As a small business owner, we know that a one-man/woman-show can’t always do it all. We wear many hats and often times do a great job of juggling multiple roles. A lot of business owners have to by necessity.
But we can limit our business growth by trying to handle everything ourselves. A specific aspect of your business is only as good as the person running it, so I encourage others to partner with talented and knowledgable experts who can lead areas of your business that may not be your expertise.
When you are ready to begin pulling in others into your business and outsourcing some services, it can be difficult to know what you need, who to trust, and how much to budget. From my years of experience in websites and digital marketing, I always recommend partnering with a website company that will set your site up for success and nailing down a sound marketing strategy that is easy to follow and allows you to track progress.
Your Website
First and foremost, your business’s website is the hub of your brand. In today’s day and age, potential customers and leads are always Googling businesses, looking at online reviews, comparing prices, and doing their own research before ever actually speaking with your team or engaging in your services.
While there are website platforms that allow you to create your own site using a template and theme, if you don’t have knowledge of website best practices, this option does little more than get a site up and running. You want your website to be set up correctly from the back end, optimized for search results (hello SEO), and secure. Websites also need to load quickly, include well-written copy, and have a navigational structure that is intuitive and easy to use for users.
My recommendation? Sparrow Websites’ Launch Kits.
With Launch Kits, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50-$1,500 for a beautiful, smart website. The $50 a month option provides you with the tools you need to get the website up and running yourself. The $1,500 option includes everything from photos and website copy to integrations with things like email marketing platforms and scheduling tools.
Did I mention all options are live within 10 days?
A Marketing Strategy
Ever heard the expression, throw it against the wall and see what sticks? In some instances, this can be great advice. But not when it comes to a sound marketing strategy.
A marketing strategy is like a roadmap for your business. It can include a variety of tactics like social media, blogs, videos, outreach, and more. If you’re ever felt like you’re doing aspects of these marketing tactics but not seeing results or even knowing what to look for, that’s a sign that you need a strategy.
Besides knowing where you’re going and how to get there, a marketing strategy also allows you to track your progress through analytic reports. This is a key piece to any successful marketing effort. Without analytics or periodic reviews of them, your efforts can go in vain. You need to set goals, review benchmarks, and pivot or change your strategy in places that aren’t working.
My recommendation? Bootstrap Local.
Bootstrap Local provides small businesses with a guided marketing strategy custom to their goals and resources. They work with you to develop a strategy, and they answer all of your questions so you feel comfortable carrying out the strategy.
While you can expect to budget about $500 to engage with Bootstrap Local, working with Bootstrap Local will give you:
- How the right marketing system can bring your business a consistent stream of leads and clients
- The #1 most important step to get your business ranking on Google and the simple, proven 3-step formula you can use to nail it every time
- The must-have pages for a local service business and what you should include on them (with examples)
- 2 Secret Keys growing your company into a respected local brand
- A complete blueprint for a marketing funnel that converts strangers to customers on autopilot
Digital Marketing Support
With a smart website and a sound marketing strategy, you might be ready to hit the ground running and carry out the next steps for your business. But for others who may still need some support actually following that strategy, Foxcrest Media is always happy to help.
We can collaborate together on various areas that you’re needing support with including writing blogs, sending out newsletters to your email lists, updating and optimizing copy on your website, and social media.
