In the past, small businesses had it pretty easy when it came to planning their marketing approach. There were fewer options to choose from and most of them were based on local advertising. Radio ads and mailed coupons were the standard fixtures in these campaigns. With online advertising becoming increasingly important and relevant to today’s small business owners, integrated marketing is the new approach many are taking to address their marketing needs. Effectively combining both traditional marketing tactics with online strategies can prove impactful on a company’s ability to reach their customers effectively.
Virtually all small businesses could benefit from using a good mix of both online and offline marketing tools. If you have yet to jump into the world of social media and SEO, start slow. The best place to begin is with a quality website. The site doesn’t need to be large and extensive, just enough to fit your individual needs. You may also want to start capturing emails from your customers to compile a good list for future use. Once you have your feet firmly planted on both a strong website and email list, start dabbling in the world of online social media. Setting up a Facebook account or posting to a Twitter handle are both easy to do.
No matter your approach to integrated marketing, the best way to use it to its fullest potential is by finding what aspects of online marketing work best for your small business. Doing so ensures you use both your time and marketing budget wisely. For assistance in crafting an integrated marketing strategy right for your needs contact the team at GMS. We assist small businesses in all aspects of the online marketing arena from website development to SEO strategies and beyond. Contact us to see how we can help you gain more exposure online.