Small businesses today need to get on the social media bandwagon in order to reach their target audience and get the word out about their products and services. One of the effective ways to achieve these objectives is through link building.
Building links requires consistent effort. When done properly, it can attract the right people to your business and build your credibility. In fact, this task can cover links from around the web which can help your company reach an international audience and at the same time, it links that tap locally relevant sources. The primary goal is to attract quality and authority links more than quantity.
Go Local
Small businesses can start building links using the numerous local resources available to them. They can list their companies on local directories and review sites related to their niche. Check out online directories of the local chamber of commerce, local newspapers as well as city or county directory. Review sites that have local presence include Yelp, CitySearch, AngiesList and Merchant Circle.
Another way to promote your company is by partnering with another business in your locality. Other options are to sponsor a community event, provide testimonials for local businesses or speak at colleges and events.
Hosting a community activity is also a good idea. This has double benefits because apart from starting an event, you also have an opportunity to give back to the community where your business is operating and its people.
Launch a Contest
Who doesn’t love contests and freebies? Many people are eager to join whether it’s online or offline particularly if the prizes are something very useful to them. With numerous creative ideas available today, there’s sure to be one that fits your niche. You can start your search online or perhaps, create an original one.
Photo contests are very popular as well as the social media sharing types. On Facebook or Instagram, you can launch a post-sharing contest that requires participants to share a post about your giveaway with the names of those who joined to be raffled off at the end of the promo. Or you can start a photo contest on a certain topic with the picture gaining the most likes declared as a winner in the end.
Businesses that have the extra budget can also hire a professional or an agency such as Notable SEO in Singapore to create engaging content. Marketing and PR agencies can do the job of building links and content for your company on a regular basis.
Build Relationships with Influencers
Influencers are people with a strong social media following and experts in their own fields. As such, you can start establishing a friendly relationship with them so they can help you in promoting your business. These people can be journalists, social media experts, bloggers, copywriters and business owners themselves. Do a Google search first and then make a list of those you want to contact.
To achieve your purpose, you can begin getting in touch with them online through their websites, publications or blogs. Eventually, though, you need to go out and meet some of them by attending events and conferences whether they are free or requires a fee. This will also help improve your networking skills as you speak with them in person, exchange contact information and even offer help in some issues that interest them. When they know you are well-knowledgeable about your niche, who knows they may eventually interview you on the possible solutions to certain issues that matter to people.
One of the best ways to get the attention of the media and influencers is by creating original and quality content. You can create a blog for your business and if you’re fond of writing, you can manage it yourself. You may also encourage other credible writers or bloggers to contribute to your site if you want. Another option is to hire a PR agency or copywriter to help you produce content relevant to your niche. Your content could focus on how your products or services can help solve people’s problems. Include statistics and visuals that easily grab attention.