In today’s society, even brick and mortar businesses cannot afford to ignore the digital revolution. Though many view the internet as a frivolous pastime, it is in actuality an immensely powerful tool for business owners and marketers. Google is the new phone book, and those not listed will fade into obscurity, doomed to relying on word-of-mouth and billboards forever. There is a new advertising platform, one which can deliver thousands of interested potential customers directly to a company’s website. This is the world of internet marketing , and every business owner should be familiar with it.
Marketing a product or service online can be daunting, but even a cursory knowledge of the techniques involved can lead to national exposure, increased efficiency, and improved profits. There are three major components of marketing online: advertising, search engine optimization, and social media marketing. All three can be used to improve traffic to a business’ website, although the proper mixture of each depends on the company.
The first method, advertising, can be used in two different ways. Generally, established companies pay for targeted advertisement placement on other websites. These ads, when clicked, redirect users to the company website, at which point it is the company’s job to make a sale. Google Ad sense is the most popular program for this, although there are other options. By offering a commission for website owners hosting their ads, Google ensures a wide variety of web content relevant to the business’s advertisements. Companies can also become involved in affiliate marketing, where individuals can advertise a product or service for the company, and receive a commission for every sale made. Advertisement methods online vary as wildly as they do in the real world, so experimenting is key.
The second method, search engine optimization or SEO, is used to improve a website’s Google rank for keywords that apply to the site. Search engine optimization has many complex factors involved, including using proper HTML tags to help Google’s ‘bots’ determine the nature of a site, captioning images, and creating links to the site to build Google’s trust. Search engine optimization is a precise science, and most businesses end up hiring an SEO professional to assist with their internet marketing . SEO is essential for increasing traffic to a website. Most search engine users do not look past the second page of results, with a position in the first ten spots being prime web real estate. Moving from the bottom of the first page of results to the top can more than triple a website’s views.
The third method, social media marketing, can be as simple or advanced as a company chooses. The very basic step is to have a Facebook page or LinkedIn profile offering the standard information of an organization. Masters of social media marketing offer contests, giveaways, and other promotions that generate interest and enthusiasm about the company. Depending on the nature of a business, social media marketing may be the most important or the least important aspect of its online marketing.
The economy is changing with every passing month, and the old ways of advertising are falling by the wayside. The advertising of the past is like a blunt hammer. Companies put huge sums of money into having their ads exposed to a wide audience, the vast majority of whom will never think twice about what they see. The new world of digital marketing, however, is like a laser. It is concentrated and efficient, targeting viewers who are actively interested in what the business is selling. This reduces costs while improving performance, something any good owner should appreciate. Internet marketing is the future. The only question is which businesses will emerge at the front of the pack, and which will fall behind.
Ranking Solutions Ltd are one of the leading internet marketing specialists operating within the UK, with a vast assortment of unique and ethical ways in which to actively improve the search engine ranking of any client who climbs aboard with them.
Edward Jones is the logistics and development co-ordinator for a nationwide specialist online shopping website. He is in charge and oversees all product and marketing decisions and maintains complete liaisons with all clients and stockists, operating a massively detailed multitasked role within his company. Dedicated and committed fully to working as efficiently as possible to deliver the perfect solution for businesses and individuals alike, Edward Jones has a vast and expansive history in successfully marketing and managing companies of all descriptions. A decadent author in his own right, Edward Jones understands many business needs and requirements and works to present viable formulas and solutions that work for many businesses. Progressively working to achieve total superiority over other competition, Edward is a strongly focused industry expert and maintains an exceptional balance of success and customer satisfaction.