2020 Can I just do a little bit of Inbound Marketing?

Inbound marketing has been shown to cost 62% less and generate three times more leads compared to traditional marketing techniques (outbound). Despite this, 75% of businesses do not yet have an inbound marketing strategy. This may seem to underscore another finding that shows customers spend up to 50% of their time engaging with custom content online. Keep in mind with inbound techniques, it’s important to note that online buyers navigate 57% of the buyer’s journey on their own without really talking to any sales person. All thanks to inbound marketing.

It would be wrong to claim there is no inbound marketing recognition out there. But often Inbound Marketing is allocated too little attention and too few resources.  Given that Inbound Marketing relies on a vary broad skill set, including but not limited to: strategic planning, writing, design, social media expertise, blogging, technical expertise and more, it can be challenging to source the right person to get it all done.  

Businesses are three times more likely to see more Return on Investment (ROI) from professional inbound techniques than traditional outbound techniques.  So you may wonder, can a little inbound marketing work? Yes it is possible to do a little Inbound Marketing, but it is a lot like the Fly Wheel  “The Flywheel” is a very useful analogy for implementing business strategy created by Jim Collins. It describes how driving a new strategy is like getting a huge flywheel into motion. Initially, there is no movement – many people think that the strategy is absurd – it is almost impossible to imagine the flywheel at speed. With great exertion of will, the CEO is able to deliver some results that get the flywheel moving. They appear small and trivial initially, but create the credibility to move to more ambitious results. As more and more results accumulate, more and more people throw their weight behind the wheel and the momentum of the flywheel builds and builds.

Inbound marketing is a lot like the fly wheel, with momentum the results are amazing, but in the early days it can feel like the up take is uncertain.  Keep these stats in mind

• Studies have shown that business websites with 10-15 landing pages tend to increase conversions by 55% over business websites with less than 10 landing pages. And those with more than 40 landing pages increase conversions by over 500%.  So getting started with just a few landing pages may not yield the results you'd like to see
• Businesses who nurture leads make 50% more sales at a cost 33% less than non-nurtured prospects. (Strategic IC, 2017) (Source: https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics).  Again, just getting in the leads may  not cut it, you'll need a plan to nurture those leads to get the results you are looking for
• You also have to keep on with some of those traditional tactics.  Roughly 80% of marketers have reported an increase in email engagement over the past 12 months. (HubSpot, 2020) (Source: https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics)  While email marketing could be considered 'outbound' because  you are reaching out, it dove tails beautiful with Inbound and it is very much alive and well.

HubSpot customers of all sizes saw significant increases in site traffic and lead conversion rates.  Hubspot is quite transparent about expected results for the size of company as well as the time you spent using the tool.  As  the data shows, it takes time to get the most of Inbound Marketing you need to jump in with two feet to see results quickly.

The real magic usually really happens with a well thought out plan, strategy, and regular inbound marketing tactics. This is where the professionals step in and take the wheel.

More in Store Marketing believes that marketing efforts should be accountable. Honestly, there’s a lot that needs to be done in coming up with a strategy. But we make light work of this and relieve businesses of all the marketing headaches they may have had. Why not take the first step with a free Inbound Marketing Assessment.