Not so long ago, we could all sit back and feel a breath of relief when our website finally launched! With the task finally completed, it was checked off the to-do list and simply forgotten. We were “online”!
Fast forward to today, and websites have become a key asset and sales channel for all companies regardless of whether you are large or small, brick and mortar or internet based. Things like social networking, blogging, forums, wikis and YouTube have changed the dynamics of marketing on the web. Websites are no longer static and forgotten…they are dynamic, interactive and capable of driving lot’s of traffic and revenue to your business.
Being “online” today requires more planning and ongoing participation than ever before.
The following 7 Steps to Your Internet Marketing Success is a high-level roadmap to get your thinking started.
1) Start with the End in Mind
With the abundance of design choices and options available today, ask questions like “What do you want your client or prospect to do when they hit your website/blog” or “What is the purpose of my website/blog?” Spending a little time thinking about these kinds of questions will increase your internet marketing success.
2) Find Out What’s Going on in Your Market
At the end of your fingertips, there awaits a wealth of information that will quickly tell you if your product or service is in demand and more importantly, the keywords that your prospects use to find what you have to offer.
Don’t skip this step…at the very minimum just “google” your keywords to see how many hits you get and the number of paid ads that show up. Or, take a stroll thru a competitors website.
3) Develop Your Marketing Plan
Yes, it’s true your website/blog can walk and talk and do summersaults, but it doesn’t know how to drive traffic. Marketing plans should include all of the following…offline (business cards etc), Search Engine Optimization (making search engines happy) and Social Media Optimization (relationship building).
4) Develop Great Content
How many people do you know who go to the Web looking for an advertisement? None…because they’re on a quest for information. People are HUNGRY for information and the more you share what you know…the more your business will grow. It is estimated that over 80% of all Internet users start a search with “How to”.
Great content demonstrates your expertise and increases the ‘trust’ factor that you develop when visitors come to your site. It also drives web traffic via keyword usage, linkage, bookmarking and return visits.
5) Create Your Marketing Funnel
Marketing on the Internet is a multi-step process – a series of small, safe steps that allow your prospect to get to know you and TRUST you, and to allow you to qualify the prospect. A well planned marketing funnel lets your prospect or client pick and choose what it appropriate for them wherever they are in the sales and buying cycle, regardless of what time it is!
6) Automate to Help You Provide Great Service
To your prospects and clients, your website is literally “alive”! When they click to sign up for your newsletter, to receive that free e-course, or to check inventory etc, the process and experience that your website delivers will significantly affect their feelings about your business.
Back office automation tools will help you line up your website’s purpose with a quality customer experience. Integrate them with your website as quickly as you can.
7) Last but not least…Track and Review Your Numbers
You’ve gotten this far, so don’t stop now!
Today’s websites are alive with conversation, buying, selling, learning etc. The human interaction with the internet makes your website ever-changing. Tracking the numbers that define your success ie: #of visitors, length of stay, #of leads, # of downloads etc is easy to do. There are free programs such as Google analytics as well as software that you can buy (of course) to help you keep tabs on your business.
With a little planning, the Web will become your best and most favorite sales rep!
5.5 Secrets to Easily Turn the Web into Your #1 Sales Rep training series and
