The latest trend in the arena of internet marketing is the rise of an entire range of internet marketing automation technology that enables businesses of all sizes to automate marketing processes from lead generation to advertising and content management. Marketing automation, also called e-marketing, refers to a set of web-based technologies and software platforms designed specifically for marketing departments to automate repetitive functions and multiple tasks online. These marketing automation tools enable marketers to increase efficiency by automating tasks such as advertising campaigns, customer contact management, research, paid search, and ad buying. Marketing automation tools are used to automate marketing activities such as website analytics, pay per click management, ad publishing, lead management, ad tracking, ad sales tracking, and more. In short, they help businesses control and automate business processes, thereby freeing up time for key staff members and increasing company profits.

Although many large businesses have embraced marketing automation tools with open arms, smaller businesses have been slow to catch on. However, as the benefits of these tools have become more widely known and the costs have dwindled, smaller business owners are starting to look at marketing automation as a practical option. By automating a variety of business functions such as lead generation, ad purchasing, ad tracking, ad management, an ad conversion, ad ranking, and more, marketers can free up valuable time for other key staff members while their sales team to focus on more important matters. And when compared to the traditional sales process, using automation tools saves both time and money.

Reasons to Automate

There are four primary reasons why marketers should consider implementing marketing automation software for their businesses: speed, accuracy, security, and cost. Let’s take a look at each of these factors and evaluate which of them apply to your business. First, speed is crucial to businesses looking to automate marketing processes and improve customer service. With the increasing sophistication of the Internet, marketers must be able to respond quickly to customer inquiries and actions.

This is done through email marketing, which is one of the most effective ways to automate a sales process. Email marketing allows businesses to use standardized templates to send mass email responses to customers. For instance, if a customer has just purchased a couple of candles from a local store, sending an email regarding these items is a good way to stay in touch. This is much less costly than print or broadcast advertisement and far more effective than any other form of marketing.

The fourth reason why businesses should use marketing automation software is that this tool enables businesses to automate the entire sales process, not just parts of it. Many businesses treat their customers coldly or offer a generic response to each inquiry. Automation allows marketers to easily segment customers into different groups, allowing them to better serve each group. For instance, a marketing automation program may be set up to send a different email to professional-type leads versus those interested in taking their business a step further by signing up for a service or product.

The fifth reason to automate marketing through email is that this tool is one of the most efficient ways to manage contacts. By accessing the data that the CRM database holds, marketers can build highly detailed profiles of their customers, allowing them to fine-tune their message based on the information that they have gathered. The process of building a profile usually takes just a few minutes and allows marketers to make the necessary adjustments as their business expands. Additionally, automated CRM software usually provides the means for easy access to information, which is especially valuable for large businesses that utilize a large number of contacts within their organization.

Perhaps the most compelling reason for using marketing automation tools is the fact that these tools allow small businesses to avoid the hassles of customer support. Small businesses must often dedicate a sizeable amount of their budget each year to providing customer support. Customer support can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially for small businesses that do not have the resources to fully staff their support department. However, by using automated tools, a small business will be able to reduce their monthly expenses while effectively meeting all of their customer needs.

Automating marketing allows small businesses to stay ahead of the curve by giving them the ability to provide customer satisfaction, higher conversions, and superior overall business performance. By providing value through automated customer support, a business ensures that its marketing and customer service efforts are giving its customers everything that they want and need. The best marketing automation software solutions will often allow marketers to receive real-time updates on customer activity, allowing them to adjust their strategies accordingly. When it comes to marketing automation software, the goal of a business should never be in failure; it should only be in the mastery of the tools that it uses to keep its small business running smoothly.