Marketing Mastermind
Internet Marketing, or Online Marketing involves using tools and platforms such as Websites, Search Engines, Social Media, Blogs, and Email to market products or services on the Internet. Technology has changed consumer behavior and the way consumers do their shopping. To keep up with changing consumer behavior, marketing methods have adapted to include the Internet as an integral part of effective marketing plans.
Mister Ji understands that most of us do not want to hear about the boring details, you want to know what's in it for me? Mister Ji will cover the benefits of Internet Marketing before giving you the boring (but necessary) details.
BENEFITS OF INTERNET MARKETING
REACH AND VOLUME
Today, consumers use many online services such as Google, Amazon, eBay, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter to research and purchase products or services. By taking your business online and implementing an effective Internet Marketing strategy, the whole world can be your market. You should aim to globalize your business and through the Internet, you can overcome barriers of distance.
For a typical business, you are lucky if you can reach 10% of the people in your city. For you, how many people would that be? Out of the 10%, how many will be interested in your products or services? How many are willing to come to you? How many will actually make a purchase?
Now, ask the same questions but replace your city, with the whole world. Naturally, an increase in market size means you will see an increase in customers. Increase in customers, means you can decrease your rates and stay competitive, while making MORE MONEY. No, it is not a secret formula, it is called VOLUME. You might be making 5% less per item but if you sell 100 times more, you will make more money.
24 HOUR OPERATION
The Internet enables you to be open for business around the clock. If you have a full-time job, you can run your business at your own convenience. Processing orders, preparing shipments, and responding to emails can take place at any time of the day. Offering your products on the Internet is also convenient for your customers. They can browse your online store at any time and place orders when it is convenient for them.
LESS COSTS = MORE PROFIT
If you cannot afford to rent or lease space, you can run your business out of your home. If your business is fully online, you can quit worrying about opening hours or overtime pay
for staff. A lot of entrepreneurs run their businesses from their home and even on the go. Reducing the need for an office, can greatly reduce your overhead costs. Marketing products and services on the Internet costs less than marketing through a physical retail outlet. How many signs can you afford to print? Often times, to physically market means to purchase or rent space as well. Do you have time and manpower to go door-to-door? In the end, you still cannot reach as many people. With the Internet, there are ways to market your business continuously, without having to continuously pay for it.
PROVE LEGITIMACY
Adding legitimacy to your business is another reason why being on the Internet is important. Consumers will research a business before they feel comfortable
spending money to acquire a service or product. Research consists of searching
for your business on the Internet and reading reviews.
If your potential customers cannot find your business on the Internet, they may
assume your business is too small, not popular, or even fraudulent. You do not want to
give consumers a reason to doubt the legitimacy of your business, especially
with competition being a click away. You will not need a lie detector test and Maury to confirm that YOU ARE A BUSINESS!
STAY CONNECTED
Most of us have heard the phrase, "out of sight, out of mind." What that phrase means is that if people do not continue to see or hear about you, they will forget about you. For a business, the aim should be to make every customer, a repeat customer. Internet marketing enables you to take advantage of the growing
importance of social media. What is social media? Social media includes, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and much more. Learn to use Social Media and other resources on the Internet to stay connected to your customers. Do not let your customers forget about you. If they leave, you can sing all you want, but your baby may not come back!
INTERNET MARKETING COMPONENTS
WEBSITE MARKETING
Websites can be the Internet equivalents of offline brochures or mail order catalogs and they are a great way to establish your business identity. The key difference is that websites allow you to sell your products directly. These websites are known as e-commerce websites. A the minimum, websites should include information about your services, products, pricing, contact information, and a way of obtaining feedback. A great website should be much more than just information. These days, websites have become essential for marketing your business, carrying out sales transactions, and customer interactivity. In today's business market, it is nearly impossible for a business to operate effectively without a website. Websites are the foundation of Internet Marketing; however, they are also just the first step. Oh website, you are so great, only if others knew you like I do!
SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (SEO)
Studies have shown approximately 9 out of 10 consumers search for products or services online through search engines such as Google and Bing. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is marketing a website on the Internet via search engines, either by improving the site's natural (organic) ranking through Search Engine Optimization (SEO), buying pay-per-click (PPC) ads or purchasing pay-for-inclusion (PFI) listings in website directories, which are similar to offline yellow page listings. Studies have shown that users click on organic results 75% of the time over paid results, which means hire an SEO expert and do not waste your money paying for your ranking. Dear paid ads, you almost had me because of your great looks, but I'm not that shallow.
BLOGGING
Blogging is the act of posting comments, expressing opinions or making announcements in a discussion forum and can be accomplished either by hosting your own blog or by posting comments, articles, and/or URLs in other blogs related to your product or service online. Blogs can also help improve your organic SEO because the more articles you have, the more topics your website can be found under on search engines results. Many businesses use blogs to provide information about topics customers are interested in, which can be a great way of showing your customers a sample of your expertise. If they like what they are reading, they will likely turn to your services when in need. What would I do without you blog, you always seem to have all the answers.
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING (SMM)
Social Media Marketing (SMM) involves social media platforms and networks such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and social bookmarking sites like Digg. These platforms can help you spread the word about your business very quickly. You can very easily network with thousands of people in a short period of time. It's also a great way of sharing announcements, promotions, and passing on information about your business. Most importantly, it helps you stay connected to your customers, which means they will not forget about you. CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD!
EMAIL MARKETING (EM)
Email Marketing is a method of distributing information about a product or service through Email. Email addresses of customers may be collected or purchased. Various methods are used, such as the regular distribution of newsletters or mass mailing of offers related to the company's product or services. Email marketing is essentially the online equivalent of direct mail marketing. Email marketing can be seen as spamming by some recipients. Some people really dislike receiving ads in their emails. However, a less annoying approach involves you periodically providing your customers with major updates about your business, blog articles, or legitimate promotions. I feel like if you just gave me a little bit of space sometimes, it might better for the both of us.
Email Marketing is a method of distributing information about a product or service through Email. Email addresses of customers may be collected or purchased. Various methods are used, such as the regular distribution of newsletters or mass mailing of offers related to the company's product or services. Email marketing is essentially the online equivalent of direct mail marketing. Email marketing can be seen as spamming by some recipients. Some people really dislike receiving ads in their emails. However, a less annoying approach involves you periodically providing your customers with major updates about your business, blog articles, or legitimate promotions. I feel like if you just gave me a little bit of space sometimes, it might better for the both of us.
WHAT MAKES MISTER JI SO SPECIAL?
You will find two types of Internet Marketing consultants. The first type that aim for the big business clients and will stick to the sophisticated but expensive methods. These types of consultants do minimum work themselves. They apply the same methods that they have learned to all businesses. They often use purchased tools and plugins. They will require a lot of effort from you and will spend months developing a marketing plan, business plan, and a plan to build your brand. However, their approach also means it will cost you a lot. The second type have learned through experience. These might still charge you a decent amount but will take a quicker approach through shortcuts. They might stick to the essentials and bare minimum. It is like choosing between an engineer and a technician. One will spend a lot of time and money but will probably benefit you in the long run, the other knows all of the shortcuts but may be limited in knowledge. You do not want to call an engineer to repair a fridge. At the same time, you do not want to call a technician to build a dam.
You can say that Mister Ji has worked both as an Engineer and a Technician. Mister Ji will help you implement the type of strategy that is right for your business; nothing more, nothing less. If you are fresh entrepreneur and what to start a business, your needs will be different than an established business that is looking to expand.The goals and purpose of your business will help determine your Internet Marketing marketing strategy. Using your time and money effectively is more important than how much time and money you spend.
