Last week I covered how to optimize your search engine listings. This week, I will go a step further and show you how to gain even more exposure by using internet marketing.
Search Engine Marketing
This is something that has been around for some time now, although lots of people do not take advantage of it. You essentially pay a search engine to list you as a "sponsored" link for certain keywords. So if someone types in "garden centers in northern California", you will show up in a very conspicuous spot on the side of the search listings.
The most used are Google AdWords. It is a user friendly ad program that is very beneficial to businesses with a low budget, and will drive a lot of targeted traffic to your site. There are others, but in my opinion, this is the most valuable of them all, and shows the most potential to create conversions.
Conversions
This is what you really want. It doesn't matter if you get a million visitors to your site if they don't visit your store, buy your product, etc. It is also the best measure of how successful your advertising campaign is, and using targeted keywords to drive traffic to your site is essential in creating conversions.
Once you get them there, you have to offer some sort of value and distinguish yourself from the competition. Otherwise, they will just see you as another face in the sea of businesses. Give them a reason to buy from you, and only you.
Social Media Marketing
I believe this method has the most potential. Facebook users are steadily increasing, and its no longer just teenagers using it to plan their parties on the weekend. It is a viable network for people and businesses alike to connect and share their ideas, likes and interests.
The power lies in the fact that your ad is targeted to people using the profile information they have created. If someone lists "gardening" as one of their interests, and they live nearby, you can aim an ad right at them. Facebook allows you to set your budget so you don't overspend, and there are multiple options for ways to pay for it, such as paying per click, or by number of times your ad is shown.
There are many great resources that get into the nuts and bolts of search engine and social media marketing. Fortunately, it is still something that people are figuring out, so the ones who get on it right now will be in the best position for growth in the future.
-JK
No comments:
Post a Comment