If you’re not using online marketing to promote your business, then you’re missing out on a huge audience. According to HubSpot Blogs research, 66% of consumers have used online marketing to find a product or service, and 48% have used online marketing to learn about a product or service.
The key takeaway from this group of consumers is that they’re actively seeking information about products and services online, which means that your website, social media platforms, and email accounts are heavily influenced by marketing.
The problem is that marketers don’t always have the time to keep up with all of the changes in technology, which leaves businesses at a disadvantage. That’s why we’ve put together this guide; to help businesses of all sizes and marketing strategies find the digital tools that work best for them.
The Definitive Guide to Online Marketing
Let’s get into the nuts and bolts of online marketing. What is it and how does it work?
Simply put, online marketing is the use of various digital tools to attract, engage, and convert potential customers into loyal and engaged customers.
The first step to effective online marketing is to identify the target market for your product or service. You can do this by using a marketing tool like Google Analytics to track the behavior of potential buyers and build a buyer persona. With a clear picture of who you’re trying to attract, you can develop content that fits their needs.
Nowadays, marketing analytics play a crucial role in digital marketing because marketers can’t measure the effectiveness of their campaigns without first looking at the results from Analytics. According to HubSpot Blogs research, 75% of consumers rely on analytics to understand site performance, while 59% use analytics to track the effectiveness of their social media posts.
The role of SEO in digital marketing has changed a lot in the last few years. Back in 2014, SEO was purely about manipulating algorithms and hoping that someone would notice your site. Today, SEO is about attracting and engaging potential customers through content.
What is SEO? In simple terms, SEO is Search Engine Optimization. When someone searches for products/services that your business offers, your website/app will appear at the top of the list — provided you meet the stated criteria. You can use SEO tactics to optimize your site for various platforms like Google, Bing, and Yandex.
How does SEO work?
Based on what your target market searches for, you can determine what kinds of content you should produce to optimize your site for that search engine. The more you participate in SEO activities, the better your results will be. These activities include submitting your site to search engines and using various tools to track the performance of your content.
The Need for Speed
With so much content constantly being produced, it’s no wonder that consumers have gotten used to speedy access to information online. According to HubSpot Blogs research, 72% of consumers expect to find what they’re looking for in the first two pages of search results, and 47% expect to find what they’re looking for in the first result.
To remain competitive in today’s ever-evolving world of technology, you need to get your website up and running as quickly as possible. Fortunately, there are professional website builders that can help take the drudgery out of website creation. With a bit of technical know-how, you can have a professionally designed, functional website in no time at all — even if you’ve never done so.
If you find that you’re struggling to keep up with the ever-changing technological landscape, it’s time for an upgrade. Fortunately, there are also marketing automation tools that can take the drudgery out of marketing. With a bit of technical know-how, you can have automated emails sent to your customers with compelling offers and incredible discounts, all without having to lift a finger. Marketing automation tools also allow you to scale your efforts quickly and ensure that you’re consistently hitting your metrics.
If you’re serious about growing your business, it’s time to stop being complacent and start taking online marketing seriously. The good news is that with a little bit of effort, you can turn your business’ online presence into a profitable venture that will bring you countless brand loyalty and customer engagement.