Is Internet Marketing really going to increase sales?

1/20/201012:10:36 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

If you are going to survive in this new-world market place Internet Marketing is an absolute YES. It is all about reaching new customers.

Your website is the new ”yellow pages” of the future and it gives you visibility beyond the traditional forms of print, magazine, billboards, TV and radio.  The fallacy about Internet Marketing is that it will save you money.

Building a professional looking website costs money. Getting a program and server to let you work hands on is not inexpensive. Hiring a person to monitor the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in house or outside is a hidden cost. Identifying tag words, writing copy, blogging, email marketing all are an expense. Accordingly, if you are a writer or have the time to write then you will spend most of your time on the computer in preference to speaking directly to your customers. Nothing is free.

If you are like me you get an abnormal amount of junk email most of which goes directly to my spam folder and is periodically dumped without reading it at all. It is annoying and if I really want something I will ask my friends for a referral, google it, or hang on to a printed message that was sent to me. Nothing infuriates me more than printing a purveyor’s message or manual at my expense. If I bought something the manual and instructions should be a part of the purchase not a hidden add on expense for me to print out on my home printer.

Everyone will tell you that Internet Marketing will get your phone to ring and it does…but what happens after the call?
Unless you have a product that you can buy unseen you will have to meet with your customer. And if it is a large item purchase you will definitely need to leave your message with him either with your business card and or a brochure. Like most of us I tend to believe and trust more if I have it in writing. Handing a customer a color brochure about your company and product line will close more sales.

Abandoning all direct mail, printed color brochures and marketing collateral will leave you at a disadvantage. A fine mix of marketing will be your best bet. Track your ROI (Return on Investment.) That will determine if your marketing dollars are well spent.

“If you’ve got a project too delicate for you to screw up, contact me today. I’ll quote you on a perfect, professional job — no screw-ups, guaranteed.”

Thomas Miner
Bartleby Press