The Internet has changed the way we do business, and the way we do marketing. Ten years ago, it was enough to have a print ad in the Yellow Pages and a quick radio spot to spread the word about your business. Now there are new ways to market your business on the Web, and they’re wonderfully cost-efficient.
Do you want to advertise your business to people who really want to hear about it? Do you want to spread the word to the largest number of people for the least amount of money? Then read on to learn how online business promotion compares to offline marketing in the crucial areas of cost and effectiveness. Your approach to marketing could make all the difference in the success of your business.
Online vs. Offline Marketing: Cost
Print ads, billboards, radio spots and circulars have one thing in common: they’ve expensive. By comparison, the Internet has made marketing affordable. It doesn’t cost anything to send a marketing e-mail to countless potential customers. A television commercial can really eat into your business budget, but it’s free to create a YouTube video and embed it on your web site.
Content articles and blogs are a great way to promote your business online. Blogs can be had for free, with a nominal yearly charge if you register your own dot com address. Generic content is widely available for free use, and freelancers are willing to write original content for as little as a few dollars per article. Likewise, text link and banner marketing programs are much more affordable than newspaper and magazine ads.
Online vs. Offline Marketing: Effectiveness
When you compare online marketing to offline marketing, you’re comparing blanket advertising to targeted advertising. The first strategy sends your message to everyone who happens to be reading the newspaper or listening to the radio when your ad is being run. There’s no guarantee that they’ll be interested in your business.
Targeted advertising is optimized for effectiveness. Think of programs like Google AdWords. AdWords only displays your ad when it’s relevant. For example, if customers are already looking at travel web sites, they’ll be more likely to click on your advertisement for discount vacation packages. Targeted advertising takes your message to people who really want to receive it.
Offline business promotion is limited to your local, regional, or national area. The Internet allows you to pitch your business to a global audience. Plus, unlike most brick and mortar businesses, the Internet never closes. Many processes can be automated so that your blogs and e-stores earn money 24/7 – even while you sleep! And if your customers have a concern, they can let you know with a few simple mouse clicks.
Online vs. Offline Marketing: The Verdict
Online marketing has become a necessity for most businesses. For a really powerful one-two punch, enhance your online marketing with some strategic offline advertisements. Competition is stiff in the real world and in cyberspace, so don’t hesitate to use every tool at your disposal.
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