Without digital marketing, the reach of business is extremely limited. In today's world, it is hard for a business to maintain or even think about expanding if they don't have an online presence.
Did you know that there are nearly 31 million
small businesses in the United States? That's a lot of potential competition to handle.
When it comes to standing out from the competition, the importance of digital marketing
should not be underestimated. There are many reasons to take advantage of digital marketing so that you can both increase the size of your customer base and connect with it on a level like no other.
Have you ever asked yourself, "Why is digital marketing important?"
Keep reading to learn about why you need a digital marketing strategy in 2020.
1. You Can See Important Analytics
With traditional marketing, whether it's a billboard or handing out fliers, all you can really do is hope that the time and money will be worth the investment. Conversely, when you engage in digital marketing, you can see detailed reports on the fruit of your efforts.
From how many people clicked on a link or photo to where those people were from and what age they were, you can see exactly how your digital marketing is working and how it's not. When you know what isn't working, you can take measures to do better.
It's much easier and cheaper to tinker and tailor with the mechanics of digital marketing than it is with traditional marketing.
It is said that information is power. Well, information is money too. With the analytics of digital marketing, you can track the who, what, when, and where in relation to potential customers and act accordingly if it's necessary.
You'll never want to go back to handing out fliers again.
2. Your Pool of Potential Customers Is Much Wider
When you go with traditional marketing, your scope is quite limited. Even if you launch marketing efforts in several different states, it still won't be able to match the potential audience you can reach in the digital world.
Did you know that there are almost 4.5 billion
active internet users across the globe?
That's more than half of the number of people on the planet, which currently stands at nearly 7.8 billion.
Simply put, a business must reach out to where potential customers are aggregated. In almost every case, those people are going to be found somewhere on social media.
Billions of people use social media sites like Facebook and Instagram every day and even more people than that use search engines like Google and Bing.
With traditional marketing, the number of potential customers will always be in the hundreds or thousands, maybe millions, but with digital marketing for businesses, you can start thinking in terms of billions. This is not a pool of potential customers, it's an ocean and it should not be left untapped.
3. Digital Marketing Is More Cost-Effective
Another important number to consider when thinking about digital marketing versus traditional marketing is cost, of course. Traditional marketing outlets like radio, print, and TV are not as cost-effective as ads on social media and search engines.
If a TV commercial isn't successful for some reason, then you would have to create a new one for more money and also pay for it to be broadcasted. If a social media ad isn't successful, you can finetune and edit it sometimes without even taking it down. Depending on the ad, you don't even have to pay everything upfront but can pay for the projected number of views or clicks.
Strategies like search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing can also help to bolster and boost the success of your digital marketing in general.
In short, for less money, you can reach more people while also knowing how each ad is performing in detail.
4. You Can Interact with Customers
The old adage that the customer should come first has always been true. With a strategized online presence, you can have access to more outlets and opportunities for interacting with customers.
Responding to comments, questions, and feedback will make your customers feel heard. This will increase customer loyalty and allow your business to maintain a relationship with customers that you wouldn't be able to do as often or as effectively offline.
Even if a customer leaves negative feedback, by reaching out to them in an attempt to fix the situation, you're showing them and people who read the review that you care about your customers.
Plus, you can handle customer queries at a quicker pace. Leaving a comment on a Facebook ad, for example, is much more convenient for a customer than it would be to find a phone number and make a phone call. With the right digital marketing strategy, queries that are left in a comments section or elsewhere can be answered in a manner that is both quick and personal.
5. You Can Take Advantage of E-Commerce
Gone are the days when someone was forced to get in their car and drive to a specific store in order to buy something they wanted.
More and more people are doing their shopping online. It's quicker, more convenient, and it allows them to stay in the comfort of their own homes, which can be a huge benefit to introverted customers.
Whether you have a store on your own business website
or you're listing your products on Amazon, you'll want to be a part of the ever-increasing popularity of e-commerce.
You can also take advantage of various social media sites to post attractive pictures of your products. With a link to purchase, more and more customers will be able to enjoy the products and services that your business has to offer.
6. You Can Create Engaging Content
Traditionally marketing can be quite one-sided, consisting of ads that simply tell a viewer or reader what they're selling and why they should buy it. However, with digital marketing, you can create content that engages in a meaningful way with potential customers.
A blog, for example, is a great way to offer potential customers valuable content on a regular basis. They're more likely to keep their ears open if you are being informative rather than just trying to pitch a product.
From 360 degree video to how-to articles, your potential customers will come for high-quality content and stay for reliable products.
Even if a visitor to your website, for example, comes and goes, that doesn't mean you won't see them again. For instance, if you give potential customers the option of signing up for an informative and entertaining newsletter, then you can keep them updated on your products and more.
Memes on social media are yet another way to spread your brand while also providing something that can make people laugh or relate to your ethos.
7. You Can Target Niche Groups
With traditional marketing, you can only reach a broad audience but with digital marketing, you can focus on niche groups just by tweaking a few parameters.
Not only can digital marketing help you to discover what niche groups belong in your customer base, but after you find out, you can capitalize on that information.
When you set up a Facebook ad, for example, you can choose which demographics you want to target, from age to location and more.
If you sell men's deodorant, for example, then you won't have to waste time and money showing your ad to women. Rather, you can regulate your ad so that it shows up in the social media feed of men.
8. Other Businesses Are Doing It
Are you still asking yourself, "Why use digital marketing?" The answer is simple.
There's a vast audience of potential customers out there. As you read this article, other businesses are already winning those customers over with their digital marketing strategies. Essentially, every customer they gain is your loss.
This is why it's important to start thinking in terms of how you're going to accomplish your digital marketing goals rather than if you should have any goals in the first place.
As technology continues to progress, there will be more and more opportunities for businesses to evolve their digital marketing strategies. First things first, you need an online presence before you can join the future and invest in your success.
Are You Ready to Create a Digital Marketing Strategy?
Now that you know some of the reasons why you need a digital marketing strategy in 2020, you can take the necessary measures to ensure the success of your business. A new year is the best time to revolutionize how your business handles its marketing.
IP Marketing is your go-to source for digital marketing strategies. Our knowledgeable experts can assist you with search engine optimization, Google ads and social media marketing, website design, and the all-important creation of valuable content. We can guide you into the digital future.
If you have any questions about our high-quality services, feel free to contact us. We're always happy to help.
