For the past several years, there has been a rapid rise in Internet users from all over the world covering all age groups. In fact, the Internet has become a major means of communication and is projected to surpass the traditional means of advertising.
While some establishments said they do not advertise online, several businesses asked by Variety said that online advertising is an effective marketing tool to promote their businesses.
Miki Pellegrino president of Saipan Sea Ventures Inc., a cruise company, said they definitely use online advertising to promote the business.
Pellegrino said a lot of tourists do research on line before they get here.
“Tourists will look for new attractions and the best prices available online while some will gather information about what there is to do here,” Pellegrino said.
Through online searches, many tourists make reservations for optional tours.
Pellegrino said consumers are constantly looking for the best deal they can find.
“Many tour operators offer discounts on the tour if they book their tour prior to arrival. Booking early has always attracted the consumer and helped to increase our sales,” Pellegrino said.
Online advertising is easily accessible and free for those who are looking for information and good deals on Saipan, she added.
“It is also a fast and easy way to update information and show beautiful photos that can entice tourists to come here,” Pellegrino said.
For Russ Quinn, chief executive officer of Marianas Eye Institute, using the latest technology through the Internet has given them the chance to provide their patients with the best possible care.
As the first medical facility in the CNMI to use offer electronic medical records over 10 years ago, Quinn said their goal is to educate patients to take the preventative steps needed to avoid serious eye disease through internet tools.
He said they have their own Web sites — www.marianaseye.com and www.marianaseye.blogspot.com — and Facebook page. They also send out monthly e-newsletters to subscribers.
“The Internet has provided many marketing opportunities for us,” Quinn said.
Although it is hard to measure their on-line advertising, he said they feel that it provides exposure, goodwill and name recognition as being the best eye care facility in the Pacific region.
“We do get feedback that patients have found us using the internet. We receive many emails of appreciation for our monthly newsletters,” Quinn said.
Some patients feel more comfortable browsing for information online before going to the clinic for consultation.
“I think Internet advertising will continue to grow. With people now able to surf the internet from their cell phones, various WiFi spots at work or home, it is becoming the main way people look for what movie they’ll see, what the weather or tides will be like on a given day and keeping up with friends on various social networks. It all drives people to the internet,” Quinn added.
He said they will continue to use online advertising to cater to the more “tech savvy” and will want to make appointments or payments on line, and move the medical records on line.
Consumer’s Gold Dealer Group of Pawnshops on Saipan appraiser and manager Jenil Corpuz said they, too, recognize the power of the Web today which is why they are updating their information at the www.saipanonthenet.com directory.
“It is our aim that when people search for a pawnshop on Saipan through Google, our name will come up,” she said.
Corpuz said online advertising has resulted in more new customers and at the same time, introduced Saipan to the rest of the world.
“Hopefully in the future, we can also attract customers from the states to buy from our Web site. That is if the post office or couriers decrease their shipping charges,” she said.
Drawbacks
But online advertising for a small island has its drawbacks.
Corpuz said the CNMI lacks “exposure.”
This, she said, is one of the challenges faced by local businesses when they try to build trust and get customers to buy from their Web sites.
In the CNMI, she added, more people read the newspapers rather than surf the Internet. For one, not all people have computers and access to the Internet, and most of the workers don’t have time to browse the Internet.
Corpuz said due to the economic situation of the islands, the price of Internet connection is a luxury.
“Most people would still opt to buy a newspaper for 75 cents and read it leisurely,” she said.
The newspaper and word of mouth are still the best forms of advertisement on island, she added.
“I still enjoy the thrill of literally turning on the pages of the newspaper,” she said.
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