Interactive Marketing Tools – What’s in your toolbox?
As market competition in many different industries continues to increase, businesses are working to find new and innovative ways to reach their target audiences. Although traditional forms of marketing have been and still are effective ways to reach target markets, there are several ways to utilize the latest trends in interactive marketing to help grow and develop your business.
Promoting Audience Engagement and Sharing
Social media is a form of interactive marketing that has become an ideal way to engage current and potential customers. Having a presence on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, allows your customers to become more familiar with your brand as well as strengthens your business’s reputation. It also lets customers interact with your brand in a way that makes them feel as though they are key players in your brand’s business decisions.
Interacting with your business through social media allows a customer to “get to know” you and your business a little better. A Nielsen study showed that 60 percent of global customers were more likely to do business with a brand with which they are familiar than with one that is completely new to them. Social media also creates opportunities to have real conversations with your customers and ask them how you can better meet their needs.
Increasing Conversion Rates
When your business executes interactive marketing strategies correctly, it can quickly turn your target audience into buyers. Utilizing websites and online stores that incorporate persuasive language such as “add to cart” and “buy now” are fantastic ways to promote conversion rate optimization (CRO). To increase CRO, you must make sure that your website is easy to navigate and has clear product and service offerings with straight-forward directions as to how to make a purchase.
Ceros is a tool that assists marketers with creating seamless and interactive digital content. At Ceros, we believe there is a fine line between focusing too heavily on either content or conversions— there must be a healthy balance between providing engaging stories for customers, while preventing conversions from being lost in translation. You must ask, “How do your goals help your audience achieve their goals?”, and keep this at the forefront of all of your site’s content. While it may go without mentioning, you must also be sure that your website has a professional look that will encourage your customers and prospects to trust your business with their time and money.
The Importance of Customer Referrals
One of the most powerful forms of interactive marketing is referral marketing. Referred customers tend to buy faster than other customers and in larger quantities. Another Nielsen study showed that 92% of customers trusted recommendations from friends and families more than any other form of advertising. Be willing to offer your customers incentives for referrals as well as consider partnership opportunities and affiliate programs through your website. Your customers interacting with you and then interacting with their friends and family on behalf of your business can do wonders for both your sales and your brand exposure.
Incorporating Content
Allowing customers to interact with your business through the valuable content that your business provides is also a fantastic way to gain new customers and increase your sales. The content that you offer your audience can include eBooks, email newsletters, podcasts, videos, and blog posts. Offer quality content that both increases your reputability in your given industry and allows you to keep in touch with your customers. Every business should aspire to have long-lasting customer relationships, as opposed to one-time interactions. Building strong relationships with customers can lead to repeat business, customer loyalty, and higher profitability.
