Do you still remember the old days when cold calls, print marketing and word-of-mouth are all that matters for small business owners to sell goods and services? Gone are the days when all you need are some flyers, brochures, a couple of signage, a few phone numbers to call and you’re all set! Though traditional marketing techniques are not totally dead and are still widely used by most companies up to now, there is a marketing strategy that has redefined the way businesses promote their products, reach potential customers and interact with existing clients – DIGITAL MARKETING.
With almost 4.93 billion people using the internet worldwide and 3.5 billion people using smartphones, digital marketing has become a must-do for business owners across all industries. Today, print ads, testimonials and telemarketing are no longer the only effective methods in promoting your business. Due to its significant impact to consumer behaviour over the years, having an online presence is now being considered a necessity among businesses, big or small.
If you’re one of those business owners who hasn’t quite adapted to this recent marketing norm, we have listed some of the greatest advantages of digital marketing. Read on and let the facts convince you:
In this digital world where most people find anything and everything through an internet search, even small businesses are now strongly advised to plant their flag online and have some form of digital presence. The size of a company no longer matters in deciding whether you need a website or not. Clearly, it is now considered as a requirement if your goal is to reach potential customers and eventually make a sale.
In fact, according to a 2016 survey, 50% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit the physical store within a day, while 78% of local mobile searches result in offline purchases. This just goes to show that digital marketing does not only help your customers find you. It can also grow your local business and increase your revenue.
Online marketing allows you to present your brand in the most creative ways. For one, you can have the web design and content of your choice. You can set the tone and maximize your virtual space to represent your business in the best way possible. Digital marketing gives you the chance to use your creativity and field expertise to flaunt your business and make it attractive to your customers. You can even hire a digital marketing agency to do the job for you. The possibilities are limitless!
In having an online business presence, you would most definitely want to reach the customers who are most likely to buy from you or get the services that you’re offering. Luckily, this is not a problem in digital marketing as there are ways in which you can direct your content to your preferred audience. Some strategies you can look into and apply are search engine optimization (SEO), local business listings, Google ads, Facebook ads, and more!
Digital marketing provides an easier way to connect with your customers. It is also a much cheaper channel compared to phone customer service and a very straightforward process that can improve overall consumer satisfaction. In fact, a current consumer survey revealed that 67% of respondents prefer online self-service over speaking to a company representative.
Different customer support tasks like answering enquiries, addressing complaints, resolving issues and conducting consumer surveys are made easier when done online. Think about how your website can add value to your business in many ways to maximise your return on investment. Here is another good article from Channel Reply with ideas to improve your results and the customer experience.
To sum it all up, digital marketing is an undeniable asset for small business owners. Having an active online presence will not only help you get noticed by the right people, it also gives you a fair chance of competing with other brands, even with those that are larger than your company. If done right, marketing your products and services online can be the secret for your local business to prosper and expand by widening your reach and maintaining customer loyalty.
Are you looking for a team who can translate your design ideas to a stunning, responsive website? Partner with Morningstar Digital and let's make your business stand out online. We'll let you see the design concept in advance so you know the design you’re getting before we even send a project proposal.
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