The world is changing. Businesses that were once considered “static” and “ticked off” customers, now have an opportunity to reach anyone, anywhere, anytime with the click of a button.
The advent of online marketing and social media has created a new world of possibilities for brands.
No longer do you have to limit your target audience to a specific area, time, or social media channel. Now, with the click of a button, you can target hundreds of thousands of people across the globe, with content tailored to their wants and needs.
Even if you’re already doing well in your industry, this is a golden opportunity to expand your customer base, and potentially grow in size and influence. But, it won’t happen if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why we’ve put together this guide, to help you navigate the world of online marketing and direct response marketing, and find the best option for your business.
Consider Your Target Audience
Before you begin your quest for the perfect online marketing company, you first need to consider your target audience. What do they want and need? What is their lifestyle, interests, and hobbies?
You need to find out who you’re trying to reach, and what they want and need. This way, you can tailor your strategy to better reach them. It can be helpful to segment your target audience into groups, and consider the differences between each group. For example, you may have someone who is interested in your product but doesn’t have enough money to buy it. In this case, you would tailor your marketing towards them by creating low-cost or free offers, or providing them with value in some other way.
How Important Is SEO To Your Business?
When it comes to marketing online, the term “SEO” comes up a lot. In fact, it’s one of the most common search terms when it comes to finding websites. Why? It’s simple. When people are searching for something, they usually want to find what they’re looking for quickly, and easily. If your website isn’t visible when a customer does a search on their device, you’re losing out on a huge potential audience.
SEO isn’t really that difficult. You just need to make sure that your website is registered with Google, and that you’re optimizing your content correctly. There are plenty of free tools like Google’s own SEO analyzer that can help you determine the potential of your site, and helpful guides that can get you started quickly and easily. Don’t get intimidated by the idea of SEO. Everyone should have the opportunity to succeed online.
Do You Need A Website Or Do You Just Need To Post On Social Media?
Depending on how quickly you want to see results, you may not need a website at all. If you just need to post on social media to get the word out, you can do so from anywhere. From anywhere means that you can be anywhere in the world, and still have your posts reach your audience. Of course, having a website gives you the opportunity to do more, and reach more people than you could ever imagine.
So, is a website necessary? Yes and no. It all depends on your goals and the nature of your business. If you want to build a brand, and earn the trust of your customers, you’ll need a website.
On the other hand, if you’re just looking to grow your social media followers, and don’t want to invest the time and effort into a content strategy, then you may not need a website at all. You can simply post on social media, and gain instant credibility with your audience. But, don’t be afraid to consider the benefits of having a website as well.
Does Mobile Technology Continue To Develop?
With each new update, mobile technology continues to develop, and improve. Even now, with all the advancements, there are still things that the average person can’t do on their mobile phone that they can easily do on a computer.
The industry continues to evolve, and with each new update, comes new opportunities for businesses.
If you’re a business owner, and you’re not yet making use of mobile technology, now is the right time to start. Not only is mobile tech easy to use and implement, but you can also tailor it to suit your needs, and reach the right audience. There are plenty of free tools like Google’s own mobile-friendly index that can help you determine the potential of your site, and drive traffic from mobile technology.
Determining The Differences Between The Different Types Of Marketing
Now that you understand what you’re looking for, it’s time to determine the differences between the different types of marketing. The types of marketing can be separated into three categories:
- Traditional
- Inbound
- Digital marketing
Let’s discuss each one.
Traditionally, we think of marketing as advertising in print and on TV. We also think of marketing as making sure we have enough product to satisfy the demands of our customers. When we get a new product, we usually see ads for it all over the place.
However, traditional marketing isn’t just limited to print and TV ads. It can also include events, tradeshows, and more.
Inbound marketing is all about attracting, engaging, and delighting people who are already interested in your product. Inbound marketing focuses on marketing through content, rather than delivering marketing messages. One of the most popular authors in the inbound marketing sphere is Chris Guillebeau. If you’re not familiar, Chris is a marketing consultant who helps businesses become more effective communicators, and is often credited with coining the term “Content Marketing.”
Inbound marketing isn’t new. It was actually coined in the early 2010s, as a reaction to increasingly aggressive marketing and advertising from digital marketing agencies.
Chris Guillebeau stated, “It’s not about selling or broadcasting or even creating interesting content, it’s about engaging with someone who wants to be engaged.” And more recently, he’s been quoted as saying, “It’s not about selling or advertising or engaging with someone who wants to be engaged, it’s about delivering marketing.” So, while traditional, and even digital marketing can be considered forms of outreach, inbound marketing focuses on creating content, that attracts, and then engages with potential customers. Content is everywhere, on the web and across social media channels. If you’re not interacting with your audience, you’re losing out on a huge opportunity.
Does Mobile Technology Continue To Develop?
Mobile technology continues to develop, and with each new update, comes new opportunities for businesses.
Even now, with all the advancements, there are still things that the average person can’t do on their mobile phone that they can easily do on a computer. If you’re a business owner, and you’re not yet making use of mobile technology, now is the right time to start. Not only is mobile tech easy to use and implement, but you can also tailor it to suit your needs, and reach the right audience. There are plenty of free tools like Google’s own mobile-friendly index that can help you determine the potential of your site, and drive traffic from mobile technology.
So, does mobile technology continue to develop? Yes and no. Yes, it does, but no, it doesn’t. It’s not a matter of “if” mobile technology will continue to develop, but rather “when.” Everything is connected to the internet now. Mobile technology is easier to use and more convenient than ever before. As a result, the number of people using mobile technology will continue to grow.
Does SEO Matter To You?
SEO isn’t really that difficult. You just need to make sure that your website is registered with Google, and that you’re optimizing your content correctly. There are plenty of free tools like Google’s own SEO analyzer that can help you determine the potential of your site, and helpful guides that can get you started quickly and easily. Don’t get intimidated by the idea of SEO. Everyone should have the opportunity to succeed online.