Internet has changed the business world and it will only accelerate its influence and power in the coming years. Majority of businesses are online and if yours is not, its not in the game.
Not since the printing press has an invention changed the way we communicate and get information out to the masses. The fact is, that a business will hinder its growth dramatically if it doesn’t invest in a multilayered online marketing strategy.
Here’s why:
1- Consumer Expectations have changed
With the invention of the smart phone everyone is constantly on a search engine. People between the ages of 18 and 24 look at their phones on average of 74 checks per day. Americans in the 25-34 age bracket look at their devices 50 times per day, and those between 35 and 44 do so 35 times each day. (source: Time magazine article by Lisa Eadicicco 12/15/15).
We use our phones to communicate, research, get directions, and most importantly verify information. Most people are reluctant to go to a new business if they are not easy to find online and have good reviews.
Consumers now expect their businesses to be assessable to them right at their fingertips. They want to know everything about your business before they walk into your store or ever talk to you. Most of us, when we hear of a business for the first time, immediately look for a website or social media profile where we can learn more. We don’t stop in for a visit. We don’t look you up in a phone book. People expect you to have a website, and if you don’t, they may doubt your legitimacy or discard you as a potential option altogether.
2- Your Competitors are Online
Google now processes over 40,000 search queries every second on average, which translates to over 3.5 billion searches per day. If your business is not easy to find online you are in trouble. (source: Internet live stats, 11/26/2017)
Businesses that take time and money to optimize their online image see results immediately and have more long-term security.
Just because your business is reluctant to adopt an online marketing strategy doesn’t mean your competitors haven’t. They could be conquering the digital landscape, poaching your potential customers and offering a better first impression to anyone searching for businesses like yours in your area. To make matters worse, everyday they are online they are gaining more followers, branding impressions and optimizing their search capabilities.
According to a report done by McKinsey & Company, “ Businesses that rely on the web tend to grow at twice the speed of businesses with “minimal or no [web] presence.”
3- Stay Connected
When your customers cannot talk to you after business hours having visually pleasing and informative websites makes a huge difference.
In Jill Schiefelbein’s book, Dynamic Communication, she explains: In today’s digital world, there’s no such thing as business hours because a business can never be truly “closed” anymore. That’s not to say your physical office space doesn’t shut down, but your customers and your potential customers expect access to you 24/7. Whether that comes in the form of locating information on your website, engagement and interaction on and with your social media channels or leaving a review on a third-party site, your business is always “open.” You can never stop paying attention.
Being connected works both ways. When you have an excellent online marketing strategy you are receiving feedback from your customers and potential customers. You can see from the traffic on your website and social media pages who is responding. You can see from reviews and online survey’s what you can do to improve.
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Embrace the future and invest in a dynamic online marketing strategy. Contact us at info@whiterabbit360.org or connect with us online @whiterabbit360 if you want to start on a winning marketing strategy.
Wisdom from the white rabbit is always available.