Online Marketing- these words conjure up an
image of something impractical for a vast majority of ‘traditional’ businessmen
while it’s the byword for quick, cost-effective and massive self-promotion for
the new age visionaries, basking in the influential effects of Facebook and
twitter. With the advent of technology and the internet, more and more
businesses want to piggyback their products, services, concepts; you name it,
on the infinite possibilities and the lucrative x-factor afforded by the big
WWW. Why should you stay back?
The most common accusation against online marketing these days is that ‘everyone is doing it’. Hello, when did we miss the ‘it’s unique and must try’ stage? Online marketing allows you to connect with your customers on multiple points- customize your promotional package to appeal based on location, include snippets that appeal at a personal level, the point being that with online marketing you can reach a focussed, niche audience that conventional marketing- hoardings, television and newspaper ads, cold-calling etc. cannot achieve. It’s more effective to individualise your campaign, to make it seem personal and targeted than merely ‘putting it out there’ while expecting your intended audience to respond positively and reach back to you.
This is the age of web2.0 and social media. Blogging and socially connective sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn serve the dual purpose of generating an appreciative market as well as connecting you to a limitless segment of people on the 2nd, 3rd…nth degree based on the people you are pitching to and their network of friends and family. The cost factor is a surprising plus point too. A traditional marketing campaign could run into some serious money based on the promoter’s expectations and even then, the marketing effect could be very limited and quickly forgotten- however, with online marketing, a single qualified marketer could run a very successful campaign and reach a greater demographic in quicker time. Imagine, you are a start-up claiming to produce the world’s best golf clubs and you are located in India- your target audience meanwhile is primarily from the United States. With conventional marketing, the road to self-promotion looks long and expensive. However, an online marketing campaign, well-conceived and directed could ensure that your golf clubs could end up in the very capable hands of Tiger Woods in record time. One of the important means to promote your business would be to come up with more interactive business blogs.
Traditional marketing remains a disjointed affair. You pitch your ideas to an assembled audience and wait for a response- often, your target audience forgets about you when bombarded by more options from your competition. Concept retention by the targeted market can be achieved by planned email campaigns. Creativity has and always will appeal to people- thus, with the handy online tools that give your audience a sense of control rather than a feeling of being subjected without their choice; they can be regularly reminded of your products and services catalogue.
The trend of online marketing is here to stay and growing at an exponential rate. Businesses now have the options of E-commerce, Business to Consumer (B2C) and Business toBusiness marketing (B2B) websites to promote their wares and build strong and lasting followings. A competent company without its own website is frowned at while whole shopping malls have been customised to fit into e-commerce portals. The emergence of smartphones and ready availability of internet ‘on-the-go’ has resulted in more and more people spending a massive chunk of their day online. Where there shall be smoke-there shall be fire. Where the hordes of people shall congregate, you with your products and services must be there. Online marketing is all about speaking to your customers in the popular language that they understand best.
The most common accusation against online marketing these days is that ‘everyone is doing it’. Hello, when did we miss the ‘it’s unique and must try’ stage? Online marketing allows you to connect with your customers on multiple points- customize your promotional package to appeal based on location, include snippets that appeal at a personal level, the point being that with online marketing you can reach a focussed, niche audience that conventional marketing- hoardings, television and newspaper ads, cold-calling etc. cannot achieve. It’s more effective to individualise your campaign, to make it seem personal and targeted than merely ‘putting it out there’ while expecting your intended audience to respond positively and reach back to you.
This is the age of web2.0 and social media. Blogging and socially connective sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn serve the dual purpose of generating an appreciative market as well as connecting you to a limitless segment of people on the 2nd, 3rd…nth degree based on the people you are pitching to and their network of friends and family. The cost factor is a surprising plus point too. A traditional marketing campaign could run into some serious money based on the promoter’s expectations and even then, the marketing effect could be very limited and quickly forgotten- however, with online marketing, a single qualified marketer could run a very successful campaign and reach a greater demographic in quicker time. Imagine, you are a start-up claiming to produce the world’s best golf clubs and you are located in India- your target audience meanwhile is primarily from the United States. With conventional marketing, the road to self-promotion looks long and expensive. However, an online marketing campaign, well-conceived and directed could ensure that your golf clubs could end up in the very capable hands of Tiger Woods in record time. One of the important means to promote your business would be to come up with more interactive business blogs.
Traditional marketing remains a disjointed affair. You pitch your ideas to an assembled audience and wait for a response- often, your target audience forgets about you when bombarded by more options from your competition. Concept retention by the targeted market can be achieved by planned email campaigns. Creativity has and always will appeal to people- thus, with the handy online tools that give your audience a sense of control rather than a feeling of being subjected without their choice; they can be regularly reminded of your products and services catalogue.
The trend of online marketing is here to stay and growing at an exponential rate. Businesses now have the options of E-commerce, Business to Consumer (B2C) and Business toBusiness marketing (B2B) websites to promote their wares and build strong and lasting followings. A competent company without its own website is frowned at while whole shopping malls have been customised to fit into e-commerce portals. The emergence of smartphones and ready availability of internet ‘on-the-go’ has resulted in more and more people spending a massive chunk of their day online. Where there shall be smoke-there shall be fire. Where the hordes of people shall congregate, you with your products and services must be there. Online marketing is all about speaking to your customers in the popular language that they understand best.
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