Friday, November 28, 2008

Introduction to Internet Marketing
















How significant is Internet marketing to businesses? Today, the answer to this question varies dramatically according to who is answering. For companies such as electronics company Cisco, the answer is ‘very significant’ – Cisco sell $9 million worth of hardware using the Internet each day. For fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies such as Unilever the answer is ‘insignificant’ – the majority of their consumer sales will occur through traditional retail channels in response to promotional campaigns in traditional media. In 1998 advertising expenditure for Internet placed adverts was estimated at £8m, compared to £3 billion for TV and radio adverts.

Does, the relatively unimportance of the Internet to companies such as Unilever indicate that Internet marketing is of specialised interest only? We believe not, because the interesting question to ask is "how significant will Internet marketing be to businesses in the future; in 2, 5, or 10 years time?" This is the question many companies are asking themselves today, and is why it is important to understand this relatively new marketing phenomenon.

For example, Unilever is starting to use the Internet as part of brand building for its new products. In 1998 it launched its Mentadent toothpaste in the United States using traditional media campaigns and also offered samples in response to users clicking on an advert placed on health-related web sites. It received more than 40,000 requests for samples, far exceeding its expectations for this new medium. If businesses do not understand and start to apply the new marketing techniques and technology in this way, then they may not only miss an opportunity, but may even cease to exist.

The media portrayal of the Internet often suggests that it is merely an alternative for traditional advertising. In fact, the Internet can be readily applied to all aspects of marketing communications and can and will need to support the entire marketing process. As we move into the new millenium, organisations will use Internet technology in the form of intranets and extranets to support the operation of the internal and external value chains.

This book will cover all the different ways in which the Internet can be used to support the marketing process. Many organisations have begun this process with the development of web sites in the form of electronic brochures introducing their organisations’ products and services, but are now enhancing them to add value to the full range of marketing functions.



13 PILLARS OF INTERNET MARKETING.

Search engine optimization





















If you are paying for your clicks then you will be presented more liberally and if you are in unpaid listing then you may not get that much attention.

That is were savy internet marketing companies jump in and start doing search engine optimization for your website - also known as SEO. There are a lof of companies out there, but I wouldn't go with any company that pomises guaranteed results.

It's actually up to you if you want to do SEO yourself by guided tips, go with a single internet marketing expert that consults you as a one-man show or take an internet marketing company with a great reputation on the web.


Pay-Per-Click Advertising

















Please support our Pay-Per-Click Advertising advertiser: Affiliate Marketing Our Internet Marketing forum category encompasses everything related to running, managing, maintaining, and growing a successful online presence.

To enjoy candid discussions about business practices and strategy, please keep the specifics out of the discussion so that members can feel more comfortable without the fear that their competitors, potential clients, or website visitors will know who they are.

To keep everything anonymous and encourage open, unbiased and incentive-free discussion, please do not refer to your site by name nor link to it anywhere within the Internet Marketing category. For feedback and constructive criticism on your website, please visit our Website Reviews forum within the Business Exchange category.

To do business with other webmasters in our community, please visit our Webmaster Marketplace, also within the Business Exchange category.

Our PPC Advertising forum is the place for discussions related to both buying and selling within PPC ad networks such as Google AdWords and Google AdSense.

Google AdWords discussions may have a crossover with our Promotion and Marketing Plans forum while Google AdSense discussions may have a crossover with our Advertising Sales Strategies forum.


Advantages/ Disadvantages



















Everyone seems to be jumping on the internet marketing bandwagon lately. In the race to get their business online, many successful businesses forget to ask themselves some tough questions about what they are doing, what their expectations are and what their plan is to meet those expectations.

The internet can be a powerful tool that can put you on solid footing with bigger companies. On the other hand, the other companies may have more money to pay for advertising. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you analyze your internet marketing strategy.

Advantage of Internet Marketing

- your store is open, 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. Further, your customers are worldwide in reach, and can shop anytime that they want to
- the cost of spreading your message is next to nothing. Emailing your subscription base is more oftne cheaper than sending a letter through the mail
- updating your subscribers can be done almost instantly through email. Visitors to your website can get up to the minute information on each visit. If you are having a sale, your customers can start shopping at the discounted prices literally as soon as they open their email
- if you have an information sensitive business, such as a law firm, newspaper or online magazine, you can deliver your products directly to your customers without having to use a courier

Disadvantages of Internet Marketing

- online marketing is not free. The cost of software, hardware, wed site design, maintenance of your site, online distribution costs and of course, time, all must be factored into the cost of providing your service or product.

- slightly over 50% of households shop online. While that number will continue to grow, you are reaching less than two out of three households.

- the internet is still regarded as a source of information gathering for the majority of your customers. Of the number of visitors to your site, the vast majority of visitors who are motivated to buy will do so in person.

Many people prefer the live interaction when they buy. If you have a small business with one location, this may deter customers from buying.

- easier to have outdated information on your site, thus timing of updates is critical
- there is no replacement for good old fashioned customer service. The majority of internet marketers lack customer service and inquiry response programs. As a result, many online visitors to your site will already have painted your site as poor service before they have even contacted you.

The majority of websites also have poor navigation, which makes it difficult for your visitor to find what they are looking for. Many sites were created with a marketing view, not a customer service point of view is your site secure? Does your customer know this? There are many incorrect stereotypes about the security of the internet out there. As a result, many of your visitors will not want to use their credit card to make a purchase.

The fear of having their credit card info stolen is a clear and present danger in the minds of your visitors- there is a lot of competition for your product already out there. By the time your visitor finds you, they have already been clicking many links. Unless they can find what they are looking for quickly, they are gone.

many web visitors expect something for free. What do you have to offer them?
There are many other pros and cons of internet marketing. Its important for you to consider each when creating your internet marketing strategy. Each of the disadvantages can be overcome, but only if you view the customer experience from the eyes of your customer, not as an internet marketer.

Northern Source offers web design services for small businesses. You'll find more helpful hints at http://www.northernsource.comChristopher Smith has been creating web sites for small businesses for over 7 years.

In addition to providing deisgn and consultation services, Christopher also provides tips on search engine optimization, internet marketing and traffic generation.

Promotion and Marketing Plans















Please support our Promotion and Marketing Plans advertiser:

Affiliate Marketing

Our Internet Marketing forum category encompasses everything related to running, managing, maintaining, and growing a successful online presence.

To enjoy candid discussions about business practices and strategy, please keep the specifics out of the discussion so that members can feel more comfortable without the fear that their competitors, potential clients, or website visitors will know who they are.

To keep everything anonymous and encourage open, unbiased and incentive-free discussion, please do not refer to your site by name nor link to it anywhere within the Internet Marketing category.

For feedback and constructive criticism on your website, please visit our Website Reviews forum within the Business Exchange category. To do business with other webmasters in our community, please visit our Webmaster Marketplace, also within the Business Exchange category.

Our Promotion and Marketing Plans forum is the place for discussions related to various Internet marketing techniques and tips of the trade to promote and enrich your website.

Please note that it is against our rules to promote your website here.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Growing an Online Community






















Please support our Growing an Online Community advertiser:

Affiliate Marketing

Our Internet Marketing forum category encompasses everything related to running, managing, maintaining, and growing a successful online presence.

To enjoy candid discussions about business practices and strategy, please keep the specifics out of the discussion so that members can feel more comfortable without the fear that their competitors, potential clients, or website visitors will know who they are.

To keep everything anonymous and encourage open, unbiased and incentive-free discussion, please do not refer to your site by name nor link to it anywhere within the Internet Marketing category.

For feedback and constructive criticism on your website, please visit our Website Reviews forum within the Business Exchange category.

To do business with other webmasters in our community, please visit our Webmaster Marketplace, also within the Business Exchange category.

Advertising Sales Strategies
























Please support our Advertising Sales Strategies advertiser:

Affiliate Marketing

Our Internet Marketing forum category encompasses everything related to running, managing, maintaining, and growing a successful online presence.

To enjoy candid discussions about business practices and strategy, please keep the specifics out of the discussion so that members can feel more comfortable without the fear that their competitors, potential clients, or website visitors will know who they are.

To keep everything anonymous and encourage open, unbiased and incentive-free discussion, please do not refer to your site by name nor link to it anywhere within the Internet Marketing category.

For feedback and constructive criticism on your website, please visit our Website Reviews forum within the Business Exchange category. To do business with other webmasters in our community, please visit our Webmaster Marketplace, also within the Business Exchange category.

Our Advertising Sales Strategies forum is the place for online publishers to engage in discussions related to selling ad space and using affiliate programs, site representation firms, ad networks, and working with advertising agencies.

Please note that it is against our rules to advertise your website here, or solicit that you have ad space available or are looking for ad space.