Marketing 101: Adapting To The Digital World We Live In

We live in an exciting world that is constantly evolving and where technology is advancing at an amazing rate. Over the past few decades the types of technology we have in our homes is something that many people would never have thought possible back in the 1970s.

As technology advances, so too does the way in which production is carried out all around the world, and the way in which consumables are developed, distributed and eventually promoted and sold is a process that is always changing. There will always be new products being created on a constant basis, all of which are going to need marketing and to be promoted to the general public.

Marketing in the digital world

Over the past 20 years or so, the way in which companies market their products and services has changed greatly. Though many of the marketing methods from years gone by are still used and do work very effectively, such as advertising on radio, television and in print, there are now many more ways in which companies can promote their products and connect with potential clients.

The internet has changed the way that most companies do business, and how most consumers make purchases. No longer do you need to head off down to the local store to pick up your shopping or to buy a new television. Everything can now be done from your mobile phone, tablet or home computer. Information has never been more readily available at our fingertips than it is today. 

Social Media Marketing

In addition to advertising on the web, either through your own company website, or advertising on Google or other websites, we now have to understand the power and importance of social media. You don’t need to hold a Master degree in marketing to understand just how important social media is and how powerful it is in reaching a huge targeted audience, though doing so is a great advantage and something that can really help you in the industry.

Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are used by hundreds of millions of people all over the world each and every day. If there is one medium that must be considered in your advertising and marketing campaigns, it’s on social media. 

With the ability to create specific audiences, such as women between the ages of 20-35 who are interested in health, music and art, you can market your specific services or products to the people that they are intended for. You don’t have to worry about wasting marketing and advertising budget on campaigns that are simply too generic to be highly effective. With social media marketing, you have direct access to your target audience, thus a much greater chance of generating more business and revenue for the company.

Combining old and new marketing techniques

As mentioned earlier, there are a number of marketing and advertising techniques that have been around for 50 or more years and which are still very effective.

There are also marketing methods that are available today that are a modern twist on an old and trusted method. One of these is the concept of a loyalty system.

Loyalty cards are nothing new, and have been very effective in retaining customers by offering them special discounts or rewards for their loyalty. Take for example the classic loyalty program – those operated by coffee shops. Each customer would be given a paper card that they would have stamped each time they made a purchase. When the card was full, they’d hand it on and be rewarded with a free coffee, and a new card to start collecting stamps again.

This loyalty concept is still being used today around the world, but now digitally, rather than with physical cards. There are a number of digital loyalty systems that are being used by many companies and brands around the world, where the user would download a digital card to their mobile phone.

These digital cards have a number of advantages over the old physical paper cards. With a digital loyalty card, the holder could be contacted by a number of ways such as through notifications, Bluetooth beacons or even geo-fences, which are triggered when an individual passes through a specific geographical location.

Some final thoughts

Marketing is something that has been part of business for many years, and isn’t something that is going to disappear any time soon. It’s something that has evolved, and will continue to do so.Successful marketers and consultants have been able to adapt to changes in technology and use them to a greater advantage, creating very unique and effective marketing methods that have helped a company’s brand or product reach the attention of millions of potential clients all around the world.

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