Steel Plus Network Connections Issue 3 | Page 21

Killing The Marketing Myths :

THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR DIGITAL AUDIENCE

f your business is doing well and you ’ ve not yet invested in a strong digital presence , it can be tempting to assume that it ’ s not something you need . However , without marketing online , your competitors will have an edge and will eventually start to chip away at your success .
Digital marketing doesn ’ t have to be complicated to work well . Here ’ s a look at some marketing myths and the truth behind them , which will help you get well on your way to creating a strong online brand .
MYTH : CUSTOMERS IN MY INDUSTRY AREN ’ T FOUND THROUGH ONLINE MARKETING .
It ’ s certainly true that some fields immediately lend themselves to online marketing while others aren ’ t such an obvious fit . If you discount the possible advantages that creating a digital presence could offer , you could soon find you ’ re lagging behind .
Research shows that 81 % of buyers will check out companies online and do their research first before taking the plunge . In other words , if your products or services aren ’ t available online , you will be losing four out of every five possible sales .
You don ’ t need to invest huge amounts in online marketing , but having an up-to-date and easily accessible digital presence will pay for itself several times over .
MYTH : NO ONE WILL BE INTERESTED IF I PUT LOTS OF TEXT ON MY WEBSITE .
You might not think that your customers will be interested in long pages of text , but if you get the content right and it ’ s laid out well , it could be more popular than you think .
Customers want content that is relevant and helpful . This is far more important than trying to keep any text on your website brief . In many cases , businesses may be discounted because there ’ s simply not enough information for a customer to make an informed choice .
In addition , the goal of being online is getting your site seen . Search engines value longer content which is of a high quality . If you invest in this approach , your site will be ranked more highly . This in turn will allow you to be seen by a greater audience — and more potential customers .
MYTH : SOCIAL MEDIA IS ONLY FOR KIDS .
Social media has hit the headlines in recent years , but if you use it smartly , it can be an extremely powerful marketing tool .
A quarter of all buyers use various types of social media to discuss recent purchases or to gather information . By having an effective social media marketing strategy , you can make sure that you ’ re available to your audience and have the opportunity to present your brand as accessible , friendly , and most of all , expert .
DON ’ T GET LEFT OUT !
Online marketing can offer something to every business ; it ’ s simply a case of adapting your strategy to suit your business and budget . Don ’ t risk getting left behind . So don ’ t get fooled by these marketing myths and create your digital presence today . +
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