Just as you might have guessed, everything is moving toward online. According to a recent survey by research group Marketing Sherpa, online channels will be getting most of the increased budgets, by far, for lead generation, which is the creation of consumer interest in your products or services.

The poll of 1,915 marketers found that organizations are going to focus most of their marketing budgets on website optimization, social media, and SEO - all online lead generation tactics. On the flipside, the areas getting the least attention were more traditional channels, like direct mail, tradeshows, and print advertising.

The bottom line is that online is where it’s at. As we’re collectively spending more time - and money - on the Internet, it makes sense that businesses and organizations try to grab attention in this space. Of course, every business is different, but no matter what, every business does need a coherent online marketing strategy to stay profitable and competitive.