As a part of my "Back to the Basic" series. I have simplified the process of getting started into 6 steps. These are the basis to building an online presence, so one can began networking into this industry of "Internet Marketing.
The core or foundation set within these 6 steps, will allow you to expand on each of the processes thereafter. As you become more experienced in each step. You can define and integrate more advanced or other elements that will support your business growth. I will include some of those additional support features within each step as I detail each initial basic procedure.
If you are just starting out, keep in mind that the following procedures are to get you up and running an online/internet business. Yet, remember your first keyword......BUSINESS!
Yes, this will be an actual business and should be treated as such.
Some quick tips: Most all work and inter-actions will be over the internet/tablet and your smartphone. Ensure that you have a decent access to the internet and Wi-Fi.
Clear out an area that you can dedicate as your work space. Even better, host a separate room. This can then be classified (for tax purposes) as your office. Have on hand a reasonable amount of office supplies, pens, pencils, paper, scanner/copier, extra ink cartridges for printer. Post-It-Notes come in pretty handy if I might add.
STEP #1
Name/Brand:
Naming your business is the most crucial strategy you can impose on your business/brand. It becomes the foundation of your identity. It will associate others to you and your connections to the world in ways that can make or break your business future. What do you want to convey to the outside world about you, your product/service and company?
Naming your business, connects you to emails, social media, name recognition. It will become your brand, where others will become arise to take some kind of action to all of your online endeavors. Whether they respond to your Facebook post, a tweet, Instagram/Pinterest pictures or LinkedIn articles. All will starts with your name and logo presence.
Remember, you want people that when they see your brand name/logo, something positive is the first thing that comes to their mind. Research different names, by Googling varies version. Make a list of these names. If one is taken already, try them with different domain name extension (.com, .net, .org, .gov)Keeping the name short and unique, allows others to easily remember it. Make sure that it clearly relates to your targeted product and/or service you are offering. Place keywords if possible, within the naming. Avoid numbers & symbols.
Keep in mind the possibility of future growth. You don't want to have to rename or re-brand down the road just because of expansion. Think about what you want your logo to reflect upon. Will it fit together.....logo & name? Check trademarked names with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, states allow you to search registered business names online as well.
Your name should create a feeling of positivity, strength & creativity. Yes, put a little extra thought into your name & brand.
STEP #2
Website/Blog:
Now that your name is solidified. You are going to set-up accounts using this name. All emails, social media accounts that will be used to talk, write and promote your brand should incorporate this name.
All of your efforts are to funnel your visitors, targeted audience from your media outlets to a particular point......your website or blog.
There are a few ways to go about this stage. If you are just starting out and have limited experience on computer or social media insights. I would suggest using a blog platform as your first introduction to your online presence.
Blogger and Wordpress are highly recommended and very google friendly. Yet, free to use. You can later upgrade to varies add-on as you gain followers and become comfortable with the inner workings of your blogs functions. Using your blog as your first online address (URL Uniform Resource Locator) will prepare you to the working of your website.
Utilizing both platforms in conjunction will greatly enhance your online presence.
Your company website, must include a homepage along side support pages. These support pages will provide information like company mission statement, contact info, company history and general information about your company. All of which should include keyword infused words relevant to your business.
Within the contents of your blog and website, links building or backlinks as it is called, will assist in higher ranking among search engines like Google & Bing. Which will drive traffic/potential customers to your blog and website.
STEP #3
Products/Services:
Let's be honest here, clearly, the core reason to your "WHY" factor is you want to succeed in this industry to make MONEY! Your why, can be because you want more time with family and friends, able to go, see places and do things on your bucket-list. Maybe you just need an extra income stream to pay for that college fund, home repairs, new house, car, motorcycle or catch up on that retirement fund that was started way to late. At the end of the day..........you want FINANCIAL SECURITY!
Building a business that will generate the necessary income for these activities isn't just going to grow on any tree. Money, will always involve hard work, failures and risks. So prepare, never quit.......Anything worthwhile is worth the effort!
What will surely test your limits in the beginning, will be what to sell others out there that people are willing to pay for. The lane you take will be both daunting and require your deep thorough attention.
Where do you start when it seems everything is already thought of. When you have competition like Amazon & ebay. Here's a thought processed during a seminar I went to or book I read a while back.
There is always something to sell, redesigned and make better. Even the likes of.......Simple ideas that made millions!
If you look around your house, could you redesign that trash can? Maybe you can add certain type of picturous designs. Can you design a better eating plate? Or how about a new type of cabinet handle. I hope you can get the picture.
What needs to happen is simple, find a need then fill it!
Did you know that the #1 online product sold are health & wellness related products.
How do we handle this task of finding something to sell?
We first must understand that there are products that people use everyday or at least on a regular basis. Yet, can be brought from different companies or sources. These essential items are considered commoditized products.
Next, we have something that maybe trending or is a specialized product or service unique to a particular industry.
Niche Marketing - Marketers will focus on campaigns that are the essentials of a specific segments or industry. By tapping into this targeted audience, one has a better chance of capitalizing on it income potential. The benefits include a narrowed marketing demographics, which leads to less marketing effort.......physically and more financially.
However, one can begin by leveraging other people's products & services. These are what is known as Affiliate or referral marketing.
Amazon, Ebay & Walmart are just a few of the Super stores that offer affiliate/referral programs. This is an idea way to catch your footing in this industry. While you develop your own product or narrow your own niche to market in.
My personal opinion, again, understand that this is a business. To really gain momentum, you have got to have a passion for what you do. You have to want to see any obstacle through. When one step is not producing, you must be determined to find a way to defeat that hurdle. Always go back to why you started this journey. Remember what it was that motivated you in the first place. See, if you have not reached that reason or goal. Then that "why" is still in play.
Become passion about what you are doing. Your end desire is to succeed. So, succeed! What are your hobbies? What skill sets have you acquired over the years? What are you TRULY passionate about? Then simply, incorporate them into your business. Keywords here is YOUR BUSINESS! When you love what you are doing, it is no longer a JOB. You jump into projects with fire. If and when issues arise, you are dedicated to solving them.
By promoting/marketing other products from establish companies that are similar to your own business direction, you can build up to your end goal.
Here's the thing, your best success online is to have a solid product or service to offer. Preferably something you own. That doesn't mean you can't build around it till you have all your pieces together for your very own product line.
Ever wonder why people tend to make movies, write books or make music? That's because with these types of products, you do it once and get paid multiple times. If you can come up with a niche product. One where you can target a certain demographic, all that's left is marketing it. Internet marketing from the comfort of your computer. It has been done, it can be done and it will continue to be done. Go get yours!
STEP #4
Sales Funnel/List (E-mail) Building:
Now, the meat and potatoes of any business.......consumers, customers, clients that will read your blogs, buy your products and services.
It's called internet/online marketing for a reason. You must market to an audience that is in need of what you have to offer.
Do you think that companies that invest 30% to 50% of their revenue into advertising & marketing do so just because they want to. No, these companies have to keep their product in the public eyes. They want you to remember their brand when you see it on the shelves. Or when you are hungry, when you are looking for that new car, flat screen TV, smartphone etc,.
The channels can be as endless as they can be creative. And I find one of the pleasure of working this industry is in fact, being able to be creative in your business building ventures.
We know some marketing channels easily, we see them day in and day out. TV commercials, newspaper & magazine ads, email, pop-ups, Youtube ads. When you driving, McDonald's, Burger King, 7-Eleven signs are a plenty.
We as independent business owners, we don't have that kind of marketing budget as the big boys. Yet, there are ways to penetrate the markets you are targeting. This channel is used in varies forms throughout the online marketing community that increase your brand recognition and allows for easy market analyzation........
SALES FUNNEL & Email List Building
List Building - is the collections of names and information of your targeted audience that creates your customer base. This is a highly recommended and effective means of lead generation for any online & offline business.
It is as important as anything you can do for your business. This is a volunteer opt-in permission based marketing strategy. It simply allow you to send information, promotional offers or followup on past inquiries. Typically, the source of communication is through e-mail address acquisition.
Email List - It is exactly as it states, a list of e-mail addresses. One can buy or rent an email list. With these I would be very careful, as these list can be old, invalid or not a targeted audience. There are good sources of companies that can provide you a decent list. The better the list, the higher the cost. Do you research first!
Sales Funnel - You are now moving forward. You've named your biz, you have an online presence, product/services and now a list of interested and potential buyer.
You want to now create a sales funnel. Through a specially designed path you are funneling your contacts from a visit to your blog or website. Through a series of enticing presentations that build up excitement about your company, product or service. The end result being a consumer purchasing from you. You send out an offer to your e-mail list. The respondents are sent to a "landing page" where they are engaged in your material. Getting them to consider your service by means of an irresistible bargain or time limited offer. Once the offer is excepted they are funneled through a check-up procedure that has your main sales offer, generally a higher ticket product or upgraded service. As you can interpret, sales funnel are guided steps to get your contact/lead to buy your offer.
STEP #5
Multiple Streams of Income:
The wealthy accumulate wealth by having their money work for them. They have multiple source of income stream from different business venture and income generating investments. As I am learning.......just D.W.W.D, Do What the Wealthy Do!
STEP #6
Duplicate:
Duplicate what works. Re-invest into your business for growth. If it isn't broke, work it! If it doesn't work, test out ways that will!
Continued growth,
Andrew Hayes
REAL TALK
"LET's DO THIS!"
Copyright © 2018 Andrew Hayes All Rights Reserved
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