Phone Me!Services > Online Marketing
Why Online Marketing?
Online marketing is essentially no different from traditional marketing. Online marketing should be customer led. It's all about trust and building positive relationships.
However, your online presence also needs to track fast changing technology and expectations on the web. Whether you're selling goods or services online, following basic guidelines will increase your chances of being found by search engines. Higher positions in search engine results can boost the income of your business.
Not only will your website need Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), you need to be aware of how social networking can enhance your business profile on the web.
The basics are not hard, but they are time-consuming.
Your Proposition
Before setting your designer on to designing your website, focus on what makes your product or service stand out from the rest.
- Do you know who your online competitors are?
- Use the search engines to find which of your competitors comes on the first page of search engine results.
- What are their unique selling points?
- What is YOUR unique selling point?
- Why would someone want to buy from you?
It's worth thinking about this in depth. Your proposition to your customers should be the first thing that your customers read on your home page.
Then you can work on Search Engine Optimisation.
Social Networking
You think that Facebook is just for kids and wouldn't be seen dead on it? Think again. Facebook is developing rapidly into a portal of choice. Facebook makes communications very simple and easy and is used in many ways to promote businesses and events. Facebook is complementary to blogging.
If the British Library, The Economist, The New York Times, Dell, Sainsbury's and John Lewis can all have a presence on Facebook, why shouldn't you? Remember that the Facebook community is potentially a huge, affluent market.
Professional networks such as LinkedIn, and ecademy may be more to your taste for business networking.
Social bookmarking services such as delicious, Digg and StumbleUpon can also enhance your profile on the web.
Interested in earning money from online publishing? Check out Subhub.
I personally haven't ventured into 'Second Life', a virtual, online, global community, but you'll find a very large number of organisations transacting business there with users.
And if you're not on Twitter, the micro-blogging network, mosey along pdq. Its networking potential is huge. To Twitter or not to Twitter? and What My Kids Taught Me About Social Media.
You need more than a website. You need an online presence. Social networking services can help you build that. Read this article to find out why.
Need help with online marketing training?
Many online marketing practices aren't hard, but it takes a lot of time. SEO, for example, requires someone with sound understanding of the principles and concise copywriting skills. You need your website designer's help to optimise technical features of your website and install analytics.
Do you want someone to advise and train you, or you don't have the time and would like someone to do your online marketing for you? Call me now on +44 (0)1509 650 759.
