The Internet is changing the way even big and traditional companies are doing business. Chocolate giant Hershey is one prime example. As more and more consumers buy their groceries online, food and beverage firms like Hershey’s have took notice and devised ways to get shoppers to click and order for their products online.
Everyone and everything is going digital. Conglomerates, medium-sized firms, and small businesses are now on the Internet promoting and selling their stuff. If you’re a small business owner who’s trying to refine your digital marketing efforts, here are some of the digital marketing tools that you should be using more:
Small businesses are often called the backbone of the local economy because of their sheer number and impact on commerce. Did you know that in the United States alone, there are close to 28 million firms considered as small businesses? With the number of small firms in the market, the competition can be very intense. One way for a small business to get a headway is to have a robust online marketing campaign.
Have you started an online business? If so, then you should focus on your digital marketing. In the highly competitive world of e-commerce, businesses that are able to optimize their online marketing efforts are able to reach their target audiences, engage their clients, and consequently enjoy higher sales.
These days, firms wanting to make it big should have a digital marketing strategy in place. As more and more people rely on the Internet not only to access information but also to buy products, businesses with a solid online marketing campaign tend to enjoy more success. These enterprises are able to reach more prospective customers and encourage them to buy their products or avail of their services.
Online marketing has leveled the playing field for businesses. Today, even small enterprises and startups don’t need a huge advertising budget in order to reach their target markets and promote their products and services. The availability of digital marketing tools have also made it easier for business owners and marketers to collect and analyze data critical in understanding the buying behavior of their customers.
The Internet has had a profound influence on today’s generation. Majority of people today use it to gain information not only about events happening around the world but also about different products and services. This reliance on the Internet has also made it imperative for businesses to have an online presence because their target markets are online. Digital or online marketing, which essentially pertains to the use of Internet-based channels for promoting products and services, is particularly important not only to established firms but more so for startups.
Many firms are now using big data in their operations. One study by management consulting firm Forrester Research that 44 percent of companies utilize data and mining to improve customer response rates and generate insights. Another report by Boston Consulting Group showed that a majority of chief marketing officers believe that big data systems have a big impact on their email and mobile communication campaigns.
Amazon, the online retail giant, could soon be the king of online ads, too. It has posed a serious challenge to Google and Facebook in the highly profitable area of online advertising. As the firm braces itself for getting a bigger slice of the $88-billion market, this could mean that even Amazon Prime customers who pay up to $120 a year for free shipping will likely see more ads in the future.
Digital marketing has come a long way since its beginnings in the late ‘80s. With everyone online, this type of marketing has changed the way companies devise of schemes targeted at their niche markets. Changes in technology and in the lifestyles of people have also affected its evolution.