Digital Marketing
Did you know that the number of people using the internet increases every day? Even with how accessible the internet is today, the number of people who go online every single day went up by 5% in the last 3 years! Through the pandemic we have all seen a change in people's shopping habits, with Amazon increasing their number of deliveries on a huge scale when people were stuck at home and high street stores shutting down en-mass. This all means that offline marketing isn't as effective as it used to be.
Marketing has and always will be about connecting with your audience: doing that in the right place and at the right time, is what produces the sale. Today, that means you need to meet them where they are already spending a lot of time - on the internet. Hence, digital marketing comes into it's own!
What is digital marketing?
Digital marketing is basically all marketing efforts that use the internet or an electronic device. Businesses can utilise digital channels such as social media, email, text messaging, search engines and websites to connect with current and prospective customers.
Why use digital marketing?
With many people spending several hours a day online, the real reason should be why not! Digital marketing helps you reach a larger audience than you could through the traditional methods. You can target prospects who are most likely to buy your product or service through analytics and setting targets on your campaigns. It's also often more cost-effective than traditional advertising, and enables you to measure success on a daily basis and alter your campaigns as you see fit.
What role can digital marketing play in your marketing?
There are far more possibilities for companies to reach customers through digital marketing: from email and websites to video, social media, and search engines. In a landscape where consumers Google a business before getting in touch with them, digital marketing is vital for your business and brand awareness. Think about that time you were looking for a local plumber... let us guess, you either Googled it or asked for Recommendations on your local Facebook group? And for nearly all the companies you considered using, you visited their website first? That is exactly why you should utilise digital marketing: it is so commonly used that consumers now expect and rely on it as a way to learn about brands.
To cut a long story short, to be competitive as a business, you'll need to embrace some aspects of digital marketing if your customers are likely to be online!
Social Media
We've all heard of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, but what about where it all started? With Facebook beginning back in 2004, but not opening to the public until 2006, you might remember back to the days of MySpace and Bebo! But, did you know that they're still around? Myspace and Bebo both relaunched in 2013/2014 and alongside the various other platforms people can easily connect with other people, from anywhere in the world, through social media. Some may even have multiple accounts registered on one social media platform, especially when using it for business and personal use!
Make Spring Cleaning Work for You with RentMy
Thank god, as we collectively breathe a sign of relief: lockdown 3.0 is over, we can finally emerge from the comfort of our now very familiar shells and see the light at the end of what feels like Gotthard Base tunnel! But what now? While we’re more than ready for that trip to the Maldives or perhaps more like Marseille, it’s probably not possible for a little while. So as we settle for a staycation, we realise that Sandbanks and Salcolme are probably out of budget and a day trip to Clacton is more what our bank statement can allow. Yes, we didn’t go on those many holidays we had booked last year, but we did upgrade our car, re-do our kitchen and have our driveway done too. We’ve only got ourselves to blame!
With the Beast from the East 2 a thing of the past and spring well on it’s way (or perhaps not), this weekend we did what Brits do best and had a good ole spring clean. Out go the coats that no longer fit, in the bin with the many holed socks and up to the loft with the ski gear… But, what to do with the Wii console, acoustic guitar and overlocker that are too expensive to just throw away? Really, we don’t want to sell them - the twice yearly use of the Wii is great fun, the overlocker comes in very handy the few times it’s needed and the guitar brings out the Bob Dylan in me when I feel like jamming - but for the rest of the time sitting on the shelf gathering dust, it just feels like they are being wasted! The answer? Rent it out.
Luckily I’d heard of RentMy being piloted in the Manningtree area. Result! A quick look at the website showed me the process and the addition of a deposit and their checks to ensure I am who I say I am, really settled my mind against the niggling question ‘but what if something is stolen?’ So I signed up. As soon as I was verified I got listing and oh my, I found many many items around the house that could earn me some money. Hello Sandbanks, Maldives or even that handbag I’ve been eyeing up for several months!
I’ve listed our tent, the strimmer, an old stepladder, both our paddle boards and even our bikes, as well as the Wii console, acoustic guitar and overlocker previously mentioned. With all the items earning between £10 and £80/day I don’t think it will be long before I’ve made their advertised £5000 a year and for very little effort my end! Bonus. I’ve loved meeting the other local people renting my items, as well as routing through my cupboards, shed and loft to see what else I could list - you might say I’m now a RentMy addict, but hey if it gets me one plane ticket closer to the Maldives I’m all for it!
Inflatable 4-Man tent £50/weekend
Petrol strimmer £40/weekend
Stepladder £70/week
Paddle board £20/day
Mountain bike £80/day
Road bike £40/day
Wii console £70/week
Acoustic guitar £100/weekend
Overlocker £50/weekend