It’s not hard to see that the digital world has changed the way we behave. Whether you’re checking up on the latest fashion trends, connecting with friends, or making a dinner reservation, chances are you’re doing it online.
While this rapid shift into a world of likes, shares, reviews, and rankings may be overwhelming for some, it holds huge potential for small businesses. Whether you run a local restaurant, a tech startup, or a charitable non-profit, digital marketing can help you take your business to the next level.
The Benefits of Digital Marketing for Small Business
Traditional outbound marketing is dying. According to Mashable, 44% of direct mail is never opened, 86% of people skip through television commercials, and 84% of 25 to 34-year-olds have clicked out of a website due to an intrusive or irrelevant ad.
Here are 4 ways in which digital marketing can help you turn the tables on this grim reality:
1. Connect and Engage With Online Customers
Roughly 46% of the global population has an internet connection today. That’s over 3.4 billion people across the world. Digital marketing allows you to open your doors to these people and engage them like never before.
Whether you use a combination of social media networks, a blogging platform, or a regular email newsletter, you’ll be able to connect with both existing and prospective clients, answer their questions, develop leads, share your ideas, and much more.
2. Track Customer Behaviour and Measure Your Results
Forget about waiting weeks for an estimated report about the effectiveness of one of your marketing campaigns. With digital marketing, small businesses can get real-time information about their campaigns and customers at the click of a button.
Software such as Google Analytics, for example, allows small businesses to answer important information about the online traffic they receive. This includes everything from customer demographics and online behaviour to the exact number of conversions generated from a specific advertising channel.
3. Develop Your Brand
If you thought the only way of developing your brand was through your logo, slogan, and product packaging, think again. In the digital marketing world, there are countless ways for small businesses to develop a unique voice and build brand loyalty.
Blogging software, for example, allows businesses to create informative, engaging content and market it directly to their customers. Whether you sell web design services or seasonal event tickets, a blogging campaign allows you to strengthen the voice of your brand through high-quality content.
Social media, on the other hand, allows you to share that content instantly with your followers. In return, you’ll be seen as an industry authority and have the opportunity to build strong bonds with your customers, potentially turning them into brand ambassadors in the long run.
4. Experience Better ROI and Revenue
When compared to traditional marketing techniques like newspaper classifieds, television infomercials, or roadside billboards, digital marketing campaigns allow small businesses to maximize ROI and revenue.
According to a 2013 report by Hubspot, digital marketing techniques allow small businesses to generate better CPL (Cost-Per-Lead) than traditional campaigns. This is because digital marketers can make better use of their investments and more informed decisions about what works and what doesn’t.
“In 2013, 41% of marketers confirm inbound produces measurable ROI, and a staggering 82% of marketers who blog see positive ROI for their inbound marketing. Inbound leads also deliver a superior cost per lead and cost per customer,” reads the report.
It also found that US inbound marketers who spend more than $25,000 per year on digital marketing saved an average of 13% in overall CPL and more than $14 dollars for every new customer acquired.
Harness The Power of Digital Marketing Today
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Do you want to see your marketing campaigns produce greater ROI and revenue while driving down costs? Well, it’s time to embrace digital marketing with open arms.
For more up-to-date information about digital marketing, regularly check our blog or contact us today.
