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Successful Marketing: Is It Possible in 2010?
If you are paying attention to the IM landscape you’ll notice much of the talk is about change for 2010. Of course, most of the time talk about marketing online is about change. This marketing vehicle is still so new that techniques and strategies are still emerging, and while they aren’t necessarily new, they are easier or faster to accomplish.
For instance, video isn’t new. But with the newest technology and video storage/sharing systems it is easier for new people to upload video to their sites.
So what will make successful marketing in 2010?
Of course, this is all opinion and conjecture. And, anyone who talks about what will be happening in the coming year can only base their content on opinion and an evaluation of past performances.
But, it does seem reasonable to assume that social media is here to stay. However, it has also lost the appeal of the newest toy on the shelf. Marketers are determining how it will work best within their business model and using it more appropriately.
Another reasonable assumption is that more people will be using video content. Researchers estimate that there are more people who are visual learners than are auditory learners, which plays right into the video model. However, to make it a part of any successful marketing plan it must be short and to the point. You may be enamored with your own voice but you are probably the only one.
In our fast paced society you must grab and keep the attention of your audience for the length of your video if you want them to watch all the way through.
Successful marketing in 2010 will also have a more professional flair than it has in the past. Even 2 years ago websites could have a mom and pop feel to them and it may have engendered a certain amount of trust. But today a poorly put together website only communicates that you aren’t ready to do business.
Marketers who continue to work toward building a business will also find that they are more successful. If you have to make a conscious decision about using black hat or white hat techniques with Google then you are more likely to be after an immediate financial gratification and not interested in building a real business.
Those who institute a successful marketing plan will have developed a strong business plan and use an equally strong work ethic. While there may still be room for the occasional windfall from a loophole in Google, Yahoo or Bing those try to take advantage of them will have made poor progress in their financial goals in 2010.
As the Internet ages there is more talk about WORK. It used to be that the majority of the hype and sales were teaching people how to: “Make $500.00 a day in Your Pajamas!”, “Withdraw $400.00 a Day From Your Bank, Legally!”, “Develop Your Business on Autopilot!”.
Thankfully the FTC has instituted a few new rules, or rather said they would be enforcing most of their old rules that would put an end to some of this advertising. But the real change came before those FTC rules, when marketers who have been in the business for years started talking about how this marketing online business is real work.
Part of the appeal that the Internet has held is that the money seemed to appear out of nowhere and for doing virtually nothing. But those who made it seem that way were selling Emperors Clothing because their work was done in the background, in the past years – and they failed more often than they had successes. Much like any new business.
Successful marketing plans in 2010 will focus on developing a business model that will have longevity, produce an actual product or deliver a real service. Customer service will be key as we all compete for an every growing customer base who are more savvy and able to find the same or similar products with companies who answer their questions with a smile.
In actuality, marketers who run their Internet business with a strong work ethic, actually develop a marketing plan, take action and treat their business like a real business will have taken all the right steps toward producing an income that grows and matures through 2010.
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