We’ve written before about how social media is changing the face of business, but many traditional businesses are still hesitant to adopt these new platforms as part of their marketing plan. According to a recent report by the Public Relations Society of America, 85% of small businesses don’t even have a website. Clearly, the potential to reach your customers through social media remains largely untapped.
- The shift to the mobile web
Mobile is the bridge between consumers and small businesses.As an entrepreneur, you should be looking to service customers closer to where they are. The earlier you can start working on your small business mobile experience, the better.Growing up in the digital age allows consumers to shop just about anywhere and anytime. And that’s not going to change any time soon. We’re only beginning to discover the power of this trend.
The amount of time we’re willing to invest in shopping is growing shorter and shorter with each passing year. And thanks to mobile phones, we can buy things while never even leaving our homes. In fact, the majority of consumers have made a purchase on their phone. Mobile commerce is continuing to increase, and with it, so will the importance of mobile in your small business marketing strategy.
2.The Rise of Tik Tok
There are plenty of examples to choose from when talking about the rise of Tik-Tok. The app has been a massive success in China since its inception in 2016, with over 1 billion daily users amongst its tiktok followers. It has since come to the US and is showing no signs of slowing down.
In fact, TikTok is only one of the many live-streaming apps popping up all over the world. It is also becoming a platform for much more than just comedy and music. Financial advisors use it to make money by giving financial advice. Education platforms are also emerging on this app, such as StreamCake , which allows teachers to connect with students via live lessons.
Tik-Tok has become an excellent tool for businesses that want to expand their reach. It is also a great way to market products and services.
3.Branded entertainment is emerging as a new way for brands to create a lasting bond with consumers.
The downside to social media platforms is that users can often see these posts as blatant ads, which leaves a bad taste.Branded entertainment embraces the concept of “crowdsourcing,” borrowing ideas from consumers to create product integration and more memorable experiences. Experiences like these are more meaningful and consumers don’t feel like they’re being advertised to. Branded entertainment helps marketers avoid the pitfalls of traditional advertising.
To make your own branded entertainment, try using these four tips:
- Create social media contests and use your contest winner in product placement
- Install a QR code that allows people to access videos, buy tickets for an event or access social networking sites.
4.The Rise of AI/Machine Learning is Making Small Businesses Smarter
Artificial intelligence or “AI” refers to computer programs designed to replicate human thinking, learning and problem solving. Artificial intelligence technology has become increasingly important over the last few years – used by retailers to enhance marketing efforts, by marketers to help personalize content that reaches the right audience, by social media platforms to understand what users want and more.
- The Future of Small Business is Local
The global economy has made it easier for small businesses to expand into new markets and tap into new opportunities, but it’s also created a shadow market with counterfeit products and a glut of service providers. Outsourcing services internationally can result in higher quality at lower prices – but it also can lead to problems with language barriers and a lack of consistency.
- The Customer Experience is Changing.
The customer experience is changing, and we’re seeing technology like Facebook Messenger, Amazon Echo, and Snapchat change the way people interact with brands. Small businesses that embrace new customer experiences have the opportunity to create unique relationships with customers in the way they market and deliver products and services.