Would you like a web site with that?

One of the things many people don't know about the Internet is that it's not all about web sites.

Very often, my clients start by asking "So, how much for a web site?" They think that once they have a site up and running, their business will boom all of a sudden. They think that by being present on the Internet, their clients will find them right away and immediately start buying from them.

Now, as vital and central as a web site is in setting up online marketing, there are MANY things to take into consideration before putting one up. There are also many things a business can do online, which have little or nothing to do with their web site - email marketing, article submission and more.

So typically, I walk them over the wide range of things that can be done and the process I use to get the most business results out of their Internet marketing investment, and I see their understanding and appreciation growing and growing, until they are ready to begin. And then I ask them, "Would you like a web site with that?" and they laugh, because by then, they know what I mean.

If you are a business owner looking to succeed online, your first step is to revisit your business plan. Any marketing investment, online or otherwise, must serve the business and bring measurable outcomes - extended reach into a market, more leads, more sales, higher profits, diversification or whatever you want for your business.

Once you know what you want to get, decide how much you are willing to spend in order to start. On the Internet, you can start fairly small and leverage your new income stream to make more money online. The initial effort typically includes setting up a web site and doing some initial promotion, so set aside some funds upfront, and then decide how much you are willing to spend monthly over the first year of your Internet marketing campaign.

When you're done, contact me.