The main goals of Internet marketing include increasing quality traffic to the website, capturing viable leads, and then converting these leads into customers as well as creating repeat and referral businesses. But many online marketing programs have yet to accomplish any of these goals in a meaningful manner largely because one or two, perhaps even several, of the following elements are missing.
#1 Website Design
As cliché as it may sound, your website is your online calling card an opportunity to project a professional image for a favorable first impression! It then makes sense to make your website user-friendly.
#2 Strategic Content
Beyond appearances, your website should sustain the visitors attention via strategic description that will encourage them to act in a desired manner. Think of it this way: Your websites descriptions including the descriptions used in social media sites, article directories, and online forums should encourage visitors to purchase the products, patronize the services and sign up for email updates, among other online acts. Each one of your description should also build trust and, thus, contribute to conversions.
#3 Search Engine Optimization
If you have yet to implement effective and efficient SEO programs, then its about time that you get on the bandwagon or better yet, dominate the market for your specific tags and key phrase. Is SEO an alien language to you? Hire SEO experts!
#4 Google and You
Google is the number one search engine nowadays so it also makes sense to make it happy. And when we say happy, we mean your website should climb to the top of the search engine results pages (SERPS). How? SEO, Google Webmaster, Google Analytics, and Google Local listing, to name a few strategies, which expert online marketers can easily tap on to your advantage.
#5 Social Media
Expand your circle of influence via social media and networking sites. Spread the word about your products and services as well as your organization via strategic description on social media sites. Start conversations. With over 2 billion users spending an average of 9 hours per week per individual on these sites, social medias influence cannot be overemphasized.
#6 Help the Customer
Take a look at your offerings, be it in terms of products and services. If you have so many products or services to choose from in a single website that the customers suffer from “analysis paralysisâ€, “information overload†or “choice confusionâ€, then it is time to simplify. The goal: Help the customer make a choice, act on it by purchasing, and then come back for more.
#7 Give Something
Freebies are a great way to attract and retain customers mainly because it is human nature to appreciate things given away for free. Your freebies need not be physical in nature even your knowledge and information can be considered as giveaways.
#8 Teach, Not Hard Sell
Encourage your visitors to imagine themselves using your products or patronizing your services. Your main question: What is in it for your customers? Your goal: Educate and communicate, not use sleazy hard sell tactics.
#9 Nurture Your Customers
When a visitor becomes a first-time customer, you must nurture the relationship from this point onwards. Give information, knowledge and freebies. Remember their birthdays. Think of creative ways to show you care.
#10 Trial and Error
Does something feel wrong? Change it. Does something work as expected? Look at possibilities for improvements. Find out what works and be vigilant about it.
James Johnson is an expert in the Internet marketing field. If you are interested in checking out one of the systems that he recommends then you should look at the Trinity Code.from Aidan Booth, Steve Clayton and Tim Godfrey.
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