Small Businesses Need Digital Marketing to Survive - Here's Why

Many entrepreneurs today are hesitant to invest in digital marketing. They believe that as long as the product or service is good, customers will eventually find their way to them. Unfortunately, in today’s digitalized world, this cannot be further from the truth. Small businesses that choose to procrastinate digital marketing efforts miss out on a huge opportunity to scale up and reach new prospects online. Here are the benefits of digital marketing to justify why your business cannot afford to overlook this vast marketplace.

1. Your customers are online

Think about the last time you wanted to know more about a product or service. Chances are, you Googled it. Indeed, search is the number one activity on the Internet. Regardless of product or service, consumers would likely begin their search with Google. If you have no online presence at all, you won’t be found, and you can’t compete. These days, even having an online presence is insufficient. You need search engine optimization to appear above your competitors in the search engine results page. Going beyond the first page of the SERP significantly reduces your chances of reaching your potential customers, as they will likely go to your competitors instead.

2. Get to know your customers

Digital tools such as Google Analytics, Instagram Insights and Survey Monkey helps you understand your target consumer better. You can easily identify which type of content resonates the best with them. This allows you to serve readers what they like, thereby pulling in a steady stream of readers and transforming them into customers. By learning about your customer’s goals, interests, challenges and pain points, you’re well on your way to profitably satisfying their needs.

3. Your competitors are online

Regardless of which industry you’re in, your competitors, in all likelihood, have already established a web presence. Your customers can’t come to you if they can’t find you, so by neglecting your web presence, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Learn from your competitors: what social media platforms are they on? How do they engage with their audience? The platforms they are on are the platforms you ought to be on as well, because these are the platforms used by your potential customers.

4. Be trusted by your customers

Having an online presence and a website instantly boosts the credibility of your business. By going digital, you can reach the right customers at the right time; and gain their trust by promptly responding to their queries. Customers appreciate the attention and are more likely to trust a business if they can get fast and honest answers to their queries. Additionally, social media listening lets you understand what consumers think of you - both their compliments and complaints. Knowing the general sentiments towards your brand and responding to them accordingly makes you a trusted partner.

5. Track your performance and measure your results in real time

Smart marketers don’t rely on guesswork. They decide next steps based on concrete evidence and data. That’s exactly what going digital can do for you. With online analytics, you get real time reports on the results of your marketing efforts. See what’s working and what’s not; and make the necessary adjustments to optimize your budget.

Small businesses have a lot of their plate. Starting out of a tight budget, marketing is usually pushed to the wayside. But having a digital marketing strategy will take your business to new heights and stands you in good stead to compete in the dynamic and competitive digital landscape.

Ready to get started with digital marketing? Try Google Digital Garage and Google Skillshop. Hubspot also offers courses like inbound marketing and email marketing as well - all for free. Additionally, these courses are offered in bite-sized sections so you can skill up in your own time. With the array of resources available, it's easy to get started. Try it out for yourself and reap the benefits of digital marketing today.