Whats the value of something that costs you nothing?

Most web 2.0 technologies will cost the user nothing, so whats the value? Further, how can companies utilise free technologies for profit?

Firstly, there is great value in these free technologies. Blogging, podcasting and social networking are great free forms of self expression, communicating and networking for people. People are out there sharing information and knowledge every second of the day. This has the dual benefit of serving as a form of expression for those who produce the content, and a source of information, interaction and advice for those who consume the content.

Secondly, companies gain the benefit of having content created for their sites, and the ability to track consumer trends by hosting these services, plus they sell advertising space. The gain for the consumer here, if you are comfortable with it, is this targeted advertising. Advertisers are able to save money, targeting their messages to people who match their specific criteria. That means that if you have to see ads, at least there is a greater chance that they will be relevant to you.

For more information about leveraging new and social media and web 2.0, visit us at www.thompsonmarketing.com.au

Show me the money...

So, you have gotten yourself an awesome looking, gasp producing, beautiful flash animated site. A splash page, intro video, music all of the bells and whistles, and you just paid a small fortune for it.

The all important question is, 'does it produce revenue for your business?' For all the looks, can you check your stats and produce reports instantly. Can you track if its working or not? Do you know what your conversion rate is? Do you have a plan for website success and are you implementing it?

Sometimes, the most flashy looking websites are not actually the most effective when it comes to search engine optimisation and ranking. Sometimes the coolest multimedia features can actually be harmful to your marketing objectives.

Ultimately, if your website doesn't 'show you the money', then its not worth anything.

To find out how to make the most effective use of your online communications email to consultant@thompsonmarketing.com.au and stop wondering.

Planning to succeed online

So, you have your website up and running, but do you have a plan to drive and attract traffic to it, and a strategy to profit from it? Most businesses will consider investing significant time and money in getting a website designed, and fitting it out with appropriate content.

Be sure to take full advantage of the power of internet marketing. With our Integrated Website Success Program (IWSP) and Targeted Marketing Communication Plans (TMCP) we can help you plan for website success, and propose solid, actionable steps to make it happen. Contact us for an obligation free strategy session.

You have a website, but do you have a plan?

How many times have you come across a site when searching for something on google, yahoo or live only to find it irrelevant to your search? What is your reaction... do you click back to your search results never to return? When you search for those keywords again, and see that you have been there before, did you click on that site again? If you haven't found the information relevant, the answer is probably not!

When implementing an online marketing strategy you need a plan, and a plan for success. You need to get your site ready to receive traffic, BEFORE you start driving traffic to it. Otherwise all of your time and effort spent climbing the SEO ladder will be wasted. You need relevant and compelling content, and a way of capturing your visitors details and engaging with them. You need to prove to them that you are the expert, that you have the answers that they are searching for, otherwise, you will just be associated with irrlevance.

contact us info@thompsonmarketing.com.au for more information about your personalised Integrated Website Success Plan, tailored to the needs of your business.

Your Targeted Marketing Communication Plan (TMCP)

What is a Targeted Marketing Communications Plan (TMCP)? This is a term we use for the online marketing strategies we put together for our clients.

In any of our attempts to communcate with a market or segment, we need to be targeted about it. Not every communication we make is going to appeal to everyone, everytime. That's why we plan it; we plan who, when, where, why, how, analysing market segments and working out specific, measurable strategies to reach each one.

This is so important in the current advertising environment where all of us are constantly bombarded by marketing and advertising message, demanding our attention, shouting at us from radios, blaring at us on tv screens, distracting us on highways, filling up our mailboxes.

Our philosophy follows the concept of permission marketing, that there is always a certain segment of the market, ready, willing, searching for your product or service. The aim is to be found by this group, not necessarily to find them and yell at them as often and as much as possible. Our philosophy is to idenitify target audiences, and then gear all marketing strategies from then on into appealing to them, being found by them, and addressing their needs.

Interested? Find out more at http://www.thompsonmarketing.com.au/

Websites are no longer relevant... or are they?

Today was a great day at the office, watching the Melbourne Cup with a whole group of people who have had a few drinks is fun! On the way out I had an interesting conversation with another worker in the building who is employed by a private banking and investment firm, about the relevance of web sites. We did the usual intro chat and one of his final comments, when discovering that I do web design and internet marketing, the comment was something like "that was really big in the past, but they're not that important now". The idea being that the business world has moved on, it was just a fad.
Of course, I would have to disagree, and I did. I suggested that web sites are just a starting point - a part of corporate image. Having a professional website designed for you is a representation to the corporate world of your company. Prospects may very well google you before they call you.

The point - an information site about your company is just the beginning of a journey out into a whole ocean of marketing communication. Getting all the cool widgets and tools is a later necessity, but first, everyone needs a web presence. Thats entry level stuff.

The Integrated Website Success Program (IWSP)

What is the Integrated Website Success Program (IWSP)?

This is a process developed by the legends at websitegurus, of whom I am a franchisee. They've been in the website design and online marketing game for years so they know what they are talking about. The IWSP is a comprehensive system for planning and implementing the necessary strategies and content that will make your website work for your business. This program is exclusive to websitegurus clients, you won't find it anywhere else, and will definitely give you a competitive advantage with your online marketing strategy.

There are 10 steps, and I'm not going to give them all away now, but the first consultation and assessment is absolutely obligation free. Getting a website, is literally just the first step. To find out more click here

Communicating your message through blogs and podcasts

Web 2.0 - user generated content - is changing the way that businesses interact and communicate online. Companies are using blogs (weblogs - diaries or journals) and podcasts (internet based broadcasts) to connect and engage with consumers. They are joining or creating social networks like myspace, facebook, linkedIn, and online worlds like second life. What is your organisation doing to reach out and connect with your customer/client base? Having a website will not be enough for businesses in the future. In fact, it is not enough for business that want to be effective today. Consumers are now engaging and interacting through social media, not just with one another, but also with brands. Are 
you in the conversation? Do you struggle to understand the meaning of all this? Change is happening all around us, to get help, email us, or post to this blog. It could be your first step in engaging the world online, and employing effective internet marketing.

Online Marketing

I have been listening to a lot of great podcasts lately (which I intend to link to by the way) and have been getting really enthused about the opportunities available to businesses at this time. There are so many great resources, and new horizons available to businesses when it comes to the online universe, and so much is available for next to nothing. "You get what you pay for" does not necessarily apply. Web 2.0 is creating new ways for companies to interact with their markets in real and effective
ways that can be beneficial for both sides. I am looking forward to helping navigate through this time of change in the way businesses is done and information is communicated.
Links coming soon... promise

Coming soon....

Doing business online is such an exciting prospect these days with the new media/Web 2.0 innovations coming to the fore. I recently started up my company - Thompson Marketing Consultants Pty Ltd - that will provide integrated web marketing and design solutions. Look out for www.thompsonmarketing.com.au coming soon.

Why Search Engine Optimisation is the LAST thing you need to worry about when it comes to internet marketing

Usually one of the first questions clients ask when I start working with them is “how can I be number one on Google”. How then, can I say that search engine optimization (SEO) is the very LAST thing you need to worry about in the game of internet marketing?

“Getting a high ranking for popular keywords on search engines is only useful if your site has all of the necessary systems in place to take full advantage of the opportunity being presented”Allow me to illustrate. Imagine that you are opening a new restaurant, and you spend thousands on marketing and advertising – you take out radio and tv ads, a full page spread in the national daily newspaper advertising your new restaurant and the great opening specials you have. Opening night comes, people respond in the hundreds to your promotions, there’s just one problem… you weren’t ready to cater for hundreds. Your new staff are not confident in their training and make mistakes all night, taking orders to wrong tables, and forgetting some all together. You payment system hasn’t been tested and it doesn’t cope with billing. People wait more than an hour for their food, if they get it and thousands of dollars walk out the door in unpaid bills. Worse than all that, all those people you spent money getting in the door walk right out of it, never to return. Each one tells of their terrible experience the next day to their friends at work. The bad publicity spreads like a virus and within weeks you are wondering what went wrong.

What is wrong with this scenario?

Getting a high ranking for popular keywords on search engines is only useful if your site has all of the necessary systems in place to take full advantage of the opportunity being presented. You have probably experienced this for yourself when searching online, a process that can often be frustrating. You may search a topic, and click on the first site that comes up. If that site is not what you are looking for, or doesn’t appeal to you, you are hitting the ‘back’ button within seconds, moving onto another site.

Further, a week later when you try out the same search, it is likely that all the sites you have already visited are highlighted, your computer has registered that you have already been there. Will you click on that link again? Probably not! Because you already know that you have been there and not found what you were looking for.

It is imperative that if you can get someone to visit your site, you want them to find it useful and appealing. You want them to stay, check out all of your offerings, and more than that, have some way of collecting their information so that you can market to them.

Things you need to implement before commencing an SEO campaign may include:

A well presented, professional and functional website.
Relevant, useful information about your field or industry. Something to hold their attention and show that you are knowledgeable in your industry.
In depth content to make you stand out from all the other millions of sites in competition with you.
Detailed information about your company, products and multiple methods of contact.
A free offer in exchange for a prospects permission to market to them, such as a newsletter, competition, special offer or survey.
A way for prospects and customers to provide feedback, comments and interact with you on a personal level.
If relevant to your business, a way for customers to view your products and make secure, automated purchases.

Having such strategies in place on your site will enable to you appeal to prospective customers, hold their attention, and collect their contact details for later promotions and interaction. It is at this level of preparation that effective SEO can turn your traffic into revenue.

For more information about improving your online communications, contact us – info@thompsonmarketing.com.au

You can view more great articles and get in contact with us via our site at http://www.thompsonmarketing.com.au