Are You Reaching Your Audience Online?

Sometime within the next month your phone will ring. Chances are, you will pick it up and not be prepared for the conversation you are about to have. On the other end of the phone will be a half-jaded, caffeine fueled sales rep from your local newspaper or Yellowbook.

The conversation will most likely sound a little like this, “(Insert your name here), by advertising in our daily newspaper, your business will get noticed by over (enter circulation number here) potential customers! Can’t you see the impact this will have on your sales? And since you have been a dedicated customer for 5 years now, we are willing to give you 30% off of the regular price of half page ads! When would you like to get started?”

At this point, you have 2 options. After reading this blog post I hope you will calmly say, “I appreciate your time (enter cheesy sales rep’s name here), but I switched my business advertising to the internet and have so much new work, I can’t waste my time talking with sales reps like you anymore.  Have a great day!”

Let’s face it. The tides of advertising have changed dramatically over the past 10+ years. Traditional media sources such as the huge powerhouse newspapers, television networks, and advertising agencies that have been around since the early 1900′s are closing up shop by the handful. Coincidence? I think not.

Why? Because our “audiences” have moved… To the internet.  Are you finding your audience?

IMPORTANT: We are currently experiencing one of the largest fundamental shifts in how people consume information and media since the invention of the printing press.

Do you remember the song, “Video Killed the Radio Star“? I am patiently waiting for a remix called, “Internet Killed the Traditional Media Platforms.” Maybe we should create one here at Wafflehaus…

Let’s discuss some basic facts about internet searches:

• 75% of Americans use search engines on a regular basis
• 56% of Americans use Search Engines every day
• 92% of all local searches will eventually convert into a sale
• Roughly 10 billion search queries made per day

http://www.searchingsolutions.com/interesting-search-engine-blogging-statistics/

• “63% of consumers and small business owners turn to the internet first for information about local companies and 82% use search engines to do so.”- Webvisible and Nielsen.

http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/‘great-divide’-separates-small-biz-online-consumers-7612/

• “Over the past two years, 43% of small businesses say they have increased the use of search engines in their marketing efforts. Perhaps as a consequence, their use of some traditional media is declining with 23% of small businesses saying they use Yellow Pages less and 42% using local newspapers less.”

http://www.bizreport.com/2009/01/nearly_half_of_small_businesses_have_no_website.html#

The internet can provide an amazing amount of new business growth at the most affordable advertising rates available.  Empower yourself by learning more about internet advertising solutions.  As small businesses, we need to make educated decisions about crafting strategic, targeted, and effective marketing plans.

I will leave you with one final question, are your current advertising efforts reaching your audience?

P.S. – What are you going to do with all those unused phonebooks? Here’s an idea : )

Yours in Business Success,

Andy Josuweit