Internet marketing Tips

The World-wide Web, electronic mail and Usenet can be powerful marketing tools for your business, but successful Internet marketing requires attention to detail, a good understanding of your customer’s needs, and a well-designed web site.

Be interactive. An electronic version of your company’s brochure isn’t very interactive, but there are many ways to add functionality to your web site. If your business involves the calculation of quotes or cost estimates, allow the user to do it on-line. If you’re publishing a product catalog on the web, add photos that show the product in more detail, or add an electronic shopping basket feature. most web sites still consist of static documents with very little interactivity, but Dynamic HTML, Javascript, Java Applets and other technologies are gradually replacing static web pages with highly interactive sites that will adapt to the user. Developing web applications will become less like desktop publishing and more like SEGA game programming—requiring the skills of programmers who know how to develop multimedia applications.

Give something back. Since the reader has taken the time to seek out your web page and read the material, it’s important to give them something for their trouble, such as free demo software, a coupon, or a list of links to other "cool web sites." A good way to attract attention is to become the definitive source of information about a particular topic related to your business. For example, if you sell sports equipment, add links to sports information on the web, and include reviews of the sites. If you sell software, publish a buyer’s guide or list of frequently asked questions.

Show off your expertise. Use e-mail, Usenet and AOL forums to answer questions. Blatant advertising through these services and unsolicited e-mail are considered improper on the Internet, but if you make yourself available as an expert in your field, you’ll attract attention to yourself and your business.

Advertise your web site. Don't forget to include your e-mail and web address on business cards, newspaper, magazine or yellow page advertising, and on invoices, direct mail and newsletters. Find other web sites with related information and ask for a "reciprocal link." By trading links, you'll get free advertising. Also, make sure your web presence provider announces your site on all the popular web directories and indexes, such as Yahoo, Lycos and Alta Vista.

Visibility on high-traffic sites is becoming increasingly important, and many sites sell sponsorships in one week increments. Running an ad for one week on a high-visibility site will increase your traffic and help generate awareness that will last much longer.

Be entertaining. In general, assume that you have about 30 seconds to get the attention of your prospective customer. If your page takes too long to download, or appears to be boring, they'll click the STOP button and you'll never get the chance to tell them how great you are. An attractive, well-designed site with a sense of humor will always generate repeat visits. A well-designed web site requires careful attention to detail, and a good understanding of graphic design. When it comes to developing web pages, you should expect no less from your designer than if you were paying them to develop a four-color brochure or television commercial for your business.

Let your customers know you're interested in them. Add a guest book feature, or ask the user to fill in a feedback form. many readers will take the time to tell you what they like or don't like about your service, or will appreciate the ability to be added to a mailing list, so they can be informed of specials or new information at your site.

Stay current. There’s nothing worse than an out-of-date web site. If it looks as if no one's home, your customer won't stay around long either. most of the popular web sites change every few days or weeks. Some highly innovative sites are revised continuously.

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