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9 Basic Internet Marketing Strategies
By Gerald S. Adler
Many appreciate that it is rather easy to fall into the habit of continuously revising our websites so that we believe they look absolutely 'perfect' - one that we believe will draw rave reviews.
While websites most certainly should be revised and updated (after all, the beauty of the Internet is that it is a dynamic medium), the problem is that regardless of how visually-stunning the website, one requires traffic. If prospects can not find the website, they can not buy or learn from it. Consistent, dedicated marketing helps one draw interested prospects to your online business. Below are a few basic online marketing strategies as recommended by MethodSmart Media:
1. Search engines. Perform comprehensive optimization of each of your webpages then submit your website to the major search engines. Focus on all the metatags, and name all the links and graphics on each page. Do not concern yourself with all of the thousands of various search engines. There are approximately a dozen effective search engines. These well-known engines get the vast majority of use and Internet traffic. Focus your efforts on those. If one is able to rank within the top twenty sites for a particular key phrase, one will be receive a steady stream of targeted traffic.
A good place to learn more about search engine optimization is MethodSmart Search Engine Optimization Services.
2. Target link exchanges. Find other quality sites within the targeted market or industry (or any that offer complimentary products and/or services) and offer to exchange links. Each “link partner" will significantly benefit from each other's traffic. Additionally, some of the major search engines are now using “link popularity" to help determine ranking. This is especially true of Google. Reciprocal links (or placement links that do not require reciprocation) can be exceptionally effective in obtaining high search engine rankings.
3. Build your own eNewsletter. Your own newsletter allows one the opportunity to build and enhance one's industry credibility, and maintain contact with prospects and customers. One can market your own products or services, and possibly even earn some extra income from advertising sales. MethodSmart highly recommends a “double opt-in" newsletter. A double opt-in newsletter is where the prospect signs up for the newsletter via your website, then receives and automated email requiring their acknowledgement/confirmation of subscription request, and they reply to the email. This virtually eliminates spam, and comforts prospects that the website (and its newsletter) is credible.
For minimal investment, “Ezine" advertising is a related and very efficient and cost-effective method to reach thousands of targeted prospects.
4. Message boards. One may want to consider joining a forum where potential customers, partners, and referral sources may congregate. This is a very effective manner of networking. Become a contributing and respected member by offering help and support. Leave your link at the bottom of your posts; people who have come to know you will click on your link for more information about you and your business. Be especially careful not to spam and/or actively attempt to sell products or services in the message “string." Offering only your input or advice may quickly gain all the attention a website can handle!
5. Referral marketing. Encourage your customers to refer others to you. One may want to give them an incentive to do so - for example, provide them with a discount on their next order. Of course, quality service is most often of prime importance. Make sure customers are satisfied at all times, and certainly before requesting referrals! While it is always a cardinal business sin to not adequately address customer service issues, the worst time to solicit referrals is during or just after a major product or service glitch that was not satisfactorily addressed.
6. Pay-per-click search engines. Search Engines offer the chance to literally pay for your ranking - a popular option, especially for people who do not have the ability, time or inclination to learn and focus on search engine optimization. One simply places a bid per “click" - that is, every time someone clicks on your link, one pays the bid amount.
7. Major indexes. Get listed with the popular large indexes (that are actually reviewed by human beings and not robots/spiders) such as Yahoo! and Open Directory. This can result in a significant boost in targeted traffic.
8. Article submissions. One should write about products or services within one's expertise and offer these articles to other editors and webmasters in applicable markets. Offer the article for reprint in exchange for an author byline. Some sites also run syndication networks, where one's article may appear on dozens or even hundreds of sites! There is always a demand for fresh, original articles.
9. Joint ventures. Partner with other editors or webmasters within your market to help promote each other's businesses. This is one of the easiest and most profitable marketing methods! Examples of JVs include: ad swaps, newsletter co-opts, barter agreements, special affiliate commissions, and offering discounts of your own products/services to each other's customers. The key here is *consistency*; writing an occasional article or placing an ad once in a while is not enough to give you the targeted traffic necessary to build a solid, steady online income.
Commit to marketing your business - and make it a long term commitment! However, the need to constantly educate oneself in current online marketing tools and trends can be exhausting. Implementing the newest tools and trends can also be an expensive allotment of time and budgetary resources.
When you need advice or professional online marketing services, feel free to contact MethodSmart Media, Inc. at www.MethodSmart.com, Info@MethodSmart.com, or 865.599.6843.
Gerald S. Adler is President of MethodSmart Media, Inc.
MethodSmart (www.MethodSmart.com) provides comprehensive online marketing services.
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