Why is Internet Advertising and Marketing Important?

The Internet is a tool enabling businesses to reach literally millions of new customers each month. The Internet is redefining the relationship between businesses and consumers, for the first time in history a small to medium sized company now can reach all over the globe to share information about it's products and services. Now your business can advertise and reach customers on a global scale that just a few years ago was available to only a hand full of large corporations. One advantage to advertising on the internet  is the fact that the it is always on. Your businesses image is shared 24 hrs a day 7 days a week. Shoppers can visit your site at their Convenience from the comfort of their own homes. It is like having your doors open 24 hrs a day 7 days a week.

 Another advantage is the Internet is enabling consumers to purchase from companies outside their geographical location; many items that were once available only in certain areas now are available worldwide thanks to the Internet. I believe the Internet will dramatically change the way we purchase and use the products and services we use daily. But don't take my word for it here is a recent quote from Alan Greenspan to the senate Budget Committee

"A significant part of the distribution of goods and services in this country is going to move from conventional channels to some sort of Internet system -- whether it's retail goods or services."

Internet Marketing Strategy: Why is it Important?

Would you start a business without a business plan? Would you place your yellow pages ad in an irrelevant category just to see if anyone would call? Would you pay thousands of dollars to have a billboard ad created and placed where there is no traffic?

If you are among the majority of business owners you probably answered no to all of the above questions. Businesses are very careful when it comes to spending marketing dollars, but truth is most businesses have neglected the most effective marketing tool that they have which is the strategic planning of their internet presence. It's not a problem to spend thousands of dollars to pay for the design and development but the planning process and strategy building has been neglected. Why? Many are under the misconception that a web designer is an expert in the area of Internet marketing and that they are also well versed in search engine optimization. They are only met with disappointment. Do you know anyone who has experienced following problems:

• Minimal sales and conversion.
• Traffic to the site is not as expected or hundreds of dollars are being paid for traffic leads but still there is no conversion from that traffic.
• Subscriptions to reports or newsletters that you offer are slim to none.
• You've received only minimal requests for services or products by email or telephone since your site launch.

How could these problems have been avoided? An Internet Marketing Strategy can help position you to your target and niche market as well as increase conversion by following the five levels of the sales process mentioned below. While the answer seems simple the process is a bit more involved but vital to the success of a business that is about to launch online.