Online Marketing: Beginner`s Guide
In the previous article we gave useful bits of advice on how to set up a workshop at home. Today we will talk about marketing tools that can help you optimize your online activity and boost your business.
It doesn`t matter whether you work locally and deal with the clients from your neighborhood or provide products and services worldwide; there are many opportunities online for you.
Use social networks
Even if you stay in touch with all your old clients, you still need new ones to develop your business. How can you tell your potential clients you are alive and well and working as usual or even better than ever, not leaving your home? The answer is: social media promotion!
You can run a Facebook advertising campaign even on a small budget (~$10). Create your own Facebook page (if you don`t have it). Post essential information about your shop, select your audience, and boost it for several days. People will be able to see your post, find out more about you, and subscribe to your page to stay in touch. Also, it`s a great (excellent) opportunity for people starting their own business to attract the maximum audience.
YouTube is another platform that will help you to become more visible and accessible. There are two promotion options.
- Option 1: promote your web store – people will see your small promo before watching videos. It even can be 6 seconds long
- Option 2: promote your own YouTube channel with some useful videos where you can tell more about your work and provide some tips for your clients.
Online promotion doesn`t require spending much money and time. In addition, you don`t need to engage anyone else to help you even if you haven`t promoted products or services online before. Just set the required parameters and start the promotion.
Support clients online
When enough people know about you, make sure they always have your phone number and can easily contact you via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc. Create groups and channels so your customers can follow them and always stay updated. Try to respond as quickly as possible; collect clients` feedback. That will show other clients you are credible and always ready to help. Make them feel like you are within arm`s reach.
Social messengers are best for live support as well. Your clients can show you the problem using pictures, screenshots, or short videos without long explanations. Also, demonstration is the best way for you to explain anything to your client.
There are several ways how to support your clients online:
- Video calls – an equivalent of face-to-face communication with your client, except for neither you nor your client need to go anywhere. You both just need to have a phone. In this type of communication, a phone is the best because of its mobility and size. You can show whatever you need under a required angle, move freely, hold the phone in your hands or fix it somewhere.
- Live chat for exchanging messages – can be used as a separate communication type or combined with others to exchange pictures, screenshots, voice and video messages. You can easily expand your conversation in time, answering only when you need to. It depends on the specific problem you deal with.
- Group calls or conference calls – allow you to consult several clients at the same time. This option helps optimize your time when dealing with simple routine tasks or frequent questions from your customers.
- Live chat + work via remote access software is best when you need to solve issues related to software/application installation or functioning or perform service operation remotely, in other words, with your own hands. Your client doesn`t need to spend much time and effort, moreover, he or she can observe the whole process and get the result right away.
Create great content
So you are a trusted engineer or merchant, what`s next? How about reaching a new level!
Even if you have never dreamt of becoming a moviemaker or photographer, now it is time to be creative. People simply don`t like reading a lot, and they quickly forget what they have just read. However, nice pictures and entertaining videos will draw much more attention.
Every laptop, PC, or smartphone is now equipped with a camera. We use it for video chats with our friends and family. So why not use it to show the products or services you offer? You can always try shooting videos and don`t worry – you don`t have to spend much. What you really need is a true desire and creativity, and, of course, a device with a built-in camera.
Are you selling products? Start from unpacking and small promo videos. It`s a good option because you don`t need to explain a lot. Want to sell abroad? No problem! You even don`t need to translate such videos. People will understand them anyway.
If you offer phone repair services, you can always show how you work. Small tutorials, useful tips, and step-by-step instructions will help you gain trust and respect among your colleagues and clients. Of course, to be able to produce such videos, you need some experience and sometimes courage, but it is rewarding.
We hope this article was useful to you! Follow us on Facebook and YouTube, leave your comments, questions, and don`t forget about likes. We want to know your opinion!
GsmServer Team
