What Every Marketer Should Know About API Integrations
What Every Marketer Should Know About API Integrations
In today’s world, we’ve come to expect and rely on interactivity and connectivity everywhere we go. When it comes to booking a flight or making a reservation, for example, you can thank API’s for making it a seamless process. First, let’s dive into the basics.
What Are API’s?
API’s, also known as, application programming interface, is a specific part of an application that handles communication with other applications. To put it simply, API’s are the messenger that takes requests and tells the online system what you want to do – then coming back with an answer. For example, have you ever booked a flight using a third-party website? API’s is what allows the third-party website to collect data from the other system. So, why is this essential for you as a marketer? Let’s take a closer look at API integrations and how they can benefit your business.
What’s So Great About API Integrations?
As marketers, we are busy with our day-to-day and our long, never-ending list of to-do’s. That’s where API Integrations come in handy. According to HubSpot, API integration is the process of connecting two or more software applications via their APIs, which allows them to transfer data between one another in a reliable, efficient, and safe way – and without any loss of data. Not only can API integrations allow you to automate your tasks and save you time, it can also improve innovation and grow your business.
There are many reasons why marketers should consider innovating with API’s in their business. A few of those reasons are that they can:
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Increase revenue:
When you create a user-friendly environment in the digital world, it makes it easy for your customers to return to you. API’s give you the ability to create that hassle-free experience, providing automated communication and updates your customers want and need. API’s don’t just promote your business, they convert customers automatically for you by creating new ways for your customers to interact with your business. Whether through a social channel or other data sets, API’s can increase your revenue by targeting more customers and providing them with an easy, painless user experience.
Not to mention, when your customers are happy, they’re more likely to not only return to you next time they need your service or product, but they’re also more likely to refer their friends and family. This means you not only increase your revenue, but you also expand your customer base.
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Expand customer reach:
One of the best ways to expand your customer reach is to let people know you exist. You can do this by integrating your services with other services, providing new ways for your customers to engage with you online. Offering an API extends your reach to the widest possible audience out there, hitting markets you didn’t even know existed. There are several opportunities to reach customers on their preferred social channels, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. With the use of API Integrations, you can reach your customers on these websites and get your brand in front of a large audience.
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Support marketing and sales events and activities:
If you want to automate an event that relies on multiple apps or software’s to work together, that’s where an API comes in handy. An API can automatically add attendee profiles, for example, without the use of human labor. Not only that, but API’s also allow you to capture data about these attendees so you can later use it to:
- Improve your marketing process
- Trigger automations
- Create specific conditions.
- Give a more personalized touch to your campaigns moving forward
- Save you time by offering automation:
Automation doesn’t have to be impersonal. In fact, technology now allows humanity to be added back into processes like customer service, without having to find the bodies to get the job done. That’s why so many businesses are leveraging the use of live chat. Live chat provides a quick and easy way for customers to get in touch without having to be put on hold for several minutes. This not only saves you time as a marketer, but it saves your customer time. And that’s what we call a win-win!