Still struggling to attract customers and generate sales? Regardless of your business’s niche, chances are it will benefit from the use of inbound marketing practices.
Many business owners remain fixated on tradition, archaic methods of promotion, often revolving around cold calls, direct mail and radio/TV commercials. These “outbound” marketing techniques may yield some sales, but they pale in comparison to the effectiveness of newer and more modern “inbound” marketing techniques. So, why should you make the transition from outbound to inbound marketing?
Nearly Half of All Direct Mail Goes Unopened
You’ve probably tossed junk mail in the trash before — well, you aren’t alone. Just because you mail a promotional catalog or advertisement to a prospective customer doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she will ever see it. In fact, studies have shown that nearly half of all direct mail goes unopened by the recipient. Instead of wasting money on direct mail advertisements that no one ever sees, you should focus your efforts and resources on inbound marketing techniques that actually work.
Inbound Marketing Improves Customer Satisfaction
Promoting your business via inbound marketing channels can improve customer communication and subsequently satisfaction. Inbound marketing allows business owners to connect with their target audience. If you promote your business on social media, for instance, you can communicate back and forth between your customers. And when the lines of communication are left open, it tends to have a positive impact on customer satisfaction.
Inbound Marketing is Cost-Effective
Among the greatest reasons to embrace inbound marketing is the simple fact that it is cost-effective. Generating leads and attracting new customers can be downright expensive, with some companies paying over $100 just for a qualified lead. Inbound marketing, however, delivers leads at a fraction of the cost of outbound marketing. This cost-savings will free up financial resources that can be used for other aspects of growing your business.
Inbound Marketing Improves Trust and Credibility
As noted by the folks at Business2Community, inbound marketing improves trust and credibility. This is because most consumers (and business owners for that matter) don’t want to be bombarded with unsolicited advertisements. Whether it’s a direct mail advertisement, email, commercial, etc., they prefer to control the content they. So when a company blasts them with an excessive amount of outbound messages, it tends to hurt their trust and credibility. On the other hand, engaging in inbound marketing practices can actually built your trust and credibility.
What are your thoughts on inbound marketing?
