The Pros and Cons of Internet Marketing for a Small Business

A small business can become a multi-million worth of business if you know how to market your business properly.

Internet marketing for a small business is essential, not only because it is the trend, but because it can help you achieve success locally, nationally and globally.

Now is the time for a small business to become digital, regardless of whether it is a small business or a national company. Every big and successful company started small and has climbed the ladder of success.

At times, it might be difficult but with the right mindset, training and opportunity, success is not impossible.

If your business is small, and you think you can’t compete with the ones that came before you, with the right tools, hard work, and perseverance, success can be achieved.

For your business to be able to compete at the same level as other businesses, you need to do what they do as well – leverage. One way you can do this is to start investing in online marketing methods (and this is not meant as a financial investment – you can also invest into online marketing methods without any money).

Traditional marketing methods still work well, but can be accelerated when accompanied with digital marketing. If you are considering online marketing strategies, here are the pros and cons to help you weigh with your decision.

Pros:

1. Transform How You Reach and Engage With Customers

While you are focusing on the traditional method of marketing, how many of your prospects have you reached out to?

This is one of the best things that internet marketing offers; even for small businesses. You can transform the way you engage with your customers and the way you reach out to your prospects.

Online marketing is powered by the internet and most of your future customers are on the internet. It’s easier and more efficient to reach a larger audience online (local, national and potentially international).

2. Internet Marketing is Cost-Efficient

One of the problems that a small business can encounter is financial issues. When you are practicing the traditional method of marketing, your expenses can be high which might not be good news for a business.

In online marketing, your investment can give you what it’s worth. If you compare online marketing to traditional marketing, you are not going to spend for property rentals, expensive advertising and other means of reaching out to your customers.

Online marketing can give you the ease of reaching out to customers with less expense.

3. Immediate Interaction with Your Audience

Wherever you are, with an online marketing method, you can reach your target audience in real time. You don’t have to wait for days or weeks to hear from your audience.

You can have an immediate interaction with them through your social media accounts or email marketing strategy. Interacting with your target audience in real time can enable you to gather information from your audience and offer a solution to them as well.

4. Supplement Your Income With Affiliate Marketing and/or Blogging

Online marketing does not only let you promote your business, but you can also use your business to earn through affiliate marketing or blogging. This is also a well-known online business model, especially for those who want to earn a passive income.

5. An Effective Method of Reaching Your Target Audience

Online marketing is so effective that you can even sort who you are going to reach out to. This is the advantage of online marketing: filtering and engaging with the right target audience for your business.

You can have campaigns that are designed for your target audience and it is usually the most efficient in terms of cost and time you spent.

In addition, you can easily design your campaigns just for the specific audience and it can make a huge difference. You have a higher chance of reaching the right people and do business with them.

6. Continuous Visibility (365 days a year, 24 hours a day)

In the traditional method of marketing, when you try to advertise, you are not always seen by your target audience. In online marketing, you can advertise your business 24/7 on your website or social media platforms. The internet is open 24/7 and your business will constantly be visible and accessible by your audience.

7. Easy Payment Methods

The market now moves at a fast pace and the way people pay and get paid is also moving at a fast pace.

With online marketing, you can collect payments from your customers in a faster and more convenient way. There is no need for you to go to banks or physically send invoices first because online payment is accessible, fast and a very convenient way of collecting and paying money.

When choosing the right payment method for your business, ensure that it is a secure provider.

Cons

1. You Need to Acquire Skills and Knowledge

This is normal for every business. Skills and knowledge can be developed as your business is running. Some businesses are thriving and are now successful even though their skills and knowledge were limited when they first started out.

No entrepreneur knows everything and there is always opportunity to learn or try something new.

2. Target Audience Is Limited to Internet Users

Your target audience is limited to customers and consumers who use the internet. While billions of people are now online, not everyone is connected to the internet.

If potential customers do not use the internet, you won’t be able to reach them through online marketing. In this case, traditional marketing is still very important.

3. A Lot of Competitors

It is normal and common to have a competitor. But with online businesses, there are more competitors. Sometimes, it can be hard for your business to stand out. But this is also a reason why digital marketing is well-known as even small businesses can compete with their big opponents with the right tools, opportunity and strategies.

4. Trust Issues

This is common to every business, whether traditional or digital. You are not the only business running and it can give customers doubt on your business’ authenticity and reliability, especially when you are just starting out. It will take time for your business to establish trust with your target audience, but when your business has started building that trust, it will become easier.

A small business is not bound to remain a small business forever. Everything starts small and with the right method, strategy, training and opportunity, any business can reach more success. If you are trying to weigh the odds of online marketing, may the pros and cons I shared help you with your decision and inspire you to give it a go.

 

 

Sources:
absolutewebservices.com/pros-and-cons-of-online-marketing/
supersavvybusiness.com/internet-marketing-news/pros-cons-online-marketing
tutorialspoint.com/online_marketing/impact_pros_and_cons
smallbiztrends.com/2018/07/ecommerce-advantages-and-disadvantages.html