Why Small Business Marketing Online Is Often Ignored By Many Small Business Owners
Raza Naqvi
Professional Branding Consultant | Ex-journalist | Ex-Book Editor | I can help you become a visible and valuable professional brand | Get Professional Branding checklist for beginners?? | #bylineraza @bylineraza
Many small business owners continue to ignore small business marketing online despite online marketing advantages that they are either not aware of, or simply disregard.?
By Raza Hasnain Naqvi
It is a daily struggle for small businesses to get more customers, serve current customers well, challenge big business brands and generate decent revenue. The struggle is real, as the phrase goes.
You need to understand that small businesses face numerous challenges. They have limited budget and negligible resources to handle intense competition.?
One area where many small business owners struggle is online marketing. Despite the fact that online marketing for small businesses can be so effective, many small business owners still ignore it altogether. There are a number of reasons for this mindset. It includes a lack of understanding of how online marketing works, a fear of the unknown, and a belief that traditional marketing methods are sufficient.?
In this context, it is important to understand the reasons why many small business owners ignore small business marketing online, as well as the potential benefits that can be gained by adopting this powerful tool.
Passing Over Small Business Marketing Online
There are several reasons why a small business owner might ignore digital marketing for small businesses. However, there are also counterpoints to those reasons.
1/ Lack of knowledge or expertise:?
“Yaar, I don’t know much about it.”
Some small business owners may not have the knowledge or expertise needed to develop and execute an effective online marketing strategy. They may be intimidated by the technical aspects of online marketing, such as SEO (search engine optimization) or social media advertising. Thoughts may also arise in them that digital marketing for small business owners may be a difficult path to walk on.
Counterpoint -->
While it's true that some small business owners may lack knowledge or expertise in online marketing, there are many resources available to help them learn. If a small business owner is keen enough, there are so many online courses, blogs, and tutorials that can help him/her to improve their digital marketing skills.
2/ Limited resources:?
“Bhai, we can’t afford it.”
Small businesses often have limited resources, and the cost of hiring a professional marketer or agency may be beyond their means. Small business owners may believe that they can't afford to invest in online marketing.
Counterpoint -->
Small business owners may believe that they can't afford to invest in online marketing, but there are many cost-effective options available. For example, social media marketing can be done for free, and basic and valuable SEO can be done without hiring an expensive agency.
3/ Time constraints:?
“Yaar, I don’t have time for all this.”
Running a small business requires a lot of time and effort, and small business owners may feel that they don't have the time to devote to online marketing for small businesses. They may be focused on other priorities, such as managing inventory, hiring staff, or providing customer service.
Counterpoint -->
While running a small business does require a lot of time and effort, digital marketing for small business owners can actually save time in the long run. By automating tasks like email marketing or social media scheduling, small business owners can free up time to focus on other priorities.
4/ Scepticism:?
“Leave it man. Digital marketing? Really?”
Some small business owners may be sceptical about the effectiveness of online marketing. They may believe that traditional marketing methods, such as print ads, flyers or word-of-mouth are more effective than online marketing.
Counterpoint -->
Small business owners who are sceptical about the effectiveness of online marketing should consider the many success stories of small businesses. There are many such small businesses that are leveraging digital marketing well to grow their business. Additionally, by tracking and analysing their online marketing efforts, small business owners can see measurable results.
5/ Fear of failure:?
“Bhai, I am not sure. It’s a risk. Am not comfortable.”
Online marketing can be a risk for small businesses, especially those that are just starting out. Small business owners may be hesitant to invest time and resources in online marketing out of fear that it won't be successful.
Counterpoint -->
While it's true that online marketing can be a risk, it's important for small business owners to take calculated risks in order to grow their businesses. By starting small and testing different strategies, small business owners can minimize their risk while still benefiting from the advantages of small business marketing online.
It's important to understand these reasons why a small business owner might ignore online marketing so that his concerns can be addressed and solutions can be offered to help him overcome these obstacles.
Once small business owners realize that the logic they use to ignore online marketing may not be sound, they will overcome their ignorance happily.
How to convince a small business owner to use online marketing
To convince a small business owner to use small business marketing online, it is crucial to highlight the following points:
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1→ Cost-effectiveness
Online marketing can be more cost-effective than traditional marketing methods like print ads or billboards. With a limited budget, small business owners can reach a larger audience through online marketing channels like social media, email, and SEO.
2→ Wider reach
Online marketing can help small businesses reach customers beyond their local area. With a strong online presence, small businesses can attract customers from anywhere in the world. As long as their focus on their service and product is clear, customers will come to them from everywhere with cost-effective online marketing strategies for small businesses.
3→ Targeted marketing
With online marketing, small businesses can target their audience more precisely. Through tools like Facebook Ads or Google Ads, small businesses can reach customers based on demographics, interests, or search terms.
4→ Measurable results
Online marketing provides measurable results. This can help every small business owner see the return on investment of their marketing efforts. Analytics tools can track website traffic, social media engagement, and email open rates to see what's working and what's not.
5→ Competitiveness
In today's digital age, small businesses need to have a strong online presence to remain competitive. Online marketing can help small businesses stand out from the competition and build their brand.
Once these benefits are made clear to a business owner, you can convince any small business owner that online marketing is a worthwhile investment for his business.
Hope I could share some relevant points in this article related to online marketing advantages for small businesses, why a small business owner may ignore online marketing and how he/she may adopt it.
May health and happiness follow you everywhere. Amen.?
My next article will be on Business Branding. See you there.?
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