Over the last decade small business owners have shifted online. However, are their websites optimized for the online marketing? Do they draw in organic traffic? That is yet to be seen. Although to the traditional business owner there is no need of online marketing, yet with the globalization, it is hard to draw in sales through conventional methods.

So, what might be the cause of resisting the change to online marketing? Let’s take a look at the most common myths people possess in this digital age.

Myth #1: Online Marketing Doesn’t Work
Compared to the offline marketing methods, online marketing can work wonders for your business. Yes, it might be slower than average, especially when you have a niche with more competition. However, it will work, if you follow the rules of marketing and give it time.


When it comes to offline marketing, you would have to reach to your customers individually. However, with online marketing, your customers would come to you. Now, isn’t that awesome? Yes, it is, because there is no term as ‘online’ or ‘offline’ customer. A customer is an individual who will be buying your services or products. And he/she is not restricted to be offline or online.

Myth 3: Online Marketing Is Costly
Well, in the 21st century, nothing is as cheap as it was before. So, if you think that conventional marketing techniques won’t cost you and online marketing would, you cannot be more wrong. If you don’t feel comfortable with online marketing because you are new, try hiring an expert or learn it yourself. Either way, you would see the errors of your way while working through the journey.

So, now that you know which myths are stopping you from getting started, let’s have a look at why you should shift to online marketing and get started. Here are the reasons why you should shift to marketing online.

Changed Consumer Expectation
You might not want to move online, but most of your consumers have. If you think they haven’t try doing a survey about their lifestyle and the choices, and you’ll see how much they have changed over the years. Generally, when someone hears about a brand or business, the first thing they do is to check online for the business. So, you can see how bad it will be for your business if you don’t have an existence online.

Brand Building

If you want to reach out to millions with your brand, and you are not a celebrity, it can be pretty tough in the beginning. You would have to look for social influencers who can promote your product. Generally, when you build a brand you build your potential customer’s trust in your products. They think that you would provide quality goods. So, when you have your website online, and your previous customers speak good of you, you would have a great brand in your hands.

More Audience
This is definitely a result of bringing your business online. Even if you have a brick and mortar shop in all corners of the world, you won’t be able to serve your customers 24 x 7 without any issues. However, when you have an online website, you would be able to do that easily, and that too from a central location. This process also doesn’t require much manpower, and would help you to save some bucks while reaching out to larger mass.

Competition
You might have seen, and have felt it that your competitors in the business have moved up the business ladder. Just because you don’t want to step in the online field doesn’t mean that your competitors won’t do the same. It also doesn’t mean that you won’t be left behind in the long run. Whatever you do affects your brand, so the best option is to make a wise choice.

Rapid Change
As mentioned previously, the marketing scenario is changing rapidly, be it online or offline. This is why you would need to make sure that you don’t get negatively affected by the change. To get accustomed to the market changes, at one point of time or other you will step online. And when you do, you will see that you are a wee bit late compared to others in the business.

With the long-term changes in technology and others, you would need to make sure that you always stay at the top of the game, and shifting a part of your marketing online can be the solution to most of your problems.

However, considering all the merits and the niches of business, it would be unfair to say that online marketing is absolutely necessary. What is necessary at this stage is shifting your business online, so that your customers can find you as and when they need your services or products. Your assumptions, challenges and the business strategy changes with time, and you should focus on growing your business, even if you would have to shift online.