Generating Leads Online: Back to Basics
By mike | April 25, 2008
There is no right answer on how to generate leads online. All we can do is employ multiple methods, numerous submissions and quality web content, and ………wait. Internet Marketing has become one of the most misunderstood skill sets. There are too many chiefs and not enough indians. I recently read a piece by Joe Marchese, “…people need to stop “starting to think about ‘what’s next’ before they’ve figured out ‘what’s now,”. That statement holds the true-st in Web-site Marketing. In my opinion, search marketers’ spend too much time trying to “get over” on the search engines or out wit the competition. I believe in the ladder, but to what extent will this action of conquest marketing affect the bottom line and ROI? Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Industry Secrets | 1 Comment »
Is the Pay-Per-click Sandbox getting crowded?
By mike | March 16, 2008
I have been on the trade show (Home and Garden Show) circuit for about 3 months now. I have heard about every type of PPC platform available. There seems to be teams of “rogue” spin-off agencies, using software and methods to develop custom PPC campaigns. While I feel that this will foster innovation, I am also inclined to believe that this will dilute the quality of the product. Too many chiefs and no Indian’s.
Who will pioneer new technology?
The answer isn’t as simple as you would think. Google will be continuing to dominate in the internet advertising arena, while Yahoo will embrace as many “flashy” media widgets and gadgets, with the most curb appeal. Invoke and prevoke are the operative terms. In order for MSN and ASK to continue, they will need to gain ground in both media and advertising arenas. The aforementioned “rogue” agencies, will be the deciding factor. There ability to manipulate marketing campaigns and use behavioral targeting to raise ROI and decrease ad budget, within each search engine, is the obvious path to “internet marketing richeousness”.
Why is this a risk?
However, there are certain “side effects”. These side effects can range from, outrageous CPC’s, Low Quality Scores or even complete demographic and keywords omissions. The importance of a great internet marketing rep is the obvious scapegoat. The account rep, from a “Big Name” print directory or the search engine provided advertising interface manager, is the business owners only synaps to the web. There are numerous fail-safes in these marketing platforms, however if not activated they will be useless. THERE IS NO “SET-IT and Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Industry Secrets | 10 Comments »
The Pittsburgh Home Show: Land of Opportunity
By mike | March 9, 2008
Higher Images Inc. was in attendance of the Pittsburgh Home Show. The business opportunities for consumers and vendors struck like the high waters on the Mon-Wharf. The home show this year seemed to be your typical presentation of local businesses and “As Seen on TV” products. Each vendor giving it their all, the best and brightest of the sales force swarming like sharks in a frenzy.
For the most part, a company like Higher Images Inc. would seem out of place, but this is couldn’t be further from the truth. Marketing and websites are the new frontier for service industry businesses. The death of the phonebook has been the biggest contributing factor. The Internet brings opportunity for business, and the entire untapped (not tapped enough) online community is diverse in compilation and economic status.
The Internet can be compared to a trade show in a sense. Consider that the convention center is the world wide web, each booth is a website, and finally the people walking by are Internet surfers (consumers). The booth/site needs to be able to support the product or service being offered. The sales rep is a living breathing “ad” standing in the information highway (the aisle in front of the booth), if that sales rep is persuasive enough, they can generate leads.
To summarize, attending a Home and Garden Show is only as successful as you make it. If your website/booth is easy to navigate and able to convert, then you can sell any product or service anywhere. Isn’t that how it works on the Internet?
Topics: Industry Secrets | 5 Comments »
