The Advantages of Real-Time Marketing

In our current culture where social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest have come to play an essential role in our lives, real-time marketing has become the up and coming strategy to effectively connect with consumers and reach out to new markets. Real-time marketing allows companies and brands to view public opinion and feedback as it is presented through social media on a second to second basis and respond directly to any posts of their choosing personally and in a timely manner. This is an immediate connection with customers that companies probably never dreamed of having and it now opens a whole new world of possibilities. There are many benefits of real-time marketing that companies and organizations have the opportunity to take advantage of. Insight that is gained from data in real time can be used to respond promptly to customer questions and situations. The instant feedback is also extremely useful in guiding companies as they go forward with current and future marketing strategies. In addition, two way communication between organizations and customers has never been more efficient and personalized with the increased popularity of online tools and social media that has taken the world by storm. It is also because of these unique interactions that we have begun to see a huge increase in word of mouth marketing both on and offline, generating free press and testimonials for companies to be spread to the masses. Not all companies have made the smooth transition into the social media ruled world, but we can see that some early adopters are realizing the full potential that real-time marketing in this day and age has to offer. Companies such as Zappos, Taco Bell, Whole Foods Market, and JetBlue have made big names for themselves on the internet. Whether it be personalized replies on Twitter, granting special requests on Facebook, or offering outrageous deals to fast responding online customers, these companies have demonstrated the power of real-time marketing and the ability it has to propel their brands through the roof in the eyes of consumers.