In the course of daily life, we are surrounded by advertisements. Whether we’re in our social media feeds, on our phones, or even in the books we read, there are always advertisements of some sort. Now that we live in the digital age, this phenomenon has taken on a whole new form. As a result, the practice of online marketing has evolved to keep up with the times. In particular, web-based marketing has boomed as an effective and relatively inexpensive way to market a business online. As a result, many businesses have shifted their marketing resources to the online realm, where they can measure the results of their investment more accurately.

Traditional vs. Digital Marketing

The evolution of online marketing has placed a premium on the ability to measure the results of an online marketing campaign. To ensure their investments are paying off, businesses are looking for cost-effective ways to track the success of their marketing campaigns. For many, the answer is to take a look at the bargain basement prices of online marketing platforms. These platforms don’t require a large up-front investment and the cost per action – or per click – is typically much lower than that of a traditional marketing approach (i.e., advertising on TV, running print campaigns, or hiring a public relations firm). As a result, many businesses are opting to use the internet as a cheaper and more efficient alternative to traditional marketing channels.

Which Industries Can Benefit From Online Marketing?

The cost savings and the ability to target specific audiences make online marketing attractive to a wide range of business sectors. Some industries – like retail and hospitality – traditionally rely on attracting customers through traditional advertising techniques. However, with the growing shift towards online shopping and booking, these industries have recognized the power of digital marketing. Below, we will discuss a few of the industries that can use the internet to their advantage.

Retail

The world of retail is changing. With ever-evolving e-commerce platforms like Shopify and big-data-driven marketing apps like Marketo, gaining customer intimacy and tracking sales are now possible in a much deeper way than ever before.

Thanks to these tools, retailers can see the performance of each individual shop and marketing campaign. Additionally, mobile apps that track in-store behavior and habits ensure that retailers can continue to provide the best possible experience to their customers even when they’re not physically present in a retail space.

Restaurants

In the world of restaurants, digital marketing doesn’t really exist in the same way it does in other industries. For decades, restaurants have relied on advertising to gain customers. However, with consumers constantly in search of discounts and specials, savvy restaurants are taking advantage of online marketing to gain additional exposure and to engage with customers who might not have usually given them a thought.

For example, if a restaurant wants to promote an upcoming special meal, they might post an image of the special on their website along with a brief description of the dish. Through the use of tools like Google Adwords and Facebook Ads, restaurants can target specific audiences and promote their specials to the people who matter most to their business.

Financial Services

Financial services businesses, like banks and insurance companies, have also shifted their focus towards digital marketing. Thanks to the growing influence of social media and digital marketing, customers can now have 24/7 access to banking and insurance information. Thanks to this, businesses can gain a more intimate understanding of their customers’ needs and interests.

In particular, the use of tools like Google Adwords and Facebook Ads for insurance and banking allows businesses to target individuals based on their demographics (i.e., age, gender, and location) as well as their interests (i.e., technology, career, hobby, and/or lifestyle). Using these strategies, financial services businesses can gain a better understanding of the people they serve and the kinds of content that will be most effective in connecting with them.

Healthcare

The healthcare industry is also taking advantage of the internet. Thanks to digital marketing, healthcare businesses can target audiences based on their demographics (i.e., age, gender, and location) as well as their specific interests (i.e., disease, treatment, or symptom).

Thanks to technology like Google Health, healthcare businesses can gain a better understanding of their customers’needs and the products that can best meet those needs. Additionally, consumers can gain deep insights into their own personal healthcare journeys thanks to the popularity of tools like HealthKit and EMR.

Logistics And Transportation

The logistics industry also stands to benefit greatly from digital marketing. Businesses in this sector rely on attracting customers through traditional advertising techniques (i.e., TV ads, magazine spreads, etc.). Thanks to innovations in digital marketing, like location-based marketing, customer analysis, and big data, logistics businesses can gain a better understanding of where and when their customers are most likely to enjoy their services.

For example, a cargo brokerage company can gain a better understanding of the locations where their goods are most in demand. Using tools like Google Maps, they can pinpoint areas with a large number of shipping containers (shipping ports). Thanks to this information, they can target logistics clients in those areas with custom-made advertisements encouraging them to engage with their service.

Where Do I Sign Up?

If you’re interested in learning more about the world of digital marketing, don’t be shy to ask questions. Most companies that provide these services will be more than happy to help educate you on the topic.

Additionally, don’t forget to search for online marketing communities on social media. There are lots of forums where you can get advice from other marketers and establish yourself as an authority in your industry.