Online marketing has grown over
the past years. The availability of
information is 24/7, and it has created a society of information – unless you
don’t have internet. Nowadays,
information can be at the palm of your hands with mobile devices. Social media has changed our buying behaviors
throughout the years.
But how does the buying process
occur?
According to Miyazaki, the
process is done in 3 steps:
- Need/Desire Recognition: the consumer has to recognize the need
- Need/Desire Development: once the “need” is recognized, we have to develop it so we know what to buy – gathering information in order to evaluate the options available
- Need/Desire Fulfillment: when information has been evaluated, we decide as a consumer we make our purchase, and sometimes provide a post usage evaluation – which will eventually influence on future buyers
We are bombarded with lots of
information everywhere. By reading and
getting informed through social media, the buying decision could convert into
revenue to the establishments. According
to a study made by The Boston Consulting Group they state, digital content and
online-advertising are still struggling to find ways to effectively service the
advertising needs of small businesses.
If small business owners are not fully aware of the digital marketing,
then the articles suggests that only the big companies are managing their e-marketing
resources. It’s the amount of information that is available and if the source is a reliable one.
Another finding of the same study stated that small business owners learn that the
economic impact Yelp has on small businesses is on average $8,000 on revenue
yearly. Yelp uses “word of mouth”
marketing tactic to spread the word about a product/service being good or
bad. And probably this is what exactly
social media marketers want consumers to do, express their opinions on a
certain product. It is up to you to
decide whether you will buy it or not.
But to what extent would the
government would regulate the e-marketing?
I don’t think the government on limiting the role of e-marketing. It would go against the freedom of speech,
and so forth. More people have turned
into online shoppers. If the government
were to regulate, it would mean a manipulation of information to the society –
which is something that would not be seen well.
As Bernadette Tracy, a research expert says: The internet has become the
mall of the America. If the government
were to regulate it, I think it would have economic implications in the long
run.
Other Sources:
Miyazaki, Anthony. 2013. Where is E-Marketing in the Buying Decision Process?
Tracy, Bernadette. 2000. People shop online for convenience not price.