Digital Marketing Tools Every Small Business Needs for Common Challenges

As a small business, you might not be focused on the digital aspects of your marketing strategies. Your marketing budget may also be limited, making it a challenge to invest in extensive marketing efforts. Plus, no one’s an expert in running digital marketing campaigns from day one.
None of that matters.

Limited finances or a lack of formal training don’t have to be roadblocks when it comes to helping your corporation thrive. Any small business owner can master digital marketing. There will be some challenges, and you’re sure to hit a few bumps in the road, but familiarity with digital marketing is critical for every small business’ success.

If you’re a small business owner searching for guidance on quality lead tracking, customer acquisition, website optimization, or SEO, then you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve put together a list of affordable tools to help navigate even the biggest challenges and expand your online presence. When used effectively, these tips can help make your company more profitable.

Introducing Robert from EcomShft

Recently, we sat down with Robert Gilbreath, Co-founder and CEO of EcomShft - an ecommerce software developer that builds useful, innovative tools for modern merchants.

We discussed some common digital marketing challenges that small businesses encounter, and how our toolkit eBook can help you take advantage of the best digital marketing tools available. It’s easier than you would think.

Robert shared some insights on today’s digital marketing tools, and how they can help you become a better marketer and business owner. He suggests,

The Evolution of Digital Marketing Tools

Digital marketing has come a long way, and Robert’s depth of experience makes him an invaluable voice on the subject. He reflected on how cumbersome online marketing could be before we had access to SaaS tools saying:

None of the infrastructure tools we use now, such as Asana or HubSpot, existed back then. Email engines were built in-house, because most small to medium businesses couldn’t afford a 6-figure contract with IBM’s Enterprise Solutions.

These days, access is equitable. It takes no time to get things up and running. An SMB owner can compile an array of tools to help themselves. 

As Robert explained to us, we’re living in an unprecedented time where a lot of the tools on this list have provided advanced capabilities, which historically would have been reserved for Fortune 500 companies.

Start with avenues that don’t cost you a thing. There are several free tools and websites to help you with creating content like blog posts, increasing organic searches, improving customer service, website optimization, and how to reach your target audiences. Start expanding your brand's presence through social media platforms.

It’s the digital age, you have unlimited marketing power in your pocket. Robert tells us,

You’re reducing the amount of effort that you need to put in, and walking away with increased ROI. With all these features at your fingertips, there’s no reason not to take advantage of the digital tools that can make your life easier as a successful business owner.

You Don’t Need a Huge Budget for Digital Marketing 

One common challenge small business owners face is the potentially high cost of the marketing strategy that you assume you’re supposed to implement as an eCommerce SMB.

The reality is that you don’t need a lot of money to get started. In our eBook, we’ve got a shopping list of options that range from free services to freemium and scaled pricing tiers, to fit what you need and what you can afford.

You can also utilize social media marketing to engage directly with your customer base. This can offer you invaluable customer data, as well as help to create excited, loyal customers for your corporation.

The beauty is that you can choose which digital marketing tools you want to start with, and how you want to use them. Robert puts it simply when he explains,

Your budget doesn’t need to be a leash on your vision for the business.

Know Which Tools to Use

The beauty of almost every marketing tool is that they all get along. Regardless of which messaging service you use for marketing purposes, which browser you prefer, or if you’re deep in Google Analytics vs. the Microsoft stack - there are plugins and APIs for them all.

We’ve got our favorites such as Hubspot, Ahrefs, Canva Business, and many more listed in our eBook. As you grow, you’ll find out exactly what you’re comfortable with and what works natively for your eCommerce business. 

Robert explains why it’s important to find a source of information you trust, in order to build out the toolkit for your marketing efforts.

This is something that he thinks our eBook can help small business owners do.

For example, let’s assume you’re looking to expand your project and content management tools. You can choose between Trello, Slack, Asana, Basecamp, Notion, etc.

They all contain overlapping features and tools, but each offers different functionality for digital marketers. It essentially comes down to how you want to use these digital tools, and the outcomes you’re looking for.

Putting The Pieces Together

While reading through our list, Robert suggested that our eBook could be a primer to educate small business owners; even if you’re going to hire a coordinator for your marketing efforts. It’s a really good starting point for you to understand all the possible pieces that can be put into play.

Digital marketing strategies look a little different for every corporation, and there’s no single right answer. Focus on what matters to you. The tools that are out there can help your eCommerce business stand out and engage with your potential customers.

Robert concludes that today’s tools are approachable,

This is the end. Now, read more about the eCommerce Digital Marketing Tools Every Seller Needs.