In essence, the difference between internet marketing and traditional marketing is not vast at all, especially if the channel through which the marketing is performed is not taken into account. Both Internet marketing and traditional modes of marketing have the same kind goals; value creation and marketing offerings in such a way that the most amount of consumer attention is grabbed. Internet marketing, however, provides businesses with a number of advantages over traditional modes of marketing. Cost cutting, customized messages on a large scale, and free exposure are some of the advantages that internet marketing allows for. However, to ensure that all of these benefits are utilized to the full, there are a few key tips that all businesses conducting internet marketing should follow.
Focusing on content is one of the most important aspects to internet marketing. The sheer number of businesses today means that not many businesses have products that are vastly different from those on offer by competing brands. Therefore, to stand out in the eyes of customers and make them feel as if a business's offerings are unique, customers must be provided with content that gives away a unique message. Blogs and guest posts provide businesses with the opportunity to explain to consumers just why they should be chosen. In addition, using keywords is also an effective method of diverting traffic to a business's website. Secondly, having landing pages is necessary as well. It is important to understand that not all websites are created as the same, and thus, they should not be treated equally either. A huge number of internet marketers fail to divert traffic to landing pages, which ends up confusing visitors. To help get rid of this problem, web pages should have separate landing pages where visitors are directed. However, if a landing page fails to meet its objectives, then the whole point of the website will be lost. Thirdly, all businesses conducting internet marketing should include a call to action. Internet marketers are always on the lookout for customer information. However, not many customers give away personal information easily, as they expect something in return as well. To make this happen, businesses should provide deals, promotions or even applications. The call to action should generally be included in emails. Lastly, the importance of the social media in this day and age should not be underestimated either. While many people like to think of the social media as a mere entertainment channel, the opposite is in fact, true. The sheer popularity of social media websites Facebook and Twitter is such that businesses can simply not afford to ignore them. Therefore, instead of battling against the social media, businesses should try and utilize these sources by creating pages or profiles. However, merely creating a profile is not enough to get the job done. Regularly updating content, encouraging feedback, and uploading photos are all methods of helping customers get a better look at a particular business, and all of the methods should be used regularly. (Online Marketing)
Internet marketing is a must have for businesses of the 21st century. Yet, despite its importance, many businesses still fail to grasp internet marketing and are met with failure. Therefore, while the usage of internet marketing is important, equally important is its proper application to ensure that all the benefits are made full use of. After all, a half-baked effort in the modern business environment is most likely to result in failure.
Works Cited
"Online Marketing." Entrepreneur. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2014. <http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/onlinemarketing/index.html>.
"Internet Marketing Strategy." About.com Marketing. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2014. <http://marketing.about.com/od/internetmarketingstrategy/>.
