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Internet Marketing


Internet marketing involves search engine optimisation, online advertising (such as pay-per-click) and social media.

Search Engine Optimisation
There isn't much point in having a website if people cannot find it online. Search engine optimisation (SEO) aims helps get relevant traffic to your site via search engines such as Google and Yahoo. Factors that are of importance in getting your website listed more prominently on search engines include the content of the website, structure of your website and links from other sites.

SEO basics are relatively easy to learn and are largely intuitive, so if you have some html basics it is possible to do a bit of your own optimisation, however for more complex sites or for for businesses that have a lot of online competition it is often wise to hire an SEO pro to help you with your SEO needs. There are also lots of companies out ther offering services relating to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). If you do hire someone to carry out SEO for your site try to hire someone with a good reputation and that can tell you what they are doing. You can also pick up a few SEO tips for free on some SEO company websites and blogs. Google has provided a few guidelines for what to look for in a SEO company. Here are some resources that may be useful:



Pay-per-Click (on Google)
Most people are familiar with the links that appear on the left and right of the results on Google. These are advertisements from businesses that pay every time the ad is clicked. The amount paid by advertisers on Google varies depending on the competitiveness of the particular keywords the advertiser is targeting, the relevancy of the website and number of clicks the user has on the advertisers site. Advertisements are displayed in a number of platforms including Google's search engine, Gmail and third-party websites.



Advertisers compile and publish their pay-per-click ads via Google Adwords. Several internet marketing specialists also offer to set up or manage pay-per-click campaigns. If you are a first-time user of Adwords look out for coupons or deals offering free credit on Adwords. Several hosting companies (such as Blacknight) also offer Google Adwords credit upon purchase of certain hosting plans.

Yahoo also offer pay-per-click advertising as do Facebook.

Social Media
Many businesses have found new customers via social media. Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and other social media offer businesses the opportunity to contact and communicate with customers directly. Other social media like Linkedin help with networking and business-to-business marketing. Setting up an account with a social media website is fast and easy, but businesses must be committed to updating their social media and interacting with customers online. Which platform you use and how you use it is up to you.



Articles/Blogs on Social Media

A Small Business Using Social Media Brilliantly With No Budget
Twitter for business
Five talks on social media
Blogging for Business

Social Media Tools

Threadsy
Useful online tool for aggregating your email and social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Currently by invite only, but sign up and you should receive an invite quickly enough.

Tweetdeck and Seesmic
Software that allows you to update your Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Flickr from your desktop.

Social Media Training and Consultancy
There are a number of Irish people offering social media training and advice, these include Simply Zesty
Krishna De and Channelship

Also check out training by the Irish Internet Association.