Don’t delay: get online today – the benefits of digital marketing

Technology never stops evolving, and businesses that want to keep up and even stay ahead of their competitors need to be aware of new applications and digital trends. However, technology also offers other benefits than merely ease of use. Technology can also offer innovative and cost-effective ways to market your business.

Digital marketing

Technology has undeniably changed the way the world works. In terms of business, it has made transactions quicker and easier; it has widened the marketplace; and it has, above all, put the consumer in charge. Reputations can be made or lost through consumer use of social media, but consumers are also easier for businesses to reach through these channels, as well as through email. Because technology changes so fast, it is important to keep up to date with new trends and techniques, and you can do this by accessing industry websites or subscribing to digital media news that will keep you informed.

Take social media as an example. The majority of these platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, are free to set up and interact with, and as it is estimated that 72% of consumers are already active on social media, it is an excellent way for businesses to connect with their existing and potential customers. The very nature of social media also means that posts made by companies can be shared amongst many more people than a printed flyer or print advertisement, providing sharing buttons are included on all posts.

As well as sharing on social media platforms, your digital marketing can also encourage readers to act in a certain way. This might mean including a link to a particular page on your website, asking them to leave a review of your goods or services, or simply to get in touch to obtain a quotation.

Digital marketing also allows you to develop a non-intrusive relationship with your customers. Most people become annoyed when receiving piles of circulars and advertisements through their letterbox or being cold-called at inconvenient hours. Digital marketing allows the recipient to engage with your communication or ignore and delete it. It also allows you to target your potential customers, rather than running a blanket campaign and hoping that it is seen by the right people.

An even more valuable aspect of digital marketing is the fact that it is much easier to tell how successful your campaigns have been without having to wait weeks or even months. By using tools such as Google Analytics, you can see almost immediately how much your website traffic has increased in the wake of a campaign, and also find out how many people actually read or opened your communications. It can also tell you which aspects of the campaign failed to engage with people, enabling you to refine your marketing methods for next time.

Whilst traditional forms of marketing can still pay substantial dividends and should not be ignored, digital marketing has the advantage of being available to every company, regardless of their individual marketing budgets.