Today, starting an online business and keeping it running require some knowledge on effective digital marketing strategies and gimmicks. With that said, here are a few ways you can use the internet and social media platforms to generate more buzz (and sales!) for your brand.
Simple Digital Marketing Techniques That Work
Photo Contests
Photo contests are nothing new, but in the previous years, only professional and amateur photographers participated in these competitions. Now, with modern cameras being more affordable and phones now having decent cameras, even nonprofessionals can participate in photo contests. Seeing this, more and more private and public institutions organize photo contests to garner attention and promote their organization or cause. Social media has also helped immensely with this. Instagram marketing trends and Facebook, in particular, have provided a venue where these competitions happen. If you want to raise awareness of your business, it’s a great idea to hold a photo or video contest and offer enticing prizes. This kind of marketing gimmick is ideal for almost any product. Make sure to choose the right platform for your photo contest. To do that, understand where your target audience spends their time most. Test out different platforms to know where you can get the most response. Also, don’t solely focus on targeting potential entrants. Appeal to your existing customers and followers, as well. Want to hold a social media contest? Here’s a step-by-step guide you can use.
Engaging and Relevant Content
In 2018, content marketing was chosen as the most promising digital marketing strategy by many marketers. And it continues to prove its reputation. Internet users consume content, like videos, photos, podcasts, and articles, every day and at an astonishing speed. Content, from business and independent content creators, basically fuel internet use. If you want to establish your brand reputation and raise its social presence, it’s imperative that you produce relevant and quality content. But the content doesn’t have to come from you. There’s this thing called user-generated content (UGC), which can be more reliable and attractive to customers than professional curated videos and content by marketers are. UGC is basically content created by customers themselves. They can take the form of photos, videos, reviews, or social media posts that feature a product or brand. According to one study, 79 percent of consumers agree that user-generated content has influenced their buying decisions. A survey has also found that 92 percent of consumers also trust other people’s recommendation over those of brands and marketers. So how do you encourage user-generated content? Here are a few ways:
Start customer polls or surveys. Use Pinterest hashtags for events and products. Promote your hashtags. Organize social media giveaways. Put a spotlight on customer stories. Invite experts for interviews and other content. Work with influencers.
Creating great content will keep your brand relevant and establish your reputation in your niche. User-generated content will let you connect better with your audience and show how your products impact people’s lives.
Set Up a Loyalty Program
Marketing efforts should not only focus on gaining new customers. Sure, that is important to the survival of a business, but retaining existing customers is just vital, if not more important. About 61 percent of small and midsize businesses get over half of their sales revenue from repeat customers, says a study by BIAKelsey. Every business should make it one of its goals to increase its number of repeat customers, not just new ones. By increasing customer retention by just 5 percent, you can raise your business’s profitability by 75 percent, says a study by the Brain and Company. Setting up a customer loyalty program is an excellent way to do that. A customer loyalty program rewards people for repeatedly patronizing a business. Rewards can include redeemable points, special discounts, exclusive coupons, free gifts, free shipping vouchers, and early access to promotions and products. Rewards are limited only by your creativity and imagination.
Key Takeaways
Marketing gimmicks are essential to raising awareness of your brand, attracting potential customers, and retaining existing ones. These marketing gimmicks have been proven to work when implemented well:
Photo contests and social media giveaways attract new customers by offering exciting prizes. Branded and user-generated content build engagement and keep your brand relevant. Customer loyalty programs help increase customer retention, which, in turn, drives up your business’s sales.
Did you find the tips above helpful? Share your thoughts, comments, and questions below!
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