Summary: This article focuses on the importance of Internet Marketing. We look at the prospects of Internet marketing and discuss the potential of running campaigns for small businesses.
Are you still not marketing your business online? Do you still have your doubts about Internet marketing benefits? You are in a minority as less than 30% of small businesses still don’t market on the Internet. The lack of an online footprint came as a rude shock to many small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic when we saw a major shift toward online commerce and digital marketing.
We are moving into a world where businesses are increasingly focusing on Internet Marketing. Spends on digital ads have increased by 20% each year since the onset of the pandemic. The Internet Marketing industry which is valued at $65 billion in 2022 is expected to reach $265 billion by the end of this decade. Internet marketing benefits have been well proven during the pandemic where businesses with an online footprint enjoyed an advantage.
Spending on digital marketing has constantly increased as more businesses experience Internet marketing benefits. Businesses spent $455 billion on digital advertising in 2021 and we are likely to see that surpass the $500 billion mark this year. Your consumers expect to find you online and hence you can’t afford to remain digitally invisible.
The figures above clearly testify the importance of Internet Marketing in a post-covid world. If you are still wondering about the tangible benefits of Internet Marketing, here are some that you can’t afford to ignore.
Real Benefits of Internet Marketing
# 1 – It doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket
If you are still one of those who believes Internet Marketing is expensive, think again. Internet marketing is cost-effective when compared to traditional marketing such as TV, Radio, and Print Ads. It costs less per acquisition when pitted against flyers, banners, and direct mail. Even if you have as little as $100 dollar marketing budget per month, you can start with an Internet Marketing campaign.
# 2 – It helps grow your brand’s reach
Traditional marketing strategies have limited reach. For instance, you may post an ad on a local newspaper or put-up expensive billboards around a city. However, your reach is limited to people who pass those roads or read that newspaper. Internet marketing lets you reach a larger audience. Internet marketing isn’t limited by constrains of time and space and this is its greatest USP.
# 3 – It increases your brand awareness
Brand awareness and brand recognition are the two most sought-after goals in the world of marketing. Digital advertising increases brand awareness along with your reach. As consumers come across your brand name, logo, and product line across different touchpoints it makes your business recognizable. While they may not become your customers at once, it opens opportunities for the future.
# 4 – Engage with your target customers
Internet Marketing lets you engage with your target customers actively. Whether it is the chat service on your website or social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, you will be able to engage with your potential customers. Reply to their comments, share your brand’s story, and turn prospects into customers in real-time.
# 5 – You can generate faster and more qualified leads
Your internet marketing campaign helps you reach out to people who are already searching for businesses and products like yours. Hence, you will be engaging with people who show high intent. This lets you find qualified leads faster than traditional marketing efforts. People who visit your website are more likely to buy your products and services than those whom you may reach through banners or flyers.
# 6 – It shows immediate results
Internet marketing can deliver instant results. For example, you can post an ad on Facebook and turn a potential customer into a paying customer within hours. It doesn’t take much time to set up ad campaigns on the Internet. If you have a set of target keywords it is possible to get a campaign up and running in less than an hour. It can take days and even weeks for your ad to be published on traditional channels.
# 7 – You can make quick amends
We all have heard stories of wrong phone numbers published on newspaper ads or a miss-spelled brand name appearing on billboards. It can hurt your brand value and there is little you can do. On the contrary, you can make quick amends when you spot an error in your campaign.
# 8 – You can track and measure results
Ask yourself a question – can you figure out how many people read your last newspaper ad or saw the billboard you put up on a busy street? Internet Marketing strategies on the other hand let you track and measure results. From website visits to clicks on your digital ads, you can track every engagement with the target audience in real time. Advanced analytics lets you track your user down to their location. Traditional marketing is no match in terms of tracking and measuring the results of your campaign.
Final Thoughts
By now, you can see Internet Marketing benefits. It can open several new opportunities for your business and help you reach out to customers who may have been out of your radar in the past. Lower costs and wider reach make Internet Marketing the most potent tool to grow your small business. As the world becomes more tech-savvy, your Internet Marketing campaign would bear rich fruits in the future.
You may already be tempted to jump into a campaign. However, you need a well-crafted plan and an expert team to handhold you through your campaign. If you are looking for an Internet Marketing agency that has cut its teeth amidst competition, Cyrusson Inc. would fit into your bill perfectly. We are a full-service agency and help you stay ahead of the curve with design, advertising, marketing, and branding solutions.
Call us for a free consultation and we will create a strong presence for your brand in the cyber world.