At the beginning of each year many businesses spend some time thinking about their goals for the coming year. And while setting goals is an important exercise, the implementation steps are equally critical. The goal is the benchmark we establish to measure our success. One major reason that goals or New Year’s resolutions are so quickly forgotten is the lack of steps to reach the goal.
Before creating your marketing blueprint, you first need to understand some basic rules of online marketing. Below are four rules to consider.
Basic Rules of Internet Marketing
Look Before You Leap – The latest and greatest social media site may not be for you. Just because everyone is talking about it doesn’t mean it’s for you. Before taking the plunge, decide how you will use it and how it fits into your plan. Can you devote the time and attention to another social channel? What existing channel will you remove?
Attention Overload Doesn’t Apply To Search – We are bombarded with information but when someone is searching for you, they still need to find you. And once they do, the more information you provide, the better your chances of being considered. I hear people say, “I just want a 2 or 3 page website because nobody reads more than that.” But if you are researching an upcoming buying decision, will a couple of pages suffice? Not likely. The more information available, the more likely that site will have a greater impact on your decision.
Content is King – The trend that started a few years back has continued to steamroll. Forget fancy tricks and focus on creating content of value. Not everyone will read everything you create nor will everyone be looking for the same thing when they visit your site. Your goal is to have the solution to your visitors problem or dilemma readily available. In a face to face selling situation, you’re going to point out every advantage doing business with you affords. Your website/online channels should be as thorough.
It’s Not The Yellow Pages — You’re website and online presence is not a “set and forget” program, like a Yellow Page ad. It should be dynamic content, updated frequently to reflect the changing landscape of your business. I’m amazed (not really) at the people that study their Google Analytics and wonder why their traffic isn’t better. Could it be because you aren’t giving your visitors any reason to come back to your site? Once they’ve seen what you have and realize nothing has changed, it’s on to the site that has fresh, current information.
So before you create that grandiose plan, first visit your website and make sure all that traffic you are planning on driving to your site will actual take the action you want them to take.
Gary Wagnon is the owner of 800biz Ninja Marketing Strategies and the Ninja Marketing Dojo, a program designed to help businesses master all aspects of online marketing. The goal of the Ninja Marketing Dojo is to improve search engine rankings, increase web site traffic and convert more browsers into buyers.
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