A healthy business atmosphere involves competition where many service providers and dealers compete to win trust from the same clients. One of the most rewarding approaches is to create an environment under which customers desire to try your products and services. You can influence customers depending on the referrals they get and your approach through digital marketing. For instance, direct mail marketing remains one of the most effective methods of reaching potential customers in modern days. Winning followers to your brand is one thing, and converting them into regular customers is another. Here are tips for you to observe in your marketing journey.

Employ charming marketing approaches

A hilarious advert goes a long way to encouraging prospects to try your products and services. If it makes the audience jolly, it will remain in their minds and at their heart longer. A hilarious advert is also worth sharing, which makes it reach many potential customers, making them eager to sample products from your business. You have a higher chance of getting more followers if your advert fascinates those watching it. Whether through a social media platform or any other digital marketing avenue, never overlook the power behind humor.

Choose your audience wisely

An influential digital marketing campaign must not target everyone. It has more value when it targets only the relevant audience. While it may seem more rewarding to reach everyone with your advert, not all will want to buy products from you. Your business requires more attention to grow, and targeting only the necessary group allows you to listen more and implement what your clients need most. It is impossible to satisfy everyone, but targeting a specific group makes it easy to meet all demands effectively.

Authority positioning is rewarding

You are likely to attract more customers if you present yourself as an experienced businessperson in your adverts. They will trust you if they notice several characteristics that successful entrepreneurs possess. Here are some approaches to employ:

• Associate yourself with prominent experts in your industry. Attend their workshops and seminars, ensuring to interact openly with them. Seek approval from them to use their logo on your websites and other digital platforms. Potential customers will trust you for the company you keep.

• Maintain a high profile and be vocal, speaking about what you know. Let your potential customers recognize you through valuable opinions that you give on particular platforms. Share your thoughts often for people to know you more. If you can write articles, do it regularly for customers to notice and follow you.

• Being on relevant media platforms is more rewarding. Seize every opportunity that appears for you to be on TV, a radio show, or in a relevant article. When people know about you through such platforms, you become an influential digital marketer. That way, growing your business is never a hilly task.

Allow your followers to assess resources freely

One approach that encourages customers is when they can access complementary services or products. Attaching a bonus is less expensive but comes with significant returns. Aside from attracting consumers to your business, the approach builds your credibility. Additionally, it presents you as an expert in the market, which goes a long way to grow your brand.

A prominent digital profile is significant

One way to present yourself as a pro is by creating a top-quality digital profile. What clients see first when reviewing an advert is your profile. Followers will only come to you for inquiries if your digital profile is charming. The world hosts many service providers, which raises the competition bar higher.

A reliable digital marketing approach will help you network widely, which is necessary for every business. Polish your content extensively to make a mark in the hearts of your potential customers. Create a superior image to reap the benefits that digital marketing brings home.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 5 Ways to Reach More Potential Customers in 2022 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Create a Google My Business (GMB) Profile

We cannot say enough about how important Google My Business is for your online presence. With approximately 94% of searches happening on Google property, Google takes the throne for the most popular search engine out there. Creating a Google My Business account is completely free and easy to use. The best part is, your profile shows up directly on search and maps when a user is looking for your business.

Begin Building Up Google Reviews

Google Reviews are different from many others, as the reviews are directly embedded into the search engine. Google reviews appear next to your listing in map and search. Therefore, they will always be seen if someone comes upon your business listing!

Any customer can leave a review for your business, as long as they have a Google account. Businesses often offer additional incentives for leaving a review. This can be a helpful tactic because it gives a satisfied customer a reason to leave a positive review on your businesses’ behalf.

Utilize Social Media to Increase Sales

As social media continues to become increasingly popular, there is no doubt it can be of benefit to your business. Social media is an excellent way for you to foster a relationship with new and existing customers.

Social Media Advertising

Many social media sites allow for advertising which can drive revenue and traffic to your website. Facebook now owns Instagram so you can create an ad through Facebook Ad Manager and it will reach your Instagram audience, too. If other sites like Pinterest or LinkedIn are of interest, those are also great advertising avenues to consider.

Build a Community

As mentioned, social media is an excellent way to connect with your audience. You can increase sales by simply forming a strong relationship and connecting with someone who trusts you enough to do business with you. Sometimes, it takes time to nurture a relationship, but there is no doubt that it will pay off. Once you build a community, they can also help your business by liking, leaving reviews, and recommending it to friends.

Research Your Market

It is important to take the time to understand how your customers interact with your product or services. You can increase your knowledge of your customers through a variety of tactics. One of them being feedback. You can gain customer feedback through surveys, focus groups, or interviews. Is there a pain point that a customer has in your sales or business process? Reach out and ask. It can never hurt.

Another great idea is to look at your data from Google Analytics and study the performance of your landing page. How are various elements on your website performing? How much are customers interacting with your ad campaigns? These are some things you should give thought to.

Create a Community with Other Businesses

Another way to increase sales is to make connections with other small businesses in your area or industry. You can refer businesses to one another, but you could also partner with them in other ways. For example, say you’re a small beach clothing shop and you create a giveaway on your Instagram that includes sunscreen from another business. This could be a great partnership for years to come.

Focus On What the Business Needs

Sometimes we can be too focused on the things that can be solved easily. Remember that issues like IT and HR are problems that can be delegated to certain branches of the company. If you need managed IT support, consider hiring an outside business to help you out. On the other hand, if a new hire employee has specific questions about how time off or sexual harassment is take care of, refer them to HR.

Nurture Leads with Email Marketing

If you have a prospect’s email, creating automated email campaigns is an effective way to gain their business. Oftentimes, the sales process is not just ad to purchase but can take some time. This is great news, because per Oberlo, for every $1 spent on email marketing, you can expect an average return of $42.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 9 Ways to Increase Sales In Your Business appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Why is personalisation so important in retail? 

Shopping in your favourite retail store comes with a level of personalisation. Perhaps the manager knows you by name, recommends products you may like, or the staff simply make the shopping experience tailored to your needs. 

Online shoppers have also come to want and need the same level of personalisation. A recent survey found that nearly half (48%) of all consumers have left a business’s website and made a purchase on another site (or in-store) simply because the shopping experience was poorly curated. 

Further still, 91% of consumers are more likely to shop with brands who recognise and remember their customers, providing relevant offers and recommendations.

Thant’s why personalisation is one of the top e-commerce trends in 2021 and beyond.

Online retailers cannot offer the same experiences physical retailers can, so it’s even more important that brands get their personalisation strategy right. 

So, how can brands improve their personalisation strategy? 

Brands that update their personalisation strategies to meet customer expectations are more likely to see an increased number of sales and retain their valued customers. 

But how exactly can they do that? 

• Create buyer personas 

Buyer personas are important when it comes to customer segmentation. By creating buyer personas, you can segment customers into different groups. By knowing each group’s motivation, you can target them appropriately. 

• Use customer data 

Data is power, especially when it comes to personalisation. If you have data on products your customers have previously bought, why not remind customers of this and use it to your advantage? 

• Create product recommendations 

One of the best ways to personalise your e-commerce site is through product recommendations. By sending personalised recommendations, buyers are more likely to find products they may otherwise have missed, which can lead to impressive sales uplift. 

• Make the most of personalised email marketing 

A great way to drive more sales is to use follow up emails that remind customers of the items they have viewed. Just because they have left your website doesn’t mean the marketing has to stop there!

• Add user generated content to product pages

A great way to encourage potential customers to part with their hard-earned cash is by adding a touch of social proof. 

Adding user generated content shows customers how the products would bring value to their day-to-day life. By showing images of real-life people using the products, other users are far more likely to want to place an order. 

To keep up with the changing landscape, brands need to embrace personalisation if they are to stand out from the crowd. Luckily, there are lots of ways to add a touch of personalisation. If you’re not sure where to start, seeking advice from an e-commerce strategist will help you maximise your customer personalisation strategy and conversions.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Why Personalisation Leads To Conversions Within E-commerce appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Selling something online, whether products or services is not as easy as it seems. There is a lot involved in being an online merchant. As with all things, there are pros and cons to be found.

On the other hand, there are success stories of people making millions online from selling all sorts of products. You can be the next success story if you are willing to commit and be disciplined.

The following are six ways you can start selling online:

Find an Amazing Product

The first step to selling online is to find what you are going to sell. Though you can find success selling just about anything online, you will have a better time if you sell a fantastic product. You can also generate money by rebranding and reselling things made by a third party. For instance, you can earn by using white label e-signatures. White labeling allows you to save time, money, and effort. Creating a product from scratch is never easy. It necessitates a significant investment of both money and time

Therefore, you should choose or create a killer product that will make selling easy. It should be in demand and have a sufficient profit margin to justify the sale of the product. Product research will be essential at this stage.

You can either create a product that solves a particular problem or choose one from those already created. The latter is a much better alternative. The same goes for tangible products and intangible ones.

You will need to locate a niche that has adequate demand but not too much competition. Otherwise, you might have a great product that does not sell.

Alibaba is a particularly great source for products made in wholesale. Once you find a product to sell, you can start your life as an online seller.

Make a Marketing Plan

After you find a product, you will have to formulate a marketing strategy for selling it. Digital marketing is the biggest determinant of success when it comes to selling online.

You need to put in a lot of effort initially in marketing if you want your product to sell. The time it will take to achieve a sufficient flow of sales will depend on the success of your marketing efforts.

The good news is that there are so many marketing techniques that an online seller can easily use. Examples include PPC advertising, content marketing, email marketing, affiliate marketing and others. The most powerful of them all is social media marketing.

The marketing plan is such an important element of selling online that you should do it before you start. It will influence crucial facets of your business such as your site design.

Choose the Proper Ecommerce Platform

The next step to selling online will be to choose the right ecommerce platform from which to sell your products. The fact of the matter is that the ecommerce platform you choose can lead to either success or failure of your business.

You should perform your due diligence when searching for an ecommerce platform. Evaluate all possible factors including aesthetic appeal, customer service, pricing, security, user friendliness and features.

Amazon FBA is an especially popular platform that many online sellers use. The amazon fba training will prepare you to use the platform. Few other platforms offer similar training.

Other popular ecommerce platforms include eBay, Craigslist and Wix. Shopify is another very popular ecommerce platform with incredible features.

The structure of your online business will depend on the features of the platform. Therefore, the importance of the platform cannot be understated.

Launch Your Website

The next step will be to build your website or online store depending on what you are selling. The ecommerce platform you choose will either aid or limit you when making your site.

If you are a beginner, you should stick to the basics of website design and make it as simple as possible. The more experienced you become as an online seller, the more features you can include in your website.

Otherwise, you might have to hire a professional designer to design your website. It will definitely make it look more professional and function better which will help your website.

Ensure you list your products on your site in an appealing and comprehensive way. Think of anything that might help you make sales when designing the site and implement it.

The customer experience should be the focus on your site. If customers have a pleasurable experience, they are more likely to buy something and return for more.

Implement Marketing Strategy

Now that your website is up and running, it is time to sell your products. You need to create awareness for your site by implementing your marketing strategy or plan.

The key to remember as an online seller is that your marketing strategy should be flexible. Adaptability is the main characteristic you need as an online seller and you will need to adjust your plan depending on what works and what doesn’t.

Some strategies will yield massive results, some little and others none at all. The 80/20 rule is still in effect when it comes to online marketing.

Your final marketing strategy might be very different from the one you had in the beginning. Trial and error are a seminal part of being an online seller and building a thriving online store.

If you are still not sure what to choose here is article for you – AMZScout vs Jungle Scout

Measure Your Progress

As an online seller, the importance of measuring and tracking your progress cannot be understated. The internet is constantly changing and having benchmarks by which to measure your performance is the best way to learn.

The good news is that it has never been easier to measure your progress as an online seller. Always keep in mind that one day you may be interested in selling your business and to get top dollar you will need to have a compilation of good data to prove the business’s value. Not only does this articulation of data help the business evolve and sustain the many challenges but this is the very data they will want to know later. There are analytic tools that will help you analyze every facet of your business.

These tools are especially helpful for organizing the wealth of data available to online sellers. You can hence use the information to improve your business and sell more online.

Selling online is a mammoth undertaking that will challenge the very best of us. However, with the six steps above, you have a great chance of becoming a successful online seller.

Now that you know what it takes to start selling online, don’t wait any longer. Go out and try it. You never know, your business might just be the next big thing.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 6 Easy Ways to Start Selling Online appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Propelled by the global health pandemic this past year, the much-vaunted but oft-postponed digital transformation that’s filled reams of thought leadership blogs for the past decade happened in a few months.

However, it’s easier for some businesses to adapt than others – for instance, a digital marketing agency which already does much of its business online will find switching to 100% remote working far easier than an artisan sock suspender manufacturer.

If you’re struggling to work out how to go digital with your own specialist business, don’t panic – read these 5 erudite ways to market niche businesses online.

Google My Business

Other search engines are available, but with a near-global monopoly Google is the only game in town in many territories.

And even if you don’t yet have a website, you can stake your claim to a lucrative slice of the search giant’s online real estate with a Google My Business account. This is basically a handy free Google listing that contains a business photo, description, opening hours and contact details – bagging one is a no-brainer.

Well-designed website

If you really want to establish and cement a robust online presence, it’s worth investing in a website. It’s still the best way of showcasing your products and services, introducing customers to your brand values and facilitating online sales by setting it up for eCommerce.

You’ll need to fill your website with SEO (Search Engine Optimised) content too, so that it ranks highly on the likes of Bing and Google, while disciplines like conversion copywriting and good UX (user experience) will drive conversions like sales once people land on your site.

Convincing case studies

What you do or sell might be a little dry and technical to laypeople, but the results it can deliver for customers are probably really exciting.

This is where well-written case studies supported by attractive photos or an explainer video are really effective – for instance, Ormiston Wire is a specialist firm with lots of fascinating case studies where its products are used in everything from TV puppetry to architectural art.

Social media

Used properly, social media can be a really effective way of connecting with customers in a relaxed, conversational, yet business-driven manner online.

But if you expend too much energy on every platform, you’re likely to disappear down a rabbit hole – find the platforms where your audience actually hangs out and focus on these. For instance, LinkedIn is by far the best option for B2B firms, while Instagram is great for firms with visual products, like tattooists and craftspeople.

Video content

Video content gets lots of traction these days, especially on social media platforms like LinkedIn – so whether you want to create a short, snappy explainer video clarifying what you offer and why customers need it, or personal branding content that lets new customers put a human face to your firm, it’s worthwhile.

You don’t have to be an expert either – take a #MadeOnAMobile course with filmmaker Jon Gill and you can be creating your own corporate videos on your mobile in no time at all.

This is an article provided by our partners’ network. It does not reflect the views or opinions of our editorial team and management.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post 5 Ways To Market Niche Businesses Online appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.