How to Start Internet Marketing

Assuming you already have a website, the first step to effectively begin exploiting Internet marketing options through your website is to research two key things:

* Who and how are consumers already using the Internet to find and patronize similar businesses; and

* What type of online marketing tools and Internet services are available and which one(s) will work best for your type of business.

Sales Ideas

* Start every day with two cold calls.
* Read newspapers, business journals, and trade publications for new business openings, personnel appointments, and promotion announcements made by companies. Send your business literature to appropriate individuals and firms.
* Give your sales literature to your lawyer, accountant, printer, banker, temp agency, office supply salesperson, advertising agency, etc. (Expand your sales force for free!)
* Put your fax number on order forms for easy submission.
* Set up a fax-on-demand or e-mail system to easily distribute responses to company or product inquiries.
* Follow up on your direct mailings, email messages, and broadcast faxes with a friendly telephone call.
* Try using the broadcast fax or email delivery methods instead of direct mail. (Broadcast fax and email allows you to send the same message to many locations at once.)
* Use broadcast faxes or email messages to notify your customers of product service updates.
* Extend your hours of operation.
* Reduce response/turnaround time. Make reordering easy – use reminders. Provide preaddressed envelopes.
* Display product and service samples at your office.
* Remind clients of the products and services you provide that they aren’t currently buying.
* Call and/or send mail to former clients to try and reactivate them.
* Take sales orders over the Internet.

New SEC Guidelines Should Help Companies Communicate Online

The SEC has issued new guidance on how publicly traded companies can use the Internet to communicate online. SEC Chairman Chris Cox said: “The last time the SEC issued guidance in this area, the idea of ‘social networks’ hadn’t yet been developed, and creating a social network where…

The Benefits of the Internet

The Benefits of the Internet

Thanks to the Internet it is much easier than it used to be. Just type in your search and there is more information at your finger tips than you could possibly read.

Google have just released a new service – Google Insights to help small businesses conduct there market research based on the trends on keywords so you can see what is hot and what is not – more details in this New York Times article.

Wiki have also entered the market research area with ResearchWikis.com . Since this is developed by users it’s going to take time to be definitive but it could become a tremendous resource. While competitors may wish to keep details quiet, industry watchers will want to share information widely.

E-Commerce

MBA program offers courses developed in association with five of the world’s top business schools: Columbia, Stanford, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon and The London School of Economics. The E-commerce specialization applies economic principles to teach you how the Internet can be used to create business opportunities. Students study how to integrate the Internet into broader company marketing and strategy efforts. Courses and course areas in this specialization include:
Principles of Internet Marketing
Internet User Experience