Websites are meant to lead viewers and customers into an immersive environment where they can learn, watch and read about you and your services.

The Web has become an increadably powerful digital tool which functions as a lead generation and data capture engine. In the same way retail stores have begun capturing data for marketing purposes.

Almost every major retailer, from grocery chains to investment banks to the U.S. Postal Service, has a “predictive analytics” department devoted to understanding not just consumers’ shopping habits but also their personal habits, so as to more efficiently market to them.

This era of customer supplied information and social forensics will lead us towards a personalized web browsing experience.

Imagine if Garmin collected all of the data from runners around the world. All of a sudden Garmin knows at what time their customers are running, or walking, where they exercise and for how long.

“If you use a credit card or a coupon, or fill out a survey, or mail in a refund, or call the customer help line, or open an e-mail we’ve sent you or visit our Web site, we’ll record it and link it to your Guest ID,” Pole said. “We want to know everything we can.”

This is how Target figured out a teen girl was pregnant before her father did. They made sense of the information they were collecting, found useful patterns and used this information to create powerful advertising campaigns.

In digital marketing this process of comprehending and discerning meaning involves a computer-automated analysis of blog postings, comments, reading habits, likes and anything else customers share online, looking for insights into how ideas spread and buyers buy.

Closing Thought:

I think digital marketing is starting to look more like art & science, rather than just science.

photo credit: Nick-K (Nikos Koutoulas) via cc

Mike Toner

Mike Toner is a freelance web designer from Arlington, Virginia. During the day he works as a Web Content Manager for CSC. By evening, he’s a husband, dog owner and runner. Toner writes about Social Media, SEO and overall online visibility as well as digital marketing trends.

    

Within the next 6 months I have made a goal to get paid for a juggling gig. I used to juggle for childrens birthday’s and other events. The most I ever got paid was maybe $40…not bad for being a 12 or 13 years old. I think I could charge $100 now, throw in a few card tricks…I’m golden.

Today I decided if I ever wanted to book a juggling gig, I better practice. So I gathered up my equpiment and headed down to the park, where wouldn’t you know it, there was a birthday picnic happening…

So, I figure- I gave the first performance away for free, but the next time It’ll pay off. And, YES, I had a blast!

Mike Toner

Mike Toner is a freelance web designer from Arlington, Virginia. During the day he works as a Web Content Manager for CSC. By evening, he’s a husband, dog owner and runner. Toner writes about Social Media, SEO and overall online visibility as well as digital marketing trends.