Online and Offline Marketing Tools – What’s the Difference?

People are now able to do their market research from the comfort of their home, which means that the way we market products has changed. Gone are the days of relying on expensive survey teams and focus groups to provide insights into consumer behaviour. Nowadays, with the click of a button or the turn of a page, we can find out exactly what our target audience wants, when they want it and how much they are willing to pay for it.

Whether we’re talking about traditional brick and mortar shops or online marketplaces, the methods for marketing and selling goods have changed and evolved to match the times we live in. Gone are the days of spending thousands on expensive TV ads and magazine spreads. Thanks to the internet and social media, everything we need to know is at our fingertips. For those looking to get into the e-commerce game or want to know more about how to effectively market their products online, this article will tell you everything you need to know.

Where Do I Start?

When creating an e-commerce store or blog, one of the first things you’ll want to do is to choose a platform that is flexible yet user-friendly. The two key things to look out for when choosing a web hosting service are simplicity and reliability. For those looking to get started with e-commerce, Shopify and WooCommerce are the perfect platforms because of their ease of use and functionality. If you choose a free platform such as Shopify, you’ll have access to all of their built-in functionality without having to pay a dime. WooCommerce provides a robust framework for those who want to create an online store but may not have the technical know-how or time to code their own solutions.

What Type Of Website Do I Need?

Depending on your target audience, you may need to choose between a free blog site or a fully-fledged e-commerce store. For example, if you’re looking to create a blog for your local church to help spread the word about their upcoming events and ministries, you may not need an e-commerce store. In this case, a simple blog site will be sufficient. If you’re launching a new product line and want to sell your products online, you may want to consider building a fully-fledged e-commerce store.

Do I Need A Domain Name?

Yes, you do. Nowadays, having a separate domain name for your e-commerce store is critical if you want to have a professional-looking site. Having a brand name associated with your web address helps separate you from competitors, gives you a voice on the web and allows customers to find you more easily. Buying a premium domain name for your e-commerce store is cost-effective and can be found for a reasonable price on a purchase plan. For example, Shopify allows you to pick a.com,.ca or.co domain name for free, but if you want a.org or.info domain name, you’ll need to pay $5 per month or $60 per year. A good rule of thumb is to choose a.com,.ca or.co domain name that sounds good with your targeted audience. This will naturally lead you to choose a noun or verb as your website’s domain name.

How Do I Build My Website?

Once you’ve chosen your web host, the next step is to purchase a high-quality domain name and install WordPress to create your website. If you’re looking to create a blog for your e-commerce store, you can use a tool like Blogger to make it easy. Just remember to use a .com domain name because it is the common and accepted domain extension for websites. Once you’ve installed WordPress, you can start customising your site with a header, footer, favicon, colour scheme and more!

If you’re looking to sell your products online, you’ll want to take the time to build a solid foundation for your online store. One of the first things you’ll need to do is to create a logo and a colour scheme for your website. Keep in mind that colours can vary by device so make sure you test your logo and colour scheme on different platforms and devices before you launch. After you’ve created your logo and colour scheme, you can start by creating a basic page with a good amount of content to draw in potential customers. Next, you can use Google Analytics to track the traffic to your site and work out what’s working and what needs to be changed. With the right online marketing tools, such as Google Analytics, you’ll be able to tailor your digital marketing activities to match the goals you’ve set for your business.

Along with having a slick site, you’ll also want to consider using other platforms, such as Pinterest, to grow your audience. Pinterest can be extremely effective when used strategically to follow the right tips and tricks. For example, you can use a tool like Shopify to create an e-commerce store, but you can also use its built-in blogging functionality to create engaging content that will turn heads and interest potential customers in your store. Create compelling visual content that will encourage people to click on your link or visit your site. You can use tools such as Google Analytics to track the effectiveness of your different content marketing strategies.

At the end of the day, it’s all about generating leads and turning them into customers. To do this, you’ll need to have a steady stream of content flowing to your website on a regular basis. If you can become someone’s go-to source for information on your niche, you’ll effectively be able to market yourself as an expert in your field and make the sale!