It can be overwhelming for advertisers when they brainstorm all of the different methods to get the word out there. In this article, we’ll look at five tips that Internet marketing professionals should implement to increase revenue.
Tip #1 – Accommodate the Widest Audience Possible
If you’re looking to market on the Internet, then you need to appeal to as many people as possible. Often, you’ll hear advice that you should focus on a niche market — which is good advice — but you need to know that a niche isn’t the end-all be-all when it comes to Internet marketing. In fact, a niche may make up a large portion of your audience, but what about the outliers? What about raising your brand awareness?
This means that even if you have a niche selected, think about expanding that niche to accommodate as many angles as possible. For instance, you may sell fidget spinners to enthusiasts, but don’t forget that there are those who may not necessarily be directly interested in them — however, those uninterested people may know people who are interested (including family members, friends, colleagues, etc.) and they can make purchases for gift ideas.
The trick is to track your analytics and see where your greatest ROI (return on investment) comes from. Chances are it is from the target market of your niche. But then, ask yourself, who else might be interested in your products and services. It is these experimentations in your advertising that can open up new worlds of untapped revenue.
Tip #2 – Use Virtual Locations
The Internet can give your business the appearance of localization in nearly any market you want with something called a “virtual location.” A virtual location is a sense of place on the Internet that accommodates particular target markets tied to a geographic area, and sells the products/ services tailored to their needs.
By leveraging Internet-based tools, your inbound customers may begin to feel that your online presence is authentic, which makes customers more willing to listen to your further marketing efforts.
So, what makes up a virtual office? A website is mandatory, as it is the nexus of all your online operations. However, you can supplement your virtual location with other virtual tools, including virtual phone numbers, online collaboration software, cloud storage, mobile-based apps, VPNs, and so forth. By using a virtual office, you reduce your overheads by transitioning out of the traditional office environment and matching the 21st century’s way of doing business.
Tip #3 – Social Media Can Exponentiate your Impact
It needs to be said: social media is never a waste of time.
Even if you’ve been marketing your business elsewhere, there’s no reason why you can’t push your advertising on social media. The cost is cheap (or relatively cheap) and the ability to gain a disparate audience that’s happy to share your new ideas/ product/ service is invaluable. Tools like HubSpot and Buffer can sync up all of your social media accounts so that your efforts are more efficient and uniform.
Tip #4 – Think Outside the Internet
Ever hear of the term “think outside the box?” This used to mean embracing the Internet and using its then-relatively-new edge to revolutionize marketing models. The only problem is that the Internet is now ubiquitous, meaning that human beings are boxed into the power of the Internet.
The solution to thinking outside the box is using your marketing efforts to steer customers from digital-based browsing to instead having them interface with your company’s staff in person. This can be a powerful way to bridge the gap and actually learn something about the type of person that your marketing efforts are bringing in.
Tip #5 – Appearances are Important
If there is one thing that a business needs, it is a rock-solid appearance over the Internet. Internet marketing professionals should know intuitively when a logo seems off, or there are numerous typos in their marketing materials. One misstep can make your business seem like you’re skimping on important details, or that your company views customers as an afterthought (even if that’s not your intent). Of course, that’s basic and easy to remedy with tools like Grammarly and copyediting any work that enters the public eye.
Going one step further, toll free numbers give your business a professional appeal, even if your business is just starting out and wants to gain a marketing presence as soon as possible. This “fake-it-‘til-you-make it” approach can give you a credibility and rootlessness (800 numbers in the US can come from nearly everywhere). Furthermore, toll free numbers are free for domestic callers to dial (the subscriber is instead charged), which can subconsciously put the customer at ease.
by Tom Senkus
Author’s Bio: Tom Senkus is a freelance writer, entrepreneur, and Internet marketer. His work has been published in over fifty publications, both print and online. For more information on his work and rates, visit www.tomsenkuswriter.com