1. Plan, plan, plan
Developing a web-based business strategy goes back to the fundamentals of good business. While it's important to take advantage of the power of the Internet, it's also important to connect your investment to a good business strategy and plan for implementation.
- align your business and Internet goals and strategies
- develop an action plan that responds to all the new opportunities and threats from the Internet
- set realistic project timelines with milestones and checkpoints for building your site
- identify a clear purpose with measurable outcomes and goals for each generation of website
2. Create a Marketing Mix that Integrates Online and Traditional Promotions
Focus on the big picture and develop a fully integrated strategy that will make the most of all the marketing channels available to you.
3. Visit Your Competitors' Websites Frequently
Look at what your competition is doing to attract visitors and increase the appeal of their website. Learn from their successes as well as their mistakes.
Becoming familiar with what your business sector and competition are doing online will help to position your company more effectively.
4. Track Your Online Performance
Generate frequent reports that measure your website's performance.
Search engine and
website statistics can tell you a lot about how your current online customers are finding you and which parts of your website they are using. These will help identify your website's strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of the customer.
5. Study Your Target Markets
You can do this casually by simply asking your "offline" customers about their Internet usage, the kinds of software and programs they use online, how much time they spend surfing and buying online.
Consider using a professional consultant, like Aloak Marketing & Promotions, to interpret industry and market trends, together with your website statistics for a deeper insight.
6. Plan to Evolve
Even while you're still building your first website, set goals for the next generation based on you customers' needs and new opportunities in your industry.
Your yearly budget should account for basic website maintenance, regular content updates, fresh graphics, and website performance reports that indicate changes and new directions for a better return on your investment.
Back to Top