In the 1989 movie Field of Dreams, an Iowa farmer hears a voice in his cornfield tell him, “If you build it, he will come”. So, he built it, Shoeless Joe shows up and we all get one of the best baseball movies of all time.
However, in the internet and inbound marketing world, things are a little less cut and dry. Because reaching customers online isn't just about creating a great website or offering a superior product or service, it’s also about deploying smart, proven, affordable and measurable targeted online marketing strategies.
To point you in that direction, below we highlight 5 low cost, high impact ways for reaching customers online:
5 Easy Ways to Reach Your Customers Online
1. Go to Where Your Customers Are
This strategy looks simple, but it can be easily overlooked given that new social media properties are emerging all the time – and just as quickly, they’re heading for the virtual dustbin of history (MySpace anyone?).
Basically, the advice here is to create and maintain social media accounts where your target customers are – and not necessarily where you think they should be. For example, if your customers are hard core Instagrammers, then you definitely need an account. Or if you’re in the B2B space, while having a Facebook and Twitter presence is important, LinkedIn should probably be at the top of your list. And if you’re an IT company, then you may find that Spiceworks is where you need to be.
2. Wisely Use Online Advertising
We say “wisely” here, because horror stories abound of how some businesses – including large enterprises – wasted tens of thousands of dollars on either ineffective or pointless online advertising. This includes Google AdWords, but is no means limited to that platform.
The advice here is to carefully plan and implement an online advertising program and ensure that you have supporting assets in place – such as an eBook, demo, newsletter, landing page, etc. – that maximizes the opportunity and makes reaching customers online cost-effective and measurably beneficial.
3. Establish Thought Leadership Through Blog Posts
While blogs have been around for decades, they remain the #1 way for reaching customers online – because every blog post should be indexed by Google (and other search engines), and as such can serve as entry points for customers who are searching for your solution. At the same time, blogs can be used as part of a targeted online marketing campaign to establish thought leadership, move customers forward on the customer journey, distribute assets (e.g. eBooks) and more.
Naturally, it goes without saying that your blog posts need to be relevant to your customers, interesting, engaging and well-written. In other words: they need to be legitimate, professional articles. Otherwise they won’t help you reach customers online -- or anywhere else for that matter.
4. Connect with Partners
It can also be very beneficial to partner with companies or consultants as part of a targeted online marketing campaign. This can include mutual guest blogging, co-branding, co-sponsorships, and even co-offers (i.e. combining products or services in a package or bundle). This approach is particularly effective when you’re aiming for customers outside of your traditional marketplace.
5. Leverage Social Proof
Social proof includes testimonials, case studies, and other elements that help establish your business’s credibility, experience and capacity. Often, customers find this kind of information highly influential.
Learn More About Reaching Customers Online
At Leap Clixx, we weave all of the above strategies in our clients’ targeted online marketing campaigns. And just as importantly, we do so in an appropriate and professional way that aligns with their brand, profile and marketplace. This is especially important for companies in the B2B space, who need to connect with customers differently than those in the B2C or eCommerce space.
To learn more, contact the Leap Clixx team today. Your consultation with us is free, and we guarantee that you’ll learn something valuable about reaching customers online that you can implement immediately.
Topics: Inbound Marketing
