Foundational Online Marketing Strategies

Tonight I attended the American Marketing Association Utah Chapter. It's always great to rub shoulders with top Utah marketers. Tonight's meeting topic was "Online Marketing Strategies for Search, Mobile, and Social" presented by Jay Bean, CEO and Founder of Orangesoda. Orangesoda helps SMBs drive targeted traffic and leads to their businesses. The topic is very applicable to marketing professionals for two reasons:

1. Online marketing trends and projected spends are increasing
 
2005 - 3.4 billion 
2010 - 18 billion
2014 - 35 billion (projected)
 
2. Traditional marketing trends and projected spends are decreasing even though spend is still in the 100 billion range.

In 1999, Jay Bean founded ah-ha.com, a leading pay-for-performance search engine marketing company and remembers going to the same trade shows that Google attended when their founders maned the booths. Ah-ha.com was acquired by Marchex Inc. (MCHX in 2003).

In 2007 Jay founded Orangesoda with the goal to empower SMBs with the online marketing strategies and tools they need to drive traffic, leads, and business. Here are a few takeaways from Jay's presentation on online marketing strategies for search, mobile, and social:

Jay Bean's Online Marketing Tips:
Your need to build a strong foundation of online basics: Like doing anything in life, being good at the basics is required before you can really see powerful online results.
Here are a few of the basics:
 
Website Basics:
1. Write good content that resonates with your target audience.
2. Make sure their are clear actions - the goal is to motivate action on your website.
3. Have your phone number on your website - people still call.
4. Incorporate optimized website lead forms that help capture leads.
5. Make sure you have clear offers/coupons that drive the customers to act now.
 
Social Media Basics:
1. #1 deliver great content, don't just post offers or coupons, that is a social media sin.
2. People follow on Twitter and friend on Facebook companies and products that deliver content that helps them fulfill a need or interest. Be that source!
3. Develop a thought leadership tone to the content you deliver over social media sites.
4. People turn to social media to learn best practices and tips for their industry. Share best practices!
5. Listen and interact with your customers - I like tweetdeck to track the conversations that are occurring about your company and products.
 
Mobile Basics:
1. Make sure your optimize your website for all mobile platforms.
I know this sounds so basic and so easy, but you would be surprised how many companies don't do a good job of following the basics.
What are some of your basic online strategies?
Another great event with strong marketing leaders and business professionals. Don't miss out on the next American Marketing Association Event. Click here to know when the next event will occur. I am excited to see the new AMA website next month that is being designed, created, and developed by Eli Kirk.