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WHAT IS SMALL BUSINESS DIGITAL MARKETING?
Traditional marketing methods primarily consist of advertising your business via print advertising (i.e. newspapers, magazines, business cards, yellow pages, etc.), TV and radio commercials, billboards and direct mailers. While some of these tactics can still be somewhat effective today, small businesses and their customers increasingly prefer marketing strategies that are more dynamic, customized and engaging. This is where digital marketing comes in. By taking advantage of creative online and internet marketing tactics, your business can meet prospective customers and clients where they are.
In order to truly understand the value of digital marketing for small businesses, it’s important to map your average consumer’s journey. Consumers rarely (if ever) become a loyal customer all at once. Rather, there are many little steps (or “touchpoints”) along the way that influence whether or not a customer ultimately chooses your business. Traditionally described as a funnel, many business owners are told that the consumer journey is linear and looks something like this:
01 AWARENESS THE CONSUMER BECOMES AWARE OF YOUR BRAND. 02 FAMILIARITY THE CONSUMER LEARNS MORE ABOUT YOUR BRAND AND WHAT SETS YOU APART. 03 CONSIDERATION THE CONSUMER HAS A NEED THAT YOUR BUSINESS MIGHT FILL AND COMPARES YOU TO COMPETITORS.
However, the reality is that today’s consumer is more informed and discerning when it comes to choosing the best products and services— thanks, in large part, to all of the available options and information found online. As a result, small businesses must embrace a more nuanced and non-linear approach to the consumer journey. The real power of digital marketing is being able to position your businesses to be there along the entire customer decision journey.