Looking to boost sales in a slow month? We understand the frustrations that come with quiet periods and for small businesses in particular, the need to minimise these as much as possible. Whilst a strong online presence doesn’t typically happen overnight, the good news is, there are certainly some marketing elements you can implement for quick results. In this blog, our award-winning agency share our top tips for driving sales when you need them most.
The Role of Digital Advertising
Digital advertising techniques such as social media ads and Pay Per Click (PPC) are incredibly helpful for brands looking to boost sales in a slow month. Whilst they may not offer the long-term strategy that organic techniques like PR and SEO do, they certainly have a place in most strategies. They offer fast results, lots of ways to target the right people, and when set up correctly, they’re cost effective too!
What Are My Options?
As mentioned above, the two main digital advertising strategies we’ll be talking about are social media advertising and PPC. Both approaches can be highly effective in helping you boost sales all year round, though they work in very different ways. Let’s break them down…
Social Media Advertising
Social media advertising is one of the most versatile tools available to small businesses looking to boost sales in a slow month. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn allow you to reach a huge, tailored audience, so that you can make sure you’re in the right place, at the right time.
These platforms allow businesses to target their ads using very detailed parameters. For example, you can specify who sees your ads based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and even previous interactions with your brand. This ensures that your budget is spent on reaching the people most likely to become paying customers, rather than casting a wide net and hoping for the best.
There are several different types of ads on social media, each offering unique benefits:
- Boosted posts are regular posts from your feed that you have paid to show to a wider audience, often beyond your existing followers.
- Ad campaigns provide more control and customisation but can be more difficult to set up. You can set objectives such as generating leads, driving website traffic, and increasing conversions.
- Story ads are full-screen, immersive ads available on platforms like Instagram and Facebook that blend seamlessly into user content in the stories feature.
Any form of social media advertising, when done well, can help you boost sales and build awareness for your brand. The key is to test different ad formats and refine your targeting, allowing you to gather data and optimise your strategy over time.
Pay Per Click (PPC)
PPC advertising is another powerful strategy for businesses wanting to boost sales in a slow month. Unlike social media ads, PPC focuses on search engines like Google or Bing, allowing you to connect with potential customers at the exact moment they’re looking for your products or services. When someone types a query into the search bar, paid ads often appear at the very top of the search results page, giving you immediate visibility in a competitive market.
One of the most common questions business owners have is how to distinguish between paid and organic results. Typically, paid ads are labeled with a small ‘sponsored’ tag, while organic results appear just below and are ranked by Google’s algorithm based on relevance and quality. The advantage of PPC is speed. While building organic visibility through SEO can take months, PPC allows you to get in front of your audience right away, which is especially valuable during slower periods.
As the name suggests, with PPC you only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad. This makes it a cost-effective option if managed correctly, since you’re investing in tangible interactions rather than just impressions. You can set daily budgets, bid on specific keywords, and even target by location, ensuring your ads reach the right people without overspending. By driving high-intent traffic directly to your website, PPC can provide a quick and measurable way to grow your customer base.
Preventing Slow Months in the Future
Whilst digital advertising is great for a short-term boost, these techniques should be used as a supplement to your ongoing marketing strategy. If you have the budget available, we always recommend investing in your organic growth for longer-term stability. Features in the press, a consistent social media strategy, and a strong SEO presence cannot be beaten. Whilst these techniques may be slower to garner initial results, they help lay the foundations for a future-proofed business.
Need some support with the direction of your marketing? Our digital agency in Maldon offers the following services:
- Strategy Building
- Organic Social Media Marketing
- Social Media Advertising
- Pay Per Click (PPC)
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Public Relations (PR)
- Email Marketing
- Influencer Marketing
- Event Management
- Graphic Design & Branding
Ready to Future Proof Your Brand?
If you’re keen to boost sales in a slow month and are ready to invest in your digital advertising strategy, we’re here to make it happen.
For more information on costs, our packages, and working with the VerriBerri team, get in touch with our experts by clicking here.