Jan 26, 2012
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Grow Your Business With Strategic Internet Marketing
The Internet
The Internet has taken the world by storm, providing brick and mortar businesses with alternate means of revenue and business growth. Strategic Internet marketing allows these businesses to earn profits like they never have before.
Strategic Internet marketing is the key to success on the Web. For some, Internet marketing can seem like voodoo or some alien language. For business owners new to the Internet, it really isn’t as hard as it’s made out to be. You just need to become familiar with some general rules. All Internet marketing strategies break down into two categories: free and paid.
Paid Internet Marketing Strategies
If you want immediate traffic to your website, you’ll have to pay for it. Some tools can be pretty expensive. They may be cost-effective, but it takes some trial and error to figure out what’s working and what’s not. The question is really whether you’re willing to put forward a budget for something you’re not sure is going to work. Many businesses use paid marketing strategies, such as Google Adwords or email blasts, but it’s smarter to and more cost-effective to blend paid and free strategies.
Free Internet Marketing Strategies
The most well-known free strategic Internet marketing practice is search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is like farming. You plant the seeds and nurture them day after day until you can reap the rewards. Businesses that utilize SEO in the proper forms understand just how effective it is and how much traffic it can generate. Some companies only use SEO and have no interest in paid advertising because of how much revenue it brings in.
SEO methods and practices include:
- Keyword Research: Find out what phrases people search for on the search engines that may lead them to your business.
- Content Development: Develop unique content focused on those keyword phrases.
- Blogging: Spread your company name throughout the Internet with interesting information, targeting your market and potential customers.
- Link Building: Post links to your website on other websites across the Web.
- Social Media: Follow the crowd to social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, creating relationships with potential customers.
- Article Directories: Submit articles targeting your niche industry on categorized directories.
Focus on the Customer
Strategic internet marketing is a core component of any business’ success. If you’re going to pay for anything, invest your money in Internet-related activities that help you focus on the customer and their needs. If you’re going to use SEO, make sure you work with SEO experts. SEO can make or break your business.
When you use ineffective strategies, you risk turning off prospective customers, wasting time and money, and losing respect on the Internet.