Internet Marketing - Ignore it at Your Peril

You will have come across Internet marketing when searching for your online degree. According to predictions, Internet commerce may soon be worth $70 billion.*

Large companies are reporting massive ecommerce sales, but Internet marketing can be particularly useful and cost effective in small business marketing. One thing is for sure; any company that has not yet embraced Internet marketing is missing a valuable marketing channel.

Internet Marketing and Small Business Marketing

Sophie Greene, an Internet marketing guru, believes you can run an online business for less than $100.00 a month. In the case of small business marketing, some newer companies are conducting all their business on the Internet to keep the costs down.

Internet marketing should be treated as just one part of a company's marketing strategy, and all the usual marketing rules apply. This is information you may want to remember when you finish your online degree.

Internet Marketing in your Online Degree

Internet marketing plays a large role in the 21st century online marketing degree. Internet marketing techniques, combined with e-mail marketing, drive traffic to a site and gather information on customers.

Just as in ordinary marketing, however, poor quality service at the retailers can destroy the marketer's good work. A well designed, easily usable website is vital.

The Importance of Web site Marketing

There are three types of websites used in Web site marketing:

• Promotional Site. The least sophisticated type of Web site marketing, this is the Internet version of a company brochure. Non-interactive, this is popular in small business marketing as it is cheap and easy. Sophisticated users can find them frustrating.
• Content-driven Site. A more subtle form of Web site marketing, this is a repository of general information. Good use of keywords and search engine marketing can drive traffic to the site, and related companies can advertise their wares.
• Transactional Site. You can look at and buy products on these sites. Amazon was and is one of the most successful examples of Internet marketing using transactional sites.

We will look at different methods of Internet marketing next time. Until then browse the available online degrees in marketing available through First Stop Online Degree.

About the Author

Fran Walker is a freelance writer, editor and researcher specializing in educational, health, safety and domestic issues. Previously, she spent five years in marketing in the self-help, health and health and safety sectors before leaving to start a family. She now edits and writes content for the U.K. Health and Safety Executive. Fran graduated in 1993 with an honors degree in English Literature.