Traditional advertising has always been a great way to increase awareness for your brand. Banners, flyers, business cards – these are the things that people still come across every day. That being said, you cannot ignore how strong digital advertising is going these days.
As we reach the digital era, it is essential to keep up with the trends. Around 63.5% of the Globe’s populationhas Internet access. So, you need to go where they are. Here are some of the reasons why your business should use more online advertising.
1. Lower Marketing Costs
Indeed, online marketing does ask for certain fees here and there. You may have to cover pay-per-click ads, buy a website, or perhaps invest in a good website template. The advantage is that many of these marketing features can also be found free of charge.
Think about how much you usually spend for printing banners, flyers, and business cards. If you send your marketing products in the mail, you need to cover delivery fees. Moreover, banners are not cheap to hold up, as you will have to either rent or buy the spot.
When it comes to online advertising, things are much cheaper. You don’t have to print anything – and if you play your cards right, it can be completely free of charge. You just need some time on your hands and a good strategy. If you are just starting your business and have yet to build enough capital, an online marketing campaign can help you save money.
2. Instant and Trackable
With traditional marketing, you can’t know which ad works for you and which one doesn’t. People driving past your banner may not even look at it, and people getting your flyers may have no interest in your product. You are advertising to a wide demographic, which can turn out into a disadvantage.
With online advertising, you may narrow down your demographics. Cookies are collected for a reason – they help connect clients to the right products. Therefore, when you sell a product online, you can show it to interested people.
These ads are also trackable. You can see how they are performing, who clicks them, and how likely they are to lead to conversion. If an ad does not work for you, then you will know when it is time to change.
3. Better Reach
Nowadays, people no longer have to buy a newspaper to get information. Unless you live in some rural area where the Internet signal is low, no one uses newspapers anymore. Everyone goes online when they are trying to find something.
So, if you advertise online, you will have an easier time reaching those people. Your ads can run 24/7, which offers your business a lot of exposure. As the use of the Internet is continuously growing, this is the best place for you to advertise your product.
You can reach the millennials, as most of their time is spent online. These individuals are deeply rooted in the field of technology, and to be taken seriously, you need to show them that you are worthy. Millennials are people that have the highest buying power, which may increase conversion.
Online marketing will also help you get to people that would otherwise be out of reach. For example, if you sell services that can be delivered online (consulting, writing, etc.), traditional marketing will usually be limited to your town and maybe a few other additional areas. On the other hand, online advertising will bring you to different cities, states or countries.
4. Competition Is There
We know what you are thinking: just because your competition is doing it, it doesn’t mean you should be doing it as well. Sometimes, you are right. Other times, you need to know when to jump on the wagon.
An average of 66% of small businesses will advertise their products and services online. They are engaging with their target market, becoming popular, and grabbing customers that could have otherwise been yours. They’ve seen the opportunity and they are grabbing it.
Unless you put your business right there in the open, your potential customers will have no idea who you are. They will go to your competitors who were inspired enough to opt for online advertising.
The Bottom Line
Advertising online can do a lot for your reach and reputation. It also helps you save money so that you can focus on the things that matter: creating products or perfecting the services for your customers.