It is truly amazing how many online businesses try to operate without clear priorities. What happens? They keep hacking away at the jungle of web marketing challenges with their toy machetes until they die. Yet the basic priorities are the same for all businesses. Live by them, and flourish.
- Every online business needs a strategic plan and a tactical plan. You need to know where you are going and how to get there.
- The target audience and the problem you satisfy for them must be crystal clear.
- Without conversion, nothing else matters. Before the social media campaign, the link building, the joint ventures, you must have a site that effectively compels the visitor to do what you want him to do.
- An online business is farming, not hunting. The soil must be tilled, seeds planted, and regular watering, fertilizing, and weeding must be carried out diligently.
- A focused marketing strategy using only a few tactics executed very well will trump a broad plan every time. With all the possibilities – social media, article marketing, blogging, email marketing, PPC, media buying, etc. - those who do it all rarely do anything well and get disappointing results.
- Hire someone to do it for you or do it yourself? If you choose to do it yourself, get quality training. It’s the best investment you will ever make.
- Know your break even point and critical decision points, then live by them. Businesses slowly die by continuing activities that erode profit.
- Have fun. Internet marketing is an adventure and one of the most intriguing games around.
Education is dangerous – every educated person is a future enemy.