Online marketing goes way beyond having a fancy website for    your company. In todays internet-driven society, it has become    necessary for businesses, both big and small, to create an    online presence that attracts consumers. Why? To continuously    reach wider audiences and boost sales.  
    The internet has opened doors to a whole new digital economy    which many consumers prefer over the traditional    brick-and-mortar outlets. According to sales forecasts    generated by eMarketer, retail eCommerce sales are expected to    reach $4.058 trillion by 2020 worldwide. This figure reflects    the increasing trend of online shoppers.  
    Image Credit: Cordis Technology  
    (Image:  Image Credit: Cordis Technology)  
    Unfortunately, a lot of businesses are unaware of the    importance of online marketing, few do not have a budget and    many simply cannot dedicate enough time towards making a    digital marketing strategy. Business success is all about    giving customers exactly what they want with ease. Leading    firms across the globe are ahead of the competition for a    reason; they know how to tap into evolving eCommerce markets    led by internet-savvy consumers.  
    So, the real question isnt about having an online platform for    your business, but rather, how to effectively use that platform    to bring in sales. So, lets discuss a few reasons why your    business should consider online marketing:  
    Online consumers are reshaping shopping trends and creating    more opportunities for businesses worldwide. According to    PwC Total Retail Survey    2016, 54 per cent of consumers buy products online on a    weekly or monthly basis. This figure is expected to grow by    2020, reflecting the increasing time spent by customers online.    So as a business, would it be a wise decision to let go of    ever-increasing online sales opportunities? No matter what    industry your business operates in, it is crucial to create an    online image that appeals to customers. At the end of the day,    you want to bring in sales both through online and on-store    mediums. So why not capitalise on your online presence?  
    In such as fiercely competitive environment, foregoing the idea    of online marketing is not even an option. A simple competitor    analysis will show you how many of your rivals are opting for    online marketing channels. The real trick is to do it better    than them, way better. Digital marketing tools offer plenty of    options to experiment with online branding and marketing. Your    job is to make an online marketing plan that fits your business    ideology, attracts customers and doesnt exceed your budget.  
    Long gone are the days when one-size-fits-all marketing    approach seemed the best. Todays era demands a more customised    and precision marketing strategy. For every product or service,    there is a consumer somewhere out there. How do you find these    customers and pitch your product offerings? Online marketing is    the answer! With so many online channels and social media    platforms, you can target specific markets anywhere across the    globe. For Instance, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram let you    search for specific consumer groups based on demographics,    interests, geographical regions and more. This means you can    advertise your products to the right consumers and improve your    sales potential.  
    Not all businesses have big budgets for marketing. Smaller    businesses seem to struggle the most when it comes to    allocating funds for marketing purposes, which makes    competition seem unfair. But online marketing has levelled out    the playing for everyone. The world of the internet offers    equal opportunities to all businesses no matter the size,    budget or location. All you need to do is find the right online    tools and services such as local listing management, content    marketing, Search Engine Optimisation and Social Media    Marketing to position your business online. Traditional    advertising mediums such as billboards, Television or Radio can    cost you a fortune and may not be impactful. However, digital    marketing is not only cost-friendly, but offers more    reachability across the globe.  
    Consumer demands are continuously shifting and to stay at the    top, you must meet these ever-changing consumer preferences.    This means you must be constantly updated and aware of what    your consumers are looking for, what they want, what they like    and what they dislike. This information is essential for    marketing purposes and paving way for future product offerings.    Traditional marketing methods are typically one-sided, where    information whether in the form of images or text is placed on    mediums for consumers to view, offering almost    zero-interaction. On the other hand, digital marketing offers    plenty of consumer interaction and engagement opportunities.    Through commonly used social media platforms, you can interact    with your consumers, gain insight on their preferences and    build a better digital marketing plan.  
    Branding necessary for long term business success. Consumers    may or may not remember a product or service, but are most    likely to associate brands with their shopping experience. One    tiny mistake can give your business a bad name in the market    and in the minds of your consumers. Put it this way, a brand is    a perception of a business which exists in the minds of your    customers. It can take several years to build a positive brand    image. However, online marketing is helping new and small    business quickly position themselves in the market and move    towards strong brand building. Through online channels, you can    advertise and create memorable user-experiences which add to    brand building. Remember, branding isnt just selling a product    or service, it is a combination of consumer engagement, pre and    post-sales services, value-for-money and more.   
    Business growth is a must. If your business isnt growing, you    are bound to fail sooner or later. And to grow, you need to    promote your business and widen your customer base,    continuously! You cant rely on outdated marketing tools to    give you that global reach. Online marketing can give you a    head start and let you expand your business. Especially for    small or medium sized businesses, digital marketing offers    greater opportunities to build a brand and reach out to    potential customers.  
    Now we can conclude that online marketing offers far more    benefits that traditional marketing. For business which are    still new to the digital world, help is always around the    corner. If you think you dont have the right experience or    resources, you can join hands with a professional digital    marketing team and have everything sorted out for you. There    are multiple digital marketing companies which offer services    to help guide and navigate businesses online. Advancing    technology is another reason why its time to move on and    explore the potential of online marketing. So, whats holding    you back? Take lead and gear your business towards to    success.  
    Myra Bari, content writer and editor, Cordis Technology    Image Credit: SFIO CRACHO / Shutterstock  
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Seven reasons why your business needs online marketing - ITProPortal