How much do you want to spend on your online marketing? A large company like Geico spent almost $1 billion dollars on advertising last year, according to Radio & Television Business Report . Because most small and medium sized companies do not allocate a billion dollars or even a million dollars for their Internet marketing, they have to strategize. Strategy=less money spent on unsuccessful online marketing services.
First, figure out your market:
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Who will want your product?
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Who will be able to afford your product?
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What age group will buy your product?
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Will men or women or both be interested in your product?
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What type of people will buy your product?
If you sell high-end hiking shoes, your target market might be active men and women between the ages of 20 to 45. You should focus your online marketing efforts on this target market and not create social media marketing plans that try to target everyone. For instance, how much good would it be to market to teenage girls and boys? Not much. They may not be able afford your product.
Once you have your target market and have created a clear customer profile, you are ready to set an Internet marketing budget. There are a lot of platforms that are either free or available at a low price. For instance, Facebook is free, Twitter is free and WordPress is free. In addition, you can use keywords on your website that allow search engines to find your company. Known as
SEO
, choosing the right keywords to use throughout the content of your website is another form of online marketing that is effective. What you can’t afford is letting your online marketing plans falter. Keep the momentum going even when the money isn’t flowing in. By keeping your brand in front of your customer’s eyes, you remain relevant. Don’t allow a shoe-string budget to keep you from marketing your brand and acquiring customers.
Image By: GollyGforce (swamped season at work)
