Using the Internet for marketing, what you need to know

Websites are the fasted way to get, and lose, a customer.Marketing on the internet can be profitable if it is done right.Here are some things that you will want to know before venturing into the marketing on the internet.

- When customers enter your site, they should know they are safe.They should know that if they purchase from you that their information is not being sold.

- Your site should be sure and cover the needs and the desires of people who come across your site.They should feel like they had a good experience.
- Buying should be easy.Everything they need should be available, if it becomes too hard they will move to another website.
- You need to have your contact information all over the website, they shouldn't have to go to the main page to find it.
- Give them the option of pay with something other than a credit card.Some people aren't very comfortable with that method of payment.
- Make your site easy to get through.Any regular Joe should be able to make their way around with ease.
- At the end of a sale, when they are ready to check out, make some suggestions of similar products they may be looking for.
- You website should look professional and any transactions between you and the customer should be very professionally handled.
- Ask for feedback.Use what you learn to improve your site and give customers a chance to tell you how they feel.
- Respond to any emails as quickly as possible.They will know you are really concerned about them you take the time to respond quickly.
- Help them think they have got to have what you are selling, and they can't wait.Make it become an impulse buy.
- Help your customers know they can trust you.Trust will bring them back for repeat business.

To get customers to your site you need to get your name out there.Here are some suggestions for making your website a popular place:

- Get involved with an opt-in list.
- Start with some email marketing, but be careful not to start spamming.You can get hurt doing spam, it's not a risk worth taking.
- Look into joint venture partnership.
- Write articles to post all over the web with your website linked to them.
- Consider joining marketing forums.
- See what viral tools can do for your website.
- Get hooked up in a link exchange.
- You have to be really cautious, but if you know what you are doing then doing pay-per-click may work for you.
- Submit to search engines and directories to get your name available o those who are looking.
- Stay away from flash pages.They make it hard to search engines to locate you, and make some customers turn away right away.
- Avoid a lot of pictures.Just a few will do the trick.
- Have the key words that you want your name to be found under right there on your home page.And have it worded a few different ways, be creative.
- Be straight forward, this is who we are and this is what we sell.Don't confuse customers, they will just leave.
- Give a free offer, it can be anything from an email to postcard.With the free offer they have to leave you their information, and now you have a new customer.