Reader Question: Free Online Marketing Ideas That Turn Fans Into Customers

Free Online Marketing Ideas That Turn Fans Into Customers

The other day, I asked my Google+ community what they would like to know about Online Marketing and Shannon Davis of Atlas Administrative Supportasked me the golden question that all my clients have asked me before. I gave her a quick answer on Google+ (by the way, if you don’t follow me there, click here!), but as I get this question so often, I thought it deserves a blog post on its own.

Free Online Marketing

First things first. The question starts out with a little pet peeve of mine. Free Online Marketing. Facebook is free, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, MailChimp, WordPress, PicMonkey and so many other tools you can use for Online Marketing are free or offer free options. You can set up your whole online presence for your business for free. But can you do free Online Marketing? I hate to break it to you, but no, you can’t and here are the reasons:

• Online Marketing takes time and time is money

• Unless you have an indefinite amount of time to grow your traffic and Social Media Networks 100% organically, you need money for advertisement, contests, give-a-ways, coupons and other incentives that will grow your online network fast and efficient. Remember: Free does not always mean cost efficient when you are running a business! #opportunitycost

• Stay away from options that make your business look cheap. For example, don’t set up your website or company blog through Blogger, WordPress.com, but rather buy a domain name (or integrate it with your existing website) and pay a couple of Dollars each month for hosting. You can get your domain name registration, 12 months of hosting and access to a premium Template for  less than $ 150 per year. If you are not willing to spend a few bucks on your business, why should your customers?

But now the good news. While free Online Marketing is in my eyes an oxymoron, Online Marketing has proven in the past couple of years that it is one of the most cost-effective Marketing methods available to businesses. By all means, go with the free option while they suit your needs, but don’t be afraid to upgrade to paid as soon as it makes sense to from a business perspective.

How to Turn Fans into Customers?

Now on to the second and equally interesting part of Shannon’s question. How to turn fans into customers? Unfortunately, each of the points I will share with you warrants its own blog post, which I am planning to publish soon, so sign up for my email newsletter and stay tuned.

• Create an Online Marketing strategy that connects your website, Social Media, Online Advertisement and Email Marketing with your actual business. Make sure your employees know about what’s going on on Facebook, which promotions you are running and that you cross-promote each initiative on your other Marketing channels – online and offline. Integration is key!

• Make your Website and Social Media profiles look up-to-date and professional. Get rid of your hard-coded Website from 2003 and switch to a responsive WordPress theme. Make sure that your Social Media profile and background images are the right size, look professional and match your branding across the different channels.

• Post regularly and engage with your customers. Share valuable insights, make it fun and enticing for people to comment. If they do, make sure that you show them how much you appreciate their interaction. Reply, like and respond to all questions, comments and complaints in a timely manner.

• If you have a website, start blogging. Blogging will help your website with SEO, you can showcase your expertise and you have content that you can promote on Social Media Networks which is not overly promotional, yet drives readers to your website.

• Ask them. Yes, sometimes the simplest thing can be the most difficult. You need toinclude an enticing CTA (Call-To-Action) on your website and on your Social Media networks. But don’t go for the close right away, that is way to pushy for Social Media! Instead:

• Create an Email list and offer a free download as an incentive for people to sign up for your newsletter. When you lured them onto your list, you can share more targeted information. Build more trust and show them that you care about them and their problems. Share your expertise without asking for something. Add value for your list subscribers and offer them special deals and great info.

• Don’t just use Online Marketing to get new customers, but also to retain customers. We all know how much harder it is to get a new client compared to keeping an existing customer. So remember to share info that is relevant to your existing customers that will not only maintain their loyalty, but also encourage them to become your brand advocates. Here is how it works:
• via:http://jupiter-labs.com/free-online-marketing-turn-fans-into-customers/