The 7 Secrets of Internet Marketing
Many marketers have been shifting their marketing
budgets to the web over the past few years. Marketing online allows
you to target specific audiences and easily track return on investment,
commonly referred to as ROI. Unlike traditional marketing methods,
results of Internet marketing campaigns are almost immediate. This
allows you to better evaluate what elements of your campaign are producing
results and which are not. When buying online media, you must be willing
to shift your marketing dollars to the online methods that produce a positive
return.
To be successful at Internet marketing, you
must understand the essential secrets of Internet marketing. These
secrets can allow you to achieve success by finding the right audience,
communicating your message properly, and leading consumers down the path
to purchase. These secrets include:
1. Website Directory Listings.
Before you begin any marketing campaign, make sure that the website you
re promoting has been listed in the common directories such as DMOZ, Yahoo!,
and Google. Even if you re using a marketing page off of the root
directory of your website, be sure that the primary site is listed.
This ensures that prospects can continue to find your marketing pages long
after you ve launched your campaign.
2. Generating Traffic. In order
to realize a return on your investment, you need to generate traffic to
your marketing pages. There are a number of ways to do so online.
Some of the most popular include Google AdSense, Overture, and Looksmart.
Other methods include affiliate programs and targeted website advertising.
Research other websites that have the audience you re looking for and negotiate
favorable ad rates for your online marketing campaign.
3. Marketing Pages. Don t lead
prospective purchasers to a generic website. If you do, potential
buyers won t know what to do next. The easier you make if for prospects
to take advantage of your offer, the better. Whenever creating a marketing
campaign online, provide a specific page for leading purchasers to your
product or service or a billboard that showcases the offer. Take
the guess work out of making a purchase and more consumers will buy.
4. Testimonials. Customer testimonials
are the most powerful way to sell your product or service. When consumers
hear from those who have purchased and used your product or service, they
gain a certain level of trust and comfort in what you have to offer.
Solicit testimonials after each purchase and use those that are the most
convincing to prospective purchasers.
5. Create a Compelling Offer.
Be sure to offer something that no one else is currently offering.
If your offer is similar to your competitors or is not very interesting,
consumers have no reason to learn more. Of course providing something
for FREE is often a great way to entice potential customers. Maybe
it s a 3-day free trial or a free evaluation of some kind. Be creative,
try something new, and measure the response.
6. Developing Trust. Before
anyone will buy from you, your website or company needs to be seen as reputable.
This means that consumers can purchase from you and not worry about the
safety of their credit card information, personal information, or anything
else being exchanged. A good method for developing trust is to purchase
and display safety and reliability icons such as BBB Online, Trust-e, and
VeriSign.
7. Provide a Guarantee. Nothing
makes a consumer more comfortable with a purchase than offering a guarantee.
Perhaps you can offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee or a money back guarantee.
A guarantee is a great way ease the risk of making a purchase. If
your competitors are offering a guarantee, you want yours to be equal or
better.
Internet marketing is an incredibly powerful
medium for segmenting your prospects and delivering targeted advertising.
Online, you can easily measure you return on investment and refine your
marketing campaign over time to improve results.
If you are a local business you can benefit
from Internet marketing as well. Look for local directories to list
your business or service. Or, you can supplement your local advertising
with product marketing pages on your website. Internet marketing
is more than just placing ads online, it s using the web to communicate
the value of your products and services.
Michael Fleischner is the founder and President
of http://www.marketingscoop.com
MarketingScoop.com He has appeared on major media including the TODAY Show,
Bloomberg Radio, and more. With more than 12 years of marketing experience,
Michael has developed major brands as well as a variety of businesses in
need of leading marketing programs.
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