Orig. Post July 10, 2015 by IM Soup | Re-Post July 14, 2015
In the world of online marketing, there are many businesses that have to grapple with the thought of hiring an online marketer to help them build up their brand recognition and move them up the search engine rankings. On the other hand, there are the do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) who may feel that they are entirely capable of learning the industry and doing the work themselves. There are pros and cons for both sides of the argument. For the DIYers, saving on marketing dollars is probably a key component of their decision making process while those who hire a professional marketer are looking to see a faster return on their results.
It seems that the world is divided on these decisions but for the those who are on the fence, they may be looking for a happy middle ground to settle on. The answer could lie in getting some marketing technology that can help them to get their foot in the door of the Internet world. This type of technology could be especially beneficial for the new businesses trying to make their mark in the world. As they explain at Brafton Fuel Your Brand,
Marketing technology is not a competitive advantage anymore – it’s a ticket to entry. Companies are embracing a new way of making decisions, based on data and testing over gut instincts. This is why some businesses hit the nail on the head with their website content while others fail.
According to some records, 60% or more of online businesses have plans to use some type of marketing technology over the next two years to promote their brand image. This may lead to the question as to whether or not it is the right decision for your business.
More Reliable Data
One of the most valuable benefits you can get from utilizing online marketing tools is the assurance that your data will be more up-to-date and reliable. This will help businesses to create smarter marketing campaigns that can foster interest in their companies and create content that will be of value to the consumer. The data you can accumulate from these marketing tools can help you to understand who are your ideal consumers, what they need, when they need it, and what their interests are. You can also get an inside view on the type of information that is being shared online and if they are ready to make a purchase. This type of insight can prove to be invaluable for the marketer.
Great Option for the Small Business
In the past, marketing technology was a relatively limited field with only a few choice options that a business could take advantage of. However, that is no longer the case. Small businesses are often at a disadvantage when it comes to this type of effort; many don’t even have a marketing department to help them develop a plan that will keep them competitive. This technology could be the key ingredient that keeps a business going strong.
Today, marketing technology can make the difference for such businesses. As they explain at the business2community.com,
Many smaller businesses don’t even fully have an IT or marketing department, especially sole-proprietorships… With a myriad of different marketing apps available, and techniques, tips and tricks out there online, the problem becomes choosing and implementing different marketing strategies.
With the use of marketing technology tools, small businesses could have the same information and tools as the larger corporations and be able to launch a competitive marketing program that could keep their business in play even against the big boys.
Types of Marketing Tools
As the owner of your business, it can be hard to understand and use the different technologies available. In some cases, you may not even realize what some of these tools are really for, or how to take advantage of them. However, there is a wide range of tools to choose from and your role should be to choose the ones that will be of the most benefit to you.
These tools can also simplify your marketing efforts in a number of ways. The result is that you’ll be able to break free from a stagnant marketing campaign and take advantage of more marketing avenues than you may have previously been able to do. Without the help of a professional marketing expert at your disposal some of the tasks that can be automated through marketing technology could, in fact, help to build up your reputation without having to do all the extra work. As they explain at SearchEngineWatch.com,
For marketers looking to bust out of individual channel silos and reap the advantages of integrated marketing, this makes it even more critical to plan ahead for growth and change. The first step is being able to understand the benefits of simplifying the chaos that is multichannel online marketing.
Marketing experts will readily tell you that in order to be an effective marketer, it is necessary to be a little bit of a creative genius, a mathematician, and a professor. You’ll have to wear many hats if this is a job that you choose to do yourself. According to a recent study, it is predicted that by 2017 the field of marketing will be completely different. With each passing year, many jobs being done by professional marketers will be handled by much of this automated technology. As a result, more than 60% of business marketers are planning on investing or increasing their investments in some form of marketing technology.
While it is not realistic to see technology replacing the human connection when it comes to marketing, it will still have a strong impact on how much work is left in human hands over the coming years.
Experts predict that the transformation has already started and while total automation may be many years away, the use of technology today is still a vital part of many businesses efforts to stay competitive.
So, whether you choose to still do it yourself or you plan to hire a professional, one thing for sure is that competitive businesses are clearly using technology to make the difference in how they develop their marketing plans.