Steve Hamilton from The Kent Messenger Group asks whether your business is ready for digital marketing and explains how local media can be a part of the larger marketing mix and how digital can be local too.

1. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
DigitalBytes
Is my Business prepared for the digital world
Steve Hamilton - KM Media Group

2. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
• The media landscape is changing
• Local business has to embrace
change in media consumption
habits
• Users are now consuming more
media on the move than ever
• Fear exists for businesses to use
digital platforms
• Is the answer “Your local
newspaper” group?
Introduction

3. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
● Business owners know they have to be
effective in the digital world
● Some do not have a website, or have
one which is ineffective
● Generally, a limited knowledge of what
social media can provide
● Business owners fear losing money on
something they don’t understand
● Some reasons revolve around the
Business owner’s own consumption
habits
The Fear Exists

4. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
Johnston Press recently published research of local
SME businesses across the UK. They found:
● 66% fear that they are not using the Internet
to its full potential
● 49% do not currently have a website and 71%
are not mobile ready
● 50% of websites do not have a contact form,
and only 39% provide a contact email address
● Amount of businesses who do not have
Social Media interests:
● Facebook - 70%
● Twitter - 69%
● Linkedin - 89%
A Recent Survey Tells us This is True
*The study, commissioned by Johnston Press’ digital
marketing service for SMEs, Digital Kitbag, carried out by
BuzzBoard, analysed seven key “digital readiness”
indicators across 960,350 SMEs in the U.K. in September
2014
- sme (Small and medium enterprises)

5. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
Is this your business?

6. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
Life is Local
97% of people spend half or most of
their time within 10 miles of where
they live
97%
SOURCE: ThinkMedia – Newspaper Society / The Wanted ads

7. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
Even Google agree Life is Local
Google: proprietary research / comScore) (TMP /
82% of local searchers
follow up offline
via an in
store visit,
phone call
or purchase
54% of consumers have substituted the
internet and local search for
phone books
73% of online activity is
related to local content
61% of local
searches result in purchases
Media: Created in Kent

8. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
• Digital has overtaken TV as the media
of choice for consumers
• The rise of mobile and tablet access
means people are consuming in real
time, on the move
• Your message can be shown to
relevant audience via all platforms
• KM Media Group portfolio accounts
for 62% of all adult media
consumption per day
• This equates to 5hr 24 per day
What are we Consuming Daily?

9. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
Have a look at what you currently have -
does it include
• A mobile friendly website?
• Do you have a business Social Media
portfolio?
• Can you be found on Search
Engines?
• How are you digitally signposting to
your business
• What are your competitors doing in
your marketspace?
• Where do your target customers
search for what you have to offer?
So what do you do next?

10. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
Your local newspaper group, KM Digital
Solutions. We offer:
• Digital audit and strategy
construction
• Search Engine Optimisation
• Paid Search
• Social Media Strategy and
Implementation
• Website Development Solutions
• Digital Display Advertising on the
fastest growing Regional News
Network in the UK
• A willing ear, and high levels of
expertise!
Introducing….

11. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
• Don’t ignore digital evolvement
• The largest audience for your needs
exists online
• Take as much pride in your digital
identity as you do in your office, shop.
Reputation is just as important online as
it is offline.
• If you do not have the resource, expertise
within your business then seek it out
externally
• And above all, do not fear digital
Whatever you do next...

12. Media: Created in Kent Together we make a difference
Thanks for listening