In a move that has garnered attention from entrepreneurs across the UK, the names behind some of the UK’s most effective marketing campaigns have joined forces to create a new accelerator programme.
Fracas Digital, led by seasoned marketing veteran Zara Hall, has launched an incubator-style programme to help small businesses expand their online presence and make more of a return from their internet marketing efforts.
Based in Milton Keynes, but with a reach that expands across the UK, the team are now on the lookout for a new cohort of SMEs to take part in the programme. With new data from Ofcom showing that UK adults spend as much as a quarter of their day online, we spoke with Zara to learn why small businesses need the benefits of digital marketing.
“The right digital marketing strategy can make all the difference…”
We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way that business is done, but it seems that businesses are still neglecting their online presence.
“These days, digital marketing is non-negotiable”,
Zara told us during our socially distanced Zoom interview, explaining that
“whether you want to reach new customers, stay in touch with your existing clients, or just show off your products or services, digital marketing is the best way to reach consumers and make more sales.”
It’s all very well to talk about how important internet advertising can be, of course, but Zara was quick to point out that the advantages of digital marketing are far more measurable and a whole lot more affordable than print ads and other traditional marketing methods.
“It’s not just about putting out an advertisement anymore. You need to make sure that you’re engaging with the right people – and you can do that without paying a penny to Google, Facebook, or any of the other major websites.”
Levelling the playing field
According to Fracas Digital, savvy digital marketing strategies are the best way for small businesses and start-ups to compete against established brands.
“Even if you have a small budget, search engine optimisation (SEO) can help you to reach the top of Google’s results pages”,
Zara said, before pointing out that
“it’s the most cost-effective way to get your name out there, and it means you can reach your target audience by focussing your marketing efforts on what potential customers actually want.”
Looking over the proposals for the Fracas Digital Accelerator Programme, it’s easy to see why Zara describes it as an
“all-in-one solution for businesses that want an effective digital marketing campaign.”
Starting with a website, their experts will work to optimise the development and design to improve the impression left by every single page. Once they’ve perfected the website, they’ll move on to attracting traffic and getting your online advertising in front of as many people as possible.
“It’s about right place, right time, right people”,
Zara says, before confirming that the accelerator programme is geared towards helping brands in Milton Keynes and the UK to attract local customers as well as a “global audience” for their products and services.
More than just social media
In many cases, business owners mistakenly believe that digital marketing is just social media marketing – but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While the most successful strategies do involve engaging with potential customers on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, they also encompass a wide range of other online marketing activities that really make a space for a business in the digital world.
“The benefits of digital marketing go far beyond just Facebook posts and Tweets”,
Zara retorted, explaining that participants in the accelerator can expect much more than just social media consulting.
“It’s a case of using digital marketing to grow your business and to get your product or service in front on more people – using everything from content marketing and effective web design through to persuasive email marketing and banner ads.”
Making a return on investment
One of the chief concerns held by business owners is whether the benefits of digital marketing are really worth their time and money. It isn’t easy to justify your marketing budget at the best of times, and so it’s hardly surprising that so many entrepreneurs are interested to know whether digital marketing can make a real difference to their sales figures.
Focussing on the benefits of the Fracas digital accelerator programme, Zara was keen to point out that
“everything is measured in terms of output, using Google Analytics and other tools to make sure that you’re really getting your money’s worth.”
Killer conversion rates
It’s also clear from the programme prospectus that targeted digital marketing allows firms to increase the number of users who make a purchase or place an order.
“The industry term is Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO)”,
Zara explained,
“and it blows traditional marketing out of the water by using adaptable techniques to turn more potential clients into leads and ultimately sales.”
The services they offer include near real-time tracking of marketing metrics and the ability for businesses to drill down into the data and target very specific customer demographics – all whilst keeping tabs on whether their efforts are paying off.
Constructive marketing for your business
Looking to the first run of the innovative Fracas Digital Accelerator Programme, Zara is enthusiastic about helping businesses to reach new customers in Milton Keynes and beyond.
“The great thing about digital marketing is that it can achieve real results quite quickly”,
she says gleefully, recounting that
“we’ve helped to take businesses from the start-up phase through to thousands in monthly global sales in just a matter of months.”
The programme is set to offer an intensive yet affordable course of digital marketing services that include website design and development, search engine optimisation (SEO), pay per click (PPC) marketing, social media strategy, conversion rate optimisation, and even broader help with marketing campaign strategy, content creation, and brand building.
See the benefits of digital marketing for yourself
“Digital marketing benefits every business that tries it”, says Zara, continuing to say that “our team would love to welcome a new group of ambitious brands with affordable online marketing assistance and the chance to grow on the internet”.
If you’re ready to see how digital marketing can help your brand to reach more customers online, reach out to the team at www.fracasdigital.co.uk and get enrolled in their Digital Accelerator Programme.
