Internet Marketing Benefits Consumers
More than ever online marketing is benefiting consumers like never before, as technology grows and develops and the ability of marketers to provide consumers with timely and relevant communications the exponential growth with online consumerism will show no signs of abating any time soon.
This Christmas season is rapidly descending
ask any little one how many sleeps to go and they will be able to tell you to the minute.
Picking up some bargains over the weekend I couldn't help but notice the influence that mobile technology was having in the buying and evaluation decision-making process we are connected and we are the most aware consumers in a whole generation if not in human history.
We are rapidly all becoming the same and it is bridging every social divide that you can think of, I was most interested to see a granddad taking a photo in store on his phone sending it to daughter to see if grandson would possibly like this gift for Christmas. Now that is random but having said that a daily occurrence played out in many ways.
I ask if our collective consciousness is changing? I would say that it is and it is something that most consumers are totally unaware of as many things are moving through new barriers and becoming normalized.
Some call it the only constant and that is change.
So what are the benefits?
For us, as consumers, we are in a position to make really informed decisions and in the process create some real value with our purchasing. A fancy way of saying I just got the bargain of the century. One of the biggest advantage s of being connected is that we can keep up to date with what is going on literally that phone has the best deals at the tip of our fingers. Our information is relevant to our desires. We can have that information on demand.
The thing is that we can research, book, order and buy 24/7/365 if we so desire and we can also pay for it right their and then online, transactions take seconds to complete if we have a good connection, Those purchases can be made from literally anywhere and anyplace in the world we are truly becoming a global consumer nation, we just need a few of the scallywags to realize that.
The thing is, that their are just so many options for us as consumers, using technology to our advantage we can truly leverage our buying potential. Products can be ordered online and delivered to our doorsteps in what seems to be record time, shipping has actually become a huge marker in our purchasing process if their is free shipping all the better.
One of the real benefits of being an online consumer is that it saves so much time, sure their may be the odd time that the product or service doesn't meet our expectations, their are many protections built into our transactions to protect the buyer that if we use recognized payment vectors our purchases are guaranteed like never before.
It is a buyers world.
I kind of feel sorry for the marketers and retailers whether they be online or standing in thier bricks and mortar stores, all trying to sell and promote their service or product to an ever waiting audience of switched on consumers.
Hold on one moment I am one of them, I am like you, just working away producing content,promoting and selling products and services.
Thankfully I just received, which is probably the best-selling and promoting tip that I have had for a while still plenty of time to make some changes.
" If you want to sell and promote you first have to think like a consumer, it is probably hard for you to do that so you won't sell a lot, in fact in today's world you won't last, so if you want to become successful learn to be a consumer."
Wow knock me over with a feather grass hopper, it kind of makes sense, we should never forget what it is like to be a buyer I can see that remembering that will help me to become a better seller.
The next question that springs to mind is why will or should you buy from me, if I find and implement solutions for that one, turnover and profit will grow.
Food for thought, happy buying, and even happier promoting and selling.
Alex Evans
Recent Comments
28
I'm good, Alex. I'm still out of work. I finally decided to do something that I've been deciding for decades.
That sounds good Roger, hope it goes well for you is it your online business that you are focusing on.
I'm also focused on the stocks. Next week I'm going to invest more money. That might be my new niche pretty soon.
Nice one Alex - the landscape has changed forever. The playing field has been levelled and the competition for the buyer's dollar is rapidly increasing.
You are right - we need to be on top of our game to succeed as sellers.
Cheers
Rod
It has changed forever Rod and the key for us a marketer is to keep up with the play and also be aware of how the buying expectations and the purchasing process is evolving. The key advantage is we are all experts when it comes to getting the best deal as buyers. thank you for stopping by.
Hi, Brad that is well said, smaller retailers are falling by the wayside, especially the ones that don't seem to be keeping up \with the ever-changing landscape, I am amazed at the number of retailers that don't have internet or social media exposure but then for folks that are into online marketing it is wonderful opportunity to create some lucrative income streams.
I think Alex because we are in WA it comes naturally to us. Eight months ago I wouldn't have known about all of this and would be in the same boat that many of these smaller retailers are facing today. They are totally unaware and thank goodness we are aware.
The big thing is that many are challenged by the competition from online sellers if there was ever a case for that saying if you can not beat them then join in it is in today's online environment.
I think that it definitely is a buyers world, Jay, as we all transition to the sellers world we can all do our businesses a lot of good by recognising that and working it into our web copy and especially those calls to action some folks have turned that into an art form that really impacts on their PayPal accounts in a really positive fashion
Great piece Alex and a timely reminder to all marketers.
Thank you for taking the time to write this.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Hi, Karen thank you for stopping by and commenting much appreciated. it is at this time of the year that selling totally comes to the foreground, I found it so interesting to observe shoppers and how perhaps the landscape is changing, as marketers we can really help ourselves by observing these nuances.
Great thought Alex. I would like to add something here. While thinking like a consumer, one needs to shut down the 'seller' from your mind, completely, which is a difficult thing. Reason being I am the creator of the product or service that I am putting across to sell and have pt in a lot of effort to create it. Obviously, many attempts would have gone into it before taking a final shape. So, I feel, the seller in my mind will always overpower the consumer in my mind. If, however, I can completely shut the seller from my mind, I can definitely have a great insight for my next steps.
I think, it ought to be someone else who can be trusted to give an honest feedback.
Hope you get my point...don't know if I have explained it properly.
Regards
Deepika
Hi Deepika, that was well said when we enter into the marketing world it is about finding that balance between the sellers and buyers mind, the one thing that we share in common is that we are all consumers, some folks become sellers and even fewer become successful sellers.
One of the key things to focus on in my experience is to remember that we are buyers and to remember what works for us transferring that over to the selling process can help. I am sure we all have had that in-store experience where we are set on by an over-enthusiastic salesperson. thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Thank you Alex for your post. I am always trying to think as a consumer and I have established a website which. I wpuld lika as a consumer. Still, no commissions I guess I am not working as hard as I should.
Hi John, The post is just a reflection of my perception of the marketplace in general. It follows that if we want to sell in a very competitive field we need to think and remember what it is like to be a buyer.if we can bring that to our marketing we can identify opportunities to connect with potential customers.
How do you feel your website is going, I have had a look and if you are ok with it I could send you some feedback that may help you out. Sometimes another set of eyes can help us to see what we can not. May take a little time.
I guess it is not always about working harder but rather working smarter, I know that this one aspect has made a huge difference in my online endeavors.
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:-) XOXO
Thank you for stopping by Tania and that you found the post interesting.
CHEERS FOR POSTING IT :-)
You are most welcome.