Testimonials are a critical asset for small business owners, and these days, most people share and search for reviews online. Inc. says 91% of people regularly or occasionally read online reviews, and 84% trust online reviews as much as their friends, so if you’re not monitoring and responding to yours, start now!

It goes without saying that today’s business owners across all industries face uncertainty about the future, among other challenges. Whether you run a start-up or an established company, small business owners must constantly adapt to survive and thrive in these rapidly changing times.
Fortunately, some strategies for growing your business can be outsourced, such as digital marketing.

If you run a Facebook page for your business, you’ve probably noticed the blue “Boost Post” button in the lower right corner of your social posts when you’re logged into your business account. When you hover your mouse over it, it says, “Boost your post to reach more people.”

We’ve talked a lot about video marketing in our blogs over the years, from how to use video to enhance customer service, to whether video ads drive more results, to the benefits of using video on social media. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: If video isn’t already a part of your digital marketing strategy, you’re missing out on some major opportunities!

It’s amazing when a new customer finds your website and buys a product or contacts you right away to schedule a service. If only every sale was that simple! However, customers like to shop around, so it’s common for them to check out a website and leave without converting. Remarketing ads are strategically designed to recapture a potential lead’s attention after they’ve left and nudge them back to your site.

Like other social networks, LinkedIn can be an asset for your business if you have a thoughtful strategy. With nearly 690+ million users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network.

How’s your website doing? Is it providing value for your business? Building a high-quality website requires a good amount of time, effort, and sometimes a sizable investment, so you should never “set it and forget it.” If you want to see a return on your investment, it’s important to understand how your site is performing and continually analyze areas that may need some improvement.

No matter what industry you’re in, the main thing your potential customers want to know is whether your business can actually deliver the promises made on your website and in your marketing. Any company can claim their products or services are of a high quality, which explains why so many consumers consult online reviews before making an important purchase. But reviews aren’t something your business can totally control, and they don’t paint the whole picture of your brand.

Online reviews can be one of the strongest assets or biggest liabilities for a small business. Are you paying attention to yours? Do you respond to all reviews, or are you focusing on “real” interactions and pretending what people say online doesn’t matter?

Have you noticed many ads in your Facebook News Feed lately? Scroll through, and you’ll see a sponsored post tucked between every four or so organic posts from your friends and family. More ads pop up when you search for things in Google, and if you click on a website, you’re likely to see some ads there too. Digital advertising makes it possible for businesses to reach new customers or reconnect with existing customers, and it can be surprisingly cost-effective.