7 Common Myths About Internet Marketing!

Internet marketing, also known as online marketing is a form of advertising using the internet. It includes marketing efforts to reach current and potential customers or stakeholders via search engine optimization, search engine marketing, email marketing, affiliate marketing, social media marketing, etc. 

Internet marketing campaigns are conducted in conjunction with traditional promotional activities like newspaper ads, TV/radio commercials, telemarketing and so on. I think you have a reasonable idea about online marketing practices, and in this post I’ll tell you about some common myths about this.

Myth 1: Internet Marketing is Only for Geeks
Well, a certain level of knowledge is a must for any task in the world. The same is applicable for internet marketing too. But it doesn’t mean that you need to be a ‘geek’ to start your web campaigns. Rather you could take off after learning the basic ideas and channels. 

Determine your goal and prepare a budget. There are tons of articles and resources to help you learn online marketing.

Myth 2: Google is the Only Destination
Many people believe that their website should be designed especially for Google because it is the most popular search engine. But do you know Google changes its algorithm regularly? 

So will you keep designing and redesigning your website? And even how could you figure out every change in Google? So, follow a standard, but don’t forget to evaluate your other options.

Myth 3: SEO is dead
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a vast thing which is implemented by focusing on keywords, phrases and overall content formation on a website. Search engine result listings are influenced by these factors. 

Although the approach of performing SEO is subject to change over the period of time, but you can never say that it is dead. Rather follow the updated search engine guidelines to stay relevant.

Myth 4: Online Marketing is Expensive
No, online marketing is not that much costly as it might sound. You can create a social media page for free. A website will cost a particular amount yearly. You could reach your target audience without spending money in ads, although a limited scale. 

Still there are options to promote your products online at attractive prices. For an example, Facebook allows promoting links or posts for as less as $1 a day which can reach more or less 4-5K audience.

Myth 5: ‘Viral’ is the Ultimate Goal
Many people think that viral contents on social media is the ultimate goal of a campaign. But this is not true. Your ultimate goal should be earning profit by selling your goods/services. So take care of return-on-investment instead of counting post likes.

Myth 6: Social Media Doesn’t Pay Off
Still there are some folks and businesses who believe that social media is just about uploading vacation selfies and chatting with friends. They don’t realize the power of a tweet/status update while you can effectively attract your stakeholders’ attention using social networks.

Myth 7: A Huge Traffic is required to be Profitable
There is no doubt that a larger number of visitors make a greater chance to have a sale. But you need ‘quality traffic’ from those people who want to purchase from you. So just don’t plan your campaigns to drive traffic, try to reach the stakeholders too.

Internet marketing is a massive thing with a span as big as the web itself. So study, learn and make the best use of this strategy. You can find our collection of tips and tricks here. Thank you.

http://socialbarrel.com/7-common-myths-about-internet-marketing/98253/

7 Non-Negotiable Steps For Social Media Marketing Success!

Here are the 7 non-negotiable steps for social media marketing success:

1. Point of Differentiation – You must have a clear and concise point of differentiation that a niche market (segment of mainstream) truly values and understands.

What one thing can you say that positions you as the only company in the world (your customers world) that can do it? Go for the edges—the greenest, fastest, best, largest, most convenient, privileged, open sourced, proven, cutting edge, risky, safe, new, classic, and etc. You can find more on differentiation here.

2. Point of View Content (POVC) – You must have a remarkable report, ebook or guide that clearly demonstrates your methodology or process. I also refer to this as prospect content. Example:10 steps to x, y or z.

The purpose of this specific piece of content is to educate interested prospects on the method or process you use to get them a result and ignite your selling efforts. This tool is the strategic asset your business needs to communicate upon your point of difference. You can find more on my approach to content marketing here.

3. PR Relationships – Getting positive features and mentions of your business, service, products, people and events in the media channels that your niche market consume is essential for social media success.

The credibility that comes with media coverage is something you can’t buy and acquiring this coverage is essential. You can find more on my approach to building relationships with reporters and journalist here.

4. Presentations – You must be presenting seminars, webinars, and workshops based on the point of view content above.

Presenting is a great tactic that is underutilized. Getting a stage (online or offline) presents unique long-term marketing opportunities for you. It places you face to face with a roomful of prospective clients who have signaled their interest in you and your topic by showing up.

You have the rare chance to meet and address people who want to learn about you and what you have to say. And you don’t have to find them—they come to you. As a marketing opportunity, what could be better?

5. Online Content Platform – Your web site, blog or central content hub must be full of educational content, articles and how-to information. 

The truth is the act of blogging itself does not matter any more, but the act of consistently creating content that educates, that is easy for search engines to find and index, easy to share, attracts links, creates a searchable and archievable body of work on a subject and will never be seen as inorganic or a violation by Google has never, been more important.

Create content to answer common problems or questions customers have with your service or product.

6. Marketing Automation – You must employ marketing automation in the form of landing pages that you can measure.

Landing pages describe a sales tactic focused on getting people to take one, specific action. Today, landing pages have simply become a required element in the social media marketing toolbox for every imaginable business, including local brick and mortar types.

Most businesses that do social media still send traffic to their homepage or product page. Where the prospect then has to make a conscious choice as to why they’re there or they get distracted by all the other great information they find. Don’t Do That! Use landing pages to drive leads to take one profitable customer action.

7. Business Objectives – You must have a marketing plan that focuses on business objectives.
There’s no way around this last non-negotiable. It doesn’t matter what your business goals are, it’s just more important to clearly identify them. 

Also have a clear understanding of your customers’ desire and problems, so you can figure out how your social media marketing efforts will provide value to your customers. Connect those desires and problems with your social-media strategy.

The cold hard truth for small to midsize business owners is that spending your valuable time and resources on social media is a huge waste of time for your business if you have not built the strategic foundation that can use social media channels as outposts for your marketing.

I am not saying that social media channels alone are a waste of time as an essential marketing activity, far from it. My real point is that social media channels are growing in importance for SMBs, but hold little value to the business that has not built a strong strategic marketing foundation.

http://www.business2community.com/social-media/7-non-negotiable-steps-social-media-marketing-success-01192873