Print Icon
 

April 2021 Edition

Small Business. Small Budget. BIG RESULTS.


by Dawn Varga

April 26, 2021

Did you know that the smallest of companies with an equally small marketing budget can still get effective results online with a small monthly investment? Many businesses don’t think they can compete with their larger, more established competitors, but the fact is a minimal monthly spend can generate big results.


Luckily, online advertising offer opportunities for small businesses to get their companies in front of internet users for a lot less than traditional print, direct mail, and radio/TV. Pay-per-click advertising can be inexpensive, and since you only pay when someone clicks on your ad and visits your website, the value is quite high. The key is spending your budget wisely. Here are a few tips to get a higher ROI:

  • Optimize your keyword list – Be extremely specific about the search phrases you are willing to pay for. Using terms that are too general could result in fewer conversions.
  • Ensure landing page relevancy – Do not spend extra money by having consumers click on your ad and end up bouncing because they did not find what they were looking for.
  • Test and measure – Evaluate your ads and keywords to determine which are performing better than others. Set up conversion tracking to measure customer actions. 
In addition to pay-per-click advertising, small businesses should take advantage of all the FREE ways to get your business in front of consumers. Here is a sampling of the many cost-free (yet potentially time-consuming) ways to get more online results:

  • Local business listings – Make sure your company has a verified registered listing on each of the main search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing. These listings allow your business to show up on maps and local search sections in the various browsers.
  • Social media business pages – Create business accounts on mainstream social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Post on a regular basis and make use of events, offers, and stories to get your content in front of more people. Monitor your account for “likes” and “shares” and engage with and invite those people to follow your page
  • Use hashtags – By incorporating hashtags into your social media posts, you can broaden your reach and reinforce your brand’s identity.
  • Website SEO – Make sure you focus on the website activities that help you rank higher in organic search results. Optimize your page titles and descriptions, use alt tags and optimize images, and make your site is user-friendly. Provide fresh content by updating your website with new information on a regular basis.
  • Word-of-mouth – Turn your employees, family, and friends into brand ambassadors. Encouraging them to share your content will allow your company to tap into the incredible potential of their personal networks and help grow your audience. 
As you can see, even the most cost-conscious company can promote their business without a significant monetary investment. In fact, the biggest investment is time and a little creativity. 


Not certain about where or how to start? Don’t have time implement them yourself? Our team of digital marketers can advise you and even implement them for you. Take a look at our low-cost digital marketing solutions and let’s talk! 


Call or Text OnTarget Digital Services at (951) 394-1952 or visit our website for more information. 


7 Tips for Small Business Owners in 2021


by Renee Johnson

April 26, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has not been kind to small business owners, and that’s something of an understatement. In the U.S. alone, almost 100,000 small businesses closed their doors permanently in 2020. The picture wasn’t all rosy for those that remained open, either. Consumers cut their spending and businesses trimmed budgets out of pandemic anxiety. Revenues dropped precipitously and many businesses survived only by the skin of their teeth.


As we move into the summer of 2021, things are beginning to look up. Vaccines continue to roll out around the world, the economy is reopening in many places, and consumer spending is starting to rise, climbing 2.4% in January after two straight months of free fall.


Business owners are hopeful that profits will climb again, but then again every small business owner shares that hope and is actively vying for new customers. You’ll need to use every tool in your chest to grab consumer attention and make your business stand out from competitors. Here are seven ways to improve your ability to grab a customer’s attention.


1. Upgrade your online presence.

Covid-19 drove online shopping to new heights and that’s one trend that isn’t going away anytime soon. Like it or not, the first place people go to check out your business is online. Even if they’re planning to buy from you in person, now’s the time to create a website if you don’t already have one.


For many potential customers, your website will be their first impression of your business. It’s critically important it be professional and engaging. Be sure to include all the basic information customers need about your business. At a minimum, provide contact information, pricing, business hours, street address and/or the area you serve, and delivery and refund details if relevant.


2. Express the unique personality of your company.

Consumers might buy from a business, but they prefer to have a personal relationship with a brand. If you want to create a loyal cadre of return customers, you need to express your personality in the form of branding. Your website is the virtual face of your business, so choose colors and fonts that express your personality, wording that conveys your tone, and content that communicates your value proposition.


Decide on the voice of your brand, namely the style you use in communications. Examples include formal, cheeky, fun, reliable, classy, etc. After making that decision, be sure to express your voice consistently on your website, social media posts, email newsletters, packaging, and paid ads.


CLICK TO READ REST OF ARTICLE ON TECHREPORT.COM

Cranberry Sauce

Ricotta With Balsamic Berries

View Recipe on foodnetwork.com



Serve Mom an easy, tasty treat on Mother's Day!


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp. honey
  • Sprig of mint
  • Strawberries and/or Blackberries
  • Ricotta cheese

Instructions:

Boil 1 cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey and a sprig of mint in a small saucepan until syrupy, about 7 minutes.

Cool the syrup slightly, then drizzle over sliced strawberries and/or blackberries and ricotta.

Yields 4 servings.


     
   


OnTarget Digital Services is a proud member of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, the RV Women's Alliance and the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce.

GRCOC and RVWA Membership Image
Tina and Dawn OnTarget

Connect With Us

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
Pinterest
OnTarget logo

Contact Info


OnTarget Digital Services, LLC

Canyon Lake,California

Phone: (951) 394-1952

Email: info@ontargetdigitalservices.com

Website: www.ontargetdigitalservices.com