Whether you’ve been in business for years or are relatively new to the business world, you’ve likely seen the environment change a great deal. The online arena, what was once thought to be a passing fad, has gone beyond our wildest imaginations and taken over every aspect of business and life.
Technology has become an integral part of our daily routines, and while you may have gotten the bulk of your business from word-of-mouth, networking, or some type of traditional advertising in the past, the landscape has now changed. Some businesses have already chosen to adapt to the times. Those that haven’t will find themselves out of business very soon.
Rather than stick your head in the sand and wait until you begin losing business to change, you need to embrace technology and the new world it has ushered us into. In order to do that, you need to understand what’s happening and figure out how to use it to your advantage.
Below, you’ll learn important statistics in each of the areas surrounding our digital landscape. Take a look and see which of these you can put to use in your company.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and refers to the ability of search engines to connect your website with people looking for a solution to a specific problem. In order to do this, you must place specific keywords throughout your website. For example, if you offer party rentals in your town, you will determine what keywords potential customers are searching for when they look online, and then create your messaging around those keywords. These might include things like “birthday party,” “wedding rental,” “special occasions,” and even the town that you live in.
When you’ve used the proper keywords, search engines are able to connect your potential customer to your website so they can learn more about the products and services you offer.
Let’s take a look at some of the statistics you need to know around SEO:
It’s obvious that Google is a big player in the SEO game and you’ll want to stay abreast of their guidelines (as well as other search engines like Yelp and YouTube) so you can adhere to them, be found on the first page, and get noticed by as many potential customers as possible.
Content marketing involves creating and distributing useful, relevant, and consistent content that speaks to your potential customer’s problems and provides them with information and solutions. Content marketing is a noninvasive way of getting in front of your ideal client, becoming an expert in their eyes, and staying front-of-mind until they are ready to purchase. In essence, you become less of a talking head screaming about sales and more of a resource.
Content marketing should play a large role in your marketing and advertising strategy. When you’ve crafted a successful content strategy and carried it out properly, your ROI will be high and your sales will increase.
While you’ve probably been using it for a while, it’s important to understand what social media is and what purpose it serves, before we discuss important statistics.
Social media refers to digital platforms that allow you to connect with and share content with consumers. There are a variety of different platforms (and more are added every day) including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and many others. The content you’ll share depends on which platform you’re using and who your specific audience is.
Love it or hate it, social media is a valuable tool for marketing your business. Just remember that the point of social media marketing is to be accessible to your customer and create a conversation, it’s not just a place to dump your asks for business and run. And despite our short attention spans, creating longer content will increase your chances of being seen and heard.
Mobile marketing refers to reaching existing and potential customers through mobile means. This includes smartphones, tablets, and any other mobile devices. Consider how many times you’ve done a search for a restaurant or store while you’re already in your car or out and about.
Consumers now have the power to search for the products and services they need, in the palm of their hand. In order to take advantage of this mobile marketplace, you’ll need to make sure that your website is optimized for mobile viewing, that your business is searchable by industry and by location, and that your marketing is attractive enough to stand out in a crowded world.
Video marketing is used to promote and market your product or service to new and existing customers, increase engagement, and educate your customers. In order to make the most out of it, you need to know:
Video is an incredibly important aspect of your marketing. When creating videos, keep these things in mind:
Email marketing is the use of email to contact new and existing clients, promote your business, build relationships, offer specials, and stay top-of-mind with consumers.
Since it’s totally paperless, email marketing is more affordable than direct mail and much better for the environment. In order to do it properly, here are a few statistics you need to know:
While everyone faces an avalanche of emails each morning when they open their inbox, some of them are making it through and influencing consumers to make a purchase. Email marketing is an effective, affordable way to communicate with your existing and potential customers. Just make sure that you follow the rules of the road and don’t get spammy.
Every business could use more customers… or at least better ones. If you aren’t using lead generation to attract new business, you should be. Inbound lead generation allows you to speak with consumers that have already shown interest in what you do, rather than making the dreaded cold calls that no one (especially not the consumer) enjoys.
Inbound lead generation will help you attract more quality potential customers. However, it’s important to follow up quickly to show that you are eager to have them as a customer, and frequently to stay top-of-mind until they are ready to buy.
If you are marketing your business properly, your sales should be increasing. If they are not, you need to approach your marketing differently. Understanding sales statistics will help you know if you’re on the right track.
Creating relationships will always be the most important part of marketing and sales. The sales people who embrace this and learn to do it properly, will always outsell those who rely on a marketing department to hand them qualified buyers.
While people have been blogging as their own personal platform for years, many businesses now understand the importance of providing consistent content for their existing and potential customers. Blogs can answer questions that the audience may have, introduce solutions to problems, highlight specific products and services and share individual stories of these products in use, and much more. If you’re considering adding blogging to your marketing plan, here’s what you need to know:
Despite all of the technology available to businesses these days, crafting a well-written blog that provides information and guidance for a consumer is still one of the best ways to attract customers and position you as an expert in their eyes. When you do this and stay top-of-mind by frequently releasing quality content, they’ll be more likely to purchase from you when they are ready.
Today’s technology offers many opportunities to get your brand in front of consumers and influence them to purchase your products and services. Knowing these important statistics helps guide you to make the right marketing decisions for your business and figure out where to put your time and your energy for maximum digital marketing ROI.