Did you know that marketing automation can help your small business grow sales and profits? It's been shown to increase leads and conversions while reducing costs. This blog post discusses how marketing automation works and what benefits it can bring to your business. 

We'll also provide tips on getting started with marketing automation for your small business. So, if you're looking for a way to take your marketing efforts to the next level, read on!

Marketing automation uses software to automate marketing and operational tasks that frees you up to focus on other things.

This can include automating everything from:

But most importantly, its main benefit is that it allows you to scale your marketing efforts - leads and sales - without increasing your staff. It's like having a full-time assistant without the expense. 

Additionally, it can help businesses track their marketing progress and measure their return on investment. And it helps quiet the chaos so many business owners experience in running their businesses - sticky notes, reminders floating around in your head. 

Marketing automation can work with any size business. But the right platform is particularly well-suited for small businesses that do not have the resources to maintain an extensive marketing team.

Many different marketing automation platforms are available, so you should select the one that best meets your needs. At 39 Celsius, we have used Keap in our own business for years, along with implementations for our own clients (we are certified Keap Partners. Some links to Keap are affiliate links where we might get a small commission. I do not recommend any products I don't use in my own business). 

In today's competitive business landscape, small businesses must find ways to market their products and services effectively to survive. However, traditional marketing methods are costly and time-consuming, making them impractical for many small businesses. And digital marketing tactics are made exponentially more effective with marketing automation and leveraging lead nurturing, as an example.

Marketing automation offers a solution to these challenges that so many business owners and managers experience.

By using software to automate repetitive tasks like email marketing, social media campaigns, and targeted ads, businesses can free up time and resources that can be better used elsewhere. In addition, marketing automation often leads to more successful marketing campaigns, as it allows businesses to track results and adjust their strategies accordingly. For these reasons, marketing automation is an essential tool for small businesses looking to remain competitive.

Respond To A Website Contact Request

If someone submits a contact form on your site, you can have a message (text or email) automatically sent to that person. And you can make it appear natural as well with a delay of a couple of minutes, for example, before a message is sent.

And perhaps you include a link to your calendar that a client can use to book a call with you. And now, this contact is in your marketing automation platform which also keeps track of all your communications with that person. 

Assign Leads To An Internal Sales Person

When a new lead comes in, you can automatically assign that to a sales rep  so no lead is missed. And if, for whatever reason, that lead is not ready to act now, you can put them into a lead nurture email sequence that will keep the lead warm, so when the prospect is ready you are top-of-mind.

Appointment Scheduling and Reminders

Imagine a world where you never miss a calendar appointment again. That's the power of automation! Free up time on those busy days by having software do everything from scheduling appointments with clients to sending out reminders about an upcoming event or confirming when they were scheduled. 

Ask For Referrals and Reviews Automatically

If you don't have a process for asking for referrals and reviews (i.e. Google, Facebook, etc) you are missing a vital step in growing your business. And like the other tasks we've discussed, it can all be automated. 

Increase Your Social Media Following

With automation, you can automatically send anyone a link to view your latest social post and ask them to follow or "like" your page. Or invite them to join your social group. 

Send A Thank You Note

Automatically create a task for someone on your team to send the client a thank you note.

Never Lose At Phone Tag

Do you find yourself constantly playing phone tag? When someone leaves you a voicemail, follow up with an email and then create a task that reminds you to call the person. 

Send and Receive Important Documents

You have better things to do than chase important documents. For example, let's say you needed a W9 document from a contractor. Automate an email with a link for them to download the document. If that link is never clicked, you can have an automated series of emails that go out until the link is clicked and they've submitted the documents, whatever those may be. 

Marketing automation can be a great way to streamline your marketing efforts and boost your results. However, getting started with marketing automation can be daunting. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

First, make sure you have a clear understanding of your goals. What do you want to achieve with marketing automation? Once you know your goals, you can identify the tools and strategies that will help you reach them.

Next, it's essential to put together a plan. What steps do you need to take to achieve your goals? What tasks will you automate? What metric will you use to measure success? By having a plan in place, you'll be able to track your progress and make adjustments as needed.

Marketing automation software is designed to help businesses streamline and automate their marketing activities. By using software to automate repetitive tasks, businesses can free up time and resources that can be better spent on other marketing initiatives. However, before investing in marketing automation software, it is important to understand how it works and what it can (and cannot) do.

Here are some frequently asked questions about marketing automation:

How does marketing automation work?

Marketing automation software helps businesses automate their marketing activities. The software can be used to segment customers and create targeted marketing campaigns. It can also be used to track customer interactions and monitor results. By using software to automate repetitive tasks, businesses can free up time and resources that can be better spent on running your business. 

Is marketing automation software expensive?

No. At 39 Celsius, we use KEAP which has many options under a $100 per month. If you're using other email service providers like Constant Contact, or Mailchimp, etc, Keap costs only slightly more than these with the ability to automate and grow sales far beyond an email service provider.

In Conclusion:

Marketing automation can be a beneficial tool for businesses of all sizes. It allows businesses to scale their marketing and sales efforts through automation, track their marketing progress, measure their return on investment, and plug holes in their sales funnels (Read our related post here on SEO Funnels). Additionally, it can help businesses automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time and resources that can be better used elsewhere. 

Reach out to me today to discuss your unique needs and how marketing automation can help you grow.