The December 2024 edition of the Business Day SME Clinic, themed “Digital Marketing for SMEs,” provided invaluable insights for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs on how to navigate marketing strategies in the digital space.
The session, which was hosted on YouTube, featured a lineup of transformational thought leaders who contributed greatly to the discourse, exploring the grey areas of the digital space and addressing challenges SMEs encounter during the enactment of digital marketing strategies. However, a key takeaway from the event was Mr Abiodun Ogunjobi, founder and CEO of Digital Force, emphasising strategic brand positioning and discoverability, which are considered viable factors for successful digital marketing even for businesses with slim and limited budgets.
Having led Digital Force, a top-tier digital marketing agency, for several years, Mr Abiodun has garnered a wealth of experience in digital marketing and other related processes; hence, his prominent submissions on strategy and innovation before the investment in ads.
He advised SMEs to recognise the need to grow their businesses organically, urging them to focus on making their brands discoverable online through easily accessible digital tools. According to him, “To thrive on the internet’s traffic, businesses should practice ‘discoverability’ and ‘positioning’ using free digital tools,” he asserted. “This is the first step to utilising functional digital marketing.”
He further recommended that SMEs should prioritise:
● Claiming and optimising Google My Business profiles is a cost-effective medium that allows businesses to showcase their business details like location, contact information, customer reviews, and the core product or service offered on Google’s products like Google and Google Maps for wider visibility.
● Leveraging free digital tools by exploring online resources that can enhance brand visibility, and by this, Abiodun pointed to social media and content marketing platforms.
● Developing a strong online brand identity by constantly being creative to design unique narratives that form a brand voice resonating with the brand’s target audience.
● Leveraging emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and chatbots to revolutionise business processes. He highlighted that the traditional social media channels are evolving in user behaviour, hence encouraging SMEs to incorporate AI and chatbots into their business systems, helping to automate tasks, analyse data, ease customer interaction, and improve the overall operational efficiency of businesses. Abiodun urged SMEs to stay updated with these transformative technologies by learning and adapting to their recent trends to thrive and maintain a competitive advantage in the digital space.
A fellow panellist, Chioma Chinweze, a brand and marketing professional, expressed how important it is for SMEs to understand the business landscape and follow its evolution to tailor digital marketing solutions that require very little or no capital. Building on the budget required for digital marketing, Mr Abiodun Ogunjobi stirred the aspirations of SMEs, encouraging them to keep their dreams alive in digital marketing, whether or not there’s a planned budget.
While every speaker had different perspectives towards the subject of digital marketing, a recurring point that ties every other point together was the need for SMEs to smartly adopt brand positioning through data-based suggestions for successful digital marketing campaigns, which aligns with the central focus of arguments raised by Mr. Abiodun Ogunjobi. If SMEs build a solid online base and keep up with new technology, they can use digital marketing to meet their business goals, no matter how much money they have.
The Business Day SME Clinic shared important information for businesses of all sizes trying to deal with the difficult digital world. MMrAbiodun Ogunjobi’s contributions were a helpful resource for SMEs, stressing the need for organic growth, new technology, and a smart strategy. By applying the techniques discussed in the clinic, SMEs can improve their online presence, attract new customers, and achieve lasting growth.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
