PR)
Build Brand Awareness: PR involves managing your public image and building relationships with the media to gain positive exposure for your business. A study done by Buffer indicates that press releases can directly impact your website traffic and grow it by 220%.
Why It Works: PR helps you reach a broader audience and build credibility through third-party endorsements. By securing media coverage in reputable publications, you can enhance your brand’s reputation and visibility.
Example Activities:
- Press Releases: Announce major company news or product launches to gain media attention.
- Media Interviews: Position yourself as an industry expert by sharing your insights with journalists.
Additional Tip: Develop a strong media list and build relationships with journalists who cover your industry to increase the chances of your stories being picked up every time you have a new press release to publish.
11. Community Engagement
Be Part of the Community: Engaging with your local community or relevant online groups is a powerful way to build relationships, foster loyalty, and establish your brand as a socially responsible and community-focused business. A study by Edelman found that 64% of consumers who say they have a relationship with a brand cite shared values as the primary reason. Moreover, companies that actively participate in community activities see enhanced brand perception and customer loyalty.
Why It Works: Community engagement allows you to connect with your audience on a deeper, more personal level. It demonstrates that your business is not just about profits but also about contributing positively to the community. This builds goodwill and often leads to organic word-of-mouth marketing, as community members are more likely to support and recommend businesses that actively give back.
Example Activities:
- Sponsorships and Donations: Support local events, sports teams, or charities that align with your brand values. For instance, sponsoring a local youth sports team can increase brand visibility within your community.
- Volunteer Work: Organize or participate in volunteer events. Encouraging your employees to volunteer for local causes not only improves your brand’s image but also boosts team morale.
- Online Communities: Engage with online forums or social media groups related to your industry. This could involve answering questions, offering advice, or simply participating in discussions. Platforms like Reddit and LinkedIn offer opportunities to connect with niche communities that might be interested in your products or services.
- Customer Appreciation Events: Organize events to show appreciation for your customers, such as exclusive sales, special events, or giveaways. This not only strengthens customer loyalty but also fosters a sense of community around your brand.
Additional Tip
Regularly share your community involvement on your website, your GBP (Google Business Profile) and social media channels. This not only spreads awareness of your efforts but also encourages others to engage with your brand. Incorporating user-generated content, such as photos and testimonials from community members, can further amplify your impact.