Think You Don’t Need Marketing Automation? Think Again! 10 Stats to Prove It Isn’t Just a Fad

How can your local business compete with the big boys?

That’s simple. You automate.

You know you should invest in smart tools that can help you turn prospects into customers. You know marketing automation can help you reach out to your prospects effectively, personalize your online marketing efforts and maximize your bottom line. As a small business owner, you’ve probably seen others using automation with great results. And, while you recognize marketing automation’s potential, you might still have some reservation.

That’s totally understandable.

It’s a tough situation because you’ve been handling your marketing manually this whole time, and now you’re being asked to let a machine take care of your campaign. You are afraid you will end up draining your online marketing budget on the wrong tool without anything to show for. You think that automation is suited for big companies, but it’s not worthwhile for your local business.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of stats to help you understand the state of marketing automation in 2016, illustrate the key challenges most businesses face, and show you how automation can address those problems.

Check them out below.

1. Most CMOs Rely on Marketing Automation to Improve Their Revenue

According to one report, 79% of the chief marketing officers at the highest-performing companies rely on marketing automation to boost their revenue. The study also shows that automating your digital marketing can also increase sales by 14.5%.

Marketing automation can have a big impact on your business – big or small. Whether you are a dentist, a plumber, or an accountant, the right automation software can help bring in more leads, nurture relationships with your prospects and ensure that you measure your online marketing efforts properly.

2. Businesses that Use Marketing Automation See Positive ROI within the First Year

One of the biggest concerns small business owners have regarding marketing automation is cost. They are reluctant to use automation because they fear it will drain their already tight budget. But, numerous reports have shown that marketing automation will pay for itself. In fact, according to one study, 75% of businesses that use automation software see a return on investment within the first year. And keep in mind, that’s only in the first year – you will see an even bigger increase in your revenue over time.

3. Businesses that Automate Their Email Campaigns Generate More Leads Than Those That Don’t

Many small business owners believe that email marketing is a thing of the past. They believe that social media is a far superior method of building a tribe. But, while social media has its advantages, email is much more effective. According to a study by Ipsos Interactive, 85% of people use the Internet to check their email.

So, when you combine the power of email marketing with the advantages of marketing automation, the results are incredible. One study found that businesses that automate their email marketing campaigns generate twice as many leads as those that only use normal email software.

4. Leads Nurtured through Marketing Automation Spend More

Marketing automation allows you to target prospects with highly-personalized content at the right stages of the sales funnel. When you provide your prospects, content that fits their needs, you make them appreciate your products/service more and turn them into loyal customers. In fact, according to one report, companies that nurture leads through marketing automation see a 47% increase in sales compared to those that don’t nurture them.

5. Good Lead Nurturing Brings In More Qualified Leads

While it’s great to know that people are interested in your local business, your goal is to grow your revenue. You need to turn prospects into customers and customers into loyal fans. However, getting new leads is hard, and it’s even harder to turn them into customers without nurturing them. That is where marketing automation steps in.

Not only that marketing automation can help you nurture leads, but it can also turn them into qualified buyers. According to one study, effective lead nurturing can help businesses bring in 50% more qualified leads while cutting costs by 33%.

6. Marketing Automation Can Boost Your Qualified Leads by up to 451%

When you automate your online marketing process, you have more time to spend nurturing your leads. As pointed out, nurturing leads is paramount for getting more sales and growing your local business. The advantage of marketing automation is that you can nurture and persuade more leads at once, without having to pay more or waste more of your time.

Studies have shown that businesses that use marketing automation tools have seen a 451% boost in qualified leads.

7. Marketing Automation Can Boost Your Conversion Rates

Marketing automation can open a direct channel of communication with your prospects. You can follow up with leads with personalized content, birthday wishes, or automatic reminders. Marketing automation allows you to stay in contact with your leads, building relationships and increasing their trust in your business. All of this can improve your conversion rate by up to 50%, studies say.

8. You Can Focus on Important Tasks

Up to 36% of marketers claim that marketing automation has allowed them to focus on more important tasks by taking repetitive actions off their hands. Be careful though, you can’t just set marketing automation and forget about it. It doesn’t matter how high-tech the system is, you still need to keep an eye on your marketing efforts. While automation can take repetitive tasks off your hands, it doesn’t free you completely from your job.

9. Businesses That Use Marketing Automation Outgrow Their Competition

We live in one of the most challenging business environments the world has ever seen. You need an edge over your competitor to survive and thrive. Not only that marketing automation helps you get more out of your leads, but it also allows your employees to focus on important tasks and stay productive.

Studies show that more than 60% of businesses that use marketing automation earn up to $500 million more collectively within the first year. You can’t deny it, that’s remarkable growth.

10. Marketing Automation Is the Future

Whether you like it or not, marketing automation will become the norm in the near future. According to one study, by 2020, customers will manage 85% of their relationships without talking to a real person. If you want to stay in the game, you need to keep up with the changes.

If you haven’t considered marketing automation for your local business, maybe it’s time to think about it seriously. After all, as these statistics pointed out, it can help you get amazing results.