Internet Marketing Strategies Three Step Formula

By Shelley Lowery - Author of acclaimed web design course 'Web Design Mastery’

Developing a successful internet marketing strategy is an essential part of your online success.  In order to succeed, you must develop and implement a strategic plan that includes all of the following:
 

Developing Your Product

Your first step will be to develop a great product.  The absolute best product is one that you can develop yourself and deliver over the Internet.  Everybody is good at something, has a special talent or some specialised knowledge. Use this knowledge to create an 'exclusive' product.  Your product should be unique and not be in competition with hundreds of other similar products.

Before you develop your product, do some research - find out exactly what people want and develop your product or services accordingly.  Develop a high-quality product that fills a void to increase your chance of success.  Your product should not only deliver what you promise, but should go above and beyond the expected and over-deliver. Your customer’s satisfaction is of the utmost importance.

Another consideration of great importance is your target market.  The Internet is a global marketplace, so develop a product with a large geographic target and a wide appeal.  A great product will fulfil a need or desire and provide instant gratification.  Software, Information, Private sites and Internet services are a few of the top sellers.

Developing Your Web Site

Once you've developed a great product, your next step will be to develop a great web site.  Your web site must be specifically designed to sell your product.

Everything within your web site should have one purpose - getting your visitor to take action.  Words are the most powerful marketing tool you have.  The right words will turn your visitors into customers.  The wrong words will cause them to click away and never return.

Every word, sentence and headline should have one specific purpose - to lead your potential customer to your order page.  Write your web site copy as if you are talking to just one person.  Tell them exactly what your product will do for them - why it will solve their problems and how.  Pack your copy with benefits and more benefits.  Remember - you must write to persuade - that's the bottom line.

Developing Your Marketing Strategies

Your marketing strategy is the final process of your plan.  Your plan must include both short-term and long-term strategies in order to succeed.

Short term marketing strategies are those that bring you a temporary boost in traffic.  Although these techniques are very important to your overall plan, they are only a temporary traffic source and must not be solely relied upon. Short term marketing strategies include Purchasing advertising, Bulletin Boards and Search Engines.

Long term marketing strategies are those that bring you a steady stream of targeted traffic over time. These strategies will continue to produce results even years down the road.  Long term marketing strategies include Opt-in Lists, Freebies and Content.

By creating and implementing a balanced marketing strategy, using both short-term and long-term strategies, you will drive a steady stream of targeted traffic to your web site.  If you use this simple formula when creating your Internet marketing strategy and excel at all three, you can literally guarantee your success!