A Guide to Internet Marketing
For those with something of an entrepreneurial streak, internet marketing is proving to be a popular way of making money. The most obvious reason for this is that the barriers to entry are so low – and in some cases free. Of course you need to spend money to make money, however for the marketer on a budget any cheap means of advertising is sure to be an enticing prospect.
If you have decided that the internet is your preferred marketing medium of choice then you will have to accept that there will be disadvantages as well as advantages, particularly in the initial stages. If you are not the most technically minded of people then learning the basics of things like simple web development or SEO may seem a little daunting – however the opportunity for you to work from home may provide enough of an upside to take the edge off this.
If you have a great product or service which you know will sell then the next logical step is to create a website which has some appropriate spaces where you will be able to place adverts. If you dont place your adverts in the correct place then there is a risk that you could be losing out on money. The most prominent positioning for your adverts is above the fold and directly in the face of the reader. The next most preferential places for your adverts will be to the side of your blog, either on the left or right.
The next task on your to-do list is to generate some traffic to your website. If you have great content or a useful product/service then people will quite naturally gravitate towards your site and word will spread. If you are operating in a more competitive market then it is likely you will have to employ some sort of strategy in order to get some leverage over your competitors. This can be done by learning a little basic SEO theory. If you feel that you don’t have the time to put in the research then you may be able to outsource this work, provided you have adequate budget. Services for SEO can vary greatly so do shop around and ask for opinions before you decide on one supplier.
A creative way of marketing your product is with the use of video marketing. If you have a digital camera then you will be able to make and upload a video to your blog or Youtube for free. This is an increasingly popular method of advertising online as a significant percentage or online purchases begin with a video search.
As with all things, there is something of a learning curve when it comes to online marketing however if you have a good product and you are genuinely enthusiastic about what you are promoting then it will seem much less like a chore. You don’t have to invest huge amounts of money in an impressive website as with a little shopping round you will be able to find someone who will be able to come up with a website that is within your budget. All that remains is to get researching your market and competition and get promoting!
Author Bio: Dave Matthews writes about internet marketing services such as BT web clicks.
Category: Marketing
Keywords: SEO, online marketing, internet marketing, web development, website. blog