A small business in a growing city has its work cut out for it, having to compete with established companies who have double or triple their resources. In a city like Saskatoon, there’s no shortage of sunshine—it’s one of the sunniest cities in Canada. But as they say, business isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. How do small companies contend in highly-competitive industries?
The sights in this city are sweet, just like the berry after which it was named. The population of the city in 2019 was 272,200, and it increases every year. If you want to grow your business to match, you’ll need to understand marketing your business in Saskatoon. The population is increasing, the employment rate is growing, and entrepreneurs are looking for new opportunities. There’s no shortage of neighbourhoods to choose from. Once the University of Saskatchewan was developed, so did surrounding areas like Varsity View, a residential neighbourhood with a large student population. Its proximity to campus makes it a perfect place for young adults to start their lives. As the population grows, so does the development of new areas, like Brighton. This neighbourhood and many others like it are under construction to accommodate new Saskatonians. Some areas mix residential and commercial lots, like Avalon; it is home to many families as well as the Avalon Shopping Centre. No matter which neighbourhood your business is located in, you’ll need to get an edge on the competition.
Why do some small businesses survive while others sink? There are a variety of reasons, but often, success can be attributed to marketing. If customers don’t know about your services, how can they purchase them? Advertising is a proven way to spread the word about your business. Digital marketing capitalizes on today’s populous online world, but not all methods are created equally:
Email Marketing
Everyone knows what email marketing is because we are all subjected to it. Each day, your inbox fills up with promotions from businesses that you (regrettably) shared your email with. You likely send these messages straight to the trash bin; if you want to make an impact on your sales, you’ll need to refine your strategy.
Social Media Marketing
Most of us are guilty of spending too much time online. That’s the beauty of marketing on social media: it has an active and growing user base. One drawback is that people don’t visit Facebook and Twitter to schedule services or purchase goods—they’re looking for entertainment. This method has its perks, but potential clients won’t be able to find you if you aren’t on the first page of Google.
Search Engine Optimization
When you choose to focus your resources on digital marketing, one avenue cannot be ignored: search engine optimization (SEO). If you want to expand brand awareness, reach more customers, and generate new leads, then SEO is for you. This strategy focuses on ranking your website higher in search results. Customers who are looking for goods and services don’t reach for a yellow phone book anymore; they open their web browser and type it into Google.
But just how effective is SEO? Let’s look at the numbers to find out—another advantage to online marketing is that it’s easily trackable. For starters, 75% of people will not look past the first page of results. This means that if your Saskatoon dental practice falls on page 3, it will get seen by virtually no one. But SEO isn’t like the paid links you see in Google—people know those spots are sponsored and are less likely to trust them. It’s all about capturing organic traffic; 70-80% of people will only click organic results and ignore paid ads. When your website ranks on the first page of Google, more customers will find it when they’re ready to make a purchase.
People in Saskatoon will have an easier time finding your business when your website is visible in search engines. If you’re interested in Saskatoon SEO for your small business, you’ll need to contact the experts. There’s no cheat method for better rankings; it involves a multifaceted approach that combines captivating content, strategic link-building, and website optimization. At First Rank, we are confident that we can refine your website to rank higher in Google. Schedule a consultation with us today to find out how.
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