So far we’ve talked about the two most common objections to using internet marketing.
We talked about a lack of understanding of internet marketing. How computers can be overwhelming for some people, and scare them away. And we talked about why that doesn’t matter, and how even if you don’t know an iPhone from an Android, you can still take advantage of what an internet marketing company can do for you.
Next we talked about a lack of belief in internet marketing. We talked about how you just might not believe internet marketing works, or that only big corporations like Amazon can manage it. And we talked about the straight facts, based on a case study for one of our clients, which proves that wrong. Internet marketing works, plain and simple.
But there is one more objection, one more reason why people don’t want to jump into the world of internet marketing.
They believe they can’t afford it.
The truth is, not everyone can afford the services of an internet marketing company. What we marketers do is time consuming and technical. It’s not an easy one-click solution. If it were, everyone would do it.
Now, when it comes to not being able to afford internet marketing, there are two types of people: those who don’t have the money, and those who have the money, but have it budgeted elsewhere. There are many reasons for both, and I won’t get into them here. But each camp is different.
If You’ve Budgeted Elsewhere
Everyone has expenses. Different places they’d like to spend their money. Whether it’s a night out on the town with your significant other, a vacation somewhere sunny, or a new landscaping job, everyone’s expenses are different.
I’m not even going to bother trying to convince you to choose internet marketing over a vacation. That would be silly. All things being equal, you’d choose the vacation every time.
What’s important here, though, is to understand the difference between an expense and an investment.
The services of an internet marketing company aren’t a regular expense, like a vacation or a fancy dinner. With a vacation, you pay money in exchange for an experience. It costs you money, and you don’t ever expect to see that money come back. An investment, on the other hand, is designed to bring you even more money than you put in in the first place.
Think of it this way: if you had to give up a thousand dollars today in order to make five thousand a month from now, would you look at that as expensive?
Internet marketing is an investment. It’s an investment in your business and your personal success. It’s an investment in yourself.
Are You Prepared For Success?
According to Forbes magazine (who cites Bloomberg) 8 out of 10 businesses fail in the first year and a half. Pretty shocking numbers.
Why is this? Forbes gives several reasons in that article, including a “failure to communicate” with your target market.
What’s the solution to that one? Communication. And that’s exactly what marketing does.
The old belief that “if you build it, they will come” may have worked great for Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams, but in the real world nobody will come if nobody knows you’re there.
Communication with your audience is key. In fact, it’s the most important part of your business. Neglect this, and your business is dead in the water.
Without some sort of marketing strategy, your business will almost certainly be struggling after only a short time. You might be discovered randomly through word of mouth or by catching the attention of somebody with a large following, but that’s just pure dumb luck.
And do you really want to base your business strategy on luck?
If you’re skeptical about how much it will take for you to start seeing a return on your marketing investment, you can always contact us to take advantage of a FREE 30-minute consultation session to get clear on what your options are.
If You’re Broke…
Of course, all the creative budgeting in the world won’t help you if you’re low on dough.
No judgment, I’ve been there myself. But if you’re really serious about starting your business and would like to market yourself online in the future, there are a few things you can do.
In fact, no matter who you are, you should do this.
Step 1: Secure Your Name On Social Media
Social media accounts are free, and can be set up at any time. If you’re planning on building a business, take a few moments to go to the top social networks out there and take control of your business name.
Netflix discovered this the hard way a few years ago when they announced a new service called Qwikster. Netflix fans took to Twitter to follow @Qwikster, only to find a slew of tweets from a rude and immature guy under that handle. Whoops.
Don’t pull a Qwikster, and go reserve your spots on the top social networks. Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus are the essentials, but you’d do well with accounts on Tumblr, WordPress, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Step 2: Secure Your Domain
The next step is to secure your domain name.
Every business today needs a website. And if you’re planning on marketing yourself online, it’s the best place to start. But if you aren’t ready to move forward with building a website just yet, you should at least secure the plot.
URLs are usually less than $20, and can go for as low as $3.99 sometimes. That’s a pretty small price to pay to make sure you don’t have to worry about
And while you’re at it, check for yourname.com as well. This is a valuable piece of real estate you can use.
To secure your domain, go to a reputable domain registrar like GoDaddy, HostGator, or Namecheap. Then type in (your business name).com. If it’s available, snatch it up. Otherwise, you might end up losing it to someone else with the same idea as you. A .com is the best choice, but if it’s taken, try .org, .co, .info, or something similar. Anything to get a foothold.
The Next Steps
At the end of the day, it’s all about doing the most you can with the resources you have.
And one of the best resources anybody has is free knowledge and advice.
Speaking of free, why not contact us for a FREE 30-minute consultation?
If you’re in the process of planning out your business, a 30-minute consultation can help you decide what your marketing future may look like. It can help you understand your options, and what the best direction for you would be.
So contact us today.
