The importance of digital presence
Social media and the digital world have changed how we live our lives in ways we could never have imagined. From connecting to loved ones on the other side of the world, to attending business meetings without even being there. From buying a new sofa without having to leave the comfort of your current sofa, to receiving news instantly before it has even made the front page. This crazy world we live in is undeniably powerful and if you use it to your advantage, you will rocket launch your business.
According to statistics from 2019, there are 3.5 billion social media users online which equates to nearly half of the world's population (Emarsys). This number is ever growing, especially as 90.4% of Millennials make up that number of users, with newer generations being born into the already established digital world.
We spend an average of three hours on social media every day (Globalwebindex, 2018) which is an overwhelming amount of time. Those lazy scrolls on your daily commute and quick, but regular, messages to the group chat all add up. Seconds become minutes, minutes soon become hours and then those hours soon become square-eyed and thumb twitching late nights where you have failed to concentrate on yet another episode of your latest series on Netflix.
Without meaning to give everyone a serious reality check on the importance of having a break from the screen, the point is that if your business does not have a digital presence, you will simply be overlooked, forgotten and even be deemed as untrustworthy.
Despite its lack of physical presence, a digital platform humanises your brand as you are able to showcase the realities of your business which you may not necessarily be able to do otherwise, making your company more relatable. You are able to connect your own social media profiles, have others leave reviews and flaunt your work through various creative methods to professionally showcase your brand to a wider audience nationwide, or even worldwide.
Since the decline of the high street, window shopping has turned digital with Instagram and Facebook being the most widely used social media platforms for businesses. These platforms have made it possible for consumers to be targeted through adverts related to the things they talk about and research.
Businesses can even run solely on Instagram, meaning you can buy products straight from a company’s social media without having to leave the page you are on. You can tap on an image, see the prices of each item within that image and then proceed to buy the product straight from the page. Who would want to sit in traffic, have the stress of finding a parking space and then elbow your way through the crowds in the mall, when you can sit in your pjs with a glass of wine and with a few quick taps, buy yourself a whole new outfit or equip your brand new kitchen?
It is not just about social media, either. Having a website enables you to showcase your work and or products and to provide plenty of information for your target audience.
That all being said, even if you have a digital presence it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get thousands of people rushing to your site every day. Like a physical business, you need to build it up and make it look and feel professional to the customer.
Creating successful digital content is also massively related to understanding your target audience and making visual content that speaks to that particular group. When you know your target audience well, you can choose which social media platform to use and then start to generate more exciting and brave content which may not appeal to everyone but will really sell to your particular clientele.
Whether you have an artistic eye or not as a consumer, a brand will always sell more when its content is good. As humans we are very visual, so even if you don't know what makes a video or photograph a high-quality one, you will still be naturally drawn to the better-quality content. On average we spend just three seconds (yes, three!) on a page until we determine if it is something we are interested in or not. In those seconds, you need to give your future customer something they cannot say no to.
Natcho is perfectly equipped for the task of taking your brand or business and stamping its digital presence in a creative yet professional way. We offer photography, videography, branding, creative writing, motion graphics and animation and can even design your social media feed and website. Need more info? Just check out our digital exposure through our website and Instagram page where you will find plenty of examples of our work.