Business owners are finally acknowledging the importance of a strong online presence. According to a survey conducted by the market research firm Clutch, 71 percent of U.S. small businesses have a website.

Given the competitive nature of the internet, however, it takes more than just a basic website to succeed. If you want to expand and maximize your business’s online footprint, you should consider the following tips.

1) Content Marketing
Content marketing is a highly effective promotional strategy for businesses. It involves publishing informational articles, blog posts, infographics and other content. You can publish this content directly on your business’s website or other platforms. Assuming it’s helpful and relevant, search engines will index your content; thus, allowing users to find it in the search results.

2) Use Email
You can further expand your business’s online footprint by using email. Include a newsletter signup form on your website to collect visitors’ email addresses, after which you send them promotional messages. Email marketing is a cost-effective way to drive sales, generate leads and increase brand visibility.

Automate this process by using an email marketing drip campaign which allows you to schedule your messages for future delivery. Basically, this involves the use of software to automatically send premade emails at specific times. The software sends, or “drips,” the emails slowly over time.

3) Create Videos
Many consumers prefer watching video over reading text. According to a white paper published by Cisco, video will account for 82 percent of all internet traffic by 2021. This means business owners can no longer ignore video in their digital marketing strategy.

To capitalize on the growing trend of online video, create a YouTube account under your business’s name and use it to publish relevant, engaging videos. You can also use paid advertising platforms to promote your videos. Regardless, video should be a key component of your business’s digital marketing strategy.

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4) Search Engine Optimization
Where does your business’s website rank in Google? It’s no secret that lower ranking sites generate less traffic than their higher ranking counterpart. And while there’s no way to automatically achieve a top search ranking, you can encourage higher rankings through search engine optimization (SEO).

As explained by the search marketing professionals at Moz, SEO is a multi-step process that’s intended to generate more organic search traffic as well as higher organic search traffic to a website. If you are able to understand Why SEO is Essential For Your Business, you can begin implementing the right methods to help boost your presence on search engines.

Here are some SEO tips to help your business’s website rank higher:

  • Identify the primary and secondary keywords for which you want to rank.
  • Focus on creating a positive user experience.
  • Optimize site to load faster.
  • Attract backlinks by publishing stellar content.
  • Use Google Analytics to identify usability problems.
  • Familiarize yourself with Google’s Webmaster Guidelines — and follow them.

5) Mobile-First Web Design
A mobile-first miami web design can help you capture more traffic and views. Basically, this type of design is optimized specifically for users on smartphones and other mobile devices. It contains large navigation buttons and links as well as fluid scrolling and proper image placement.

Mobile-first web designs are still compatible with desktop computers. So, how do you create a mobile-first website? The most effective solution is to use a simple theme or template for your website. Make sure the theme/template is responsive. Responsive websites adjust their rendering according to the device on which they are viewed. Someone on a desktop computer, for instance, will see a desktop-optimized version of the site whereas someone on a smartphone will see the mobile-optimized version. If you think creating such a design is not your cup of tea, you can take the help of a web design company who could easily set it up for you. It might cost you a bit, but such an investment could increase your company’s profits by large. Still, to prevent any shock to your pockets, you can use a Website Design Cost Calculator to have an idea of the pricing and budget accordingly.

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6) Stay Social
Finally, use social media to connect with your business’s audience and generate additional brand visibility. Research shows that Facebook now has more than 2.07 billion users. The network even offers a paid advertising service, Facebook Ads, to further assist business owners in their marketing efforts.

Facebook is only one of many social networks, however. While it reaches the largest number of users, other networks like Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram are also useful.

Following these six tips will increase your business’s online footprint and help you succeed with digital marketing.