To thrive in today’s competitive environment, businesses need to find new ways to get ahead. With more creative tools available than ever before, and a market that is increasingly taking its business online – business owners face a complex environment of opportunities and challenges.
Inbound Marketing provides a proven methodology to reach your customers in new and meaningful ways, establish trust and generate qualified leads. In simple terms, Inbound Marketing can give your business the edge. Here’s how:
Reduce Your Marketing Costs
The internet and social media has levelled the marketing playing field. No longer do you need deep pockets to be a successful marketer. Some of the most powerful and influential marketing tools are free, or come at minimal cost. Today’s buyers are hanging out in places like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, SnapChat and Pinterest — and anyone can start an account and join the conversation in a matter of minutes. In today’s environment it’s possible for a small business to design and deliver a campaign that has as much reach and impact as larger companies with big marketing budgets.
The increasing power of online platforms comes at a time when companies are recognising that the power and influence of advertising is waning. According to the 2015 State of Inbound report, approximately 32% of survey respondents whose companies identify themselves as primarily outbound organisations called paid advertising the most overrated marketing tactic. There’s never been a better time to market your business and embracing Inbound offers a distinct advantage over those who still use interruptive marketing tactics.
Build An Online Footprint
Inbound Marketing is a commitment to create great content and build an audience over the long term. The return on investment isn’t always immediate, but the benefits you can enjoy over years far outweigh the high cost and poor ROI of traditional interruptive marketing tactics like; advertising, direct mail and cold calling.For example, A Google Adwords campaign will only be effective for as long as you’re willing to pay for it. Compared to an optimised blog article that helps build your online footprint that can generate leads for years. And the only cost is the time invested initially to write and publish the article.
HubSpot research shows that companies that embrace content marketing generate 67% more leads per month than those who don’t. That’s the kind of statistic money can’t buy.
Stand Out In The Crowd
We’re living in an age when people have access to an endless stream of information. 89% of Australians own a smartphone, and 60% own a tablet. We’re always connected. Today, you may have a greater opportunity to reach your audience, but they also have the ability to be more selective over the amount and type of information they want to receive.Inbound is about creating content that is useful and helpful to your prospective buyer, that cuts through the noise and delivers a solution for their needs. Inbound Marketing offers an immediate way to stand out from the crowd, connect directly with your ideal customer and attract people to your business.
Know Your Customers Better Than Anyone
The biggest competitive advantage of all: know your customer. A key part of developing and delivering an Inbound Marketing campaign is developing a buyer persona. This is the process of profiling your prospective customer and understanding their thoughts, behaviours, pain points and purchasing criteria. It’s a powerful tool in helping companies tailor their marketing program and deliver content designed solely for their target market.Taking the time to compile and use detailed information about your buyers is a major advantage over competitors in your industry.
