Thanks for visiting our blog
And we're very excited to share it with you. We hope you find our articles informative & entertaining.
8 Marketing Mistakes Small Businesses Make
According to a recent survey, about half of all American small businesses lack a solid marketing plan. Not having a plan in place is one of the biggest marketing mistakes that any small business can make.
If you're not marketing your business enough at this time, it could eventually lead to its demise. You're going to struggle to spread the word about your company without using small business marketing to your advantage.
1. Failing to Create a Website for Your Small Business
These days, there is really no excuse for small businesses not to have websites. Websites are no longer an exception, they’re the expectation.
Yet, one recent report revealed that about 27% of small businesses are still operating without websites. These small businesses are likely hurting their bottom lines in a big way by failing to create websites.
If your small business is still operating without a website, you should do something to change that immediately. With our company, you can get a website for your company up and running in no time at all.
Even if you don't know the first thing about web design, our experts will help you get started on your website right away. Your website will quickly become one of your best marketing tools.
2. Ignoring the Importance of SEO When It Comes to Your Company's Website
It isn't enough to simply set up a website for your small business in this day and age. Once you create a website, you also need to make sure that you understand how important search engine optimization, or SEO, is.
SEO is a process that involves incorporating certain things into your website to make it easier for others to find it. By adding the right keywords, links, etc. to your site, you can help it to rank much higher on search engine results pages and ensure that plenty of people visit your site each month.
If SEO isn't a big part of your small business marketing strategy, you'll be making one of the worst marketing mistakes. You'll be missing out on an opportunity to bring in so much more traffic on a regular basis.
3. Forgetting to Establish a Social Media Presence for Your Small Business
While it's important for small businesses to set up websites and use them for marketing purposes, it's just as important for them to establish social media presence these days. Your company should have accounts on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
Social media has provided small businesses with a brand-new way to connect to customers. It's also made it possible for them to create unique voices for their brands that separate them from the pack.
4. Misidentifying the Target Audience for Your Small Business
Who is the target audience for your small business? You can have the best small business website in the world and a wonderful social media presence, but if you don't know who your target audience is, all of your marketing efforts might miss the mark.
Before you begin trying to employ any marketing techniques on behalf of your small business, you should make sure you know who your target audience is. It'll enable you to cater your content to them to increase the chances of them patronizing your small business.
5. Letting Negative Online Reviews for Your Small Business Linger
Whether you like it or not, people who patronize your small business are typically going to leave reviews for your company. They'll do it through any number of review sites, and their reviews will impact your reputation.
If you're able to rack up almost nothing but positive reviews, that's awesome. You won't have to worry about doing anything other than thanking those who have taken the time to leave reviews for your small business in the first place.
But if you find that you've received a lot of negative reviews online, you should do something about it. You will either want to look into having these reviews removed if you don't feel as though they're legit or respond to these reviews to show that your company cares about input from your customers.
Whatever you do, you don't want to allow negative reviews to stick around for too long and make it seem as though your company doesn't care about them.
6. Spending Too Much Money or Not Enough Money on Small Business Marketing
To carry out your small business marketing plan, you will need to be prepared to spend some money on it. You should come up with a marketing budget and use it accordingly.
Just be sure that you're not spending too much money or not enough money on your small business marketing efforts. As a general rule of thumb, you will want to devote around 7% of your gross revenue to marketing to make the most of it.
7. Relying on Outdated Small Business Marketing Strategies
Are you using some of the marketing strategies that you learned about when you attended college in the early 2000s to run a small business in 2022? If you are, that alone is going to prove to be one of the biggest small business marketing mistakes that you're making.
The marketing world has changed quite a bit over the last few years, let alone the last 20 years. So, you should try to avoid using any outdated small business marketing strategies. You'll be asking for trouble if you take this approach to marketing.
8. Marketing Your Business Without Analyzing the Results
Marketing your business is very important, but it isn't going to do you much good if you're not getting any positive results. It's why you should get yourself into the habit of analyzing the results of your marketing efforts all the time.
If you find that some aspect of your small business marketing plan isn't working, you'll need to make adjustments to it accordingly. Otherwise, it could lead to you spending a lot of time and money on a marketing strategy that isn't doing you much good at all.
Try Not to Make Any of These Crucial Small Business Marketing Mistakes
Marketing your small business in an effective way isn't always going to be easy. You'll need to work hard to avoid making any of the marketing mistakes listed here.
We can help you steer clear of at least some of them by providing you with affordable website design services and digital marketing solutions. We’ll set you up with the website you need to get your small business marketing plan off the ground.
Check out some examples of our work and contact us to learn more about getting a website for your small business or any other questions that you may have.
According to a recent survey, about half of all American small businesses lack a solid marketing plan. Not having a plan in place is one of the biggest marketing mistakes that any small business can make.
If you're not marketing your business enough at this time, it could eventually lead to its demise. You're going to struggle to spread the word about your company without using small business marketing to your advantage.
There are also some other marketing mistakes that you might be making as a small business owner that can come back to bite you. Learn about eight of them below.
1. Failing to Create a Website for Your Small Business
These days, there is really no excuse for small businesses not to have websites. Websites are no longer an exception, they’re the expectation.
Yet, one recent report revealed that about 27% of small businesses are still operating without websites. These small businesses are likely hurting their bottom lines in a big way by failing to create websites.
If your small business is still operating without a website, you should do something to change that immediately. With our company, you can get a website for your company up and running in no time at all.
Even if you don't know the first thing about web design, our experts will help you get started on your website right away. Your website will quickly become one of your best marketing tools.
2. Ignoring the Importance of SEO When It Comes to Your Company's Website
It isn't enough to simply set up a website for your small business in this day and age. Once you create a website, you also need to make sure that you understand how important search engine optimization, or SEO, is.
SEO is a process that involves incorporating certain things into your website to make it easier for others to find it. By adding the right keywords, links, etc. to your site, you can help it to rank much higher on search engine results pages and ensure that plenty of people visit your site each month.
If SEO isn't a big part of your small business marketing strategy, you'll be making one of the worst marketing mistakes. You'll be missing out on an opportunity to bring in so much more traffic on a regular basis.
3. Forgetting to Establish a Social Media Presence for Your Small Business
While it's important for small businesses to set up websites and use them for marketing purposes, it's just as important for them to establish social media presence these days. Your company should have accounts on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
Social media has provided small businesses with a brand-new way to connect to customers. It's also made it possible for them to create unique voices for their brands that separate them from the pack.
4. Misidentifying the Target Audience for Your Small Business
Who is the target audience for your small business? You can have the best small business website in the world and a wonderful social media presence, but if you don't know who your target audience is, all of your marketing efforts might miss the mark.
Before you begin trying to employ any marketing techniques on behalf of your small business, you should make sure you know who your target audience is. It'll enable you to cater your content to them to increase the chances of them patronizing your small business.
5. Letting Negative Online Reviews for Your Small Business Linger
Whether you like it or not, people who patronize your small business are typically going to leave reviews for your company. They'll do it through any number of review sites, and their reviews will impact your reputation.
If you're able to rack up almost nothing but positive reviews, that's awesome. You won't have to worry about doing anything other than thanking those who have taken the time to leave reviews for your small business in the first place.
But if you find that you've received a lot of negative reviews online, you should do something about it. You will either want to look into having these reviews removed if you don't feel as though they're legit or respond to these reviews to show that your company cares about input from your customers.
Whatever you do, you don't want to allow negative reviews to stick around for too long and make it seem as though your company doesn't care about them.
6. Spending Too Much Money or Not Enough Money on Small Business Marketing
To carry out your small business marketing plan, you will need to be prepared to spend some money on it. You should come up with a marketing budget and use it accordingly.
Just be sure that you're not spending too much money or not enough money on your small business marketing efforts. As a general rule of thumb, you will want to devote around 7% of your gross revenue to marketing to make the most of it.
7. Relying on Outdated Small Business Marketing Strategies
Are you using some of the marketing strategies that you learned about when you attended college in the early 2000s to run a small business in 2022? If you are, that alone is going to prove to be one of the biggest small business marketing mistakes that you're making.
The marketing world has changed quite a bit over the last few years, let alone the last 20 years. So, you should try to avoid using any outdated small business marketing strategies. You'll be asking for trouble if you take this approach to marketing.
8. Marketing Your Business Without Analyzing the Results
Marketing your business is very important, but it isn't going to do you much good if you're not getting any positive results. It's why you should get yourself into the habit of analyzing the results of your marketing efforts all the time.
If you find that some aspect of your small business marketing plan isn't working, you'll need to make adjustments to it accordingly. Otherwise, it could lead to you spending a lot of time and money on a marketing strategy that isn't doing you much good at all.
Try Not to Make Any of These Crucial Small Business Marketing Mistakes
Marketing your small business in an effective way isn't always going to be easy. You'll need to work hard to avoid making any of the marketing mistakes listed here.
We can help you steer clear of at least some of them by providing you with affordable website design services and digital marketing solutions. We’ll set you up with the website you need to get your small business marketing plan off the ground.
Check out some examples of our work and contact us to learn more about getting a website for your small business or any other questions that you may have.
Why a Facebook Page is Not a Substitute for a Website
When it comes to promoting and representing your small business online, it's important to have a strong, professional presence. Many businesses today turn to social media platforms, like Facebook, to create that presence. However, using a Facebook page as your primary or only online presence can be a huge mistake. In this article, we'll go over the top ten reasons why using a Facebook page as your business website is a bad idea and explore some alternative options for promoting your business online.
1. You don't own it.
One of the biggest drawbacks to using a Facebook page as your business website is that you don't actually own the page. It belongs to Facebook, and they can change it, remove it, or make it hard to find in search results at any time. This lack of control can be frustrating and potentially damaging to your business, especially if you've put a lot of time and effort into building up your Facebook presence.
2. You eliminate non-Facebook users.
While Facebook has over two billion users, there are still plenty of people who don't use the platform, particularly in younger and older demographics. By relying solely on a Facebook page for your online presence, you risk eliminating these potential customers. While it's true that not everyone uses social media, it's important to consider all potential channels for reaching your audience.
3. SEO options are limited.
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the practice of improving the ranking of a website in search engine results. While it's possible to optimize a Facebook page to an extent, you are limited in the keywords you can target and the content you can post. Additionally, a Facebook page will only show up in search results once, while a website with multiple pages has the potential to show up multiple times. This can make it harder for potential customers to find your business online.
4. You may have to pay for ads to get seen.
Facebook is in the business of making money, and they use a "freemium" model to do it. While creating a Facebook page and posting updates is free, the reach of those posts is often quite limited. In order to get your posts seen by a larger audience, you may have to pay for ads. While this may not be a significant cost for some businesses, it's important to factor it into your marketing budget.
5. Functionality is limited.
On a Facebook page, you can post updates, upload photos, and use Facebook Messenger to chat with customers. However, the functionality of a Facebook page is quite limited compared to a website. A website allows you to create forms, add e-commerce functionality, and create custom pages and posts with a wider range of formatting options.
6. There's no sales funnel.
A sales funnel is a series of steps that a potential customer goes through on their way to making a purchase. On a website, you can use calls-to-action, landing pages, and other tactics to guide users through the sales process. With a Facebook page, you don't have the same level of control and therefore don't have the same ability to guide users towards making a purchase.
7. Content is limited.
While it's possible to write an "About Us" section and post updates on a Facebook page, there isn't really a place to post in-depth content that can draw in users and improve your search engine ranking. A website, on the other hand, allows you to create blog posts, articles, and other types of content that can help you attract and retain customers.
8. You can't brand the page.
On a Facebook page, you can add a cover image and upload a profile picture, but you can't really brand the page beyond that. A website, on the other hand, allows you to choose your own color scheme, fonts, and design elements to create a cohesive and professional look.
9. Searching for content is difficult.
On a website, you can save, organize, and make pages and posts searchable. This makes it easy to find and refer back to older content. On a Facebook page, the options for saving and organizing content are much more limited, and there is no way to export your content. This makes it difficult for both you and your customers to find and refer back to older posts.
10. Analytics and data are lacking.
Finally, the analytics and data available on a Facebook page are not as robust as those on a website. While Facebook does provide some information on the reach and engagement of your posts, it's not as detailed or customizable as the analytics you can get from a website. This makes it harder to track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions about your business.
A Facebook business page should be used in addition to a website, not as a substitute for one.
If you want to grow your business online, it's essential to have a professional website in addition to a Facebook page. A website allows you to promote your brand, fully showcase your products or services, create a sales funnel, and track your marketing efforts through detailed analytics. While it may seem easier and cheaper to use a Facebook page as your primary online presence, the limitations of a Facebook page make it a poor choice in the long run.
That's where our web design firm comes in! We specialize in creating affordable, professional websites for businesses of all sizes. Our team of experienced designers and developers will work with you to create a website that perfectly reflects your brand and meets your business goals. And, once your website is up and running, you can use your Facebook page to promote it and drive traffic to your site.
Don't settle for a limited online presence. Invest in a professional website and take your business to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business succeed online.
1. You don't own it.
One of the biggest drawbacks to using a Facebook page as your business website is that you don't actually own the page. It belongs to Facebook, and they can change it, remove it, or make it hard to find in search results at any time. This lack of control can be frustrating and potentially damaging to your business, especially if you've put a lot of time and effort into building up your Facebook presence.
2. You eliminate non-Facebook users.
While Facebook has over two billion users, there are still plenty of people who don't use the platform, particularly in younger and older demographics. By relying solely on a Facebook page for your online presence, you risk eliminating these potential customers. While it's true that not everyone uses social media, it's important to consider all potential channels for reaching your audience.
3. SEO options are limited.
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the practice of improving the ranking of a website in search engine results. While it's possible to optimize a Facebook page to an extent, you are limited in the keywords you can target and the content you can post. Additionally, a Facebook page will only show up in search results once, while a website with multiple pages has the potential to show up multiple times. This can make it harder for potential customers to find your business online.
4. You may have to pay for ads to get seen.
Facebook is in the business of making money, and they use a "freemium" model to do it. While creating a Facebook page and posting updates is free, the reach of those posts is often quite limited. In order to get your posts seen by a larger audience, you may have to pay for ads. While this may not be a significant cost for some businesses, it's important to factor it into your marketing budget.
5. Functionality is limited.
On a Facebook page, you can post updates, upload photos, and use Facebook Messenger to chat with customers. However, the functionality of a Facebook page is quite limited compared to a website. A website allows you to create forms, add e-commerce functionality, and create custom pages and posts with a wider range of formatting options.
6. There's no sales funnel.
A sales funnel is a series of steps that a potential customer goes through on their way to making a purchase. On a website, you can use calls-to-action, landing pages, and other tactics to guide users through the sales process. With a Facebook page, you don't have the same level of control and therefore don't have the same ability to guide users towards making a purchase.
7. Content is limited.
While it's possible to write an "About Us" section and post updates on a Facebook page, there isn't really a place to post in-depth content that can draw in users and improve your search engine ranking. A website, on the other hand, allows you to create blog posts, articles, and other types of content that can help you attract and retain customers.
8. You can't brand the page.
On a Facebook page, you can add a cover image and upload a profile picture, but you can't really brand the page beyond that. A website, on the other hand, allows you to choose your own color scheme, fonts, and design elements to create a cohesive and professional look.
9. Searching for content is difficult.
On a website, you can save, organize, and make pages and posts searchable. This makes it easy to find and refer back to older content. On a Facebook page, the options for saving and organizing content are much more limited, and there is no way to export your content. This makes it difficult for both you and your customers to find and refer back to older posts.
10. Analytics and data are lacking.
Finally, the analytics and data available on a Facebook page are not as robust as those on a website. While Facebook does provide some information on the reach and engagement of your posts, it's not as detailed or customizable as the analytics you can get from a website. This makes it harder to track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions about your business.
A Facebook business page should be used in addition to a website, not as a substitute for one.
If you want to grow your business online, it's essential to have a professional website in addition to a Facebook page. A website allows you to promote your brand, fully showcase your products or services, create a sales funnel, and track your marketing efforts through detailed analytics. While it may seem easier and cheaper to use a Facebook page as your primary online presence, the limitations of a Facebook page make it a poor choice in the long run.
That's where our web design firm comes in! We specialize in creating affordable, professional websites for businesses of all sizes. Our team of experienced designers and developers will work with you to create a website that perfectly reflects your brand and meets your business goals. And, once your website is up and running, you can use your Facebook page to promote it and drive traffic to your site.
Don't settle for a limited online presence. Invest in a professional website and take your business to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business succeed online.
The True Value of Your Online Reputation
Reputation management has become increasingly essential in today's world of business. As individuals and businesses continue to navigate the digital space, one negative review or scandal can significantly impact their reputation and financial stability.
Freedom Web Designs is a company that offers custom website design and development services, e-commerce solutions, and SEO optimized sites. By providing top-notch services, they have gained a positive reputation within their industry. However, even the most well-respected businesses are susceptible to negative online feedback, including false reviews or comments from competitors or customers who were not satisfied with their work, which could tarnish their image.
This is where reputation management comes in handy. Reputation management services offer businesses the ability to monitor and maintain their online reputation by tracking customer feedback and ensuring that any negative comments are swiftly and effectively addressed.
Another way to manage your online reputation is through Freedom Social, the sister company of Freedom Web Designs. Freedom Social is a social media marketing agency that helps businesses leverage the power of social media to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to their website. By creating engaging content, building social media communities, and using analytics to track success, Freedom Social can help businesses build a positive online reputation.
In conclusion, a good online reputation is invaluable for any business, and managing it effectively is the key to success. If you're a business owner looking to improve your reputation or maintain a positive image, consider seeking the services of Freedom Web Designs or Freedom Social. With their expert services, you can rest assured that your online reputation is in good hands. So, what are you waiting for? Contact Freedom Web Designs or Freedom Social today to take advantage of their services and start building your online reputation! #freedomwebdesigns #freedomsocial #reputationmanagement #onlinereputationmanagement #reviews #socialmedia
Freedom Web Designs is a company that offers custom website design and development services, e-commerce solutions, and SEO optimized sites. By providing top-notch services, they have gained a positive reputation within their industry. However, even the most well-respected businesses are susceptible to negative online feedback, including false reviews or comments from competitors or customers who were not satisfied with their work, which could tarnish their image.
This is where reputation management comes in handy. Reputation management services offer businesses the ability to monitor and maintain their online reputation by tracking customer feedback and ensuring that any negative comments are swiftly and effectively addressed.
Another way to manage your online reputation is through Freedom Social, the sister company of Freedom Web Designs. Freedom Social is a social media marketing agency that helps businesses leverage the power of social media to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to their website. By creating engaging content, building social media communities, and using analytics to track success, Freedom Social can help businesses build a positive online reputation.
In conclusion, a good online reputation is invaluable for any business, and managing it effectively is the key to success. If you're a business owner looking to improve your reputation or maintain a positive image, consider seeking the services of Freedom Web Designs or Freedom Social. With their expert services, you can rest assured that your online reputation is in good hands. So, what are you waiting for? Contact Freedom Web Designs or Freedom Social today to take advantage of their services and start building your online reputation! #freedomwebdesigns #freedomsocial #reputationmanagement #onlinereputationmanagement #reviews #socialmedia
Up to date digital news
Digiday+ Research: Publishers’ programmatic revenue didn’t shake out the way they’d hoped, but it’s still a bright spot
Interested in sharing your perspectives on the media and marketing industries? Join the Digiday research panel.
There are a lot of things that didn’t quite go according to plan for publishers this year — layoffs and fourth-quarter ad sales, among other things.
This is a member-exclusive article from Digiday. Continue reading it on digiday.com and subscribe to continue reading content like this.
Goodbye LinkedIn, Hello TikTok: The Return podcast, season 2, episode 6
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts • Stitcher • Spotify
WorkTok, or CareerTok, is in full force.
Combined, those hashtags on TikTok have over 4 billion views. There are sneak peaks into “a day in my life” from the perspective of everyone from McDonald’s employees to top executives at Fortune 500s. You can hear people vent about how they struggle to nail a work-life balance and there are those who share their 9 to 5 routines and how they find time for fun things to do after work. And there are salary transparency videos and even tips from career experts on how to land a job.
Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.
Research Briefing: TikTok tops brands’ holiday wishlist
Interested in sharing your perspectives on the media and marketing industries? Join the Digiday research panel.
In this week’s Digiday+ Research Briefing, we examine how brands have been upping their TikTok investments this holiday season, how Lyft and the MSG Sphere are positioning themselves as ad opportunities beyond OOH, and how publishers are committing to building their events businesses in 2024, as seen in recent data from Digiday+ Research.
This is a member-exclusive article from Digiday. Continue reading it on digiday.com and subscribe to continue reading content like this.
Coca-Cola set to continue generative AI efforts with holiday-season marketing push
This upcoming holiday season Coca-Cola is hoping to win over users to its AI platform which allows them to create customized holiday greeting cards with prompts. The Create Real Magic platform was built for Coca-Cola by OpenAI and Bane & Company using assets from the Coca-Cola archive. For the greeting card effort, iconic Coca-Cola holiday artwork is being used.
Coca-Cola, this past March, began asking its fans to use the Create Real Magic platform to create artwork for the brand with the potential for the final product to appear on billboard ads in New York and London. The callout had fans spending more than seven minutes and twelve seconds each and creating more than 120,000 images.
The beverage behemoth believes that if it can offer an interactive, easy-to-use tool that appeals to consumers, particularly younger tech savvy consumers, it can help the brand retain relevance.
Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.