Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
Sales & Marketing
Strategy / MBA Resources
Case Study SWOT Analysis Solution
Case Study Description of Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation
Greatly enriched by the Internet, the purchase decision process of customers has changed. Until a few years ago, the decision making involved in the purchasing process of a person or company that wanted to buy a product or service was more limited, as the scope for gathering information was confined to the so-called mass media (television, radio, press) and personal recommendation. Nowadays, the fact that our potential customers can get information from the Internet forces us to pay more attention to the online environment. We need to know it, understand it and find formulas that will accelerate the purchase decision process. For all these reasons, the Internet has become an essential medium.The purpose of this technical note is to introduce the online world and the strategies and tactics that will help us make our products and services more visible and establish closer contact with our customers.
Authors :: Luis Ferrandiz, Rosa Fernandez-Velilla, Julian Villanueva
Swot Analysis of "Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation" written by Luis Ferrandiz, Rosa Fernandez-Velilla, Julian Villanueva includes – strengths weakness that are internal strategic factors of the organization, and opportunities and threats that Internet Medium.the facing as an external strategic factors. Some of the topics covered in Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation case study are - Strategic Management Strategies, IT, Marketing and Sales & Marketing.
Some of the macro environment factors that can be used to understand the Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation casestudy better are - – wage bills are increasing, increasing government debt because of Covid-19 spendings, increasing energy prices, cloud computing is disrupting traditional business models, there is backlash against globalization, competitive advantages are harder to sustain because of technology dispersion, increasing transportation and logistics costs,
central banks are concerned over increasing inflation, increasing commodity prices, etc
Introduction to SWOT Analysis of Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation
SWOT stands for an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats . At Oak Spring University , we believe that protagonist in Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation case study can use SWOT analysis as a strategic management tool to assess the current internal strengths and weaknesses of the Internet Medium.the, and to figure out the opportunities and threats in the macro environment – technological, environmental, political, economic, social, demographic, etc in which Internet Medium.the operates in.
According to Harvard Business Review, 75% of the managers use SWOT analysis for various purposes such as – evaluating current scenario, strategic planning, new venture feasibility, personal growth goals, new market entry, Go To market strategies, portfolio management and strategic trade-off assessment, organizational restructuring, etc.
SWOT Objectives / Importance of SWOT Analysis and SWOT Matrix
SWOT analysis of Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation can be done for the following purposes –
1. Strategic planning using facts provided in Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation case study
2. Improving business portfolio management of Internet Medium.the
3. Assessing feasibility of the new initiative in Sales & Marketing field.
4. Making a Sales & Marketing topic specific business decision
5. Set goals for the organization
6. Organizational restructuring of Internet Medium.the
Strengths Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Strengths in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The strengths of Internet Medium.the in Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation Harvard Business Review case study are -
Operational resilience
– The operational resilience strategy in the Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation Harvard Business Review case study comprises – understanding the underlying the factors in the industry, building diversified operations across different geographies so that disruption in one part of the world doesn’t impact the overall performance of the firm, and integrating the various business operations and processes through its digital transformation drive.
Training and development
– Internet Medium.the has one of the best training and development program in the industry. The effectiveness of the training programs can be measured in Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation Harvard Business Review case study by analyzing – employees retention, in-house promotion, loyalty, new venture initiation, lack of conflict, and high level of both employees and customer engagement.
Low bargaining power of suppliers
– Suppliers of Internet Medium.the in the sector have low bargaining power. Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation has further diversified its suppliers portfolio by building a robust supply chain across various countries. This helps Internet Medium.the to manage not only supply disruptions but also source products at highly competitive prices.
Organizational Resilience of Internet Medium.the
– The covid-19 pandemic has put organizational resilience at the centre of everthing that Internet Medium.the does. Organizational resilience comprises - Financial Resilience, Operational Resilience, Technological Resilience, Organizational Resilience, Business Model Resilience, and Reputation Resilience.
Superior customer experience
– The customer experience strategy of Internet Medium.the in the segment is based on four key concepts – personalization, simplification of complex needs, prompt response, and continuous engagement.
Sustainable margins compare to other players in Sales & Marketing industry
– Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation firm has clearly differentiated products in the market place. This has enabled Internet Medium.the to fetch slight price premium compare to the competitors in the Sales & Marketing industry. The sustainable margins have also helped Internet Medium.the to invest into research and development (R&D) and innovation.
High brand equity
– Internet Medium.the has strong brand awareness and brand recognition among both - the exiting customers and potential new customers. Strong brand equity has enabled Internet Medium.the to keep acquiring new customers and building profitable relationship with both the new and loyal customers.
Successful track record of launching new products
– Internet Medium.the has launched numerous new products in last few years, keeping in mind evolving customer preferences and competitive pressures. Internet Medium.the has effective processes in place that helps in exploring new product needs, doing quick pilot testing, and then launching the products quickly using its extensive distribution network.
Strong track record of project management
– Internet Medium.the is known for sticking to its project targets. This enables the firm to manage – time, project costs, and have sustainable margins on the projects.
Innovation driven organization
– Internet Medium.the is one of the most innovative firm in sector. Manager in Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation Harvard Business Review case study can use Clayton Christensen Disruptive Innovation strategies to further increase the scale of innovtions in the organization.
Effective Research and Development (R&D)
– Internet Medium.the has innovation driven culture where significant part of the revenues are spent on the research and development activities. This has resulted in, as mentioned in case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation - staying ahead in the industry in terms of – new product launches, superior customer experience, highly competitive pricing strategies, and great returns to the shareholders.
Ability to lead change in Sales & Marketing field
– Internet Medium.the is one of the leading players in its industry. Over the years it has not only transformed the business landscape in its segment but also across the whole industry. The ability to lead change has enabled Internet Medium.the in – penetrating new markets, reaching out to new customers, and providing different value propositions to different customers in the international markets.
Weaknesses Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation | Internal Strategic Factors
What are Weaknesses in SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The weaknesses of Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation are -
No frontier risks strategy
– After analyzing the HBR case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation, it seems that company is thinking about the frontier risks that can impact Sales & Marketing strategy. But it has very little resources allocation to manage the risks emerging from events such as natural disasters, climate change, melting of permafrost, tacking the rise of artificial intelligence, opportunities and threats emerging from commercialization of space etc.
Interest costs
– Compare to the competition, Internet Medium.the has borrowed money from the capital market at higher rates. It needs to restructure the interest payment and costs so that it can compete better and improve profitability.
High cash cycle compare to competitors
Internet Medium.the has a high cash cycle compare to other players in the industry. It needs to shorten the cash cycle by 12% to be more competitive in the marketplace, reduce inventory costs, and be more profitable.
Increasing silos among functional specialists
– The organizational structure of Internet Medium.the is dominated by functional specialists. It is not different from other players in the Sales & Marketing segment. Internet Medium.the needs to de-silo the office environment to harness the true potential of its workforce. Secondly the de-silo will also help Internet Medium.the to focus more on services rather than just following the product oriented approach.
Capital Spending Reduction
– Even during the low interest decade, Internet Medium.the has not been able to do capital spending to the tune of the competition. This has resulted into fewer innovations and company facing stiff competition from both existing competitors and new entrants who are disrupting the industry using digital technology.
High dependence on star products
– The top 2 products and services of the firm as mentioned in the Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation HBR case study still accounts for major business revenue. This dependence on star products in has resulted into insufficient focus on developing new products, even though Internet Medium.the has relatively successful track record of launching new products.
Slow to harness new channels of communication
– Even though competitors are using new communication channels such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Snap, Internet Medium.the is slow explore the new channels of communication. These new channels of communication mentioned in marketing section of case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation can help to provide better information regarding products and services. It can also build an online community to further reach out to potential customers.
Aligning sales with marketing
– It come across in the case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation that the firm needs to have more collaboration between its sales team and marketing team. Sales professionals in the industry have deep experience in developing customer relationships. Marketing department in the case Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation can leverage the sales team experience to cultivate customer relationships as Internet Medium.the is planning to shift buying processes online.
Slow decision making process
– As mentioned earlier in the report, Internet Medium.the has a very deliberative decision making approach. This approach has resulted in prudent decisions, but it has also resulted in missing opportunities in the industry over the last five years. Internet Medium.the even though has strong showing on digital transformation primary two stages, it has struggled to capitalize the power of digital transformation in marketing efforts and new venture efforts.
Workers concerns about automation
– As automation is fast increasing in the segment, Internet Medium.the needs to come up with a strategy to reduce the workers concern regarding automation. Without a clear strategy, it could lead to disruption and uncertainty within the organization.
High operating costs
– Compare to the competitors, firm in the HBR case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation has high operating costs in the. This can be harder to sustain given the new emerging competition from nimble players who are using technology to attract Internet Medium.the 's lucrative customers.
Opportunities Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation | External Strategic Factors
What are Opportunities in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The opportunities highlighted in the Harvard Business Review case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation are -
Finding new ways to collaborate
– Covid-19 has not only transformed business models of companies in Sales & Marketing industry, but it has also influenced the consumer preferences. Internet Medium.the can tie-up with other value chain partners to explore new opportunities regarding meeting customer demands and building a rewarding and engaging relationship.
Increase in government spending
– As the United States and other governments are increasing social spending and infrastructure spending to build economies post Covid-19, Internet Medium.the can use these opportunities to build new business models that can help the communities that Internet Medium.the operates in. Secondly it can use opportunities from government spending in Sales & Marketing sector.
Remote work and new talent hiring opportunities
– The widespread usage of remote working technologies during Covid-19 has opened opportunities for Internet Medium.the to expand its talent hiring zone. According to McKinsey Global Institute, 20% of the high end workforce in fields such as finance, information technology, can continously work from remote local post Covid-19. This presents a really great opportunity for Internet Medium.the to hire the very best people irrespective of their geographical location.
Reforming the budgeting process
- By establishing new metrics that will be used to evaluate both existing and potential projects Internet Medium.the can not only reduce the costs of the project but also help it in integrating the projects with other processes within the organization.
Using analytics as competitive advantage
– Internet Medium.the has spent a significant amount of money and effort to integrate analytics and machine learning into its operations in the sector. This continuous investment in analytics has enabled, as illustrated in the Harvard case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation - to build a competitive advantage using analytics. The analytics driven competitive advantage can help Internet Medium.the to build faster Go To Market strategies, better consumer insights, developing relevant product features, and building a highly efficient supply chain.
Identify volunteer opportunities
– Covid-19 has impacted working population in two ways – it has led to people soul searching about their professional choices, resulting in mass resignation. Secondly it has encouraged people to do things that they are passionate about. This has opened opportunities for businesses to build volunteer oriented socially driven projects. Internet Medium.the can explore opportunities that can attract volunteers and are consistent with its mission and vision.
Loyalty marketing
– Internet Medium.the has focused on building a highly responsive customer relationship management platform. This platform is built on in-house data and driven by analytics and artificial intelligence. The customer analytics can help the organization to fine tune its loyalty marketing efforts, increase the wallet share of the organization, reduce wastage on mainstream advertising spending, build better pricing strategies using personalization, etc.
Changes in consumer behavior post Covid-19
– Consumer behavior has changed in the Sales & Marketing industry because of Covid-19 restrictions. Some of this behavior will stay once things get back to normal. Internet Medium.the can take advantage of these changes in consumer behavior to build a far more efficient business model. For example consumer regular ordering of products can reduce both last mile delivery costs and market penetration costs. Internet Medium.the can further use this consumer data to build better customer loyalty, provide better products and service collection, and improve the value proposition in inflationary times.
Harnessing reconfiguration of the global supply chains
– As the trade war between US and China heats up in the coming years, Internet Medium.the can build a diversified supply chain model across various countries in - South East Asia, India, and other parts of the world. This reconfiguration of global supply chain can help, as suggested in case study, Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation, to buy more products closer to the markets, and it can leverage its size and influence to get better deal from the local markets.
Redefining models of collaboration and team work
– As explained in the weaknesses section, Internet Medium.the is facing challenges because of the dominance of functional experts in the organization. Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation case study suggests that firm can utilize new technology to build more coordinated teams and streamline operations and communications using tools such as CAD, Zoom, etc.
Buying journey improvements
– Internet Medium.the can improve the customer journey of consumers in the industry by using analytics and artificial intelligence. Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation suggest that firm can provide automated chats to help consumers solve their own problems, provide online suggestions to get maximum out of the products and services, and help consumers to build a community where they can interact with each other to develop new features and uses.
Lowering marketing communication costs
– 5G expansion will open new opportunities for Internet Medium.the in the field of marketing communication. It will bring down the cost of doing business, provide technology platform to build new products in the Sales & Marketing segment, and it will provide faster access to the consumers.
Low interest rates
– Even though inflation is raising its head in most developed economies, Internet Medium.the can still utilize the low interest rates to borrow money for capital investment. Secondly it can also use the increase of government spending in infrastructure projects to get new business.
Threats Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation External Strategic Factors
What are Threats in the SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix / Weighted SWOT Analysis
The threats mentioned in the HBR case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation are -
Instability in the European markets
– European Union markets are facing three big challenges post Covid – expanded balance sheets, Brexit related business disruption, and aggressive Russia looking to distract the existing security mechanism. Internet Medium.the will face different problems in different parts of Europe. For example it will face inflationary pressures in UK, France, and Germany, balance sheet expansion and demand challenges in Southern European countries, and geopolitical instability in the Eastern Europe.
Shortening product life cycle
– it is one of the major threat that Internet Medium.the is facing in Sales & Marketing sector. It can lead to higher research and development costs, higher marketing expenses, lower customer loyalty, etc.
Increasing wage structure of Internet Medium.the
– Post Covid-19 there is a sharp increase in the wages especially in the jobs that require interaction with people. The increasing wages can put downward pressure on the margins of Internet Medium.the.
Learning curve for new practices
– As the technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning platform is getting complex, as highlighted in case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation, Internet Medium.the may face longer learning curve for training and development of existing employees. This can open space for more nimble competitors in the field of Sales & Marketing .
Trade war between China and United States
– The trade war between two of the biggest economies can hugely impact the opportunities for Internet Medium.the in the Sales & Marketing industry. The Sales & Marketing industry is already at various protected from local competition in China, with the rise of trade war the protection levels may go up. This presents a clear threat of current business model in Chinese market.
Easy access to finance
– Easy access to finance in Sales & Marketing field will also reduce the barriers to entry in the industry, thus putting downward pressure on the prices because of increasing competition. Internet Medium.the can utilize it by borrowing at lower rates and invest it into research and development, capital expenditure to fortify its core competitive advantage.
New competition
– After the dotcom bust of 2001, financial crisis of 2008-09, the business formation in US economy had declined. But in 2020 alone, there are more than 1.5 million new business applications in United States. This can lead to greater competition for Internet Medium.the in the Sales & Marketing sector and impact the bottomline of the organization.
Consumer confidence and its impact on Internet Medium.the demand
– There is a high probability of declining consumer confidence, given – high inflammation rate, rise of gig economy, lower job stability, increasing cost of living, higher interest rates, and aging demography. All the factors contribute to people saving higher rate of their income, resulting in lower consumer demand in the industry and other sectors.
Barriers of entry lowering
– As technology is more democratized, the barriers to entry in the industry are lowering. It can presents Internet Medium.the with greater competitive threats in the near to medium future. Secondly it will also put downward pressure on pricing throughout the sector.
Increasing international competition and downward pressure on margins
– Apart from technology driven competitive advantage dilution, Internet Medium.the can face downward pressure on margins from increasing competition from international players. The international players have stable revenue in their home market and can use those resources to penetrate prominent markets illustrated in HBR case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation .
High level of anxiety and lack of motivation
– the Great Resignation in United States is the sign of broader dissatisfaction among the workforce in United States. Internet Medium.the needs to understand the core reasons impacting the Sales & Marketing industry. This will help it in building a better workplace.
Environmental challenges
– Internet Medium.the needs to have a robust strategy against the disruptions arising from climate change and energy requirements. EU has identified it as key priority area and spending 30% of its 880 billion Euros European post Covid-19 recovery funds on green technology. Internet Medium.the can take advantage of this fund but it will also bring new competitors in the Sales & Marketing industry.
Regulatory challenges
– Internet Medium.the needs to prepare for regulatory challenges as consumer protection groups and other pressure groups are vigorously advocating for more regulations on big business - to reduce inequality, to create a level playing field, to product data privacy and consumer privacy, to reduce the influence of big money on democratic institutions, etc. This can lead to significant changes in the Sales & Marketing industry regulations.
Weighted SWOT Analysis of Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation Template, Example
Not all factors mentioned under the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants in the SWOT Analysis are equal. Managers in the HBR case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation needs to zero down on the relative importance of each factor mentioned in the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats quadrants.
We can provide the relative importance to each factor by assigning relative weights. Weighted SWOT analysis process is a three stage process –
First stage for doing weighted SWOT analysis of the case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation is to rank the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. This will help you to assess the most important strengths and weaknesses of the firm and which one of the strengths and weaknesses mentioned in the initial lists are marginal and can be left out.
Second stage for conducting weighted SWOT analysis of the Harvard case study Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation is to give probabilities to the external strategic factors thus better understanding the opportunities and threats arising out of macro environment changes and developments.
Third stage of constructing weighted SWOT analysis of Web Strategies and Site Traffic Generation is to provide strategic recommendations includes – joining likelihood of external strategic factors such as opportunities and threats to the internal strategic factors – strengths and weaknesses. You should start with external factors as they will provide the direction of the overall industry. Secondly by joining probabilities with internal strategic factors can help the company not only strategic fit but also the most probably strategic trade-off that Internet Medium.the needs to make to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
