Author : William Souza

 There was a time when Internet marketing didn't matter. All you needed to have a successful business was your name in the phonebook and an ad in the newspaper. Times have changed. Not only do customers expect all brick-and-mortar businesses to have a website, but now you can make a fortune with a business that's entirely online, no storefront necessary. If you want to expand your business and get more customers, the Internet is the place you need to be.

Like traditional marketing, Internet marketing is about finding people who are genuinely interested in or need your product or service, and for whom your product or service solves their problem or desire. It's no different than walking into a room of people and asking, "Who's hungry?" The people who raise their hands are interested in what you might offer. If you could give them food or tell them where they could find it, you just filled their need.

How does Internet marketing help you?

Internet marketing takes your business to the next level. It helps you…
  • Reach people anywhere in the world. Internet marketing helps you reach a global audience inexpensively. As long as someone has Internet access, they can find you. All you need is a domain name, a web host, and a website. It can cost you less than $100 a year.
  • Get better visitors to your website. Internet marketing increases the traffic to your business' website, adds potential customers and increases the number of quality leads you have. Basically, it makes your business better.
  • Make your website work for you. Internet marketing tools can do everything from finding the place on your website that gets the most traffic to making sure you have the top rank on Google. They can even let you know if one of the pages on your website isn't working right. They do all the work so you don't have to.
  • Be able to "upsell" customers. Whenever your customers are making a purchase, you can offer them more expensive add-ons or upgrades to get them to spend more money. This is McDonald's "Would you like fries with that? And anything to drink?" After your customers tell you what they want, you ask them if they would like one more thing…and one more too.
What does Internet marketing Involve?

Internet marketing can include a number of strategies, such as:
  • Website. This is the most critical component of Internet marketing because today people expect all businesses to have a website. Your website tells people about you and what products or services you offer. Everything from how it looks to how it works should be a part of your Internet marketing strategy.
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This is about getting your ranking to the very top of the page in search engines. The closer you are to the top, the more traffic your site will get…and the more money you can make.
  • Email Marketing. Email marketing is the equivalent of mailing someone a flyer or a brochure through the mail, except you're doing it through email.
  • Text and Banner Advertising. This is placing ads for your business on a website. It's similar to placing ads in newspapers or magazines.
  • Online Press Release. Whenever you have a story about your company, your employees, and/or your products or services, you can give it to an online wire service.
  • Social Media Marketing. This involves communicating with your customers through social networks like Twitter and Facebook.
Internet marketing allows you to stay in touch with your customers 24/7. Whether your customers are finding out what time you open or making purchases online, Internet marketing gives you the ability to make money while you sleep. It doesn't matter whether you're an affiliate marketer, a stay-at-home-mom, or a corporate executive…Internet marketing will put more money in your pocket.