subject: A comparison of Internet Marketing Channels and what they can do for your website [print this page] A comparison of Internet Marketing Channels and what they can do for your website
There are so many internet marketing channels through which to potentially promote your website that it can often be a bit perplexing for anyone new to internet marketing to come up with some sort of strategic plan in terms of how to promote their website online. The first channel that most people look to is organic search and Search Engine Optimisation, this generally involves the smallest amount or financial commitment on the part of the webmaster but it can also take upwards of months to begin seeing tangible results. Another option is Pay Per Click marketing but this usually comes in at the opposite end of the scale; while you can see near instantaneous results, it's often more difficult for new webmasters to get started promoting their websites via this channel due to the initial cost outlay. Another potential channel webmasters look to is E-Mail Marketing, this generally involves a minimal outlay but again can take a significant amount of time depending on whether the user opts to buy a list or build their own from scratch.
Search Engine Optimisation poses perhaps the most significant opportunity to people new to promoting their business online. The greatest thing about Search Engine Optimisation is that it's free it doesn't cost anything to list your website in Google or to attract visits to your website whenever anyone types in a relevant query. The major downside to using SEO is that depending on the needs of your website, there can be a learning curve which can prove a significant barrier to entry. In many respects, the alternative to SEO is Pay Per Click. There is less of a learning curve when it comes to using this medium however the cost burden is clearly there it can cost anything upwards of $40 per click in some sectors.
One increasingly popular option is E-Mail marketing. E-Mail marketing gives you the opportunity to profit from your existing traffic with little to no investment. In order to get started in E-Mail marketing you will need some form of E-Mail tool, some of the more popular options in the market include Get Response, AWeber and Constant Contact. You can use these tools to send e-mails to subscribers who have opted-in to your mailing lists. The major downside to E-Mail marketing is that while you are sending mailing to targeted prospects it can take some time to build your list up, and your list may also be dependent on securing traffic through other channels e.g. SEO or PPC.
