Still Advertising on Bus Stops?

There's an old saying that the tried and true ways are often the best. However, this lesson does not apply when it comes to getting your marketing right. The savviest and most successful companies today are starting to walk away from the old methods such as print advertising, direct mail and billboards in favor of a more tech-based approach.

Not only does online marketing offer unrivaled access to your customers, it's also an excellent way to get the most exposure for your buck.

Online Advertising & Marketing: The Basics

Whether you're looking to expand your market share or get the maximum return on your advertising investment without blowing your budget, online marketing can provide even the smallest businesses with an excellent way to reach their new and current customers.

The key to developing your online marketing plan is to get the basics right. From fine-tuning your website to creating engaging social media campaigns, achieving the basics will help build a strong campaign.

The Website

It's a fact - you've got to have a website in today's digital age. Not only will customers often look for you this way, they also use websites to get to know your brand as a whole. Focus on building an easy-to-use website that appeals to your target demographic.

Another important aspect of your website is to focus on providing great, well-written content. Not only will this assist on getting your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) right on the money, but excellent copy keeps your customers coming back.

Image Licensed Under Attribution

The Blog

"Blog," you might ask? "Why do I need a blog?" It's a common misconception that your business won't benefit from using a blog. Not only does a blog help to keep your customers engaged and up-to-date with your business, but it also gives you fresh, regularly updated content - essential for those Google spiders to search on. Make your blog work for you by keeping up with posting. Aim for 2 - 3 blogs per week to get the maximum return.

The Social Media

Though once considered a frontier for the young, even the most traditional of businesses are getting in on the social media act. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest give your brand a face, and allow you to interact with your potential customers on a more personal level. Use social media to help drive traffic to both your blog and website - essential for getting your SEO levels up.

The Experts

New and digital media is a rapidly moving and changing animal. Not only are there new Google guidelines every couple of months, but staying on top of trends is essential in order to get the most out of your online marketing and advertising.

One of the best things your business can do is to seek out the advice of the experts by getting a specialist in online marketing on board.

The Internet has become an essential part of nearly everyone's daily life, and therefore an essential tool in any marketer's handbook. By taking your campaigns online, your company will have unparalleled access to your current and potential markets in a cost-effective way. Just remember: getting the basics right is the key. By starting with these, you'll be on your way to marketing power.

Debbie Nguyen

About the Author:

The aspect that Debbie Nguyen enjoyed the least about her graphic design business was the marketing. With digital media and global accessibility through the Internet, her job of reaching out to others has become much easier to manage.