Now Is The Time To Take Advantage of Search Marketing

The Setting Resolutions Trend!

I have been reading a lot lately about marketing resolutions for 2009, and rather then share what mine are personally – or what my companies are – I thought I would give some insight as to what trends I am starting to see, and what I feel is going to be a businesses most important investment in 2009.

In the last month I have signed 4 pretty big clients, and each one of them has told me they see an opportunity online because of the slow down in the economy.  Whatever little they are doing online, they are seeing a ROI, and want to take things to the next level because they feel online is where its at.

All of my family and friends who are very aware of what I do for a living, keep asking me how things have been the last few months.  Keep in mind these are the same people who told me I was stupid when I quit my job, and went off on my own and left corporate America – they keep looking to say I told ya so rather then listen to me?  I kinda feel bad when I see everyone around me losing their jobs, and struggling to make ends meet, and I tell them that my business has never been better.

Why is that?

I embrace online marketing, I put big bucks into it, I spend nothing offline and I put every ounce of energy I have into learning/testing/implementing everything there is to know about Internet marketing.  I guess you can say – I feel that I am on the right team.

I had a chat with my brother the other day, and he was even telling me his very traditional company (when it comes to advertising) who has been putting 100k plus/month into print/offline marketing has finally opened up a bigger budget for online marketing in 2009 because they finally see the writing on the wall.  If only I could have only convinced them years earlier (and I tried) they would be leaps and bounds ahead of their competition.  I still feel its better late then never though, and that now is the time to take advantage of search marketing!

So I guess in sharing this insight with you I am also givine you my main goal of 2009, and that is to help businesses better understand the power of marketing online.  Shoemoney did a great post a while back talking about how when online marketing is done right – there is no recession.  You must learn to adapt, and change your business model and figure out a way to make money.  A good friend of mine made an analogy for me (with regards to his business) – he said:

“Mat, its like we have million dollar homes for sale in a market that only wants Condos and Town Homes.  So we have to figure out how to make a Condo, and Town Home product.”

He understands how to take advantage of down markets.  When everyone else is crying about sales being down, he knows what it takes to increase them.  When everyone else is crying about not making any money, he understands how to make his business money.  This is a sign of a true business owner – one that will make money no matter what the circumstances around him/her!

What are my thoughts on where you should be focusing your business resolutions? (in order of most importance)

  1. More money into Search Marketing – SEO, PPC etc.
  2. More focus on Reputation Management
  3. Branding
  4. Embrace Social Media – Learn it, use it, grow your business with it!

IMO – Maybe the most important resolution that businesses need to be making is the one that involves what they spend in online advertising.  I feel now is the time for business to be spending money, and putting money into their online marketing campaigns.  If you are making resolutions for your business, and figuring out budgets for 2009 – let me help you make your most important 2009 resolution – increase your online budget and finally start to embrace Internet marketing.  I can promise that if you do you will see a great ROI, even in a down turned economy!

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