In 2021, brands who haven’t built an online presence yet need to get started immediately! Marketers can use digital channels to find new audiences, engage with existing customers, build brand reputation, and drive sales in ways that traditional marketing cannot compete with, particularly during the pandemic. These are just a few benefits, but in this article we’ll highlight more examples of why digital marketing is so important for brands.
Reach, Engage, and Retain Customers
Many countries are still in lockdown, and even as vaccines roll out, it will take some time to get back to “normal” (and even still, nobody’s too sure of what the new normal will look like). As such, many are continuing to work from home and go out less frequently than before, which means physical advertising—such as print ads and billboards—are currently less effective.
However, social media adoption has surged during the pandemic. User numbers went up by more than 13% over the last year, with nearly half a billion new users taking the global total to almost 4.2 billion by the start of 2021. Not only that, but the typical social media user now spends 2 hours and 25 minutes on socials each day, with mobile devices having become the primary screen they use. This means that the global reach online is higher than ever, offering a great opportunity for brands to get their marketing material in front of as many eyes as possible.
Social media is also an effective channel for engaging with customers and prospects. Whether using a single or multi-channel approach, brands have their pick of various popular platforms: take a look at our Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest articles to learn more about their individual benefits!
Digital Marketing is Affordable
Digital marketing, particularly social media marketing, can also be less expensive than traditional modes of marketing. For instance, marketers can go as low as $1 per day if running ads on Facebook, and can supplement this with an organic social media strategy, which is of course free to publish posts on (though the time investment and management can quickly spiral out of control if not handled by experts).
Of course, budget spend does vary from platform to platform, but another big benefit of social media marketing is that it can directly measure ROI (return on investment), unlike print ads where there’s very little brands can do to prove that it worked. Unlike a social media ads platform, which can track exactly how many users viewed an ad or made a purchase via an ad, traditional marketing must often rely on very broad estimates. And whether it’s on a local, national, or global level, digital channels will always have a wider audience reach. The robust built-in analytic tools on social media platforms can also help brands keep track of the effectiveness of their campaigns, which they can adjust accordingly without straining their budget.
The affordability aspect is particularly ideal for brands right now, as the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a financial toll on many businesses, so cost-saving methods are a priority.
E-commerce is Reigning
The e-commerce industry was already growing rapidly before COVID-19 shut the brick-and-mortar world down, but the pandemic has fast-tracked the need for contactless shopping. And even though in-person shopping is slowly opening back up, it’s likely that e-commerce will continue to be the most convenient option for customers.
With such an increased demand for online shopping during 2020, e-commerce has become more convenient and efficient than ever, both for customers and brands. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest created features which allowed merchants to set up their online storefronts directly in-app, and platforms like TikTok and Twitter are working on integrating e-commerce features too.
One area of growth within e-commerce is for brands to continue improving the user experience (UX). Doing so can help brands create more meaningful shopping journeys for customers and stand out from competitors. For instance, interactive technologies like augmented reality (AR) are being used to enhance online experiences, with marketers being able to create branded “Try-on” filters on apps like Snapchat and Instagram.
Our Expert Advice on Getting Started Online
Digital marketing is constantly evolving and providing brands with endless opportunities to get creative with their approaches! But with so many options to choose from, we know it can be overwhelming for brands to get started online. That’s why we also know how important it is to have the right team of experts to help ideate, execute, and manage a digital marketing strategy that will yield the best results.
At Spark Growth, our decade’s worth of experience and strategic approach helps brands establish credibility, increase sales revenue, and drive real returns. If your brand doesn’t want to wait any longer to take advantage of digital marketing, click the button below to book a 30-minute consultation with us!
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