| As stormy economic conditions continue and the | | | | - 57% have joined a social network |
| recession bites, consumers are increasingly shopping | | | | - 83% of users have viewed video clips |
| online hoping to find the best deals and bargains. | | | | - 49% have downloaded podcasts |
| Today, with traditional media declining in importance, | | | | - 38% have subscribed to an RSS feed |
| companies are looking at online tools as an integral | | | | All this clearly highlights the fact that social media has |
| component of marketing strategies. Digital marketing | | | | well and truly arrived and you're missing a huge |
| looks set to continue its rapid growth in 2009 and in the | | | | opportunity if you don't use it to your advantage. |
| years to come. Undeniably, the media and marketing | | | | The notable benefits of Digital Marketing |
| landscape has changed in ways that are fundamental, | | | | - Effectively markets 24-hours a day, 365-days a |
| and long-lasting. | | | | year |
| The Hottest Tools in Online Marketing | | | | - Responds swiftly to changing terrain |
| To get the best out of online marketing tools, it is | | | | - Relatively low investment |
| imperative that companies leverage the latest digital | | | | - Outcomes can be tracked more accurately |
| marketing tools and techniques for improving customer | | | | - Changes can be tweaked much more quickly |
| value proposition and overall competitiveness. Here are | | | | Vital Post-Lead Actionable: It is also important to keep |
| a few popular and fast growing online marketing tools. | | | | track of the leads that visit your website, follow up on |
| Starting a blog is the cheapest and quickest way to | | | | enquiries and convert potential leads into sales worthy |
| introduce and announce new product offerings. | | | | ones. Investing in a feature-rich lead management |
| Blogging platforms can be used to effectively establish | | | | program will help you sort out and track all leads right |
| a conversation with the consumer. | | | | from the first point of contact to after-sales services, |
| Engaging customers to become brand advocates | | | | eventually speeding up the ROI of your marketing |
| through an open, customer-facing approach is best | | | | efforts. Sophisticated CRM tools allow precise |
| achieved by social networking. Social networking | | | | targeting and more relevant messaging, creating better |
| websites are increasingly being used to promote | | | | return for marketing spend. CRM tools are an integral |
| products and services making them a popular medium | | | | part of every business organization today helping in |
| of marketing today. | | | | storing customer data that gets generated over time |
| User Generated Content in blog comments, video | | | | and consolidating all sales leads and current customer |
| reviews and product reviews leads to better Brand | | | | data. |
| perception, Brand dialogue and Brand engagement. | | | | The Road Ahead |
| When you allow online users to scrutinize and review | | | | Marketing has rapidly evolved over the past decade |
| your products/services it brings about Brand trust and | | | | looking beyond the basics, to leverage and integrate |
| enhances the word-of-mouth marketing experience. | | | | SEO, social media, blogging and video tools to gain |
| Affiliate marketing programs provide an unparalleled | | | | competitive advantage and achieve meaningful scale. |
| opportunity to partner with powerful affiliate marketing | | | | In an age where marketing budgets are subjected to |
| web sites to promote products and services on a pay | | | | even greater constraints and as companies strive to |
| for performance basis. | | | | find more cost effective marketing channels, what will |
| Visual Marketing Aids to Increase Customer | | | | ultimately engage end consumers are the right copy, |
| Responses | | | | the right design and the right message. The bottom line |
| Bring your target customers closer to you through | | | | for online visibility rests squarely on quality, relevancy, |
| Video Streaming. Videos are an instant eye-catcher | | | | and customer engagement. |
| and streamed marketing videos can be added on to | | | | Most marketing campaigns today are taking the digital |
| websites to grab the attention of potential customers | | | | route because of its more affordable price-tag and |
| immediately. They are the latest cost-effective digital | | | | demonstrable results. Link up with digital marketing |
| marketing trend. YouTube is one of the fastest | | | | companies with established track records, Look for a |
| growing sites which is accessed by the mod, trendy | | | | company that offers not just SEO services and web |
| and tech savvy customer. | | | | designing but also digital marketing and assists in that all |
| According to research by Universal McCann: | | | | important task of lead management. |
| - 73% of users read blogs | | | | LeadZoomer is one such company offering SEO, web |
| - 36% think more positively about brands that are | | | | designing and digital marketing and a robust lead |
| strengthened by blogs | | | | management program for long term benefits. |