The Internet has become one of the most important tools that entrepreneurs can take advantage of in 2020. In fact, businesses without a strong online presence often struggle to succeed. One of the biggest utilities that the Internet provides is the ability to automate many of your company’s processes, including your marketing. But, not everyone understands how. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about ‘what does automated mean.’
So… What Does Automated Mean?
By definition, the term ‘automated’ refers to a process that is wholly or entirely automatic. When it comes to using technology, you can set parameters for a program or application to follow and it will perform them on its own.
Virus scanning software, for example, can be set to automatically scan on a certain day of the week at a certain time. It will then handle threats on its own in a predetermined way.
How Is It Used For Marketing?
Put simply, automation is used during marketing efforts to handle mundane tasks on a large scale. For example, there’s software that will automatically send a follow-up email to a recipient if they haven’t replied within a certain amount of time.
Chatbots are another example of how automation is used online since a program handles a customer’s interactions until it’s time for an employee to step in.
One of the biggest was it’s used, though, is during email marketing.
Since email marketing has been proven to be one of the most effective forms of getting conversions online, it’s often automated to make it as efficient as possible.
Emails can be sent out based on a certain schedule, or even when defined triggers are met. Someone who creates an account, for example, will often receive an automated email in response to welcome them to the site.
What Else Is It Used For?
Automation is largely used in a practice called ‘marketing intelligence.’
Take the company Amazon, for example. The products that you purchase (or even view) will directly affect what products you’re recommended. Since this practice has become so refined, it’s often very accurate when it comes to determining user interests.
When Should I Use It?
When your online marketing has been refined enough so that it consistently generates leads, it’s time for automation to come in. This will save you time that you can use to further develop your marketing strategies.
It’s important to note, though, that automation won’t fix bad marketing. A poorly-defined target audience or a product/service your industry has no need for won’t be helped much by automated emails and processes.
Understanding Marketing Automation Can Seem Difficult
But it doesn’t have to be.
With the above information about ‘what does automated mean’ in mind, you’ll be well on your way to taking the next steps toward incorporating it into your business’s marketing strategies.
Want to learn more about how to manage your online reputation? This article has plenty of useful info.