Top 3 Tips to Successfully Market Your Small Business Online

Online marketing for small businesses isn't as hard as you think. As the Internet provides new opportunities and landscapes for businesses to reach their customers, the challenge in promoting your business online can be a bit daunting. However, you can still be successful in this endeavor even with a tight budget and little know-how.

Here are the top three things you need to do to start marketing your small business on the web:

Build a solid, local website.

It's a wonder that nearly half of all small business still do not have their own website. Having an online home is crucial to marketing on the web - it lets you showcase your products and services as well as display your business information, promotions and more.

But not just any website will do. You need to make sure that your website is optimized for local searches and for mobile devices. Surveys have reported that new trends point to more consumers looking for local businesses on their smartphones more than on desktops. Ensuring that your site looks great on mobile through responsive web design and that it's built to attract local customers is essential.

How essential? Google reports that 67% of mobile users are more likely to buy from a mobile-friendly website, and that if the site doesn't look great on their phones, 79% will quickly look for another site.

Collect more online reviews.

If you think online reviews aren't important, perhaps this finding will change your mind: 78% of Americans say that online reviews influence their buying decisions. Despite that, only about half of local businesses receive and promote their customer reviews.

Positive and negative feedback from previous customers are very influential on how prospective consumers consider your business. Actively look for reviews and make it easy for your customers to do so on your website. You should also take steps to get positive reviews on popular review sites such as Google+ Local, Yelp, etc., as a lot of people rely on them when looking for nearby services.

Engage and interact with customers.

Develop positive relationships with your customers through social media. About 78% of consumers are affected by the posts and updates of businesses they follow on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Engaging your loyal customers is a great way to get repeat business and attract new customers.

Be careful not to be too promotional in your social media activity though, and instead focus on interesting events that highlight customer experiences and business values.

Finally, keep in mind that online marketing isn't a fast-and-easy process that gets instant sales or profits. Go for the long haul and build your presence on the web one step at a time to get the best results.