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With many companies moving to the digital space because of the global pandemic, brick-and-mortar businesses seem to have to work even harder to be seen. This is where marketing comes into play and with a strong marketing plan, brick-and-mortar businesses may just see their online audience convert to in-person customers. However, smaller businesses may have a limited marketing budget while others prefer to spend their money on advertisements. No matter the business, everyone knows the importance of marketing and lucky for us, the internet and new technology have created many affordable marketing options that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. We no longer have to rely on expensive billboards or newspaper advertisements because content creation and accessibility to your company have become key to attracting customers in today’s 21st-century world. Here are some affordable digital marketing tips to put your brick-and-mortar business on the map.
Setting up a Google Business account is vital, especially for local businesses that want to be put on the map (literally). Not only is it completely free, it also allows your audience to gain access to all your business details on the #1 search engine site. A Google Business account is a business’ most visible asset as you can include your business address, telephone number and business hours. These are all information that customers need to know to locate you on top of building transparency and trust. Google also helps you by listing your business to possible leads but this requires optimisation to ensure you rank higher than your competitors. To ensure your business is registered and listed accurately on Google, get in touch with a Google Street View Trusted Agency that is certified and experienced in verifying Google Business accounts.
We already know that Google is a powerful site with the majority of the online audience choosing it over other search engines. Therefore, it’s only obvious to take full advantage of it by tapping into their Google Virtual Tour functions as well. These virtual tours over a quick view into your establishment and are shot in a 360 format to allow possible customers to explore your space. Not only does a virtual tour of a property entice customers to visit your business, it also makes you an “open book” for customers to trust you. The Google Virtual Tour can also be embedded into your business listing where all the important details are included in one space. However, it’s important to make sure the virtual tour is shot by professionals as it could be the first impression of your establishment. Reach out to Google-verified agencies for professional photographers that provide quality work. A Google Virtual Tour is an affordable marketing option as it allows the virtual tour to be on your business listing for a lifetime but only requires a one-time payment.
Social media marketing is extremely important especially when you have millions (if not billions) of people scrolling through Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Creating content is completely free to do but also requires some creativity. Posting on your social media channels keeps you connected with your audience and active accounts are more likely to reach a bigger audience. Some content ideas for your brick-and-mortar business include pictures of the interior of your space, the products you offer and video tours. You can also utilise the poll and quiz features on these channels to engage with your audience. Always remember to have the details of your business including the location on your social media page to make it easy for your customers to locate your establishment.
Content marketing is an effective way to get your brand noticed without costing a bomb. Your audience and potential customers want to be informed on how your business can benefit them. A great way to do this is by creating content through blogs to show your authority and expertise as a brand. Your blogs should be informative, high-quality and value-adding to your audience. Keep it simple and easy to read and don’t forget to include a call-to-action to encourage your audience to visit your business in person. Include keywords that optimise your blogs to rank them higher on search engines and generate more clicks. When done well, content marketing can reach a large audience, inform them, and entice them to visit your brick-and-mortar business.
If your venue is the selling point of your business, you will want to put it at the centre stage of your marketing plan. For example, wedding venues, hotels and gyms can create buzz around their establishment and amenities so it’s best to opt for a marketing plan that shows your space and what it has to offer to entice your audience to your business. If you have various amenities that you want to be highlighted, a Google Virtual Tour may not be enough as it only gives a quick overview of the space. For an in-depth preview, custom virtual tours are the way to go. These tours work similarly to Google Virtual Tours with its 360 format but they offer more options such as navigation maps, infoboxes to add texts or videos, and even audio tours that take you around the virtual space. Businesses that create a virtual tour can completely customise them to feature the most sellable features of their space. Custom virtual tours also require a one-time payment that allows you to have your very own virtual tour on your business website forever.
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The Red Marker is a virtual tour agency, specialised in Google Map services to create Google Virtual Tours for businesses worldwide. We’re equipped with certified professionals and the latest technology to create virtual tours for any physical establishment. We boast an extensive portfolio of local businesses that we have worked with and we continue to be dedicated to digitising physical spaces to help businesses convert their online audience into paying customers.
