Online Marketing Platforms: Understanding the Pros and Cons Before Investing in One

Marketing is a must if you want your business to stay (or get) afloat. Without it, nobody will know what you have to offer.

There are countless marketing methods, though. Are you confused which method is best for you?

In your search for the right marketing tools and advice, you may have heard of online marketing platforms. While helpful, these platforms do have their pros and cons, just like anything else.

How do you know if purchasing a marketing platform is the right move for you? Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of this marketing method.

What Is an Online Marketing Platform?

Before jumping into the pros and cons of online marketing platforms, let’s define what they are in the first place. Online marketing platforms are powerful tools that bring together lots of other tools, creating one central location for your marketing tasks.

Without the use of a marketing platform, you’d need to use several different tools. Platforms eliminate that need by bringing the tools you love together.

The Pros

Online marketing platforms can be extremely helpful when promoting your business. So let’s take a look at the pros of purchasing one.

Money Savings

You can save a significant amount of money when purchasing a marketing platform. Why is this? Because otherwise, you’d have to purchase several different tools.

It’s like buying those multi-flavor packs of your favorite treat. You only have to buy one box instead of one of every kind in order to get the variety you want.

Online marketing platforms often include multiple tools. They may even include everything you need.

While marketing tools are great on their own, you can’t rely on only one if you want to be successful. Marketing platforms bring everything together so you can have the best of all worlds.

Tools at Your Fingertips

Marketing platforms bring multiple marketing tools together. That means you won’t have to do one task here and another task there. If you’re looking to simplify your marketing efforts but still grow your business, a marketing platform could be ideal for you.

Time Savings

You probably have many other things to do besides marketing, but you know it needs to be done. The great thing is, marketing platforms save you time. You can set your tools to do your marketing for you, leaving you with time for other things.

There’s a Variety

You aren’t limited to one marketing platform. There are plenty available, so you’ll be able to find the one that fits you the best. Consider the different tools each platform contains to determine which one is best for you.

The Cons

The pros of using a marketing platform are hard to ignore, but there are some hidden cons that come with them. Let’s take a look at the things you may not love so much about using an online platform to handle your marketing.

You May Become Dependent

Once you start using a social media platform, you may get stuck using one. While that could have its benefits, it could also be a bad thing.

As you get used to your platform doing the work for you, you may become dependent on it. This means you’ll stop thinking of your own innovative ways to market.

Dependency on a platform can result in you missing out on a lot. Marketing trends and tools change. If you want your marketing to be most effective, you’ve got to change with them.

Memes were all the rage, and are still popular. But you don’t want to be using them for marketing long after people don’t care about them anymore.

A marketing platform can be helpful, but if you choose to use one, don’t shut down and let it do everything for you. Stay aware of current marketing trends and changes your strategies accordingly.

Less Personable

If you’re constantly using a marketing platform to do all your marketing for you, your customers may miss the more personable touch that could be there otherwise. So it’s a good idea to mix in personal, hands-on effort to keep that human element in place.

Costs Involved

You will have to purchase a marketing platform, while there may be marketing methods that don’t cost you anything. Some marketing tools, such as PPC, only cost you if they’re working. This may be a better option if you’re worried about funds or putting money down before seeing results.

There are platforms that don’t cost as much. Shop around to see if you think the platform you want is worth the cost. If not, explore other options.

Too Much Messaging

Since you can totally rely on your platform to do the work for you, you may fall into the trap of communicating too much. An excessive amount of automated messages doesn’t usually make customers happy, so make sure you think this one through.

Read Reviews

If you decide that a marketing platform is right for your business, don’t just go with the first one you find. Read reviews to get a handle on which platform is best for your business.

Product information is good, but you may find reviews even more helpful. Feedback from people who have actually used the program t promote their business will help you make a more educated decision.

Are Online Marketing Platforms Worth It? You Decide

Online marketing platforms can be extremely helpful tools if used the right way. But if leaned on like a crutch, they can cause problems.

Consider these pros and cons when deciding if an online marketing platform is right for you. Keep your business’ specific needs, niche, and goals in mind as you consider your options.

Whether you choose to utilize an online marketing platform or not, you’ve got to have a killer marketing plan. That plan may not always go as hoped, though. Click here to learn about overcoming marketing hurdles.