subject: Online Marketing Simplified [print this page] In order to get started with your own internet marketing campaign, you first need to have a good understanding of how things work. All web marketing initiatives will fall into one of three categories. Here is a closer look at each of the three.
Search Engine Optimization - This may very well be the most complicated category of internet marketing; however, it is also the most important. In order for customers to find your site, and buy your product or service, they first need to find it. One of the most common ways for consumers to shop online is to perform a search on one of the major search engines. The fact of the matter is that the majority of searches are done on the Google search engine; so, many savvy web marketers focus all of their energy on optimizing their websites for its algorithm. An algorithm is a complex mathematical equation that delivers the results we see when we perform an online search; fortunately, you don't need a Calculus degree to understand it. In fact, all you need to know are the basics. There are two types of search engine optimization: on-page and off-page. For on-page optimization, you'll want to focus on appropriate keyword placement within your content, and within your website's title. For off-page optimization, you should familiarize yourself with two key terms: link building and anchor text. Link building involves getting other reputable and related websites to link into your website. When they do this, if possible, you'll want to specify your target keyword as the text that users will click on to get to your site. This is called the anchor text. There are many ways to get links from other sites, but the best way is to publish unique and interesting content on your website. Only then will other sites have a reason to link to yours.
Online Advertising - This is often called pay-per-click advertising and is exactly as it sounds. You specify the maximum amount of money you are willing to spend per click, and you pay only after a customer clicks on your advertisement. Most pay-per-click advertising is done on the major search engines. Social Networking - Social networking is somewhat of a new phenomenon; however, it has become an important piece of the online marketing puzzle. You may notice that most major brands have a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and maybe even a YouTube channel. This is because social networking offers a way to interact with your customers where they hangout. They are already active users of many these sites, and they may even be talking about your brand: get involved.
Though it may seem overwhelming at first, online marketing should not be intimidating. If you feel comfortable enough to start working on your campaign, you may want to do a little more research, but the most important thing is to get started. If you still feel overwhelmed, don't worry. There are many professionals who specialize in search engine marketing that would be happy to walk you through the process
