Internet Marketing Guide

If you are considering launching a website for your business or entering lucrative world of e-commerce by starting an online business, there are a few things you need to keep in mind in order to assure your web site’s success. Without taking time to understand how Internet and search engines work you will certainly guarantee that no one will see your site. The Internet is a whole new ball game when it comes to marketing. Invest a few minutes in making your website a success by browsing through tips listed in Internet marketing guide below.

Simply launching a web site and hoping search engines will pick it up or that someone will stumble upon it isn’t a very effective strategy. The first Internet marketing guide step you need to employ involves your domain name. The domain name you select needs to be easy to spell, visually attractive and relative to your business. It can be very tempting to come up with a name that either includes a version of your own name or a cutesy or unique domain name (example: www.bobsuseddvds.com or www.gourmetkoffee.com) however sad reality is that this type of combination is not very efficient for several reasons.

First, it can be a little difficult for average surfer to remember, particularly if your name is a common name. Secondly, as in example listed, you end up with too many of same letters of alphabet. This example has far too many of letters S and D. Finally, you need to select a name that will stand out visually and that is easy to remember and spell. While term ‘gourmet coffee’ relates to a specific business and is easy enough to remember, unusual spelling of coffee could result in opposite effect of what you are trying to accomplish. If domain name you would like for your business has already been registered by someone else, consider using a different extension. Not every domain name needs to end in .com. There are other extensions available. Also think about re-arranging words or adding words to make name unique and still easy to remember and spell. For example, while domain name gourmetcoffee.com might already be taken; chances are www.gourmetcoffeeforyou.com probably isn’t.

Is Procrastination Holding You Back?

When you look at your marketing to-do list, do many of items on it look all too familiar? Have entries like "call Donna Sanchez" and "follow up with Floyd Corp." been copied from a previous week? Putting off unappealing tasks may be human nature, but for an entrepreneur, procrastination can be deadly. Delays in contacting a prospect can lose business to competition. Failing to get word out about an upcoming event may forfeit dozens of opportunities. Wasted marketing time can never be recovered. By time you realize you might not make your goal for month, quarter, or year, it may already be too late. Finding tasks on your to-do list week after week is a clear sign you are procrastinating, but it's not always this obvious. Can you identify with any of these situations? 1. Feelings of overwhelm. You have a backlog of work that seems insurmountable. You wake up in morning already thinking about everything you must accomplish that day. It seems impossible to get it all done. If you are routinely unable to complete what's on your list in time available, you may be creating problem yourself by putting tasks off week after week. 2. Making excuses. You find yourself constantly having to make excuses to your business buddies, referral partners, potential clients, or even your coach about why you never followed up on that great referral, that important sales call wasn't made, marketing package wasn't sent, or proposal wasn't written. After a while, excuses begin to sound flimsy, even to you. 3. Trivial pursuits. You notice that you are doing unimportant chores -- rearranging your desk drawers, filing old business cards, shopping for just right desk, surfing Net -- while neglecting crucial marketing activities. 4. Overflowing pipeline. A form of procrastination unique to entrepreneurs and salespeople is continuing to develop new leads instead of contacting prospects you already have. If you are spending more time attending networking events or reviewing lists of names than getting on phone, putting your fingers to keyboard, or driving to appointments, this problem may be yours.