When we talk about internet marketing, it might surprise you to know that there are many types from which you can choose. Many of you may already be familiar with article marketing from a previous blog post that we did. But there’s a whole big sea of methods you can use for successful web marketing. You can use one method or several to take full advantage of the various promotion options for your services or products.

According to Wikipedia, “Internet marketing ties together the creative and technical aspects of the Internet, including design, development, advertising and sales.” Also known as web marketing, online marketing, webvertising or e-marketing, the broadness of types is extensive:

• Display advertising
• Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Social media marketing
• Email marketing
• Referral marketing
• Affiliate marketing
• Inbound marketing
• Video marketing
• Mobile marketing

That means there are many ways you can enhance visibility for your services and products. Twelve Oaks Group has already touched on some of these, so we’ll be careful to not tread where we have been before. We’re only going to touch on those that we feel a small business or local government agency might want to tackle first.

“By 2016, advertisers will spend $77 billion on interactive marketing — as much as they do on television today. Search marketing, display advertising, mobile marketing, email marketing, and social media will grow to 26% of all advertising spend as they are embedded in the marketing mix.” (Forrester, August 24, 2011)

Display Advertising

You might have heard the term banners mentioned before and the importance of displaying banners next to your written content on your web pages, in your emails or even internet messaging (IM) applications. These banners come in all sorts of sizes and shapes and can utilize text, logos, images and, quickly becoming more popular, rich media that can have audio, video and more. Display advertising is just like your newspaper and magazine ads and your TV commercials — only in an online environment.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

SEM is what you do in the way of marketing that places your website higher in ranking on the major search engines like Google, Bing, Ask, Yahoo! and any other search engine that is out there on the Web. By getting higher placement in these engines, the likelihood of visitors coming to your site increases tenfold.

One of the most popular types of search engine marketing is Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Simply, SEO is trying to “figure out” how search engines work. What search terms or keywords do individuals type into the search bar? What are they looking for?

The major applications where you want to consider utilizing SEM are social media marketing, email marketing, referral marketing and content marketing.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is a very low cost way to promote your business. Not only does it allow you to target the group you want to focus on, but it can be used very effectively with other types of internet marketing to drive direct sales and build relationships, loyalty and trust. Email marketing allows you to either use cold lists (ones that you have not had any interaction with previously) or your own customers — previous, potential or current.

Okay, so are you still with me? I’m going to quickly mention 2 more types of marketing that a small business can focus on. Both of these are catching on like wildfire.

Video Marketing

You’ve heard of YouTube, haven’t you? Making and using videos is not as expensive as one might think. Videos can be used both as a training tool to teach someone how to do something, as well as a tool to advertise. You can then upload your videos to YouTube where you have a prime opportunity to cash in on a brand new avenue of internet marketing. Why is video marketing useful? It’s been shown time and again that people don’t remember text content as well as seeing a visual.

Small businesses are just now beginning to realize the open field of opportunity in tying video marketing in with our last type of internet marketing — mobile marketing.

Mobile Marketing

That cell phone you have can be a powerful tool to use for advertising. Just think – it’s been said that there are at least 5 out of every 6 homes that probably have a cell phone. Now think about this — it’s also been said that mobile marketing can be 3-5 times more effective than online marketing. Those are mighty telling statistics, wouldn’t you think?

There’s no doubt about it. internet marketing can pave the way to success for small business. You can choose one type or combine multiple types, and Twelve Oaks Group has the web design and consulting services that can help you succeed. Why not contact us so we can sit down together and develop a customized internet marketing strategy for your business today!

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

Nathan

Nathan Reed is a spastic online entrepreneur. Since 1997, Nathan has developed online solutions for non-profits, small business, and local governments. Nathan is the owner and founder of the Twelve Oaks Group.

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The article offers “5 Ways to Build a Solid Email Marketing List”. To forewarn you, 4 of the 5 are really the same thing, but it’s worth repeating… If you’re serious about e-mail marketing, always include an opt-in form on your website (in several places!).

Here’s what Entrepreneur.com says to keep in mind when creating an opt-in form:

• Generally, the less information you require to opt in, the more sign-ups you’ll receive. Most webmasters find that requiring only an email address and first name — or even just an email address — results in the highest opt-in rates.

• You’ll also get better results if you offer a bonus for providing your email address. Many merchants find that delivering a coupon code or free e-book encourages more sign-ups.

• Depending on the email marketing services provider you’ve chosen, you may be able to split test your opt-in form. If so, try designing two different versions of your form that will be displayed randomly to visitors and will help you determine the most effective approach.

 ”5 Ways to Build a Solid Email Marketing List” – Entreprenuer.com

 One thing you need to remember:

You need to strike while the iron is hot. If you’re collecting e-mail addresses in an opt-in list, you’d better start sending e-mails to your subscribers quickly. If people don’t remember signing up, they may immediately unsubscribe or worse, mark your message as “Spam” (which may prevent your message from being delivered to others!).

Are you interested in e-mail marketing for your business? If all of this seems overwhelming, or you just don’t have enough time to manage it yourself, the Twelve Oaks Group has experts who will take the lead in everything from developing your opt-in form, to actually writing content for your newsletter or promotional e-mail. Contact us today at sales@twelveoaksgroup.net or call (731) 337-4330.

Nathan

Nathan Reed is a spastic online entrepreneur. Since 1997, Nathan has developed online solutions for non-profits, small business, and local governments. Nathan is the owner and founder of the Twelve Oaks Group.

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Or do they find your web page?

People Judge You Based on Your Web Presence

When searching for a vendor to do business with, potential customers make “snap” judgements about your business based on what pops up about you on Google, Yahoo, Bing or some of the other search engines that are popular today.

Does your business even show up? If not, you have a problem obviously. If a search engine’s results aren’t accurate, a customer may never make that all-important call to YOU.

Is your website up-to-date? Does it accurately reflect what your business has to offer? If your website is out of date, has an old copyright notice, or has links that don’t work, potential customers may wonder if you’re even still in business. They will definitely feel as though you don’t care about them — a potential customer who’s searching for a company to do business with .

People Judge You Based on Your Website

Imagine a customer is comparing your website to that of one of your competitors, or even worse, a “big box” store. Take a moment right now and visit one of your competitor’s websites.

How does your site compare?

Does your website look professional, or does it look like something from the late 90s?
Are the graphics professionally done, or are they clip art you grabbed from another website?

What can a business do to improve its online image?

• Fewer, but higher quality pages might be easier to manage.
• Make certain you have *text* on your page — including your business name, address, telephone number, and most definitely information about the products and services your business offers.
• Contact Twelve Oaks Group for a Free Consultation — Twelve Oaks will evaluate your current website and provide easy-to-follow recommendations, along with a proposal to re-design your current website quickly and affordably.

Nathan

Nathan Reed is a spastic online entrepreneur. Since 1997, Nathan has developed online solutions for non-profits, small business, and local governments. Nathan is the owner and founder of the Twelve Oaks Group.

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Mashable has 7 great reasons you need a wedding website, including:

• 5. It’s easy to stay in contact with your guests. Many wedding site templates offer guest book and RSVP sections. Ask guests to sign the book or enter their email addresses to be notified of site updates or changes. Then happily send one email instead of making 150 calls.
• 6. You don’t have time to deal with 150 calls from 150 guests trying to figure out directions. The last thing you, your parents, or your Maid of Honor has time to deal with is an endlessly ringing cellphone from friends and relatives asking to clarify the location one more time.

If you or someone you know could use a wedding website, contact Twelve Oaks Group today (or call us (731) 337-4330)!

Nathan

Nathan Reed is a spastic online entrepreneur. Since 1997, Nathan has developed online solutions for non-profits, small business, and local governments. Nathan is the owner and founder of the Twelve Oaks Group.

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Until recently, it was almost impossible for small businesses to accept credit cards without paying a monthly fee, setting up a “merchant account”, and investing in an expensive credit card terminal.

A relatively new solution is Square.

Small and home based businesses are crippling themselves without the ability the accept credit cards. I know I don’t carry any cash and keep my check book in a drawer at the house. I pay for almost everything with my check card.

Until recently, it was almost impossible for small businesses to accept credit cards without paying a monthly fee, setting up a “merchant account”, and investing in an expensive credit card terminal.

A relatively new solution is Square.

Square works with iPhones and Android!

So long as you have an iPhone or an Android handset, all you do is create an account, download an app, and you’re on the way to taking on-site payments!

The good folks at Square will send you a card reader that connects to your handset. When you make a sale, simply enter the amount, swipe the card, and ask your customer to sign on the dotted line (with his or her finger!). You receive a payment confirmation, the customer receives a receipt via e-mail or text message. The next day, the funds are deposited in your account. Simple!

Square charges a very competitive transaction fee of 2.75%

Does your small business accept credit card payments? How much business are you turning away by not accepting credit cards?

Nathan

Nathan Reed is a spastic online entrepreneur. Since 1997, Nathan has developed online solutions for non-profits, small business, and local governments. Nathan is the owner and founder of the Twelve Oaks Group.

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Some of the apps and services we use include…

Trello

Project Management

Trello is a super simple project management app that’s absolutely free. I imagine it like a series of index cards on a cork board with the project / task name on the front and details on the back. I can quickly look over the the board and see where projects stand. E-mail notifications, due dates, etc are all included.

Blinksale

Billing

Blinksale is an awesome and easy online billing solution.

It was important to me to choose a billing solution that all of our team members could access (without having to pay for each user), could send e-mail invoices, would accept online payments, and was affordable. Blinksale is absolutely beautiful and amazingly affordable. If you receive an invoice from Twelve Oaks, it came from Blinksale.

It’s great for small businesses that want to bill online, but customers can also print their invoices (a PDF is attached to all invoices) and mail in payments.

Highrise

Customer, Lead, & Deal Management

I didn't want to pay, but Highrise is amazing and I really recommend it!

I resisted actually *paying* for Customer Management, but with our team spread out over a large area, it’s essential to have everyone on the same page while we market and work deals. Highrise is super easy to use, includes all the data about a deal, and allows task assignment, emailing, file management, and a host of other features.

It’s because of Highrise that any of our account managers or customer service team can be up to speed on your account or project almost immediately.

myBalsamiq

Website “Wireframes” and Mockups

You probably won't need this for your business, but it's really handy for online designers!

This isn’t something most small businesses will need, but it’s one of my favorite tools. When you begin the design process with Twelve Oaks, we talk with you about your goals for your website. A designer takes those goals and your vision and creates in myBalsamiq a rough “wire frame” or draft of how we think your website might look. This allows us to work on spacing, placement, and general design. You’ll get a copy of the wire frame to approve.

Nathan

Nathan Reed is a spastic online entrepreneur. Since 1997, Nathan has developed online solutions for non-profits, small business, and local governments. Nathan is the owner and founder of the Twelve Oaks Group.

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