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7 Ideas For Increasing Your Online Marketing Presence
Bobette Kyle
Increasingly, online marketing is a crucial part of any marketing plan. Executing the programs in your plan, however,
is just as critical. For many, finding the time is difficult. To make progress, you must set time aside each day (or other
regular time period) for marketing online. To that end, take a moment right now to block out time for online marketing over
the next six months, beginning today.
Use that time today and over the next six months to execute Internet-based programs in your plan. No plan yet?
No problem. You will of course want to finish your marketing plan so you can refine your activities, but you can begin improving
your online presence today by executing one or more of the following ideas:
Volunteer for Online Interviews
Podcasts, Webcasts, blogs, RSS feeds and newsletters (ezines) are all venues for online interviews or discussions.
You'll want to approach publishers who regularly conduct interviews with guests of your caliber, so finding opportunities
will take some research. Do this by searching general search engines (such as google.com) or directories. Some directories
to get you started: podcast.net (podcasts), ezinehub.com (ezines), sydic8.com (RSS feeds/blogs)
Identify 10 Bloggers in Your Category
Then send them your product as a gift. The idea is to expose your product to influencers in your category by giving
them an opportunity to try it free. If they like it, they may give it a mention in their blogs. Note that this is a subtle
online marketing technique. The idea is NOT to advertise to them, ask a favor of them or ask them to blog about the product.
Choosing to mention (or not mention) your product should be solely up to them.
You can find and read blogs by searching blogging directories such as technorati.com.
Join an Online Network
Online social networks allow you to set up a profile page and interact with others who have your same professional
interests. Each caters to a different type of audience and there are do's and don'ts, so you'll want to read about a network
before joining, read some of the profiles and learn a particular site's rules before plunging in. Some networks to explore:
linkedin.com, ryze.com, myspace.com, orkut.com, friendster.com, tribe.net
Draft a Press Release
First and foremost, the release must be something newsworthy to the media (if you need ideas, read the article
here: http://www.websitemarketingplan.com/pr/NewsAngle.htm). Also, be sure to include a link to your Website or blog in the
press release. Finally, distribute the release through an online press release service such as PRWeb.com.
Begin Surveying Your Website Visitors
Surveys can help you identify opportunities for improvement. Since online attention spans are very short, try asking
a single two-part question such as Fred Reichhold's Ultimate Question: "On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend
__________." Fill in the blank with your Website name (or other relevant product). To those who reply with a 6 or lower, ask
why not. Most likely you will see a pattern in the comments that will point to ways of improving your Website. There are software
packages to help you set up an online survey. Also, surveymonkey.com is a popular Web interface for producing online surveys.
Put Your Product's or Company's Creation Story Online
Or work on conveying one or more of Patrick Hanlon's 7 Primal Branding pieces online -- creed, icons, rituals,
sacred words, nonbelievers and leaders. According to Hanlon, these seven pieces form belief systems that inherently attract
people who want to believe in a product. Those people form the communities that surround successful products and services.
Study Your 5 Closest Competitors' Websites and Online Marketing Activities
Aside from gaining a better understanding of trends in your industry, you will also gain new insights into promotional
strategies and tactics for your own business. As you research, brainstorm a list of ideas and use that list to plan a new
online strategy or tactic for your own business.
There you have it - seven ideas for improving your online marketing presence. Choose one and get started today!
About the Author
Bobette Kyle draws upon 15+ years of Marketing/Executive experience, online marketing experience,
and a marketing MBA in her writing and consulting. She is proprietor at Web Marketing Place LLC and the face behind WebSiteMarketingPlan.com, where you will find articles and resources to help with your marketing plans and Web promotions. Read Bobette's
marketing strategy blog here: http://www.websitemarketingplan.com/strategy Bobette Kyle may be contacted at http://www.WebSiteMarketingPlan.com. Click here to view more articles by Bobette Kyle.
