Reaching The Cyber Consumers
Building a real world community
When a social media network can have 500 million users this means there is potentially within this cyber community a middle class market that is larger then any one national market in the world. What are the demographics of such a community? What number of the members of this community will be interested in your services and/or products?
It is important to note that brick and mortar stores are still frequented by cyber surfers. We are social animals. The temptation to get into a car to get stuck in a traffic jam in order to get to a place where we can interact socially while making our purchases still draws us away from the computer our gateway to global opportunities.
The word of mouth recommendations of a friend or trusted adviser still has its attraction. Consumers tend to find the source of information to be as important as the quality of the information itself. Additionally the traditional advertising media still call out loud and clear through billboards, newspapers, the television, radio and flyers stuffed into the physical mailbox.
The Cyber Market Versus Physical Markets
So how does internet marketing compete with traditional physical sales outlets? Convenience, trust and pricing are the factors that can be utilized by internet marketing. The cyber market is not a place to go to for goods or services. Rather it is a medium through which sales are concluded.
Convenience can mean making the customer aware of the fact that traffic jams are avoided, travel time and cost are eliminated and more time for social activity becomes possible.
Trust comes from knowing that the information source is reliable. With recommendations and consumer feedback posted on the website over time trust can be cultivated. A blog and testimonials can help. The cultivation of advocates within the physical peer group of prospective consumers can give the cyber marketer the same benefits that traditional marketing utilizes.
Pricing may be an added attraction as a strategy but not in all cases such as when the product or service is unique such as the painting of an artist or services of a Business Consultant with specialist or personal knowledge of a market.
In the end the element of trust combined with convenience remains critical. Establish trust in you and your product or services by providing accurate information, timely delivery and quality at all times.
Build a relationship with your customers so they become advocates for what you offer. Above all enjoy the relationships established by being genuinely interested in learning from individuals you meet in the cyber world.
Remember the conversation with the community must transcend cyber space into the real world where it impacts real human beings that have real experiences with your products and services. The cyber world is merely a tool for reaching real world consumers where the transaction is completed.
Siddha Param
International Business Consultant
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, North America
The geographical centre of the world’s largest market!
www.worldwidebusinessconnection.com
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