Before we get into this list I want to share something with you. I have been considering going back to school, mostly because they just updated one of the previous classes that I took and added a ton of new information. But also because there is a new class on email strategies that I want to take. I was talking with one of the teachers from the updated class and he shared with me some of the stuff that has been updated.
After our conversation I was thinking about what strategies I would be using and changing as part of my own marketing for 2013. I was remembering some of the stuff he had said during the class and then it dawned on me… I need a list… One of the points he made that was not part of the curriculum was that people love lists! When I say he made a point, he talked about it until everyone taking the class had said that they understood. So I sat down and started making my list and boy was it a large one.
It got me to thinking about how many small business owners don’t have a list to work from when it comes to planning for 2013. So I decided that I would share part of my list with you so that you can use it for your business! There will be two parts to this list, the short version which you will be reading here and a longer version with more explanation and ideas under each planning point. More on the expanded list later, let’s get you moving on the
10 ways you need to market your business online in 2013!
1. Create / Change / Update Your FB page
If you don’t already have a Facebook business page, create one. If you have one and haven’t updated it in over 6 months, then update it. If you haven’t made any significant changes in over 6 months, then make those adjustments as well. I have found so many small errors on pages that I have helped with from people just not checking their pages once they set them up.
If you haven’t added any new pictures in a while, now is the time!
2. Share Your Website on all of your Social Media Accounts
It amazes me that people have all these different accounts for their business and none of them have their website on their account or profile. The other thing that amazes me is that people will post all different types of random pictures and videos on their business pages but they never tell people to visit their website!
If you spent over $50 on having a website created, then you need to be telling people to visit it!
3. Create a Google Plus Business Page
I actually talk about this in my Big 3 Class, but you need a Google Plus Business Page. If you want to be found in Google local searches, then you need a Google Plus Business page and you need one last week!
You can create one by visiting this link: www.google.com/+/business/
4. Adjust / Update your Website
If you have not updated your website in over 6 months, now is the time! If you have not updated your pictures in over 6 months, then it is time to replace every picture that you can with new ones!
Have you ever eaten a cracker out of a package that has been half open for a couple of days? If so, then you know what stale tastes like… That is your website… Stale… Update it, change some wording, change your pictures and then go over to your social media sites and tell everyone about your changes! Remember to give them the web address!
5. Build an Email List
This is going to be something I will be pushing any and every new client I have this year into making sure they have. If you have a store front, you need to be collecting peoples email addresses. If you have a website, you need a way to capture email addresses from the website. If you have neither of those, then you need to get one or the other if not both!
Start building that email list in the next 30 days! I talked about why in the 2nd part of my last blog post, read it here.
6. Blog on your Website
If you have a website and you don’t have a blog on it, call your webmaster today and ask him nicely to add one for you. There are such wonderful ways to attract new business, blogging is one of them. The problem is that people blog on other venues and not on their website. Unless you are being paid to blog for someone else, then you need to be blogging on your website! Sure you can share that blog post on other places, but you had better be pointing people back to your website.
7. Create & Add Videos to your Website
Video, wonderful video, the secret push in the internet marketing world. In 2013, you need to add no less than 2 videos to your website. I love video on websites, especially if the video is talking about the company or a product.
8. Get an SEO Audit
There are plenty of companies that you can use to get an SEO audit. If you don’t know of one, ask me, I will share some good ones with you. You need to know if your SEO is setup correctly, if you haven’t done any SEO, then you need to start there!
9. Do a Monthly Newsletter
Remember me talking about building your list? Well here is one of the things you will be using it for. You should be sharing each month if there are any new items, specials or good news from your business. I have so much that I am adding that there will be good news in every one of my newsletters!
10. Share your Blog Posts on Patch!
Now I could get into a long drawn out list of reasons why you need to be sharing on the Patch website, but I will save those for a class. Obviously if I am doing it, then you should be too!
Ok, now you have 10 things you need to be doing for 2013 to market your business online! I hope you have enjoyed reading this and if you have any questions feel free to ask!
For those of you wondering about the expanded edition of this, I will be sending it out via our email newsletter. So make sure you sign up for our newsletter in order to get your hands on the extended version! It will be available only for a week until we incorporate it into an ebook! So go sign up now!
Original Blog Post can be found here: http://www.freskosmedia.com/10-ways-you-need-to-market-your-business-in-2013/
If you are looking for some FREE marketing training for your business, you can check out our website for our current classes: http://www.freskosmedia.com/free-online-training/
