Tools for successful internet marketing
Having an internet marketing business is one thing, having a successful internet business is quite another. Anyone going into this field thinking it will be a get-rich-quick way needs to do a lot more research, as statistics show that only the top 3% (approximately) of entrepreneurs will succeed to the measure of millionaire status. The next 7% will earn a good living, so the goal here is obviously to get into that 10%.
However, there are many tools to help you in your search, and this article outlines some of the most popular ones. Your budget obviously comes into play, but for the most part the following aids are relatively inexpensive.
No. 1 – A website/domain name
“Brand yourself” is very important (if you’re not sure what this means, google it, there are plenty of explanations on the internet). Start by choosing your domain name from one of the many sites available, and then decide how you are going to build your website.
If you have a particular online marketing business, chances are you have pre-built websites as part of your membership; This is great if you’re new to marketing, as it’s something you don’t have to learn right away. However, if you want to build your own, you will need a good web hosting service provider.
Unless you really know what you’re doing, I wouldn’t recommend building a website from scratch, either outsource it or go somewhere like WordPress, which makes it a step-by-step process.
#2 – A blog
A blog can be private or it can be for commercial purposes. Either way, it’s another part of making yourself. Again, you’ll need a domain name, and there are a couple of good blogging platforms to choose from. Just be careful, because not all of them allow you to put your own advertisement on your blog.
No. 3 – A keyword tool or tools
Another very important internet marketing tool as it lets you know what is being searched for. There are a couple of free tools available, like the Google Keyword Tool or the basic Wordtracker; there are some more sophisticated ones as well, again it really depends on your budget and I would suggest getting on a search engine to see what is available.
No. 4 – Article Marketing
The nice thing about posting articles is that a) it doesn’t cost you anything, and b) they stick around for a long time (unlike classified and banner ads, etc.). You can link them to your website or blog, tell people about them on all social sites like Facebook, Twitter, Squidoo, etc., and if you write enough about them and give readers good content, you’ll start getting a following. .
#5 – Video Marketing
Today this is an extremely important part of marketing as video is now the most searched for product on search engines. These search engines love video content and will typically pull posted videos up in free search results (also known as “organic” or “natural” search results). It’s also free!
There are a couple of special ‘mini’ video cameras on the market, which you can connect via USB directly to your PC; When cost is a concern, if you already have a digital camera that has a video function, you can use it, it’s a bit more complicated. And of course, there’s always the webcam, which comes with most laptops. You’ll need a software program to edit them, but Windows Movie Maker is as good as any.
No. 6 – Social Networks
Sites like Twitter, Facebook, Squidoo, and My Space play a big role in internet marketing, and I suggest you get involved with at least 2-3 of these sites. The general idea is to make a list of contacts to eventually market to. They are extremely popular, they are relatively easy to learn, but be careful, don’t get sidetracked, have a system, otherwise you will find them taking up hours of your day.
No. 7 – Advertising
Free or low-cost ads include classifieds and ezines. If your budget allows you a few more dollars, try some banner ads or email advertising, or you could try AdWords. This is a great way to get quick results, but you need to thoroughly understand how it works, otherwise you’ll find your budget is skyrocketing.
You will find that as you become more experienced in marketing your business, there are many different ways to optimize your business. Article sites like this are always a mine of information, also ezines or newsletters can be very helpful. Learn to think laterally (outside the square), use keyword tools, and do your research. Above all, be persistent and do something for your business every day.
