There is no denying that the Internet strongly influences people’s actions. Therefore, it is no surprise that most marketing practices are executed online.
Digital or social media marketing is renowned for providing global reach, measurable returns, customer engagement and quick results for a fraction of the costs of several traditional marketing strategies.
Due to the constant evolution of the online landscape, digital marking has adapted along with it. As a result, certain practices used in the past decade may no longer apply now. To help you navigate its complexities, we have rounded up a few of the most commonly misunderstood ideas on online marketing to shed light on it.
The Covid19 pandemic has pushed online shopping to new heights, but as restrictions slowly subsided, retailers are hoping to boost foot traffic again.
Digital marketing campaigns have incentivized to encourage customers to experience their brand’s physical ambience and have successfully increased customer in-store visits. Some say that nothing beats imbibing the sights, sounds and scents of product experience, which is especially true for restaurants.
With the ever-evolving strategies of social media and SEO optimization, marketing professionals can now effectively track the impact of digital promotions on online and offline sales.
While it is unnecessary to be omnipresent on all social media platforms, having just one will not give you the leverage of potential sales. If a consumer cannot find or engage with you on a specific platform, you lose prospective buyers, and your customer experience will be compromised.
Each platform offers its benefit directed to specific aspects of your marketing strategy. To get you started, establish your presence where your target audience is already and consider how they use the platform. For example, if you rely on promoting your product through video tutorials, take advantage of platforms that support video formats such as YouTube, Instagram Stories and Reels, and Facebook Live.
Professional marketers use data to measure which platform yields the most results for your business.
In the early days of SEO optimization, there is a notion that keyword stuffing and publishing more content will contribute to better traffic regardless of its quality.
Today, as search engine algorithms have enhanced, this approach no longer proves effective. Instead, search engines improve user experience by providing results that give relevant answers to what a targeted audience wants to know by prioritizing informative, quality content over mere quantity.
Some may find it cumbersome to produce high-quality content and settle for reusing the same content for all their social media platforms to save time. However, each channel caters to a specific purpose.
Logically speaking, sharing personal, everyday life stories on your LinkedIn account is inappropriate since it is geared towards professional networking. Instead, consider the type of content which works for your platforms and modify the tone and emotion of your posts to suit each one.
While this is not the type of engagement you are hoping for, it is something every business is bound to experience at some point. Along with digital marketing, customer service has shifted to a different landscape. Social media has become the new platform to express customer opinions cutting down the long waiting queue for customer service.
Research shows that consumers trust customer reviews and comments more than what the brands are saying. That said, there is every possibility of turning a negative comment to your advantage.
When an unsatisfied customer leaves a negative comment, other users will keep an eye on how you will handle the situation. Respond with an apology and show sympathy by assuring them that you have their best interest at heart.
Finally, offer a solution and make them feel that customer experience is essential to your brand. When handled appropriately and customers are pleased, negative comments can contribute to increased customer loyalty. Encouraging them to share their positive experience will attract new consumers to your brand.
Finally, customer comments can lead you to improve product quality and company service.
A large number of followers can help increase your brand’s credibility, but an increase in traffic does not always indicate a rise in sales or leads.
Since social media marketing offers global reach, it is easy to increase webpage visits. However, if you are not tapping into the ideal audience, your content and services will not appeal to them and will not generate the results you are after.
Another pitfall encountered in converting traffic to sales is not having a digital marketing funnel that provides steps to lead your visitors into deciding to purchase from you.
The bottom line is not all traffic is considered good because not everyone who visits your site is willing to buy. For this reason, professional marketers aim to attract high-quality leads that convert to sales. Simply put, they can target the right audience to turn into genuine customers.
Stay informed about the latest Internet marketing trends for your marketing plan to serve its objectives . However, if you still find it too baffling, you can always seek support from professional marketers.