By E-Power Marketing Team
Online communication has become more and more important, whether you’re talking to customers across the country or suppliers across the globe. Keeping up with communication trends and being able to tailor your communication methods to your audience’s needs will keep you ahead of the competition.
The Internet has created a shift from Push to Pull Marketing, which has changed the way business is done. Today, the key to communicating online is to make all the information a consumer may want available to them, in an easily accessible manner.
Master the basics
Mastering the basics may sound like a no-brainer, but when it comes to communicating online, those basics may not be so basic to some. Get comfortable with the technologies you will be using professionally so when working with customers or coworkers, you’ll have a handle on the verbiage and tools you’re using. Embrace online communication to make it an effective business tool.
Convenience is key
There are plenty of times where businesses lose customers due to lack of accessibility. In a recent study, it has been shown that 5 percent of online readers never scroll past the top of a web site. This means your contact info has to be seen as soon as the website is loaded. If not, you’ve just lost a customer. Displaying your contact information, including phone number, address, email and links to your Social Media profiles on your website in a visible spot will create an easy user experience. From Search Engine Optimization to PPC Advertising, Online Marketing offers a variety of other tactics to make your brand easy to find online.
Online communication should be comprehensive
To effectively communicate online, be concise, comprehensive and useful. Present your thoughts and provide necessary details without becoming repetitive or monotonous. As the shift from Push to Pull Marketing has intensified, it has become more and more important to provide your audience with all of the necessary information online. Whether they just read the headline and introductory paragraph or all of your content is up to them, it’s up to you to provide the content they could need to make an informed decision. Including more content that fully describes your brand, products or services will also help in gaining search visibility for your website. Search engines need that content to understand what it is you offer and when your site should receive top search visibility. Similarly, going back and forth in a string of emails can be complicated, when all of the information is presented in clear detail initially, all parties involved will be grateful!
Keep your website current
As Online Marketing continues to grow, so too does your website’s importance. Your website has to be more than just a brochure for your products, it needs to give customers a peek into your brand. From what you offer to what makes you special, use your website to educate visitors and set yourself apart from the competition. As noted before, make sure your contact information is visible and current. Update your website as new products are launched, new retailers are added, etc. Your website is the online face of your brand, make sure it’s aligned with your brand’s voice and mission and that it serves a purpose.
Connect with Social Media
From Facebook to Twitter to LinkedIn to Pinterest and beyond, there are so many Social Media websites that are being used every single day. The key to effectively communicating online isn’t to have a presence on each and every Social site, but understanding which channels your audience is using to know what channels YOU should be using and mastering. Each site is different in its own way, so be sure you understand how to use the channel before you begin posting. It’s also important to make your presence on each channel unique. Don’t post the same content on Facebook and Twitter at the same time, or you’re not giving your fans any reason to follow you on both channels. It’s also incredibly important to maintain an interactive social presence. Respond to questions, address concerns and interact with your fans on these social channels for maximum benefit.
Use free tools for online collaboration
Using online tools to create a trusting customer relationship has become the norm for businesses. Programs such as Google Docs, Dropbox and other sites that allow online collaboration can keep everyone involved in a project up to date and even allow multiple people in varying locations to participate. These sites are easy to use and keep everyone up to speed on plans and changes. Take advantage of these tools that let you communicate in ways you never thought would be possible. Streamline your work with designers, merchandisers, retailers and beyond without the long email strings or games of phone tag.
At E-Power Marketing, we believe that if a brand does not harness the power of Online Marketing, and effectively learn to communicate online, they will be at a greater risk for losing out to the competition. As the home and housewares industry evolves and the Internet becomes more and more essential , effective online communication may be the key to keeping your brand in business. For better or for worse, online communication is here to stay—it’s up to you to use it wisely.
