1. Build a Strong Online Presence

For new businesses, having a strong online presence is critical. This starts with a well-designed website. Your website is often the first interaction potential customers will have with your brand, so it needs to be user-friendly, mobile-optimised, and reflect your brand’s professionalism.

Website Design: Ensure that your website is easy to navigate and provides a seamless user experience. It should clearly showcase your products or services and include essential information such as contact details, business hours, and a clear call to action (CTA). Statistics show that 94% of people’s first impression of a website is on their website design .

Social Media Profiles: Don’t stop at just a website. Claim and optimise your business profiles on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Consistent branding across these platforms builds trust with potential customers and enhances your visibility.

Google My Business: For new businesses, setting up a Google My Business profile is essential for local SEO. It helps you appear in local search results and on Google Maps, making it easier for nearby customers to find you. A well-optimised profile can improve your visibility drastically and boost local foot traffic.

2. Focus on Local SEO

Local SEO is one of the most effective strategies for small businesses targeting a specific geographic area. In fact, 46% of all Google searches are seeking local information , which means that optimising your business for local search results can significantly increase your chances of being found by nearby customers.

Geo-targeted Keywords: Use location-based keywords such as “digital marketing for small business UK” to capture local traffic. Include these in your website copy, blog posts, and social media updates. Also, don’t forget to optimise for mobile since many local searches are made on smartphones.

Encourage Customer Reviews: Positive reviews not only enhance your business’s reputation but also help with local SEO rankings. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on Google, as they can influence others’ decisions when choosing your service.

Schema Markup: If you’re unfamiliar, schema markup is a form of microdata that makes it easier for search engines to understand your content. It can also give your business a leg up in local SEO by adding rich snippets to your search results, showing users extra details like your business hours and reviews.

3. Content Marketing & Blogging

Content marketing is a powerful tool for any new business. Consistently providing valuable and relevant content helps you build trust with your audience, showcase your expertise, and improve your SEO ranking.

Start a Blog: Blogging is one of the most cost-effective digital marketing strategies available. Write articles about topics your target customers are interested in—whether it’s how-to guides, industry insights, or news about your niche. This will help you rank higher on search engines and drive organic traffic to your site.

Keyword Research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify the keywords that your audience is searching for. This will help you create blog posts and other content that are optimised for search engines and highly relevant to your audience.

Repurposing Content: Maximise the reach of your content by repurposing it for different platforms. For example, you can turn a blog post into a series of social media posts, an email newsletter, or even a short video.

4. Leverage Paid Advertising

While organic growth is important, paid advertising can give your business an immediate boost. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising and social media ads allow you to reach your target audience quickly and efficiently.

PPC Advertising: With PPC, you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. Google Ads is a great platform to start with, as it allows you to target specific keywords and locations. By investing in PPC, you can generate immediate traffic to your website, helping to establish brand awareness in the early stages of your business.

Social Media Ads: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn offer powerful targeting options that allow you to reach your desired audience based on factors like age, interests, and location. Start small, test different ad creatives, and adjust based on the performance of each campaign.

Retargeting: Don’t forget to use retargeting to bring back visitors who have already shown interest in your business. Retargeting ads appear to users who have visited your website before but didn’t convert. This keeps your business top of mind and increases the likelihood of conversion.

5. Email Marketing for Customer Retention

Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to build relationships with your customers and keep them engaged. As a new business, growing and nurturing your email list should be a top priority.

Building an Email List: Use lead magnets such as free guides, discounts, or exclusive content to encourage visitors to sign up for your email list. The earlier you start collecting emails, the more opportunities you’ll have to nurture leads and convert them into loyal customers.

Segmented Campaigns: Once you have a list, segment it based on customer behaviour, location, or preferences. Sending targeted email campaigns can significantly increase open rates and conversions. According to Campaign Monitor, segmented campaigns lead to a 760% increase in revenue .

Automation: Use automation to streamline your email marketing. Set up welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, or regular newsletters to keep your audience engaged without overwhelming them.

6. Social Media Engagement and Influencer Collaborations

In the digital era, social media is more than just a platform for sharing content—it’s a space for interaction and relationship-building.

Consistent Posting: Posting regularly on social media helps to keep your brand visible and relevant. Share engaging content, including customer testimonials, behind-the-scenes looks at your business, or tips related to your industry.

Engagement: Encourage interaction with your audience by asking questions, running polls, or responding to comments. The more engaged your audience is, the more loyal they will become over time.

Influencer Marketing: For a new business, partnering with local influencers can be a powerful way to increase brand awareness. Micro-influencers, especially, are more affordable and can have a more engaged following, which is crucial for small businesses.

How activ digital marketing Kingston Can Help

Navigating the complexities of digital marketing can be overwhelming for new businesses. That’s where we comes in. We specialise in providing tailored digital marketing solutions for new businesses through our New Business Start-up Packages. These packages are designed to help you establish a strong online presence, improve local SEO, and create engaging content to connect with your target audience.

Our team of experts works closely with you to develop a custom strategy that aligns with your business goals, helping you get the most out of your marketing budget. Whether it’s website design, SEO optimisation, or social media management, we’re here to support your business every step of the way.