Benefits to Business of Embracing Internet Marketing
Over the last decade, we’ve witnessed a revolution that swept across the world. It was the revolution of the Internet and all its accompanying features. From social media and the rise of Facebook to e-commerce marketing, the internet has not only transformed how we live and socialise; it has also changed how businesses should view marketing forever. Gone are the days when businesses could only market to their local area. Today, with the entire Internet available to billions of people, the potential to tap into these customers is incredible.
In today’s tech-driven world, no business owner should even consider ignoring internet marketing. We can’t just accept internet marketing; we need to fully embrace it and take hold of all the benefits it can bring. The truth is that internet marketing gives any entrepreneur access to an audience so large it’s impossible to ignore.
To show how essential internet marketing is to any business, this article will look at statistics and quotes from leaders in the business world to help you see why internet marketing should be fully embraced.
1. Most Customers Research Online Before Buying
According to a study by Interconnected World, 61% of customers research products online before buying (at the time of writing).
This means that 61% of your target audience is actively searching online for a business or product like yours. They are out there right now, scouring the web for a service that can give them what they’re looking for. In fact, eight people join the Internet every second.
If that’s hard to wrap your head around, consider this stat: Google gets 4 billion searches each day.
Even if you could tap into the tiniest slice of those 4 billion searches, your revenues would skyrocket. The Internet has become an integral part of consumers’ daily lives. Before purchasing anything, most customers research online for the best brands and products, along with reviews, experiences, and more.
This means you should maintain an active presence on social media such as Facebook and Twitter, along with a solid SEO foundation so customers can find you on Google.
Moreover, if you own a business, consider making a Google My Business account. This ensures your business gets visibility on the right-hand side of search results, giving it an extra boost.
2. SEO Is More Important Than Paid Advertising
Yes, while PPC advertising is one of the most versatile forms of advertising (helping you reach customers quickly), about 70% of search users click organic links rather than paid results.
This means integrating SEO into your daily marketing routine is essential to your business’s online survival; PPC advertising is still a worthy option. Still, it can be costly for small businesses and doesn’t offer a long-term solution for those who want a continual stream of traffic to their website. Most customers click organic links first, and many paid links are often ignored. On average, the click-through rate on a standard paid link is 2%, so only 2% of searchers click one of the paid links. This is a very poor CTR, considering that the first few organic search results have CTRs of 10% to 30%.
Yes, while PPC advertising is still a viable option, it may not be a long-term solution; with a solid, ongoing SEO campaign, you’ll keep improving your search visibility, which will drive more clicks and traffic over time.
3. Social Media Marketing Is Essential
Social media marketing is often like positive word of mouth for your business. By actively engaging with your customers on Facebook or Twitter, you create a ripple effect: customers may share your posts, which generates more likes and comments.
While social media marketing may not be a direct form of advertising, it helps your brand’s image and keeps customers continually engaged with what you offer.
In fact, on average, people spend about 4.6 hours per week on social media. This is the highest average time spent on any online activity. Social media has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives, and by placing your business on these platforms, you’re continually pushing it to the forefront of your current customer base and beyond.
In fact, over half of US SMBs have said that social media plays an important role in generating business and sales5.
As if that weren’t enough, many business owners have said that by taking part in social media marketing, their PageRank has increased as a result (45% of businesses said this), as this has helped drive inbound links to their site6. So by embracing social media marketing, you also help boost your search engine results.
These statistics show the effects, but it makes sense: so much of our lives is absorbed in the social media world. Much of your news comes from social media, and by putting your business out there in the virtual sphere, you’ll get more exposure.
Social media can also keep your current customers. If they buy from your site and enjoy your product, they might return, and if they become a fan of Facebook, they’ll be able to enter competitions, see announcements, and buy from your site again.
Moving Forward & Embracing Internet Marketing
The internet will not only bring customers to your website, but also help you retain them. With a solid SEO base and an SEO-friendly website (with plenty of content), you will have a strategy in place to help people find your website. With social media marketing, you’ll be able to gain more customers and retain your current customers, while also enhancing your brand’s image.
So why not get out there and start working on internet marketing? The results will be extraordinary.
Sources
1 – Interconnected World: Shopping And Personal Finance, 2012
2 – Comscore, January 2010
3 – MarketingSherpa, February 2007
4 – TNS, October 2010
5 – Forbes Insights, May 2010
6 – B2B Magazine, July 2010
