Internet Marketing Strategies
Part One:
Three Step Formula
By Shelley Lowery
Developing a successful internet marketing strategy is an essential part of
your online success. In order to succeed, you must develop and implement a
strategic plan that includes all of the following:
• A great product
• A website specifically designed to sell
• A killer marketing strategy
Each step plays an important role in your overall strategy and must be
developed to its fullest potential. If even one step fails, your chances of
success will be minimal.
Developing Your Product
Your first step will be to develop a great product. You're probably thinking
that's easier said than done, but it's really not. The absolute best product
is one that you can develop yourself and deliver over the Internet. With
today's technology, there is absolutely no reason why you can't create your
own product. The knowledge you have within your own mind is extremely
valuable. Everybody is good at something, has a special talent or some
specialized knowledge. Use this knowledge to create a product.
The key to developing a great product is exclusiveness. Your product should
be unique and not be in competition with hundreds of other similar products.
You must give your potential customers exactly what they want. Develop a
high-quality product that fills a void to increase your chance of success.
Another consideration of great importance is your target market. Keep in
mind, the Internet is a global marketplace. Develop a product with a large
geographic target and a wide appeal. A great product will fulfill a need or
desire and provide instant gratification.
Here are a few of the top sellers:
• Software
• Information
• Private sites
• Internet services
Before you develop your product, do some research -- find out exactly what
people want and develop your product accordingly.
The most important consideration when developing your product is quality.
Your product should not only deliver what you promise, but should go above
and beyond the expected and overdeliver. Your customers satisfaction is of
the utmost importance.
Developing Your Website
Once you've developed a great product, your next step will be to develop a
great website. Your website must be specifically designed to sell your
product.
Everything within your website should have one purpose -- getting your
visitor to take action. Words are the most powerful marketing tool you have.
The right words will turn your visitors into customers. The wrong words will
cause them to click away and never return.
Your words are the entire foundation of your business. Your product, your
website and your marketing strategies all depend upon your words. Fancy
graphics don't make sales -- words do.
Every word, sentence and headline should have one specific purpose -- to
lead your potential customer to your order page. Write your website copy as
if you are talking to just one person. Identify a problem and validate that
one visitor's need for a solution. Continue to write and explain why your
product is the solution to their problem. Tell them exactly what your
product will do for them -- why it will solve their problems and how. Pack
your copy with benefits and more benefits. Write to persuade -- that's the
bottom line.
Developing Your Marketing strategies
Your marketing strategy is the final process of your plan. Your plan must
include both short-term and long-term strategies in order to succeed.
Short term marketing strategies are those that bring you a temporary boost
in traffic. Although these techniques are very important to your over-all
plan, they are only a temporary traffic source and must not be solely relied
upon.
Short term marketing strategies include:
• Purchasing advertising
• Bulletin Boards
• Search Engines
Long term marketing strategies are those that bring you a steady stream of
targeted traffic over time. These strategies will continue to produce
results even years down the road.
Long term marketing strategies include:
• Opt-in Lists
• Freebies
• Content
By creating and implementing a balanced marketing strategy, using both
short-term and long-term strategies, you will drive a steady stream of
targeted traffic to your website.
If you use this simple formula when creating your Internet marketing
strategy and excel at all three, you can literally guarantee your success.
Copyright © Shelley Lowery 2001.
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is the author of several successful ebooks including Web
Design Mastery - An in-depth guide to professional web design. Ebook Starter
- A Complete Ebook Design Kit, and eZines: A Complete Guide to Publishing
for Profit. Subscribe to Etips and receive a free copy of her highly
acclaimed ebook, "Killer Internet Marketing Strategies." http://www.web-source.net |
