Are you thinking about moving your business from the offline space to the online space? This article will show you why going digital with your business is absolutely important in 2020.
How do you order food these days? How do you buy clothes? When was the last time you stood in a line to pay your internet bill? We already know the answer to all these questions. It’s all done online! With all the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us cannot physically do these things, even if we have the time to go and shop for our clothes, groceries or pay our bills at physical stores or offices to make payments.
This is why it is absolutely important to rethink your marketing strategy in this digital era. We have a few insights which will help you to understand the importance of investing in Digital Marketing.
In 2019 there were 3,986 million unique mobile internet users. The total number of active internet users is 4,388 million. That’s right! Around 90% of all internet users have mobile access, with China, India, and the US leading the way. The internet has become cheaper and also easily accessible to almost everyone!
More than 90% of people start with an online search before they make a buying decision. Even if they buy from a local business, they first start with an online search. Taking your business to the digital space provides you with an opportunity to get your business displayed in front of these people who are planning to buy something that you may be selling.
People believe what others are saying about your product/service online. It helps them to decide whether your product/service is good or not. Being digital allows you to showcase your existing customer’s experience to others, and easily build trust over time.
You are not restricted to geography. With digital your business can be anywhere. The whole world is your market.
People can easily find your contact details (email, phone number) and can connect with you if they want to inquire about your product/service. Digital gives them freedom to quickly connect with you anytime.
We hope that these points have helped you to understand why taking your business online is important. Also, if your business is online but you have not invested in brand awareness, this is the best time to make the investment!
We have come across several business owners who want to go online but were hesitant due to a few reasons. Some of the common reasons that we have encountered were:
I am already having good business offline. Why should I go online?
Answer – Because that would bring you more business and will increase revenue. Wouldn’t you want that?
Our products don’t sell online. So, going online won’t help.
Answer – We agree some products may not sell online as some users want to touch and feel before buying them. Especially when it’s high priced. In that case, a website (online presence) would help people discover that you sell that product and they can find your Business address and can then check the product by visiting the store physically.
I already have a website but I don’t get any orders/inquiries from it. So why should I invest in Digital Marketing?
Answer – A lot of business owners have this answer when they are asked why they are not doing Digital Marketing. For those who have this question/problem need to understand this simple example. A plant cannot grow without water and fertilizers. Same is the case with an unproductive website. You need to provide it Search Engine Optimization (SEO) (Water), Social Media Presence (Sunlight), Offers on website (fertilizer to get more fruits). Once you do this, you will get leads/inquiries. It’s that simple!
Is going digital expensive? I can’t invest that much.
Answer – A lot of business owners have the cost factor in their mind. But it’s not true that taking your business online and doing digital marketing is expensive. Actually, Digital Marketing is much cheaper than offline marketing. Also, offline marketing’s success is not measurable; however, that can be done in the case of Digital Marketing. Unlike offline marketing you are not restricted to certain area; you can be anywhere & everywhere with Digital Marketing.
The way people buy things have changed and is still changing so businesses need to adapt and change their marketing strategies accordingly. We are not against offline marketing, but we would definitely want you to include Digital Marketing as an integral part of your overall marketing strategy.
