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Why Digital Marketing Matters For Small Businesses

As a small business owner, there’s no doubt you know how impactful digital marketing has become. 

Digital marketing, the process by which companies are marketed online, can lead to you connecting with new customers, building relationships with current ones, and improving sales.

If it seems like everyone and everything has gone digital, you’re not alone. Here are some telling statistics:

  • Online shoppers are 80% more likely to visit a store in-person if they can check their inventory online
  • 88% of mobile users who search for a store on Google Maps visit a related store within a week – and 76% visit within a week
  • 82% of users view digital videos at least monthly

From being able to convert digital views into online sales or in-person visits, digital marketing is a must for connecting with customers. 

If there is a lingering question about why digital marketing matters, it may just be “Why does it matter… for me?”

Though we’ve seen the proof that digital marketing can support any business, it’s important to know more about how it works to understand how it will support yours. After all, if you’re unsure for any reason, it can seem simpler to stick to the marketing channels you are more familiar with.

While you stay on the sidelines, though, your competitors will continue using digital marketing for their benefit. As the internet has gotten more ingrained in our professional and personal lives, it has become more important for businesses. As more consumers opt to access products and services online, the companies that meet them where they are will flourish.

Read on for six key ideas to better understand how digital marketing can shape your business.

1. Digital Marketing Is Profitable

In comparison with other marketing methods, digital marketing can be a much more profitable avenue. It’s often offered through an agency at a fixed price or monthly charge, giving you more control over the outcome. 

Digital marketing strategies are set up with your business goals and budget in mind. They also deliver exceptional ROI that is more accurately tracked than other marketing avenues like radio or print.

2. Digital Marketing Is Proven

Recognized globally as a marketing strategy worth investing in, digital marketing drives potential customers to your digital spaces. That’s what makes digital marketing more than having a well-designed website. 

How well does it work? 68% of marketers stated that paid advertising is “very important” or “extremely important” to their overall marketing strategy, according to Hubspot, a leading digital marketing software company.

3. Digital Marketing Makes You Visible Online

When your prospective clients search for your exact name online, they might find you. But what about when they search about related terms, or your types of business near them, or where to buy what you sell? Without a digital marketing campaign boosting your visibility online, it is unlikely your website will succeed over competitors who have their own campaigns.

Ultimately, digital marketing makes the difference between being visible online – and being invisible. Certain strategies like email marketing can deliver traffic from your existing customers, but the consistency and ROI of a full-scale digital marketing campaign is much more powerful.

4. Digital Marketing Is Already Mobile

Mobile searches have long surpassed desktop searches. The most recent numbers put it at 64% on mobile compared to 35% on desktop. You might be thinking back to the first time we mentioned mobile searches in this article. Now you can start to see how important it is to get people into your store.

That said, if your website is barely legible when viewed from a cell phone screen, then you might just be out of luck. If, however, your website and your digital marketing are both optimized for these mobile searches, your business is sure to benefit. 

5. Digital Marketing Helps You Compete

If you are just getting started with digital marketing, it can feel like the competitors who rank in positions 1-3 will never get unseated. And if you can’t rank 1, 2, or 3, then why even try, right?

Wrong! Google’s search ranking is based on Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness. Even a new business, or one new to digital marketing, has value in the space. Aiming for those positions with the most visibility and clicks may be difficult at first, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

6. Digital Marketing Is About Trusting The Numbers

Those top 3 positions get fully ⅓ of all the clicks for the search. So how do we get there? 

A well-coordinated digital marketing strategy will get you targeted search results in the short term and build an organic strategy for the mid and long-term to help you get found right away – and all along the way.

Getting Started With Digital Marketing

Ready to begin implementing digital marketing for your business? We encourage you to get in touch with the digital marketing experts at Full Sail Media today.