Business houses in Meerut using web as a potential marketing and promotion tool

Business houses in Meerut are gradually understanding the importance of being a part of the new wave of tech savvy generation and are opening up to the idea of using web as a potential marketing and promotion tool. Cashing on this idea are companies who claim to be the best in internet marketing.

These internet marketing companies offer quality search engine optimisation (SEO), social media optimisation (SMO), online marketing, social media marketing and pay per click services to their clients. SEO and SMO are effective ways to market ones business online and reach out to people and the leads generated from such activities have a higher probability of converting into a deal.

Online presence is a must for businesses today; that is where the customers are. "Meerut's businessmen are understanding the importance of being online. They ask for more than a basic website; they want a blog, a Facebook page, shopping cart, e-brochures, etc. Apart from having their products listed online, businessmen now are conscious about the design too, which makes them different. Some opt for online ads to capture the overseas market," said Rajneesh Sakhuja, director, Globalxsys, a Meerut-based websitedesign company having clients in Dubai, Australia, US, South Africa, New Zealand and Finland.

"We have three clients with a turnover of over $1 billion. In Meerut, we work with some of the best sportsgoods manufacturers. The Indian government is also our client, and we did the first ever social media marketing for them," said Sakhuja.

Naveen Pal founder and CEO of India Online Marketing that has won several awards said, "Internet marketing gave me the liberty to stay at my native place and entertain clients from US, UK and Australia by interacting with clients over phone, Skype or emails." Pal dreamt of becoming a businessman in Meerut and only after completing his MBA and working as a consultant in Wipro Technologies for four years did he plan to start his company.

Although, the company caters to foreign clients, it is also finding customers in Meerut. "Every business nowadays needs SEO and internet marketing for branding and promotion. Thus, we are expecting great scope in this technology," said Pal.

Though there are takers for the services of SEO providers in Meerut, players feel that clients need more convincing. Mushrif Ali, owner of Net Plus, another website designing company in Meerut said that they have to make a lot of effort to convince clients to take up these services.

Adding to that Pal said, "Although, Meerut-based industries and businessmen are approaching us, they still prefer giving ads in local newspapers for branding. They are not aware about SEO/internet marketing. However, in the last two years we have seen the scenario changing."

However, the increase in such requests shows the evident change and interest of the clients, "There has been tremendous growth. We get around 7-8 enquires every week. Some want to upgrade their website and some want a new one to be launched. Each year we double the number of marketing projects. We get repeat customers and referrals who after getting a website are looking to attract visitors via SEO, SMO etc," said Sakhuja of Globalxsys.

MEERUT ADVANTAGE

Pointing out the advantages of having a set up in Meerut, Amit Sethi, head sales and marketing, Prudent Web Consultancy (PWC) said, "Since, PWC has its roots in Meerut, it was the most obvious choice for the place of operations. Besides, Meerut is the optimum place to keep your costs in control. Being in the vicinity of the national capital, Meerut is strategically located, offers lucrative opportunities and is inexpensive. In fact, having operations and support services based out of Meerut has proven to be an advantage."

Explaining how it started Sethi said, "PWC was formed after the core team lead, Prabal Sahni, successfully completed the pilot project of SEO, SMO and marketing for a Noida-based marble export company. The project was done on a trial basis and was a huge success."

Still in its nascent stage, the company has carved a niche for itself in the market with some very prestigious local organisations as clients. 
CHANGING SCENARIO

The players believe the picture in Meerut has changed tremendously. "There are few companies in Meerut involved in web marketing services business. Other than a few small players mushrooming all over, there are not many professional companies that offer these services. However, I believe that the picture will soon change," said Sethi.

"The scenario in Meerut is fast changing and industries are gradually approaching us for our services. Although we have to show our success from the SEO and SMO processes in our other business verticals as examples to the potential customers, but the progress though gradual is steady and more people are modifying their marketing strategies to adopt the internet marketing services into their marketing and business procurement strategy," added Sethi.