Here are 9 great tools that have helped me with my Internet Marketing efforts:

After 8 years in the Internet Marketing business I’ve tried many, many tools out there that promise to save you time and money. There are very few out there that do, but here are a few of my favorites:

1. Gmail.com – for those of you using Microsoft Outlook and aren’t extremely happy with it, I recommend you look into Gmail. You can still send email from your existing email accounts, while syncing with Calendar and Task applications that are a) Free and b) crash a lot less than Outlook does. Reliable and flexible email is part of the foundation of a successful Internet marketing campaign.

2. Google Sync – access your calendar, email and task list from your smart phone- none of this blackberry email nonsense that’s expensive and unreliable.

3. Wisestamp.com – the only downside to Gmail that I had experienced was that it did not allow for a rich signature (one that has logos or images). Wisestamp changed all that with a downloadable application that lets you create a fabulous signature complete with links to your social media accounts. This allows you to capitalize on your social media marketing efforts- a major component of an internet marketing strategy.

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Yes. A 90’s boy band can help you figure out if internet marketing is right for your business…..a large majority of business owners like yourself are suffering from head-in-the-sand syndrome.

Leveraging the internet to grow your business is something you know you should look at. But without a thorough understanding of the risks, rewards and how-to’s it’s tempting to put your head in the sand and hope it will all just go away.

Unlike New Kids on the Block, the internet as a marketing tool is not fading away.

Online marketing is certainly not a magical solution that will instantly deliver thousands of sales. But it is an important tool that more and more small businesses are using to successfully grow their businesses.

It may be beneficial to you to evaluate whether internet marketing could benefit you too. But where do you start? Continue reading →

If you have been playing around with the idea of using internet marketing to drive your organization’s sales, congratulations! Internet marketing is one of the most affordable, measurable and effective marketing techniques available to businesses today.

However, there is a right and a wrong way to use internet marketing. Here are the 5 most common fails and how to avoid them.

1. Leaping before you look:

In the fast paced world of the internet, technologies and tools are constantly evolving. Almost daily there is a new product or technique that claims it is the greatest thing since sliced bread, so it can be tempting to create a Facebook page, or a Google maps account before you have a well thought out plan as to WHY you are choosing these specific tools.

As boring as it is to hear, and quite frankly, say, having some kind of plan or strategy to reach your target market BEFORE you start will save you time and frustration in the long run. A few things to consider:

• Who is your client base, and where are they hanging out online?

• What are you promoting anyway? You need more to say than just having a sales pitch

• How do you want to be perceived? What do you want people to think when the encounter you online

• What is the end result you are trying to achieve? Have a goal before you start, so you can make sure your actions are all working towards achieving that goal.

2. Poor messaging:

As mentioned above, if you make your internet marketing ALL about you, no one will listen. It’s like the person at the party that talks ON and ON about themselves, without letting you get a word in. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are different than traditional marketing in that they encourage a dialogue. Deliver value, ask questions, be personable, but please do not make it all about what you’re selling.

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