Internet Marketing
I began designing web sites and Internet flyers approximately 7 years ago while working for a Marketing company as a software specialist. My company decided to branch out into web design and they took me along for the ride.
Being self taught, flying by the seat of my pants and trying to learn all the applications required to design web pages has actually worked well for me. Over the years I've seen tremendous changes in Internet Marketing. And still, the underlying issues remain true:
1) I know more today then I did yesterday.
2) Quite often, what applied yesterday is irrelevant today.
3) This field is so dynamic, the rules are constantly changing and you must stay on top of the game to be successful.
Gone are the days of doorway pages, spamming the Engines and directories with search engine software. And, in actuality, this is a great thing for the consumer. So what does it take to create a successful web site? These are the critical issues you should know and discuss with your web master:
1) Create a content rich web site. Search engines and directories as well as consumers look for web sites with alot of content appropriate to it's title.
2) Know your market: The Internet allows you to advertise globally. Are your prospective clients in your immediate area or are you able to provide a service Internationally from your web based store front.
3) Research your competition. Utilize the top search engines such as Google and Yahoo to see not only where your competitors are, but what key words they have used to get them there.
4) Using the Information above, determine your most important "key words" or search terms relevant to your web site. (What 3-4 words do you feel most people will use to search for your product or service on line)
5) Have your web designer place those key words in your meta tags.
6) Submit your web site to search engines and directories with high PR (page ranking). You or your web master must submit (best by hand) your web site to search engines and directories for inclusion to create strong backlinks to your site.
7) Keep your site updated with new content, make certain that the images aren't bloated and that it loads quickly. A wonderful free tool for web diagnostics can be found at the Net Mechanic. |
8) Include your web address on all marketing materials! So often I see people make the mistake of placing ads, creating flyers and other promotional material and they forget to include their web address on it.
9) Consider Google's Adsense. A great way to earn additional money from your site.
10) Have patience. Successful web site marketing takes weeks, months, sometimes longer. If you provide a content rich, well designed and marketed site you have a much better chance at success... |
