Last week we begin discussing Internet marketing tools and strategies that start-ups can use to promote their products and/or services online. This week, we will wrap up the Internet marketing strategies. We left off on discussing LinkedIn groups, which are similar to forums.
Yahoo Groups
Speaking of forums, Yahoo groups are business-related forums where you can swap pertinent information and gain valuable business tips as well. As we discussed last week, you will be seen as the expert in your area.
You also want to join the forums where your target audience hangs out. By following their conversations, you can learn what keeps them up at night and come up with solutions to their business issues.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of some of the Internet marketing strategies and tools you can use to promote your business online and get clients as a result. There are several more online marketing tools available.
Internet Users
According to the UN’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU), there are over 2 billion Internet users. With the world population at 6.8 billion and rising, almost one person in three is online. If you target your message correctly, you will reach your market within these global users. Everyone in the global market is not your potential clients. So, be sure to create your Internet marketing messages for your target audience.
Outsourcing
Unless your product or service offering is Internet marketing, it’s advisable to outsource your Internet marketing to experts in this area. Internet marketing is strategic and time-consuming. It will take your focus away from your core products or services.
When starting up your business, you will have enough items on your “to do” plate. There are virtual assistants that are experts in Internet marketing who are available for you to outsource your Internet marketing needs to on an ongoing basis. Internet marketing is continuous even after you are established.
As a start-up, have you used any of the online marketing strategies and tools mentioned in last week’s and this week’s posts to market your products and/or services and have you gained any clients through their use? We would love to hear. Leave us a comment below. You just might help some other start-up entrepreneur avoid the bumps in the road of Internet marketing.
Last week we discussed the different components of Internet marketing, while at the same time explaining why Internet marketing and social media marketing are not interchangeable terms.
Website Development
We are continuing our topic on the various elements of Internet marketing or online marketing, and this week we are discussing website development. Your website is your online business card. It establishes your identity, and gives your company credibility. Besides, your competition has a website.
Online Shoppers
Would you do business or consider doing business with a company who doesn’t have a website? If you are an offline or online business, having a website is a necessary element of your marketing plan. The U.S. Commerce Department says online shoppers spent $165.4 billion in 2010. Without a website, you cannot capture any of this market.
Benefits of Having a Website
A website is used for informing your potential clients that you exist, as well as tell them about your company’s product and services, including the benefits of using them.
Using Website to Generate a List
You can also use your website to generate a list of leads to keep in touch with using e-mail marketing. Your goal is to convert these contacts into clients. We covered e-mail marketing a few weeks ago, Email Marketing – Part I and Email Marketing – Part II.
Which Internet marketing component have you had success with? We would love to hear from you. Come back next week to see which Internet marketing element we will cover. We will also share more Internet marketing tips. See you next week.
People tend to use these two terms interchangeably; however, they are not the same. If you are not an Online marketing degree alum or have some type of Internet marketing background you might not know that they are not the same. Social media marketing is a component of Internet Marketing.
Components of Internet Marketing
The other areas of Internet marketing, also known as online marketing, include website development, blog marketing, email marketing, and article marketing. Banner ads are also a component, which originally was what Internet marketing was.
Internet marketing is increasingly becoming a part of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and corporations marketing mix.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is marketing through social networks; for example, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The key to social media marketing is interacting with other members of these social networks fostering business relationships.
Social Bookmarking
Social media marketing also includes adding bookmarking services bookmark and share widgets to your articles, blog posts, and web pages. (See our bookmark and share widget below) If your site visitors “Digg it,” “Tweet it,” or “Stumble it,” etc., your articles, posts, and web pages will be submitted into social news sites such as Digg or Internet search engine searching the best websites site like StumbleUpon or search engine searching for the best blogs site; for example, Technorati.
Once submitted, your writings are shared with other members of the bookmarking networks, and they are able to vote for them also.
Video Marketing
YouTube is popular for video marketing, which is also considered as part of social media marketing since it is becoming a social networking site. YouTube is an excellent tool to market your products and services to your target audience.
So, as you can see there is a difference between Internet marketing and social media marketing and can’t really be used interchangeably.
Is Internet marketing part of your marketing mix? If so, which components do you use? We would love to hear from you. Stop by next week for more Internet marketing tips.
This is a video that I included in my newsletter for my subscribers. I give an overview of the content in the November edition, which focuses on social media marketing. Following is a transcript that I included with the video on YouTube.
Introduction
Hi Rita Cartwright here, with another month edition of our newsletter.
Social Media Marketing Facts
We begin this newsletter with some interesting facts on social media marketing.
Critical to Your Internet Marketing Strategy is Keyword Research
And following that is a video on the importance of keyword research to search engine optimization and to your internet marketing strategy.
Women Empowering Women – Is Networking Alive And Well In Internet Marketing For Women?
Following that is an article on women empowering women in the internet world. And this is done through joint ventures with each other and also through networking.
Social Media Marketing in 3 minutes
Next is a video on how critical social media is to your business. And also in this same video, you will learn the secret formula of how to become success online.
Using Social Media Boosts Website Promotion
Next is an article on how you can add your website links to social media sites in order to promote your website. These links are also known as backlinks or inbound links. They are simply links from somewhere else back to your website.
RJ’s Internet Marketing Services Video Trailer
Last but not least is a video trailer on our services and how our services can help you with your internet marketing. More information can be found at http://rjsinternetmarketing.com.
Instructions for Non-Subscribers on how to Subscribe to Newsletter
By the way, if you happen to be watching this video, and you are not a subscriber of our newsletters, scoot on over today to our website and sign up today. The sign up box is on the right-hand side of the screen. When you do sign up, you will receive a free copy of our e-book, “Online Marketing Tools for Today’s Small Business.” You will also receive a 5-part report on working with a virtual assistant.
Conclusion
As usual, thank you for your continued subscription. I hope that this information will be beneficial and useful for you in your social media marketing. Thank you.
Rita Cartwright is following up a previous video in which she announced her new business name and website. She is now offering Internet marketing services replacing word processing services.
When starting a virtual assistant business, the first item on your to do list is coming up with a business name. You should give this a lot of thought. The name you choose should reflect your products or services, because you will promote, brand and market your business under this name.
Next, decide on a niche. A niche market is a narrowly defined group of potential clients. In order to create effective advertising and/or marketing messages, you need to know who you are addressing.
One method of marketing is Internet marketing, also know as online marketing. Nowadays, because of the Internet and technology, Internet marketing is affordable and popular. Examples of Internet marketing are blogs, websites, article marketing, online networking, and e-mail marketing campaigns. For more detailed descriptions and examples of Internet marketing, click here for a copy of my e-book for only $3.98.
If you are considering starting a virtual assistant business, decide on a business name, choose a niche, as well as create and implement an Internet marketing plan.
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An interesting discussion was started on Twitter as to what is niche. I have seen niche used to refer to a group of consumers with shared characteristics. I have also seen niche described as a specialized service(s); for example, internet marketing.
Ten years ago, when I was in college, niche was described as a space in the market where the advertiser’s product or service will fit. Merriam-Webster online dictionary definition is a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted. Although marketing and advertising concepts and theories remain the same, the methods of delivery of advertising messages have changed.
These changes apparently have changed or gave new meaning to the word “niche” where now it can refer to a specialized service. Join the discussion by posting your comment below as to what is niche to you. I look forward to reading your thoughts.
As an entrepreneur and small business owner, you are aware of the importance of using social media networking as a marketing strategy. You also realize how much time is involved in social media networking. I can spend an entire day on Twitter alone networking with other entrepreneurs. In order to save you some valuable time, virtual assistants can help you with your networking efforts. Keep in mind, virtual assistants use the same social media networking techniques and know their way around social media sites. A virtual assistant can set up your social media profiles at various sites, as well as filter through posts for any relevant information pertaining to your business. On Twitter, a Virtual Assistant can check your DMs (direct messages) and your replies (posts directed to you) to see if there is anything you need to respond to. A Virtual Assistant can also post pertinent information about your company and products and/or services. Larger companies are starting to use Twitter to communicate with their customers about their products and/or services, in addition to getting their feedback. Another feature of Twitter is you have people following you and people you choose to follow. A Virtual Assistant can research the ones following you to see if they are viable potential clients. In addition, s/he can search for possible clients for you to follow on Twitter.
As you know, social media networking allows you to create business relationships, as well as give your prospective clients the opportunity to learn more about you; therefore, it is necessary for you to spend some time networking on these social media sites. However, virtual assistants can help you save a huge amount of valuable time; time you can use to focus on your clients. Virtual assistants can help you with social media networking also.
By now you have probably heard of Twitter, a free social networking and micro-blogging website. It may be a little overwhelming trying to figure out who you should follow and who you would like to follow you. Twitter has a search directory called Twellow, located at http://www.twellow.com/. At Twellow, you can filter out the tweeters according to your target market. All you need to do is perform a search using your target market search term(s) and research the results looking for tweeters who you can follow and maybe follow you. Hopefully, they will become your ideal clients.
Social media marketing is becoming one of the most popular online marketing tools available today for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Social networking is just one form of social media marketing, and it is one of the online marketing tools that I mention in my e-book, “Online Marketing Tools for Today’s Small Business.” Read what others are saying about this affordable, must-have e-book.
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Last week we begin discussing Internet marketing tools and strategies that start-ups can use to promote their products and/or services online. This week, we will wrap up the Internet marketing strategies. We left off on discussing LinkedIn groups, which are similar to forums.
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