Online Marketing Strategies 2008: The Top 7 Things You Should Be Doing - Part II
#4 Marketing Strategy for 2008: Establish “Marketing Intimacy” with Clients and Prospects
As the Internet evolves, so do its users. The rich multimedia explosion we’re experiencing on the Web is definitely here to stay. Experts now believe that in 2 years time, 80% of web users in the U.S. will be surfing videos. Youtube… Googlevideo… AOL Video… all the “me too” clone sites… There’s no putting the genies back in the bottle.
And users, well they absolutely love the content. The success and allure of audio, video and rich Flash media presentations on the Web resembles the phenomenon of reality TV. They engage you on a lot of levels. Add to that we’re all voyeurs to some degree. We love to watch other people.
As a result, visitors are less engaged and motivated by text-and-graphics-only websites and sales offers. They want more from a potential vendor than a boring, occasionally-updated website and bland text email follow-ups. If you want to earn their trust - and their business - in 2008 and beyond, then you need to establish marketing intimacy.
So, how do you establish marketing intimacy with your prospects and clients?
Well according to marketing guru Alex Mandossian, you engage your prospects and customers on as many sensory levels as possible in order to create dynamic rapport, build trust and credibility and ultimately a positive, lasting business relationship.
Alex believes the core principle at work when establishing marketing intimacy is the power of the human voice. I agree.
By using audio and video presentations in your website, you are reaching out to your prospects in a way a regular websites can’t. Let’s face it, text is text. Reading volumes on the Internet can get real boring fast. Audio and video are an easy and fun to way to consume information. This spells opportunity for savvy web operators who can provide information to consumers in the exact way they want it.
Other media you can use to establish marketing intimacy are teleseminars, web casts, video conferences, webinars and if appropriate, good old-fashioned phone calls.
#5 Marketing Strategy for 2008: Do Something Viral
Make a commitment this year to produce something viral: an ebook, a viral video, a widget, a cool software application. Whatever it is, make it interesting and or useful. That’s what will get your giveaway to spread like wildfire.
Produce a clever or interesting, practically-zero cost video. Make sure you brand the bottom of your video with your web address or company name and use relevant keywords for tagging when you post it to video sites. All of this is key if you want it to go viral.
You could also find inexpensive contractors at guru.com (or the likes) to find a software developer to build a neat software tool, gadget or widget. For example, you could create a desktop widget or gadget that does something useful for a user, maybe a to-do list keeper or something. You get the idea.
#6 Marketing Strategy for 2008: Article Marketing
At last count, Ezinearticles.com had over 85,000 authors. They are one of many successful article directories on the Web. To say that article marketing is now a staple of Online marketing success is an understatement. It has become a cornerstone.
If you haven’t already written articles for the Web, make 2008 your breakout year as a web author. You can setup free accounts at article directory sites like Ezinearticles and others to get the ball rolling.
#7 Marketing Strategy for 2008: Don’t Be Bashful, Be Social
With all the media obsession, technology and great features provided by social networking and bookmarking sites, it’s easy to be overwhelmed, to freeze up and not take any action.
Here’s a simple way to jump in and get started:
Pick one social networking site to start with, such as MySpace, FaceBook or LinkedIn. If you’re all about business, than LinkedIn is the place to be because it’s all business people, no kiddies.
Also, set up some accounts on Digg and StumbleUpon, two of the best social bookmarking sites. Don’t be bashful about tooting your own horn and submitting your own web articles & content pages as recommended reading to the communities. Everybody does it.
Well, that’s it for now. I may come back and tighten up this article tomorrow.
- Bob
Tags: article marketing, online marketing, social bookmarking, social networking, viral marketing