Four States Small Business Blog

Every generation gets a name, and the one that is just starting to enter the workforce is Generation Z. Born between 1995 and 2010, this generation includes 61 million people under the age of 23. It is estimated that by 2020, they will make up 20% of the workforce.

Digital marketing is a powerful tool for local retail stores. With more than four billion people around the world using the internet, this promotional tactic provides brick-and-mortar stores ample opportunity to reach their target audience and drive in-store traffic.

Attracting new customers is a challenge for any business, but it can be especially hard for auto repair shops. Although 75% of auto repair is performed by independent auto shops, factors such as the lack of transparency or high competition can lead to fewer new clients and decreased business. However, using social media can offer a range of benefits for auto repair shops, while also helping them stand out from the competition.

Many businesses put in a lot of time and effort to have their brand go viral. It increases awareness, traffic, memorability, and positive engagement. And while there’s no magic formula for “going viral,” every brand hopes that their content will be seen and shared by the right people. However, once you do achieve viral status, it’s important to have a strategy in place to capitalize on the momentum you’ve built. That’s where digital brand management comes in.

There are seemingly infinite digital marketing tactics available, so it can get confusing when it's time to decide which ones are best for your business. However, reading about each and every one would take a while, and when it's time to run promotions, it's important to get moving instead of spending countless hours on research. Yet, with over4 billion internet users worldwide, you can't afford not to add digital solutions to your marketing toolkit.

The end of the year is the ideal time to build your marketing plan for the year ahead. After all, having an annual marketing plan offers a high-level view of your marketing program, keeps your marketing team accountable, ensures your budget stays on track and identifies any gaps in your existing strategy.

Seasonal businesses like home improvement may be tempted to ease up on marketing during the off-months, but this can be a mistake. It's very important to remain consistent throughout the year regardless of the activity level of the company. This helps to ensure that people have your business in mind when the time comes to make buying decisions. It also providesseveral other benefits, like building trust and driving customer loyalty.

While the popularity of jingles might have peaked in the 1950s, the radio jingle is still an invaluable marketing tool. Advertisers have not given up on this clever tool by a long shot. Brands like McDonald’s and Nationwide still work to generate the goodwill and nostalgia that jingles, at their very best, have done so well for nearly a century.

Managing your brand is essential for your digital presence. It allows you to create a consistent brand image and experience across all channels. Digital brand management takes traditional branding practices and applies them across digital mediums to enhance the customer experience. When done right, companies can successfully build brand awareness, engage with customers and expand market reach. Below are some of the top digital marketing solutions to use for your brand management efforts:

There are now almost 4.2 billion people who are active internet users, and 3.4 billion who are active social media users. With that in mind, it's easy to see that a company that does not engage in digital marketing is missing out on opportunities to reach, attract and engage customers online. Fortunately, this type of marketing is inexpensive and the barrier to entry is low, especially when compared to other forms of high-reach advertising.