Effective online marketing campaigns

Complaints popular

The most frequent complaint I hear when talking on the topic of online marketing is: "I just spent a lot of money on my Web site and receives no traffic." I always explain to the owner disenchanted Web site that put up a website and not actively marketing it like to spend some money on slick marketing materials, then just presenting it in a drawer and wonders why she does not grow legs and go sell things for you . Your Web site, such as your print material is an inanimate object, and you are its master.

As the Internet becomes increasingly crowded and competitive, you can not expect the aspiring prospects to come after you. It 's your responsibility (not your web site) to go find them. The good news is that once you understand how the game works and make the commitment to do whatever it takes to find your prospects and pull in, there is no reason why you can not have a Web site popular.

The easiest part of owning a website is building one (which does not mean that it is easy to build a Web site interesting.) The most labor-intensive and frustrating to have a successful Web presence begins after the website was launched, though. If you are not willing to "work" your site, then you probably will not do you much good to spend the money needed to build it.

The second most frequent question: "I already spend money to market my products / services, now I have to spend money on marketing my website also, why should not I just save my money and use of traditional forms of marketing that have worked for me in the past? "A website is an incredibly cost-effective marketing tool when you consider that every person you talk about your Web site or take your business card or marketing brochures, can go online 24/7 and read all about your business. What would it cost to put an ad in the newspaper like this? On TV? On the radio? On a billboard? A well-planned Web site is the cheapest marketing tool ever created - if it is properly promoted.

If you are a conscious consumer, a nice interactive website is relatively inexpensive these days. Depending on the size of the site and the necessary features, a custom-designed site can cost up to several thousand dollars - usually between 3.5K-15K for a business to small and medium enterprises, and 40-60K range for most companies large, depending on the sector and the necessary characteristics. If a website is designed well, should have a shelf life (with some minor updates) about three years.

Entertain or educate

People visiting the Web site for two reasons - to be entertained or educated. The most popular Web sites to find a way to do both. Here is where you must "think out of the box". Identify a unique feature or service that you could put on your website that your competitors do not have. Use your imagination. Have a contest among employees to work to come with a unique interactive feature or two. Ask your friends, customers and partners for advice. Chances are that whatever you dream up can be done in a relatively inexpensive way with existing technology.

Site Launch Frenzy

Always make a big deal out of your Web site launch. A feast. Issue a press release. Call your local newspaper. Send postcards. Have a contest. Giving away something through your website with an online application form, then announce the winner on the Web at any given moment and look at the peak of Web traffic that day. Mass E-mail all your customers, partners, prospects, friends and family with a link to your new Web site, along with an online poll (located on the new site) asking them to rate your new website. Everyone likes to play the critic, and this motivates people much more to go check your new website. If you end up getting negative feedback, and probably take with a grain of salt. You will find that some complaints are valid and others not, so take an objective look at the feedback. Make the anonymous survey so that will have no reason not to go to your site. If you try to get their e-mail too soon can scare them.

Tricks of the Trade

Ø Publication "informative" articles by submitting them to online payment services article submission. Always include a link to your Web site in any article (online or offline) that you write. These services allow you to send your items via an online form, then they jump out at them constantly updated list of publishers. Send your articles only to the category of publisher so your items are appropriate. Two of these services are http://www.ezinetrendz.com and http://www.submityourarticle.com If you send an item through one of the services mentioned above, you will get emails from publishers and webmasters who tells you that have / will publish your article or send to their web sites (if it is a good article). If it is a bad article you will know quickly because no one will pick it up.

Or Post your own newsletter online and use it to up-sell existing customers and interest to your prospects. The article should have a blurb and a function button "more" that actually takes readers to the web site.

or e-mail press releases to your entire mailing list (with web link included).

Ø Get a professional association whose members are your potential prospects to sponsor free seminars and gain permission to send all combined to invite them to register online for your free informational seminar. Of course, the online registration form is ON YOUR WEB SITE.

o If you are still using some form of traditional advertising, be sure to always include your web address in the ad. This may seem obvious, but I see all the time examples of companies that fail to link their Web sites on billboards, newspaper ads, etc.

or Reciprocal linking is like the most popular search engine (Google) determines the ranking of the website, so as to cross link with customers, partners, affiliates, professional associations, and, most especially, companies that offer products and free services.

o Be creative.

Still No Traffic?

If the Web site or the traffic is getting little or nothing after having spent a considerable amount of time and money building and marketing, it is necessary to consider three possible causes:

Or have a professional looking website that could not be updated (you need to give visitors a reason to visit and return).

o How well is your strategy "offline" marketing works? If it's not going well, you may need to revise the marketing plan.

o Are your products / services sold once you are able to contact your target market? Otherwise, you have bigger problems and may need to change something in your attention to all your vertical business model.

For additional information about effective online marketing campaigns or to request a free Web site evaluation, please visit www.nurelm.com....