Thirty years ago it was widely known that to sell products to a large amount of people you needed to be active on television and radio. No-win 2014, we have more means of marketing than ever before. With the rise of the Internet and social networking, marketers now have a greater variety of tools than ever to get their products or services before their target audiences. But not every businessperson is as savvy online as they are with their profession—and this is where a good Internet marketing consultant can help! The sections below detail a few of the most effective and widely used techniques in this exciting new age of marketing.
The number one thing a company must consider when pushing a product or service is branding. If you don’t a clear stance on branding, then no amount of marketing will save you. Ensure that you have a clear brand image and a clear message so as to not confuse potential customers. This will ensure your product or service stands out from others in the same market. Don’t forget to detail what makes your product or service that much better than the competition.
Social media is an incredible boon to branding and marketing. To be a successful brand in 2014, you NEED to have a strong and effective social networking presence. Set up a Twitter account and a Facebook page. Tweet and share your product or service and special announcements, like promotions and coupons. Use popular hashtags, tweet at other companies and customers, and start dialogues online; be sure to direct customers to articles and other online content using tiny URLs. Setting up a YouTube page and creating fun videos that showcase your products or services can also drive purchases. Try to create videos that are different than your typical ads—you never know what may go viral! Online video marketing is extremely effective, especially if you are a smaller company without endless reserves to pump into print and television ads. Remember that your Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, and Twitter accounts can be viewed publically, worldwide. That’s a LOT of potential customers! And if you’re not the savviest web-user, a professional Internet marketing consultant can help you set up the coolest platforms.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is another huge part of Internet marketing, and it refers to the practice of getting your website to the top of search results, thus getting you more views and more sales. You’ll need to start thinking in an entirely new way, using key words, meta descriptions, tags, reading tests, and so forth, while building up quality blog content. Get an Internet marketing consultant and work with SEO experts to push your brand and company to be the primary listing when consumers search for the products and/or services you provide.
Overall, digital methods are truly the way of the future in marketing, and if you or your company can get ahead of the curve you can gain a large advantage over competitors. If you’re in Toronto, check out www.themarketinggarage.ca/toronto-marketing-companies to learn how to start thinking big—new branding and design, email marketing, and conversion optimization will absolutely strengthen your impact. Don’t be left behind! Get out there and start marketing online today!