Marketing on Internet is not really a choice anymore, but has almost become a necessity in today's marketplace. No company can afford to ignore fact that online marketing is now a multi-billion-dollar business. Those businesses without an online presence are missing out on a goldmine of potential customers. Like anything, there are exceptions to rule and marketing on Internet may not suit absolutely every business. However, claiming to be exception is often a disguise for making excuses.
Reality is; that some businesses fail to appreciate revenue potential of Internet marketing. Others simply fear change, or put Internet marketing in too hard basket and hope that it will go away. Unfortunately for them, Internet marketing is growing every day. There will come a time when they will lose business, simply because they lack an Internet presence. For many businesses, that day has already arrived.
Here are 12 reasons why businesses without an online presence are missing out on a goldmine of potential customers:
1. Technology To Compete - In bygone days, a small business usually lacked resources of their larger competitors. Now even a small business can access much of same technology as giant corporations. They too can use auto-responders, accept online payments and even deliver products over Internet.
2. Niche Markets Abound The Internet has opened up all sorts of niche marketing opportunities that either never existed before, or were too expensive to tap into.
3. Lifting The Profile With a professionally designed web site, its now easy for a small business on Internet to have appearance and credibility of being a large corporation.
4. Low Cost - Compared to other media, Internet enables a business to advertise at considerably lower prices. It may not be a replacement for other marketing, but Internet is generally cheaper than advertising on television, radio, or in newspapers, magazines and even by direct mail.
As an example; posting out a mailing to customers will probably cost around $1.50 a pop (allowing for printing, postage etc), whereas to email same message to customers costs next to nothing!
5. Open 24/7 - By automating a web site, a business can be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No extra staff costs and no overtime rates to pay!
6. Serving The Local Area Not everyone wants to take time to drive all over town to shop. It is a fast moving world and it seems that we all want things to be quick and easy. Using Internet is a quick and easy way for people to access information about products and services from comfort, convenience and privacy of their own home. No fuel costs, no traffic jams
no time wasted.
Locally based businesses can usually get a free website listing in their local Internet directories.