Understanding an Online Marketing Campaign - Part II

By: C M Harris Click author's name for more of his/her articles

In Understanding an Online Marketing Campaign Part I you learned that marketing online is cheaper and much simpler than marketing for a brick-and-mortar business. While at first it all seems formidable and difficult to grasp, the learning curve for online marketing is very slight.

Let's look at some basic ways you can market any product or program through an online marketing campaign.

Articles
You can write an article about your niche. There are many places online to submit these articles. At the bottom of the article you can add your own bio with a link to your landing page, your web site, or your blog.

Free Ads
Free ads do work. The key is to put out a LOT of ads and then keep them updated. Run a search for "free online ads." You'll see a wide array of selections. Try them out and see which ones pull the best

Paid Ads (Pay Per Click)
By bidding on keywords, you can spend money for ads on sites such as Yahoo Search and Google. This step may seem a little daunting at first for newbies, but it's really quite simple. The sites have clear tutorials that walk you through step-by-step. Plan your budget wisely.

Landing Pages
If you begin with affiliate marketing, you don't need an entire website. Just create what is called a "landing page." (Also known as a squeeze page, or a lead-capture page.) One page is easy to navigate, does a pre-sell, and has a place for the visitor to fill out name and email address, hence, lead-capture.

Autoresponders
Autoresponders help with follow-up. It's a proven fact that your site visitors don't usually make a decision on the first visit. Autoresponders allow you to follow up with continual email letters, or newsletters. As they read your relevant (must be relevant) information, the trust level grows.

Blogs
Setting up a blog is easier than you think. Here you can create a friendly kitchen-table type of atmosphere where your visitors feel at home. This is another area where trust is cultivated.

Forums
There are forums on the Internet about every subject imaginable. That means there are forums related to your niche. Find two or three, add your comments, and add your links in a signature line for each post you make. (Again, more inter-connecting!)

Conclusion
Your online marketing campaign will be unique to you, your niche, your long-term goals, and your budget. By creating your own written campaign outline, you will not be lured by every "come-on" that jumps out at you. If it looks good, and it may be good, but check to see if it fits in your campaign plan. If not, move on.

Two wise bits of advice:
1. Don't bite off more than you can chew.
2. Stay focused.