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Learning And Using Internet Marketing
By Frank Reed
Expert Author
Article Date: 2009-01-05
We all know that things are not good economically as we head into an uncertain 2009. I am not going to belabor that fact here. While many businesses and business owners sit on their hands waiting for our new president to take office others are waking up to a new reality.
I believe that the days of a small business owner saying that they don't have the time to learn about internet marketing or that they just want someone else to do it for them are coming to a close. Why? Having that stance allows for two things to happen that no one needs in their business.
- Missed opportunity - No matter what the subject, the absolute wrong way to handle something is to think that if you ignore it then it will eventually just go away. Many SMB's take this stance about internet marketing and social media. They think that it's for certain people and they are not part of that group. I say they are dead wrong. To sum this point up, it is obvious in the new world order that we all live in that many old techniques (including certain approaches to internet marketing already) are misdirected and costly. Not knowing about something that is obviously critical to survival is just bad business and opens the door for my second point.
- Getting taken for a ride - There will be more and more internet marketing ‘experts' surfacing as people lose jobs. Technical people who have no knowledge of marketing will hang out shingles out so that can prey on those who know little or nothing about internet marketing and what they are buying. Then there are marketing people who will read a book and say they understand internet marketing and then spin their abilities to get unsuspecting SMB's to buy in. Neither scenario is good.
Here's my solution for preventing your business from suffering the fate of many who are ignoring the web and its marketing / branding opportunities: EDUCATE YOURSELF. You don't need to know everything but you need to know the basics. If you still think that you should leave that to others then I say you are foolish at best. Know what internet marketing options apply to your business. Learn the basics. This type of thinking may open your eyes to new revenue opportunities that are going to be harder to come by in the next few years at least.
Many people go back to school during downturns. They get laid off then figure they can attain new skills and sharpen old ones to be ready for the rebound. SMB owners don't have that luxury. They have to be in their business every day. The trick is to learn while they are working.
Are you ready to learn internet marketing and social media techniques? Are you ready to, at the very least, get involved by rolling up your sleeves and acquiring knowledge that could very well determine the future success or failure of your business or job? If you are then you can start today. At the very least you can go back and read some of the old posts here (all posts are summarized in the SMB Takeaway section). Ask me questions through comments here. I am going to be offering as much information as you want in posts during the coming months to help you become more empowered. Many internet marketing ‘practitioners' act like they have some secret sauce that you can't have. I disagree completely. I make a living by helping people learn and apply these things in their business not by keeping everything so close to the vest. Tell me how I can help.
SMB Takeaway: SMB's must educate themselves regarding the latest in internet marketing and social media opportunities. Not doing so is short sighted and can lead to bad choices that most of us can ill afford to make in today's world.
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About the Author:
Frank Reed's blog Frank Thinking About Internet Marketing provides practical advice and insight for Internet marketers from local SMB's to Fortune 500's. Frank provides Internet marketing services through FT Internet Marketing, Inc.
In addition, Frank is a regular contributor to Andy Beal's Marketing Pilgrim and Mike Moran's Biznology blogs.
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