8 March 2008
by Gail Geronimos, Achaeus Group, Brisbane.
Whatever you think you know about Internet Marketing, you';re probably wrong. Many of the companies that I';ve worked with from just about every sector of business, have made fundamental mistakes when it comes to making an impact online. Here are the 7 most common mistakes companies make with websites and Internet Marketing.
1. Many of my clients are confused about the purpose of their websites. What is the point of your website? Many expect results from their website when the website has not been set up to achieve those results. One of the most common complaints - 'Why don't I get more people visiting my site?' When I then look at those sites it is very clear why there aren't more visitors. I've been auditing client sites and the results are quite surprising. Most websites simply confuse their prospects, customers, Google and other search engines. There is no coherent online marketing approach in the development of the site.
2. Some companies are getting lots of traffic but can't convert them to customers. So they spend too much time servicing people who never spend any money. And this is a real problem. You don't want masses of traffic; you want masses of highly responsive prospects interested in your products/services.
3. Companies are either confused or don't realise the power of email marketing - particularly about the frequency, content and legal issues. Because of this, companies are not using this very powerful platform to enhance their final sales conversions. It is possibly the single most cost-effective way to communicate with your prospects, and you can automate it!
4. Another major problem is that companies don't understand how to build strong relationships with their prospects and clients. This happens mostly because companies don't understand the potential of online marketing and are afraid that by talking about what they do they are giving away trade secrets.
5. Getting caught up in Internet buzz words like web 2.0, social networking and blogging. All of these technologies are fantastic ONLY if you know how they can work for you. Don't just do something because your competitor is doing it, or you THINK it will bring in the cash. Get the low down from people who actually use it, read case studies, go to Internet Marketing workshops and find out exactly how it can improve your business. Not knowing how to use these tactics (eBay, Facebook, Linkedin, youtube, myspace, etc) to your company's advantage means you're either missing out, or wasting time and money.
6. Avoiding Internet Marketing because companies don't have or can't access the right technology skills. The beauty about this media is that you can outsource just about everything. There are plenty of companies that provide the 'technology end' of the Internet Marketing process so that you don't need to have these skills in house. Therefore, you don't need to manage the technology.
7. AND, a really big one.... Thinking that a fancy website full of great graphics, flash, clever design, etc will get prospects into your website is pure fantasy land stuff. Copy is king when it comes to attracting and retaining prospects and customers to your website. Good copy with the right keywords will make sure all those search engines will find your site amongst the thousands out there. Do you want the best looking site, or the best converting site? If it doesn't give you more prospects and clients then you're wasting your time.
If you want to avoid these mistakes and find out how you can use Internet Marketing to increase your revenue then "CLICK HERE". You'll Be surprised how much you have to gain.
