I’m sure we all know what the word, grow, connotes. For good measure, however, and to express what I mean in no uncertain terms. The word “grow” in this context means to expand. It means increase. When we talk about growing your business, we refer to expanding your business and increasing the size.

Growth is usually a good thing, at least where business is concerned as it can usually mean more profit. It also means that your goal and vision are being bought into by a larger amount of people. Growth is important for business because, without it, a business cannot survive. Growth is important for a business to survive and remain viable. There is even a saying to that effect that “if you are not growing, you are dying.”

With the advent of the internet, marketing and growing a business has been made quite easy if you know the right things to do. In this article, 5 effective strategies by which you can grow your business online are provided. These strategies are currently being used by thousands of businesses across the globe and by utilizing them correctly, you will see your business expand in no time.

It is important to note, however, that just as the internet can make a business, so can it break it. Therefore, ensure that the goods/services you offer are of good quality. This will help give your business a positive image which you can then use the internet to propagate.

The following are the 5 proven online strategies to grow and expand your business;

Strategy 1 — Content marketing

The first strategy on this list is content marketing which is the production of helpful content so as to build an audience. Content marketing is one of the most reliable strategies by which you can grow your business without spending much as you would via traditional marketing techniques.

One of the easiest ways to provide helpful content is through the addition of a blog section to your business website. You can also make use of eBooks, videos and infographics. The key thing to keep in mind when using this strategy is to provide solutions to problems your target audience are likely to face. You shouldn’t find “Tips on how to troubleshoot your car” on the blog of a graphic designer. So, create content targeted towards people likely to patronize your business.

Strategy 2 — Email marketing

Email marketing is yet another strategy that has been (and is still being) utilized by lots of companies to grow their businesses. It is also one of the cheapest online marketing tools as little to no money is required for it. It involves providing regular updates for your customers on your goods/services among other things. the first thing to do when venturing into email marketing is to build an email list. I’m sure you’ve visited many websites that ask you to sign up for their newsletter with your email address. You should do the same. You could even offer incentives for them to sign up such as a discount on your services/goods or an eBook that will help them solve a problem. You can then use this to keep in touch with them and convince them to patronize your product(s) whether goods or services.

Strategy 3 — Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization is one of the most effective ways of growing your reach and putting your business out there. When you search for something on a search engine such as Google or Ask, you will notice that several websites that have what you are looking for are brought up for you. Search engine optimization determines how visible your website is. SEO is the process by which you optimize your website such that there is a higher possibility of it being seen by those who might be interested in your products. You can get the highest benefit possible by incorporating SEO into your content strategy. This will ensure that your content will have high visibility on search engines and as such drives traffic to your website and helps improve your business.

Strategy 4 — Social Media Marketing

Yet another proven online strategy by which you can grow your business and one of the most effective. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have tons of users which you can leverage upon to grow your business. For instance, about 1.47 billion people use Facebook alone on a daily basis. By putting your business on these platforms, and engaging with followers and customers, you increase your chances of being discovered and therefore of being patronized.

Social media marketing is done more effectively when it is combined with a good content marketing strategy. It, however, requires dedication and constant tending to. If done correctly, however, it will be very helpful in driving your business forward.

Strategy 5 — Pay-Per-Click Marketing

A pay-per-click marketing campaign is yet another proven strategy to drive your business forward. This involves running ads on platforms such as Facebook and Google. It is an effective marketing strategy and while you will pay for it, the opportunities you will get will be nowhere near the cost if done right.

The above strategies have been used time and time again by several businesses to achieve growth and build their customer base. You can be sure that when implemented correctly, you can achieve the same result.

Our website, [url]VisCorner.com[/url] is yet another way by which you can grow your business. All you need to do is register as a service professional and in no time, you will start getting connected to clients who are in need of your services.

This post was originally published on [url]blog.viscorner.com[/url], a blog for entrepreneurs and freelancers in Nigeria.