Blog

Do you own an offline business? Do you have a suitable online presence to go with it? If the answer is no, you need to rethink your marketing strategy. Some brick and mortar businesses – especially small companies with a limited number of staff – simply don’t think they need an online presence; they assume that their shop already does enough to attract local customers. And while this may be true, if you’re not online, you’re cutting yourself off from a large number of shoppers.

Why Does Online Marketing Sometimes Get Ignored?
This happens particularly with businesses who don’t actually sell any of their products or services online; they think that there’s no point in spending a lot of time and money on a website, when the only way to purchase an item is to come into the physical shop. People may not be able to buy online with you, but they may want to see what stock you carry – and what prices you’re charging – in order to compare you with your competitors. If you’re not even listed online (let alone have no official website), they’ll be completely unaware of your existence.

Another reason is the cost; small businesses may not have enough in their budget to embark on a huge online advertising campaign or a web development company, but it doesn’t have to cost the earth to market yourself on the web. Start small: list your business on the online version of Yellow Pages, and ensure you’re visible in the Google Places for Business results. If you’re really strapped for cash, make your own free website using an online template, and sign up for business and social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google + and LinkedIn. These are all free, and they’re great ways of reaching out to your target customers.

Why You Should Be Embracing Online Marketing
The way consumers search for products and services is changing. These days, people simply don’t have the time to spend hours on the High Street, hunting down the best prices and trying to track down that perfect gift; they’d much rather spend a few minutes on the internet first, so they know exactly which shops to visit when they do go out. 

It’s worth noting that, because of their busy lifestyles, consumers are now often searching for products using mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones (rather than being tied to their desks and their desktops). You therefore need to be aware of responsive web design development if you want to reach as many customers as possible; this just means that your site will be user-friendly and quick to load no matter what device (or size of screen) your potential client is using to access it.

Coming Up With A Digital Marketing Strategy
If you want to create an online presence for your business but don’t quite know where to start, there are hundreds of digital marketing specialists & web development companies out there who can help you. They’ll be able to give you advice and support on what’s best for your business, and will also be able to create a bespoke website or blog to help you attract those all-important customers.

By Chelsey Evans

Follow @AmpheonLtd