MARKETING DIFFERENTLY – THE INTERNET

It is natural for one to use the normal marketing medium to promote one’s product or service.

Why not get away from the norm and dare to be different?

Telephone marketing, radio, newspapers, television and the like are not the only media for promoting goods and services. In fact, with the new era of marketing, there are even more effective and perhaps less costly means of marketing, like the internet. Ask yourself this question. Would I really be losing if I tried something new, something that might actually help my business? After all, more and more customers are making purchasing decisions based on the information available on the Internet and social media.  Ok, so you may not be computer savvy, but you can learn. Yes, you may not know about using the internet as a marketing medium, but, isn’t it time you found out?

Let’s look at Internet marketing. Internet marketing, or online marketing, is defined as advertising and marketing efforts that use the Web and email to drive direct sales via electronic commerce, in addition to sales leads from Web sites or emails.

According to Shebang Designs, an Online Marketing Consulting Firm:

·         59% of Business to Business (B2B) marketers say email is the most effective channel in generating revenue

·         84% of B2B marketers use segment targeting in their email campaigns

·         80% of customers report reading email on mobile devices

·         Social media increases marketing effectiveness

·         Blogging generates leads, traffic and customers

·         More website pages means more leads, traffic and customers

·         Email is the most effective revenue-generating channel for most businesses

·         Mobile marketing has become a necessity.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to be different and try something new “Internet Marketing”! Why in the future! Why not start today! It might be what will move your business from point A to point B. Or give your business that cutting edge above the rest.

Well, Mr. Rollison Calvin Reynolds, one of our Saint Lucian entrepreneurs, owner of the business “Aceyaw” has started.  Here is what he has to say about internet marketing: “Online marketing and Internet usage [will allow businesses to] create value-based solutions online, penetrate new markets, increase revenue, build customer loyalty, and improve returns on investment.”

In SEDU’s upcoming Marketing Course we will be examining this and more strategies.

For more information on SEDU’s Entrepreneurial Development Courses or our other services, or to register for our Marketing Management Course, please contact us at The Ministry of Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs – Castries Waterfront, at 468-4223. e-mail: sedu@govt.lc  Website:  www.commerce.gov.lc

Prepared by:  Mrs. Ruthanne Carasco-Phillip, Business Development Officer, SEDU.