How to Make Inbound Marketing Work For Your Business

For businesses today, it's all about inbound marketing. It's about a strong online presence, which today equals a strong market presence. So what exactly is inbound marketing and how do businesses get involved? How do you make inbound marketing work for you?

In the last few months, areas such as social media, mobile marketing, content marketing, and SEO have changed drastically. This can be incredibly frustrating for those businesses who are trying to master inbound marketing and develop and establish an online presence, but for others it is an incredibly exciting opportunity...the opportunity to revisit strategies and discover more and better ways to capture and connect with potential customers, other businesses, and network. 

So if you haven't already, revisit the content on your website. Maybe it's time to take another look at your design and current marketing campaign. How can your website and social media pages boost your audience and create conversions? Remember, not only is your website designed to attract customers and convert leads into sales, but it should also be a place where people enjoy visiting.

Here are some key areas where inbound marketing 

Social Media Marketing. Today, just about every individual and business uses social media to some degree. Social media for businesses have pretty much taken the place of what were the Yellow Pages.

So how can your business use social marketing to really create conversions? First and foremost, make sure your posts are relevant to your audience. Your posts should be engaging, something worth your readers' interests, and enhance audience retention. In addition to relevant content, your social media pages and profiles should also have the basic information on them. This may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised at home many businesses don't even list a phone number. Be sure to include a description of your product or service(s), location (if necessary), hours, contact methods, etc.

Website and Design. Most businesses can comfortably say they have a functional website. But is it? Any business can set up and run a website today, but the design and marketing behind it is crucial. Having an organized, interactive, and attractive website will set your business out from your competition. What does your website offer or do that others do not? What sets a part yours from your competition?

Part of determining what to do with your website and how to market it relies greatly on studying others' websites. How are other similar businesses in your industry organizing their websites? How can you make yours different?

The third crucial component to this point is basic maintenance. Don't underestimate the power of behind basic website maintenance. Take time each day or week to make sure all links are working properly, the pages are properly anchored and tagged, your site map is organized and makes logical sense, and be sure to re-register your domain name in a timely manner.

Search Engine Optimization and Content. When businesses think Internet marketing they also think Search Engine Optimization, or SEO. Your website should include relative key phrases and keywords to your product or service and your industry.

Web content is still as important as ever, but the shift has changed. Businesses are now focusing and streamlining their posts and content to more centered areas specific to industries and/or products. Basically it's all about centering your business on one or several key areas, and becoming experts on them. Your content should be factual, interesting, engaging, and should grab the reader's attention immediately with a unique title.

Inbound marketing is a crucial element to any businesses’ marketing strategies and methods. If you are looking to increase brand recognition, increase customer retention, and ultimately convert leads into sales and ultimately more revenue, then be sure to beef up your inbound marketing strategies. Make inbound marketing work for your business.

© Lori Martin | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Written content: © 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J. H. Language Solutions