According to a 2008 Internet survey conducted by the Center for the Digital Future at the USC Annenberg School for Communication, "eighty percent of Internet users age 17 and older consider the Internet to be an important source of information for them." Key findings from the survey regarding Internet usage include time spent online, media use and trust, consumer behavior, communication patterns, and more. Such conclusions indicate a marriage between the Internet and the world's consumers. With regards to Internet marketing, statistics such as these should turn your attention to how well your website is serving the needs of your clients. Often website ...

Major Challenges of Email Marketing As email continues to grow as a primary method of communication in modern society, many of today's marketers are taking advantage of this medium as a cost-effective and highly useful marketing tool.  Among the many concerns email marketers face, email deliverability is predominant.  According to the 2008 Email Marketing Buyer's Guide, email deliverability is the primary consideration for online marketing professionals. Because of the many complications involved in increasing email deliverability, many business owners allot a portion of their advertising budget to purchase access to an email service provider (ESP) specializing in email marketing.  ESPs are valuable ...

The natural tendency among small businesses during an economic slowdown is to conserve resources as much as possible.  Marketers who begin to see a decrease in sales as a result of troubled economic times may be tempted to cut their advertising budgets in order to make ends meet; however, relevant marketing data reveals that this is the wrong decision in light of research results. Research indicates that businesses that maintain or increase their advertising budgets during a recession experience positive sales growth.  During the 1981-1982 economic slowdown, businesses that maintained or increased their marketing campaigns actually averaged higher growth during the ...

To maximize your profits in internet marketing, you need proven, cost-effective solutions to increase the visibility of your website. ClickXPosure uses Chicago Search Engine Optimization (Chicago SEO) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC) technology to ensure that your website will receive higher rankings on search engines. In addition to these more traditional methods of Chicago Search Engine Marketing, ClickXPress, Our exclusive search engine marketing technology, guarantees placement in the top three Sponsored Links on Google and Yahoo! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in all 50 states. We understand the importance of online marketing to your business. Using the latest solutions in ...

Despite the challenges and concerns brought on by this season of economic slowdown, many small businesses are actually discovering that they are remaining competitive and even seeing unprecedented sales as 2008 draws to a close.  What distinguishes these survivors from the rest?  How can you maximize your profits this year? 1. Exude Confidence. The worst thing you can do during these trying economic times is to communicate to your customers a sense that you are unsure of the value of your products and services. If consumers sense any hesitancy, they'll lose confidence in you and seek out a competitor who is ...

Creating an online presence for yourself or your business is one of the greatest things you can do in today's web-driven world. But getting your website up and running is only part of the job.  Once you've established yourself online, it's time to drive traffic to your website. There are various ways and techniques you can use to increase traffic to your website.  Some more sophisticated than others, some less expensive than others, and of course, some more effective than others.  Below is a list of a few different things you should try to increase traffic to your website. Press Releases:  A ...

Along with a budget, there are five other major elements that are common to all marketing plans. The first major element of a marketing plan is the business mission statement. Now, this may seem obvious, but I cannot stress enough the importance of having a carefully planned and well stated mission statement. According to the The American Marketing Association, a mission statement is "An expression of a company's history, managerial preferences, environmental concerns, available resources, and distinctive competencies to serve selected publics. It is used to guide the company's decision making and strategic planning." Basically, it is a statement of ...

One of the newest marketing strategies in the direct mail or email mail world is the use of PURLs.  While PURLs (Personalized URL) allow you to easily track the effectiveness of your campaign and even obtain new information about your prospective clients, a PURL isn't anything if you don't have a solid campaign behind it.  As with any type of campaign, you have to make sure that you remember the basic rules about what makes a successful campaign.  Going back to Marketing 101, make sure that you've covered the basics.   Make an Irresistible Offer:  For any type of campaign to work, you ...

A marketing plan objective is a statement that identifies your marketing goals and activities. Well-defined objectives serve several useful functions: They force you to clarify your thought process. They serve as a gauge or measure of your plans success. They help you stay focused and consistent. They are a motivational tool if the goals specified are attainable and challenging. They help you integrate marketing strategies by analyzing your business and market. A helpful tip to remember is to be S M A R T when reviewing your marketing plan objectives: Specific- To increase sales at xyz development.  Be precise. Measurable- To increase sales at xyz development by 15%.  ...

As times get tough, it's time to think of what marketing strategies will not only reach more potential clients but also which will have a higher return on investment.  E-mail Marketing is great for saving you money and have effectiveness comparable, if not better, to traditional Direct Mail Marketing.  Here are a few advantages of turning to E-mail Marketing or E-mail Campaigns:  Selection:  While traditional direct mail campaigns usually concentrate on a certain geographic area, e-mail marketing can expand to broader search terms and specifications may even be made for particular consumer behaviors.  Additionally, don't forget that you can start compiling your ...

Let's start from the top. What is a marketing plan? A marketing plan is a document that outlines well-organized course of action(s) to achieve your marketing objectives. Think of it this way, your marketing plan will be your marketing guidebook or rather your reference point for all your marketing activities. It details your marketing budget, target market, the proper media or channel to be chosen, etc. In addition, a marketing plan provides you with an in-depth perspective of your industry and your business and gives you insight on developing targeted market strategies while also serving as a barometer of your performance. Moreover, ...

Any shrewd business professional, in any industry, will tell you there are four primary aspects to a successful business.  Call it the Big Four of Business...Accounting, Finance, Management, and you guessed it, Marketing. Marketing, according to The American Marketing Association, "is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large."  To put it simply, marketing is an exchange of value, not only of materialistic and monetary value, but also of the value of information and ideas. Marketing is a powerful tool that not only creates avenues ...