Internet Marketing 101

Let’s start with the basics. The first question in any advertising or marketing is, “Who is your target market?” Get out a piece of paper and write it down. Now narrow down your market to just your ideal customers. Ask yourself, “How do I find these people?”

If you can get those questions answered, you’re off to a great start with any marketing plan. When it comes to Internet Marketing, you need to think like and write for these ideal customers. What would my potential customers type in a search engine to find me? Does my website speak in technical jargon or do I use the words they use?

Next ask yourself: What is my objective? Is it to make money? Have the most visitors to my website?

It is very difficult to address specific areas of Internet Marketing because each company and their needs are different, but this is 101… so where do we begin?

I’d like to assume that your business has a website. If not, stop reading this and go here.

Now, how do you get people to that great website? (Not sure if your site is great, website review is only 30 dollars for the month of January! Call (715) 584-6773 or email Fletcher Freelance today.)

A good Internet Marketing plan is diverse. Consider using videos, podcasts, blogs, social networking, and article marketing. Read my 2010 Marketing Predictions and Tips for a few caveats and hints (don’t spread yourself too thin). Most of the aforementioned tools are surprisingly easy to use.

Videos

Ok, so I really need to do this myself, but YouTube videos are FREE! There is no excuse for not having a video demonstrating your product or service. Websites with videos also rank higher in search engines than sites without videos.

Blogs

There are easy premade templates for blogs. Blogger and Wordpress are popular. (More on blogs in a future post.)

Article Marketing

I think article marketing will continue to become more valuable. More and more people are trying to do “it” themselves. If you become known as a resource, your name/company will be recalled when they discover they can’t do it themselves. Sites such as eZine put your info in a resource section of the article.  There are also great writers willing to help you write/edit for the web.

E-Newsletters

Electronic newsletters or email marketing campaigns are a great, inexpensive way to “drip-market” to your current database of contacts.  Make it easy for readers to travel from email to your website.

It is important to take advantage of your current marketing materials. Any place that you put your phone number should indicate your website. Anywhere and everywhere -signage, business cards, advertising, presentations, invoices, brochures, on your car, even your clothes, and don’t forget your email signature! This is easy, but often overlooked.

Web addresses are easier to remember than phone numbers- put them everywhere!

Stay tuned for Part II - Subscribe/follow so you don't miss a thing.