Businesses and other organizations engaged in numerous forms of internet marketing to be visible online and raise brand awareness, generate leads, increase sales, increase foot traffic, and increase customer retention.
Internet Marketing
You’ve probably heard of some components of internet marketing, without thinking about how companies use the channel to market their business.
Essentially, internet marketing is any online activity that promotes a business, including its products and services.
Internet marketing includes:
- Content marketing.
- Search engine optimization (SEO).
- Social media marketing (SMM).
- Search engine marketing (SEM).
- Email marketing.
- Mobile marketing.
- Video marketing.
- Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.
- Display advertising.
Related: What is Internet Marketing?
Search Engine Optimization
SEO (search engine optimization) includes the strategies and techniques used to increase the online visibility of web pages, while improving the overall online visibility of a business on important platforms such as Google Maps.
The best SEO drives quality visitors to a website, then helps them travel down a sales pipeline that generates leads, online sales, store foot traffic, and improved customer retention that results in repeat sales.
Some of the optimizations for search engines include:
- Website architecture.
- On-page SEO.
- Content-based on relevant keywords.
- Internal links.
- Backlinks.
- Social signals: profiles, business pages, map listings, reviews.
- High-quality reviews and testimonials.
- Business listings / local citations.
- Social signals.
Related: What is SEO?
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing (SMM) is a form of internet marketing that involves creating and sharing content on social media channels in order to achieve specific marketing and branding goals.
Social media provides platforms whereby businesses can build relationships with prospective and current customers. Just like with face-to-face marketing, stronger relationships increase brand loyalty and drive sales.
The top U.S. social media channels include:
- Google My Business
- YouTube
- Tumblr
- Meetup
Purpose of Internet Marketing
Essentially, internet marketing is another way to reach new customers while keeping existing customers engaged. Internet marketing is used to create new relationships, strengthen existing relationships, and increase business opportunities through online visibility.
In today’s environment, internet marketing is often the best way to reach new audiences all over the world you couldn’t otherwise reach. Furthermore, internet marketing is often the best method of being found by people searching for your products and services.
This has never been more apparent than when a client with an insurance agency called to tell me why they had won a new customer. When she asked the customer why he chose them, he said it was because they had the best website.
Take Away
Using a combination of methods to market your business online is vital in today’s environment. Businesses that neglect to do the basics of internet marketing will be left behind and eventually become extinct. Just as all thriving companies long ago adopted computers to remain competitive, they must also adopt internet marketing.
Image Building Media
Image Building Media is an internet marketing company based in Tampa, Florida, serving clients in various industries throughout the U.S.
We specialize in internet marketing, including SEO, social media marketing, website design, content marketing, video marketing, email marketing, SMS marketing, mobile web marketing, online reputation management, CRM integration, and more. We also provide consulting services, including conversion analytics.
To learn more about Image Building Media and our services, book a free consultation or contact us direct.