The Online Marketing Process

 

The various elements are listed in Services but the hard part is the overall plan for online marketing so what is the Internet Marketing Process?

Internet Online Marketing Process Graphic

Let's run through each briefly (starting at the top)-

*Note - This process assumes you already have an existing website that is a sufficient starting point. If you don't, creating the website would be the first step*

1- Install a Website Analytics Program

As a small business owner, the first step you MUST take is to install a good website analytics program. The bottom line is if you are going to tackle new marketing initiatives, a tracking method must be in place to know what is working and what isn't. Install the program to your existing website and let it run for at least two weeks (one month is ideal) before you begin any new tactics to get a clear "before" snapshot.

2-Develop an email marketing strategy

Time to do SEO, right? Not so fast. Before even a penny is invested in any online marketing tactic, a process must be in place. Regardless if you are an ecommerce or lead generation website, not all visitors will be ready to divulge their full contact information. Their email address, however, is usually game.

Take time to develop an email marketing strategy to continue the conversation. A weekly/bi-weekly company newsletter is a good place to start - featuring company news, 'specials', and even testimonials from happy customers.

Before you send an email you need to make it easy for visitors to sign-up. Get started by creating an account with an email marketing vendor and place the sign-up form above the fold (which simply means in-view when a new page loads - without having to scroll) on the homepage of your website as well as any landing pages you will be directing traffic to.

3-Website Revision/Testing

So at this point you have tracking in place to measure your success, an email marketing plan in place to continue the conversation and convert leads you generate. It's now time to ensure your website is primed for traffic.

A few important tips:

•    Is your website copy clear and concise?
•    Is your contact information easy to find on every page?
•    Do you have verification of your product/service?

  • Customer/Client testimonials
  • Third party verifications (BBB logo, "safe site" verification for ecommerce sites)
•    Is your website navigation easy to understand?
•    Is your purchase/inquiry process simple and straightforward?
•    Is your website SEO friendly? (More later)

Now that you have the foundation in place, it's finally time to do the fun stuff - marketing!!!

4-Search Engine Marketing

Most online marketers would consider Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to be one and the same, but they’re not. 

Understand, however, that many SEM tactics also help SEO efforts because you're getting links to your website (Google takes two things into consideration when they decide search engine rankings - what you say about yourself -onsite content- and what other websites say about you -through linking!)

With Search Engine Marketing, we focus on the following tactics:

•    Pay-Per-Click Marketing (Google, Yahoo, Facebook, LinkedIn, Quigo, etc....)
•    Social Media
•    Blogging
•    Online PR
•    Niche Marketing

The above tactics are great (Pay-Per-Click in particular) because it provides the clients with some instant gratification while we focus on the SEO process...

5- Search Engine Optimization

Are you in this business for the long-haul? SEO is a great tactic, but it takes time to see results for competitive terms. Local keywords are much easier (and faster) to achieve rankings. But it still takes a bit of effort and time.

SEO is the active process of optimizing a web site by improving internal and external aspects in order to increase traffic the site received from the search engines.

Plus, by launching a PPC campaign first we're able to get a better picture of which keywords are worth focusing on because we'll have accurate numbers on traffic and which keywords deliver traffic that actually converts into customers.

We use a combination of tools and processes to increase your site’s search ability.

6- Rinse & Repeat!!!

Now that your SEO efforts are in place, time to start the process all over. Continue to monitor your analytics program and begin monthly tracking on traffic sources and conversions. Begin communicating with website visitors through email marketing tactics. Look at your website and begin testing copy and landing page content. Revise your PPC ads, continue blogging and investing time in social media and continue gaining inbound links for SEO.

It's a continuous process that ensures you never drop the ball and focus too much (or too little) time on one tactic for sake of another. It's pretty silly to invest time and money on SEO when your website isn't set-up to convert the traffic. Seeing this chart helps you understand why we spend time on pieces you initially don't think are important.

We should also note that this process is patent pending from SearchMarketMe, one of the members of our network demonstrating again the value that Foxwood Online Marketing brings to you.