4 Ways To Crush Your Digital Marketing Fears

We know many companies waste a lot of money on the web. This isn’t a secret. In fact, it’s a significant reason why other companies fear initiating or learning how to improve your digital marketing strategy. Of course, we can tack on any number of other concerns to the list:

• Keeping up with the ever-changing digital landscape
• Maintaining a website when it’s hard enough to maintain the brick-and-mortar
• Starting a culture shift
• Leaping into the unknown

For reasons like these, 28% of small businesses rely predominantly on word-of-mouth efforts to drive sales and increase engagement, despite finding themselves twenty-two years into a century commonly called “the digital age.” While the personal touch of word-of-mouth marketing will never go away, and should never go away, it is worth reconsidering a position of non-engagement. Simply put, in the digital age, digital marketing matters for you and your organization.

1) Your digital presence is often your first impression.

It’s true. A recent Pew Research Poll discovered that 85% of Americans own a smartphone, and a separate article reports that 70-80% of people will research a company online before visiting in person. What’s more, 97% of consumers search the internet to find local businesses and services. So, whether you like it or not, leveraging the web is your chance to make a great first impression.

2) A clear website connects quickly.

A recent Forbes article reports that people are bombarded with 4,000–10,000 ads per day, while others debate such large numbers. Whatever the actual number may be, the digital age has certainly ratcheted up that stat and we all know it’s basically a lot. Because the human brain’s design is to help you survive and thrive, all while conserving calories, you are constantly sifting through these messages and discarding the ones that don’t immediately relate to surviving and thriving. All of these mental workouts occur within the first seven seconds of a visitor landing on your website. So, if most people are going to find your company online, you have to communicate with them quickly and clearly.

3) Digital marketing can fill out your sales funnel strategically.

Filling your sales funnel with leads generated from word-of-mouth referrals can be effective, but it’s limited. With an ever-increasing number of people discovering companies online, you simply have to engage in that digital marketplace in order to cast a wider net and reach people you’d otherwise miss. Leveraging digital marketing strategies helps fill the funnel—and keeps it full in those seasons when referrals dwindle.

4) With clear data, you can get away from the guessing game.

With billboards or print advertising, tracking ROI is sketchy at best. Often it’s anecdotal: “I saw your sign…”

On the flip side, consider the data you get from digital marketing efforts. Whether potential customers hit your digital front door from an organic search or through paid digital advertising, a team of skilled analysts can learn from that data and then leverage it to optimize your website with high-intent keywords that search engines love, while maximizing ads beyond impressions and clicks to real conversions. With digital marketing, there’s no more guessing game. You’ll know your ROI.

Don’t be afraid; Improve your digital marketing strategy today!

Here’s the bottom line: don’t be afraid. You’ve got a great product or service to offer, and you’re a bit uncertain about leveraging the web to market it. Digital marketing fear is real. But, it doesn’t have to stop you or limit your marketing potential. USDP is your digital marketing guide. We help companies and organizations like yours—large and small—to clarify their message and grow online with our simple four-step process. Unlock potential beyond word-of-mouth referrals, and connect with us today to learn more on how to improve your digital marketing strategy.