Inbound marketing is one of the top strategies that delivers everything a customer needs at the click of a button. When harnessed together with a proper delivery, Inbound marketing gives customers; the governing role, optimizes search engine efforts, builds brand awareness, creates brand preferences, influencing future purchases, and generates the best leads with the smallest dent in marketing budgets. This scheme consists of a few different mediums which deliver the most return and reflects in analysis.

Content Marketing

Content is King. When businesses share high quality informative content, users build trust with the brand and absorb the information in their research efforts. Content marketing mediums consist of; videos, articles and blogs, and podcasts. Blogs generate 67% more leads per month for businesses which use the medium, than for those that do not.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC)

Keywords are paid for in PPC, which guarantees the organizations ad is in the search results. These keywords match the intent the user types into the query. It is reported that 75% of users do not scroll past the first page of results. This differs from the organic results which SEO provides because PPC is paid for. Assuring you get your content or product information in front of the potential customer increases an organizations ability to reach the customers research efforts.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is the process of entering the most effective keywords and website practices to assure your results appear at the top of the search engine results page (SERP). This differs from PPC because SEO is not paid for by the organization. The keywords need to match what the user is searching for in order to show up on the SERP. Therefore, the user is seeking the information out and coming to the business, not the other way around.

• Social Media

Connecting with customers on a personal level builds upon the relationship. When businesses share information by the means of a social media platform, customers come to them. This goes back to the customer not wanting to be sold to, but educated and in control. Making sure the content is not overly pushed upon and high quality will insure customers pay attention.

Inbound marketing cost 60% less than any leads outbound marketing generates, says Search Engine Journal. Focusing efforts into the strategies which provide the largest ROI will create an everlasting brand and successful marketing campaign. Customers are seeking your information, let us help your organization help them find it.

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If you don’t have the time, interest or capability to design a website, hire a professional – or at least someone with enough knowledge or experience to assemble a simple but professional site that meets your needs.

If your budget allows, hire an experienced and proven website-design firm. Assess whether a team can meet your expectations and goals while staying within your budget.

Before you hire any Web designer or team, there are some questions you need to take into consideration:

• Does the designer or firm have references? If so, call them. Ask about your candidate’s record of meeting or missing deadlines, ability to collaborate with clients and their work ethic.
• Do they have examples of their designs available on the Web? Carefully review these sites — not just for quality and range, but for styles that agree with your own.
• What payment options do they offer? Beware any that require full payment up front. By the time you discover that they’re not as good as they seemed, it may be too late to cut your losses.

More questions to consider: What are their verbal and written communications skills? Can you understand them when you discuss your website needs? Will you need ongoing support? What is the marketing strategy for the website?

• How much should I pay for a website? There is a wide range of service providers; more experienced and “in-demand” providers may charge premium prices, while beginners may work very cheap because they lack experience. Different skill sets demand different pay scales. If you choose the lowest price possible, you will probably not get a quality website. Use the same due diligence you would in hiring any member of your business team. If you wouldn’t hire them for a staff job, don’t hire them on contract.

Pay scales for Web designers, by experience level and firm size:

• Student: $500-$1,000
• Freelancer: $2,500-$5,000
• Medium-sized firm: $7,000-$20,000 (best option for most companies)
• Large firm: $25,000-$100,000

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Here are seven tips to help keep things in perspective:

1. Think long term, not two or three months.

Just like traditional marketing, online marketing takes time. There are no shortcuts, no tricks or quick fixes. To see results you must be consistent and have patience.

You can’t do it alone, you’ll need help. Managing an online marketing campaign on your own without outside advice and criticism will only hinder your campaign. Find a good company/team to assist you, point you in the right direction and give you advice.

2. Have goals.

To see real results, you must have goals. It’s not enough to say you want more traffic or leads from your website. Make a plan on how you will do it, pick a niche and make your website user-friendly.

3. Be available.

Most businesses are not 24/7 operations, but the Internet is always “on.” So is your website. Online marketing can operate in a similar fashion. Even if your office is closed, visitors will come to your website. The key is to convert those website visitors into clients, generating more revenue for your business.

4. Go mobile.

Is your website mobile friendly? More and more prospects are accessing information via mobile devices. If your site is not mobile friendly, you could be missing out on opportunities to connect..

5. Location, location, location.

Local search is all about getting your business found in your hometown. If someone is searching for a doctor, they are looking for a medical office near their home or job. Ten years ago most folks would crack open the phone book and turn to “C” for chiropractor. Now your customers are looking online for products and services.

6. Use video

People want to see and hear you. Adding video to your website and incorporating YouTube into your campaign is a great way to reach out to your customers and engage them.

7. Traditional media is dead.

Phone books, TV and radio are dying off. People are turning to the Web to find information on products and services. The Web is the way to go and smart business owners are spending money online.

So evaluate your current online marketing campaign and its place in your overall marketing objectives. Ask yourself, “Is it time to implement a new online marketing campaign? How can I tweak my existing online marketing campaign to make it more effective?” Lastly, remember that in order to see results, you need to keep at it.

The post Seven ways to win the online marketing marathon appeared first on McKinley Media.