Thinking about getting a website?Well, here are some facts about web marketing you should know about. 

It's one thing to design and produce a website, bring it on the Web, register it with Search Engines, and hope people drop by for a visit.

It's another thing entirely to actively market your website and drive traffic to your virtual doors. Are you selling widgets, services, or ideas ? Have you better built a mousetrap ? Do you want to maximize your Internet Presence ?

We think you do. At TheCyber.com we offer Web Marketing Support as a discount to all our clients. Included is the submission with 12 of the most popular search engines, bi-monthly newsletters, introduction to online marketing, effective use of e-mail with the emphasis on the generation of e-mailing lists.

For more comprehensive online marketing strategies, we will analyze your specific business needs in more detail, than custom design, build and actively support your internet marketing strategy. 

We are able to supply you with targeted email mailing lists, bulk email services, newsletter maintenance, custom search engine submissions, press releases, industry specific directory location and submission, banner advertising campaigns and general consulting services.
 
 

6 Myths about Internet Marketing:

Myth #1 - You will reach millions of customers. 

Having a site on the Web doesn't mean you'll automatically reach millions of customers, any more than having a book in publication means you'll automatically reach millions of readers. 

There may be millions of people capable of accessing Worldwide Web pages right now, but you'll have to promote your site through discussion group participation, ads, announcements, directory listings, e-mail, links on other sites, and off-line publicity before you'll attract a lot of visitors.

Myth #2 - You can set up a site and forget it. 

Web sites aren't like print or broadcast ad campaigns, where you're married to a particular design and information package for months on end. When I see a site that hasn't changed in months, I wonder whether or not the company is still in business. There are too many new Web sites appearing every day for me or most Net surfers to return again to sites that never change. Your Web site had better change at least weekly. It should announce its changing features right at the top of the home page so even the most casual visitor knows he or she will see something new on the next visit. Plan for change when you plan the site, and think through the process of how it will be updated (and who will do that), and you'll end up with a site that people will visit again and again. 
 

Myth #3 - Hits = Visits. 

High hit counts contribute to the grossly inflated notions of the Web's magical ability to reach people. But your site will always get far more hits than it does actual human visitors. There is a difference between hitcounters who measure each image & file being accessed and those who measure real hits. Ask your Web Presence Provider to place a hitcounter on you index page, that measures true hits. But always keep in mind: Hits do not equal revenue!
 

Myth #4 - The more graphics, the better. 

When graphic designers take over a Web site, looks often triumph overaccessibility. The prettiest site on the Web is useless if visitors withnon-graphical browsers can't tell what it is or how to navigate in it. Toomany sites are unfathomable even to graphical browser users who view them without loading the images. And even interested visitors won't wait to see what you're offering if they have to stumble over too many minute-long downloads as images load. Use small image files. Offer a text-only option at the top of your home page. And let visitors know how large big image files are so they can make an informed decision about whether or not to display them. 
 

Myth #5 - Malls make shopping more convenient. 

Web mall operators say that locating on their site is a plus, because their collection of stores attracts Web surfers. But while a physical mall brings in people because it saves time, Web malls don't offer nearly the same time-saving benefit. It takes no more time for me to jump from one Web site to another than it does to jump from one mall store to another. A mall that's a hodgepodge of companies is less interesting to me than one that features businesses or resources focused around a certain topic of interest, such as the Realty Net, Book Zone, and TV Net. There's enough disorganization and chaos on the Web as it is without having to go to a generalized mall to see more of it. 
 

Myth #6 - Sounds and video are simple. 

We hear lots of hot air about the multimedia nature of the Web, but Web sites have a long way to go before they resemble your TV set or even a CD-ROM playing on your PC. If you're expecting to point and click to listen or hear multimedia clips, you'll be disappointed. When software developers and content providers completely integrate video and sound player capabilities and overcome the lack of standards and bandwidth constraints for modem connections you might be able to use multimedia. But until then, video and sound files have to be downloaded, and they require a player utility in order to perform on your PC. Video files in particular can be multi-megabyte affairs that take many minutes to download. Further, there are different players for different PC platforms. The best Web sites that offer sounds or video also offer a selection of players you can download to ensure that you'll be able to experience the sound or movie on your PC, no matter what kind it is.
 
 
 
 

The truth about online Marketing. How to successfully promote
your site and more...... 
 

The truth about marketing online is that it doesn't do a thing for you unless you understand marketing. The key to success online is to know marketing.

I am dazzled with the opportunity to market products or services online, but I realize that marketing online is only utilizing one of the weapons of guerrilla marketing. Unless it's combined with other weapons, it's going to be a techno-loser for you.

Your site must be promoted all over the place -- in the websites of others, in the mass media, in all contacts you have with others. It belongs in all your ads -- print and electronic. It should be on your stationery, business cards, envelopes, invoices, catalogs, postcards and in all directories. Include it in your newsletters, on all fliers, even in your marketing-on-hold message, in your voice-mail greeting, and on signs if you have a store or office that people visit. 

If your company hasn't done much advertising, it's a good idea to advertise your Website to let the world know that they can find you online now. Once you've got your site up and running on the Web, remember that cable modems are still not yet with us, and even though ISDN lines are becoming more popular for high speed transmission of data, people just plain hate to wait, so don't make them wait for your graphics, glitz, glamour, animation, Java or audio. The fact is that many Web users now know how to block advertising banners and turn off their computer graphics. 

If your Website is new, announce it proudly to your customers and to targeted prospects. You should even consider a special mailer heralding your new site. But never do this unless your Website is up and running. It's bad PR to promote a site that's still under construction. 

Think of your Website not as a thing but as a session. Every session should be different. Every session should offer abundant interactivity. Every session should be directed right at your target audience. Be certain that your Website contents connects right up to your marketing theme. 

Recognize that your site can serve as the voice of your company as well as a conduit for individual and extremely personalized service. Think of your business as a department store and your website as the display windows. Put new things in them constantly to motivate people to come back again and again.

Make your site simple, straightforward and easy to explore. Although I'm all for linking with many others, be careful you don't have layers and layers of links to woo people away from you. If you have a lot of text, break it up with lots of subheads. Keep your paragraphs short. 

Create an Internet tip sheet for your prospects and customers. Because only a small portion of the planet is Internet savvy, there's a good chance your prospects and clients know little of the world online. Your tip sheet, mailed or put near your cash register, lets people know the basics of being online and offers helpful information. Of course, it should also have an illustration of your site and your Web address, too. 

Not linking is not thinking. Referrals are the lifeblood of many small businesses, and links are like referrals. The idea is to link with other sites of businesses that share your standards for quality and service as well as having prospects similar to yours. On your Website, say the words, "Make this Website a bookmark." Then get it listed all over creation by submitting your Website information to other sites that will list you site for free in numerous search engines and directories: www.submit-it.com, etc…

To encourage regular visits to your site, keep the content fresh, promise new and exciting things, then live up to your promises. Ask people to e-mail you, make it very easy, then respond lightning fast to those who contact you. Slow response time has murdered many an online marketer. Speed is of the essence, even on the Interwait. 

Ever consider giving away free mousepads or screensavers? When you're got a site, you should consider it. And be sure to put your Website address on whatever you give away. 

Guerrillas spend at least an hour a week surfing the Web simply to get good ideas or discover horrid ideas that others are using. They also manage to locate several sites that will happily link to them. They get to find out what turns them on and what turns them off. The online world is a brand new world and it's just in the process of being discovered. 

Don't wait for others to make all the discoveries. Make a few yourself, as Isabella may or may not have told Christopher Columbus. If you're networking online, share your Website address with your networkers. Specialized newsgroups and forums can provide a ready-made audience for your products and services. 

As you converse one-on-one via e-mail, make sure you attach a four-line Internet signature that includes your Website as well as your phone, fax and e-mail address. Always remember that the online market is open 24 hours a day. As you manage your employees or deal with customers in person, it's easy to forget that customers may also be waiting on the other side of your computer screen. Discipline yourself to monitor your online presence regularly. Your online customers and prospects expect speedy results, and you must be prepared to oblige them. 

Follow-up and consistency are even more important than they are when you're selling in person. It's a whole new world online and the people who will thrive in it are those who pay close attention, who are constantly learning, who are always improving, and who are wise in the ways of marketing. Fifty million people are online but you'll be smart to remember that guerrillas deal with them one at a time.
 
 
 
 

Realistic Expectations Mean Real Profits:
 

Like any new marketing channel, the online marketplace is the great hope of failed business people everywhere. Thousands of would-be millionaires have jumped onto the Net in hopes of spinning technology into gold. But the Net is a communications medium, no more.

When you open your online business, do it with realistic expectations. If your expectations are grounded in reality, you'll know you need to put the necessary effort into marketing.

If you expect the Net to do your marketing for you, you'll be sadly disappointed. Here's how to develop and live by a set of realistic expectations on the Net :

Conduct diligent research. 

Cyberspace won't turn a bad business idea into a good one, and it won't chase your competitors away. Before venturing into the online marketplace, conduct diligent research about the feasibility of your business idea and the odds of your being able to sell it online. The Net just isn't suited for every business on the planet. For example, putting your local rug cleaning business or muffler shop online probably won't increase your business. Your business purpose must be matched to the realities of online marketing and sales.

Make a business plan.

If you're convinced your idea is good, make a detailed business plan that identifies your specific market, your customers, your competition, and your projected income and expenses for at least the first year.

Don't assume the money will roll in from Day 1, either. Early online marketers made wildly optimistic projections about sales and profits based on the total number of people thought to be online, but fewer than 15% of cybernauts today are buying online. Set conservative goals for your first year in business. 

Update your information constantly. 

Initial research sets your initial expectations. Further research helps you maintain the reality of your outlook indefinitely. Changes in your competition, marketing technology, and online populations can all affect your expectations and projections. 

Most businesses fail because of unrealistic expectations. People often underestimate the cost of establishing a business, the market for their products or services, or the strength of the competition. Guerrillas survey every battlefield completely before committing themselves, and they never choose a fight they can't win.
 
 
 
 

Internet Marketers Missing the Boat ...
 

Repeat customers are crucial to the success of any business. In online commerce however, this simple principle is often overlooked. The focus has been getting new customers to the web site, but little or no attention is given to getting customers to come back at a later time. 

In an online environment, securing repeat customers is just as important as getting users to your site that first time. When creating web pages, marketers fail to keep this is mind. Often, there is plenty of information for the first time visitor, but little incentive to return to that site in the future. 

If a client remembers a company's web site, for reasons good or bad, they have the ability to share their experiences with thousands of other potential customers with the touch of a button. Positive word of mouth advertising can mean big growth in this medium. 

In an environment where customers may only see your page for a few seconds, it is imperative that your site stands out among the others. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to provide content for both new and old customers alike. 
 

Adding that personal touch 

Enticing users to return to your web site is a matter of establishing a connection between the individual and your business. Customers can do this easily by walking into a store, but with web pages this "atmosphere" is difficult to create. To be successful, you need to create an environment in which the customer can feel welcome, and remember you by. 

An easy way to do this is to provide them with information they want or need about your product, but also information that is useful beyond this scope. Customers show interest in information about your industry, but make them feel welcome by providing them with stories that are of interest to your clientele. Show them your company has more to offer them than a hard-nosed online store. This relaxes the customer, gives them a reason to remember the company, and differentiates your site from those of the competition. 
 

Feature Stories and News 

Take a look around on the Internet and you will see how the big online marketers are applying these principles. Visit Hewlett-Packard's web site and you will find an article about saving the Bluefin Tuna. So why feature this story as a mainstay on HP's site? It provides the visitor with the unexpected. Marketers realize that customers will see this interesting article, and will now view the site as more than just a source of corporate information about HP. It makes the page useful, and demonstrates that HP is more than just a cold, dry technical firm. 
 

Newsletters 

One of the easiest things you can do to make your page more interactive is run a simple newsletter on your web site. Newsletters provide a convenient means to distribute product information, company news, or alert past visitors of new changes to the web site. This is one of the easiest ideas to implement, as they can be simply added to nearly any web site at little or no cost to you. One site effectively using newsletters is Adtec Broadcast Products. 
 

Update your Web Site 

Regular site updates keep the content fresh and encourage people to come back and see the changes. HP's bluefin story, although interesting, is not worth keeping for more than a few weeks. Instead, the story will be replaced each month to give the site a new look and stimulate return visits. 
 

Weekly Internet 'Specials' 

Offer your Internet customers special incentives to use your site. Have sales, contests, or specials designed for your Internet clientele and change them weekly. This gives your clients a real cash value on returning to your site and provides one more reason for your customers to spread word of your site to their friends. 
 

Where to go from here ?

There are plenty of sites online that are using these principles, and those are some of the best places to get ideas on how to use them on your site. Amazon Books, 1-800-FLOWERS, and Sears are just a few of the web sites successfully using the ideas suggested here. The intense competition the Internet provides makes it much more difficult to stand out among the competition. The nature of this medium proves difficult in providing a personal touch, as well as the importance of customer service. Increasing traffic to your site is a necessity, but don't lose site of the fact that repeat customers can bring in more new customers than any banner ad will.