If you own a small business and you’re like most small business owners, you probably handle your own internet marketing and advertising campaigns, and you only spend a few hours per week doing so. With the complexity of social media platforms and email marketing campaigns, simply pretending that none of it exists can seem like the best option to minimize stress.

Out of all marketing spending in the past year, it’s almost surprising that digital marketing accounted for only 24% of expenditures — especially considering that the majority of American consumers either do their shopping online, or do product research online before purchasing an item or service in person. In fact, data from 2011 shows that about $1.1 trillion worth of retail sales were either conducted online or were influenced by online product research.

On one hand, businesses don’t have to spend as much money to create effective digital marketing campaigns as they would have to spend on paper, TV, and radio advertisements. But many business owners don’t realize that creating a strong online marketing plan isn’t as simple as making a Facebook page and appealing to younger consumers by making a few tweets every now and again.

Plenty of business owners do have the capability to learn how to advertise effectively online, but most business owners simply don’t have the time or energy to devote to something that isn’t a fundamental part of their actual business — and this is exactly why so many marketing and advertising services have popped up in recent years. Taking advantage of the prevalence of professional web design companies helps businesses build a strong digital foundation through an effective website design, and full service advertising agencies can help businesses create the most effective digital marketing plan possible.
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