You Have Achieved Online Success – What Now?

by Sean Rasmussen on March 8, 2010

Online SuccessSo you’ve done everything right. You’ve used all the internet marketing tricks, tips, and techniques in your arsenal to gain a large amount of regular traffic to your site, used good SEO for superior page ranking, and your sales or affiliate marketing efforts are paying off with a steady income. Is it time to sit back and rest on your laurels, eagerly raking in money while sipping a drink on the beach?

You should certainly give yourself a pat on the back, but by no means is this the time to quit working. The key now is to reflect on your recent online success and vow to work smarter, not harder.

A stagnant online business will quickly fail; a company that constantly updates itself is bound to continue growing. It’s the perfect time to make some resolutions that enhance your online achievements and to spread your wings a little, too.

Thinking Outside The (Internet) Box

This may be the best time to focus outside of the online world and move into your physical environment. Consider giving back to your community. Join a local business organisation. Become a mentor to someone just starting out as an internet marketer. Teach a class at the library or community college. Attend networking events.

The advantage of these exercises is twofold: while expanding your marketing efforts to the local area you can also pay it forward and reap the benefits of rewarding service.

Reach A New Market

Of course, the people in your community are likely to be new customers, but what else can you do to extend your company’s marketing reach?

One way to gain clientele is to ask for referrals from your expanding list of satisfied customers. Encourage referrals by offering something special for those who give you qualified leads. Remember to follow up promptly on each and every one.

Repeat Your Online Success

Perform a review of all past marketing efforts and determine which resulted in the greatest ROI, then focus on repeating that online success. Use your time wisely by investing it in activities that achieve the biggest gains not only in sales, but in customer satisfaction, reputation, and branding.

Upgrade

Have you been getting by using last year’s software version or a PPC campaign that only uses long-tail keywords? Consider taking your profits and investing them back into the business. Perhaps a website upgrade is in order or the purchase of an accounting software package could help you control finances.

It may also be the time to upgrade your services by adding staff members. If you determine that your time is best spent nurturing relationships with potential clientele, then hire someone else to do everyday maintenance, marketing, or admin tasks. The investment will pay off in the form of increased online sales as well as your valuable time freed up.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Don’t just make a list of resolutions and then toss them into a file cabinet. Schedule tasks that will keep you on target and actually achieve goals. Break them down into daily activities and keep tabs on your progress. For instance, if you decide that delving deeper into social media is an effective way to continue your company’s growth, then institute a goal of posting daily on each social networking site of which you are a member.

Achieving online success is something to be proud of. Don’t stop now! Do some things that are different, focus on techniques proven to achieve positive results, delve into some new areas, and strategise for future growth as well.

Have a most outstanding day.

Sean Rasmussen
Aussie Internet Marketing
www.AussieSEO.com 2010

 

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The Importance Of An Online Business Presence

by Sean Rasmussen on March 5, 2010

You may wonder if building an online business presence for your brand or your name is actually worth the time and trouble. Perhaps you found success with a regular bricks-and-mortar operation and are just now beginning to be convinced of the benefits of moving online.

Online Presence For Your BrandMaybe you are satisfied with the current number of customers buying your products or services and feel no need to grow (is there really any business owner who currently feels this way?).

An online business presence is vital for success in today’s market, no matter what type of industry you are in, or what type of business you own. There is no substitute for the information you can provide with a website. Let’s take a more in-depth look at the importance of building an online business presence.

Authority

If someone is trying to find your business by doing an internet search, imagine what they would think if all they came across is a simple directory listing while all your competitors offer a professional website. Where will they find the most information? Which one would they choose if they are seeking the business with the most industry authority?

If a Google search of your company’s name returns less than one page of results, you are seriously lacking authority. The most successful businesses are referenced throughout the internet – at other sites, on blogs, in articles, in social media posts, etc. When professionals and search engines rate your business, it enjoys greater authority.

Building Trust Through Your Online Business Presence

Here’s another scenario. Assume that a consumer is making a decision between two companies with which to do business. Company #1 has a phone number listed online and perhaps a generic email address. Company #2 has a full website with an About Us page, a Contact Us page, a Sales letter with customer testimonials, FAQ list, interactive help feature, and pages with pictures of their products along with detailed descriptions, shipping options, satisfaction guarantee, and pricing. Which would most people choose?

Obviously the second site not only contains all the information they are seeking, it builds trust through the presence of testimonials, a written guarantee, and the ability to contact the company via various methods.

Make It Easy

In the above example, the second site also makes it easier on the customer. They’ve already answered possible questions, and outlined what the consumer can expect when placing an order. It’s simply easier for them to do business with Company #2 – they don’t have to place a call, they don’t need to visit the store in person, they don’t have to wonder if the company offers the products or services they are seeking. Who would go out of their way to do business with a company that makes the information-seeking and buying processes difficult?

Convenience also means that you take the time to personally interact with your visitors and provide prompt, high quality online customer support. If they send an email message, make sure your respond quickly and address any concerns. Thank them after the sale and follow up on their satisfaction. It is also important that a potential client know there is a real person behind that online presence.

There is not a single business that cannot benefit from building a widespread online business presence. Work on increasing your company’s authority and the customer’s trust while making it easy for them to do business with you and profits will assuredly soar.

Have a most outstanding day.

Sean Rasmussen
Aussie Internet Marketing
www.AussieSEO.com 2010

 

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Using Holidays To Your Internet Marketing Advantage

March 1, 2010

Nearly everyone gets excited about holidays, even internet marketers! For some people, religious holidays such as Easter are the favourite, others prefer patriotic events like Australia Day, for most, Christmas is always the best.
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Your value added [...]

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Your Twitter Avatar
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Affiliate Product Considerations
1. Is there demand for the product?
2. What’s the potential return on investment?
3. What’s the competition like?
Product Demand

Marketing a product is obviously easier when people want the product. The easier it is to convince people [...]

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Achieving Internet Marketing Success Through Attainable Goals

February 8, 2010

As an internet marketer, are you setting goals to achieve internet marketing success? If so, are they achievable? While it can be a good thing to dream big, you should also set small and measurable goals as well. As you attain these smaller goals, you can get closer to your ultimate goals.
A lot of [...]

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Measuring Online Success Beyond Dollars

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Too often, online business owners tend to focus purely on the bottom line, looking only at profit and sales figures without placing importance on other factors. Particularly during the first months when a fledgling business is still struggling to get on its feet, it can be disheartening to not see immediate online success.
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