Why Inbound Marketing is Crucial to Boston Small Business.

By: Jamie Fitzgibbons, CRS Web Designs, Boston MA

As the marketing landscape constantly evolves we can no longer deny that inbound marketing has become a dominant force in the marketplace. I’m writing post to show the importance of inbound marketing and how a great website is crucial to it’s success.

First off, what is “Inbound marketing”?
Inbound marketing is promoting a company through an internet based strategy that involves the company being found on the internet with the purpose of drawing them to the company’s website. This commonly involves SEO, SEM, blogs, videos, and social media.

Alright, your a small business owner and that might seem like marketing jargon. So let’s put it through the CRS street-level filter. Let’s filter out the marketing “blah, blah, blah” and put “Inbound marketing” into a day-to-day perspective. Then let’s discuss why having a cutting-edge website is crucial.

Basically, inbound marketing means people find you through your website rather than you reaching out to them directly. In the old days marketers would have to solicit their company by broadcasting their message to the masses. Essentially, the marketer is buying the consumers attention. For example, using direct mail, t.v./radio ads and(my least favorite)…cold calling. Inbound strategy takes a different approach and does not blatantly lobby for the user’s attention. Visit uptownjungle.com.

The most common example of inbound marketing in action can be summed up in one phrase: “Google it”. When a user searches Google, they are making their own decisions on where to put their attention. Their attention is not forced upon any one subject. The user is making their decisions based on the value of the content they find on their own in your Website. However, what they see on the web is not by random. It s placement and content that is a part of the subtle and often unseen objective of inbound marketers. This practice is primarily called SEO(Search Engine Optimization). Often, undervalued practice of Inbound is also SEM (Search Engine Marketing), which I will discuss later.

After years of doing both styles of marketing for my own business in the Boston area, I’ve come to find that leads from inbound marketing are unquestionably more valuable. Here’s why:

Inbound leads perceive you as more trustworthy. If someone sees your business on TV or sees your business in a newspaper they know you have paid to be there. It has nothing to do with the value your company provides. However, people perceive Google as an all-knowing entity that only promotes legitimate businesses. For the most part, they are correct. Google is not easily duped. If you make top rankings in Google you are doing something right. So when they call you they already know you have credentials. This is invaluable when making a sale.

Also, They are ready to act. When someone searches for you they are ready, and usually prepared, to move forward. They’ve seen your website and they’ve done their homework. Your placement on the Internet is the lead, but the website is the selling point.

Let’s state the obvious. The Internet is now the only way people are finding businesses. Some people cling to the yellow dinosaur (AKA Yellow Pages) and probably believe the earth is flat. But the rest of us know that the Internet is the most effective way to look for businesses and find out more information about those businesses.

Don’t be a yellow dinosaur. Let’s maximize your web presence and let people come to you. No more begging for business. You will get calls from people who are already sold. Doesn’t get better than that.

Call today 617.304.3893.
www.crswebdesigns.com

Keep in mind the whole point of inbound marketing is to get them to find your website. A cutting-edge website will finalize their opinion of your business.