Why Online Marketing Should Be an Asset
You're expected to be online.
Businesses now more than ever need an online presence, with some even saying that "if it isn't on Google, it doesn't exist" (Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia).
From a laundrymat, to a local resturant, if your not online, you are actively driving away potential customers.
People look towards to these online platforms for verification and information, which is why these sites need to be utilized to their fullest if they are to be an asset for the business.
““Ignoring online marketing is like opening a business but not telling anyone.” ”
Any social media or websites for a business should be seen as online marketing channels, places where potential customers will see your brand for the first time.
The goal?
Convince them.
The channels that businesses use need to be setup effectively, and able to capture the viewers attention long enough for them to get interested. One of such aspects is proper SEO (search engine optimization). Caroline Forsey of HubSpot discusses how crucial SEO can be for online marketing opportunities:
““To attract new customers, you also need to maintain a powerful SEO presence. With 81% of shoppers using the internet for research before making purchasing decisions, it’s imperative your business is at the forefront of search for related keywords. Having a strong SEO presence also translates to more in-store purchases, as well — in fact, 78% of local mobile searches result in an offline purchase.””
SEO can make or break your site and its performance, and is essential for brands to even get noticed by wandering searchers looking for something new.
It can also greatly affect another key part of online marketing, social media. For most brands, having a presence on the platforms your audience is on is key to getting them aware of your business.
Sprout Social disucsses this further, finding that "78% of consumers are willing to buy from a company after having a positive experience with them on social".
Being able to tailor a brand's social media account to better align with what your audience is looking for can greatly help visability of a business, but also bring people in to try out something new.
However, one of the most effective methods of online marketing is just your website. Think of the business website as a hub, containing all the information that potential customers might what to see. This can range from hours, menus, links out to socials, and anything else that the consumer could want to see.
Often, just having any site is good at all, even though most quality sites drive more traffic, having something is better than nothing. Once online, this provides 24/7 marketing for your brand, so that anyone, anywhere, can visit your site.
Altogether, effectively using online marketing techniques can take your business to the next level, and provide more to the customer than you could ever before.