10-Year Countdown: Go Digital or Die

15 Jun 10-Year Countdown: Go Digital or Die

Over the last 10 years, the Internet has transformed the idea of marketing as we know it. Not too long ago, business owners were easily able to sway customers with traditional marketing methods such as cold calling and newspaper advertising—even a simple flyer could go a long way for spreading brand awareness.

What a difference a decade can make.

In fact, marketing has changed so dramatically throughout the last 10 years, that Cisco CEO John Chambers recently made the situation crystal clear: go digital or die.

Warning: Saying No To Digital May Lead To Self Destruction

In the same keynote speech at Cisco Live, Chambers predicts that 40% of companies will die within the next decade—and it’s all from denying the digital era that is thriving more than ever.

If you think that content marketing is for quacks and social media is for college kids, we’re here to tell you that you’re sailing on a sinking ship.

And before you know it, another decade will pass and businesses that are relying on outdated advertising methods will close their doors.

You don’t have to be one of them.

The Power Of Online Presence

Your presence online is not something that should be taken lightly. Even if you still swear by direct mailers and radio ads, there’s no denying the data that supports the claims of John Chambers:

• 44% of online searchers begin their transaction by using a search engine
• 61% of global internet users research products online before purchasing
• Nearly three-quarters of all Internet users belong to at least one social media network.
• 90% of users never scroll past the first page of Google results
• 90% of businesses market with content

In this instance, it’s not even about adopting a digital strategy because your competitors are doing it. You need to establish yourself online because that’s where your customers are.

If you aren’t advertising where your customers can find you, your marketing efforts are sure to backfire.

Maintaining Your Business Presence Online

Once your brand is online and running, your work has only just begun. Stale websites and neglected social media accounts will only work against you in the long run.

An abandoned website, blog, or company Facebook page can ultimately hurt your business. To avoid this situation, you must stay on top of website updates and digital campaigns.

There are several critical reasons why you must maintain your online presence as you become established:

• An outdated website or blog gives customers the impression that you are out of business
• Stale social media profiles make you appear as if you don’t care about customer engagement
• Unanswered negative feedback on social media drives potential customers away from your company
• Customers are constantly searching for content and data to help them make decisions—decisions that involve purchasing your products and services
• Google rewards maintained websites with higher search rankings, which ultimately helps bring you new business

With Google’s ever-changing algorithm and customers searching for your business online, you have every reason in the world and more to maintain your digital campaigns.

Consequences Of Neglecting Your Website And SEO

Websites used to be a set-it-and-forget-it tool, but that’s no longer the case. We’ve already emphasized the need to keep your website updated, but we’d like you to understand exactly why this is so important.

Google is constantly updating its algorithm, which how it determines your website’s search rankings. It’s all too easy to miss an important update and your website can slip down the search results page at the blink of an eye.

You also should be continuously aware of the keywords that customers are using to find your website. This is an important element of an SEO campaign and should be closely monitored and analyzed.

Furthermore, it takes time to retrieve maximum results from digital campaigns. Most markets are considerably competitive, and it requires a lot of dedication and patience to establish your brand online.

Staying Focused On The Future

The reality is that we don’t have a crystal ball—we don’t know if your business will survive the next decade as the digital era continues to become more powerful.

But what we can tell you is that you’re much more likely to keep your doors open by turning your attention to digital marketing.

If you’re focused on maximizing your company’s exposure for the next 10 years and beyond, Brown Box Branding can help you establish your presence online.