Digital Marketing Advice for New Small Businesses
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain.
Starting a small business is an exciting journey, but let’s be honest—it can also be overwhelming. Between setting up your operations, managing finances, and finding customers, marketing might seem like one more complicated piece of the puzzle. But don’t worry! At Lange Digital Solutions, we specialize in helping small businesses like yours get noticed, grow, and thrive in your local communities!
If you are thinking about opening a new small business, or if you just have not put any digital marketing plan in place, here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to help you start marketing your new business effectively.
Define Your Target Audience
Before you create a single ad or post, you need to understand who you’re marketing to.
Who is your ideal customer?
What problems do they have that your business can solve?
Take the time to create a simple customer profile—think about their age, interests, location, and what influences their buying decisions. Are there any particular problems or pain points that they deal with regularly?
The better you understand your audience, the easier it will be to reach them.
Build a Strong Online Presence
In today’s world, having an online presence isn’t optional—it’s essential. Start with these basics:
Create a Website – Your website is your digital storefront. Make sure it’s clean, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly. This is one of the most important elements, because it provides a home base, or a foundation for the rest of your plan.
Set Up Google Business Profile – This helps local customers find you when they search for businesses like yours. You want to make sure that you show up in the top 3-5 spots on the search results page and on the Google Map pack when they search "XYZ near me."
Be Active on Social Media – Choose two or three platforms where your audience spends time and start engaging with them. You can't be everywhere at once, and platforms can change quickly, so pick a couple of platforms and dig in consistently for the next few months at least.
Focus on Branding
Branding isn’t just a logo; it’s how people feel about your business. Choose colors, fonts, and messaging that align with your business’s personality. Stay consistent across all platforms to create a recognizable and trustworthy brand.
At a minimum, you should know what are called 'hex codes' for your brand colors, and have a general idea of what your brand voice and personality is. This can be easier than it sounds, because your own personality can shine through in most small businesses.
Start with Simple Marketing Strategies
You don’t need a huge budget to market your business effectively. Here are some affordable (or free!) ways to start:
Social Media Marketing – Post regularly, share helpful tips, and engage with followers. Exposure is key, and your customers are online.
Email Marketing – Start collecting customer emails and send out helpful, value-packed content. This is immensely valuable, and allows you to reach out to your customers at regular intervals. It's easier to sell to repeat customers than it is to find new ones.
Local Networking – Attend community events, join local business groups, and build word-of-mouth referrals. Building a community is truly one of the best ways to help yourself build some momentum when you are first getting started.
Content Marketing – Write blogs, create videos, or share how-to guides related to your business/industry. Do whatever you can to provide some simple value for your customers.
Local SEO – Use keywords unique to your business, location, and community. Mention what you do, where you do it, and who you do it for.
Get Reviews & Testimonials
Positive reviews help build trust with potential customers. Encourage happy clients to leave reviews on Google, Facebook, or any platform or directory that provides value for your business. This adds authority for search engines like Google and Bing to find you, and also gives you content to share as testimonials on your website or social media pages.
Track Your Progress & Adjust
Marketing is not a “set it and forget it” strategy. Use tools like Google Analytics, social media insights, and email marketing data to see what’s working. If something isn’t bringing in results after a period of time, tweak your approach and try again. Just don't ever give up. Fail forward!
Final Thoughts
Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive—it just needs to be consistent. Start small, build momentum, and keep learning as you go. And if you ever need expert guidance, Lange Digital Solutions is here to help! We specialize in helping small businesses create effective, affordable marketing strategies that drive real results at a practical, local level.
If you have questions or need a personalized marketing plan, reach out to us today. Let’s get your business in front of the right people and set you up for success!
Best wishes,
Dr. Travis Lange
