“Learn from the best,” as they say.

Being in business means venturing out into the unknown. When you’re leading your business through uncharted territory, it’s best to look ahead and see how the big players have got on.

Now, with customers and business moving online, we are all truly in uncharted territory. Gone are the days when you could simply declare a sale at your furniture store and print ads in the local newspaper for weeks. SabriSuby, CEO of King Kong, says, “Most companies still market their products like they did in the 90’s. No one really knows how to handle the best thing to ever happen to marketing - the internet.”

Today, if your business isn’t online, it might as well not exist.

But online marketing is cutthroat competitive and overcrowded. It’s tricky setting the right marketing strategy and following through with it. Which is why it could help to learn a few online marketing tips from the biggest brands in the world.

Here’s how the multinational, households names handle online marketing:

Virgin Mobile

I don’t think there is any company that can pull off marketing the way the Virgin Group does.

Richard Branson is as much of an internet celebrity as he is a savvy entrepreneur. Virgin Mobile, his VOIP venture, has been focused on online content and social media right from the start. The company takes the effort to come across as relatable and friendly in all communications on all platforms. This is a trick that has always worked for them. Authenticity is the key to a great customer relationship. And business is all about relationships afterall.

American Express

AmEx has made a longstanding commitment to content marketing. The company has been publishing travel guides since 1915 and now hosts forums for industry experts to gather and talk about the latest in the industry.

Their online content is always focused on their key customer base, who they’ve nurtured for decades. The key takeaway here is the power of effective and well-made content.

IBM

IBM has been a tech company since the start of the Second World War. That hasn’t held them back from experimenting with online marketing.

IBM has used its decades of experience and knowledge well. They offer educational videos for potential customers and reach out to them through key thought leaders in each industry.

What IBM has done is position itself as the intelligent, wise tech brand for serious business clients who could use some advice. It’s worked really well.

You can take advantage of skills and knowledge at your firm and position yourself as the expert in the industry. Once you can influence a conversation and win some trust in the marketplace, selling more should be easy.

Red Bull

Red Bull is a marketing juggernaut. The drinks company created the concept of an ‘energy drink’ out of thin air and launched a brand now known across the globe.

Their online marketing strategy is a thing to behold. Much of it has to do with Red Bull TV, the company’s online video streaming service that hosts adventure sports and thrilling visuals from gorgeous landscapes.

It’s understandable that most small and medium businesses can’t have their own live video website, but streaming services like Periscope are designed to let brands reach out to people in exactly the way Red Bull does. Also, don’t forget YouTube.