Let’s get real here for a moment, shall we? Internet marketing as we currently know it kind of sucks. Let me explain. When many people think of internet marketing, they think of either one of (or a multitude) these things:
- Some sleezeball making empty promises on how to get rich over night
- Being subjected to generic sales pages that goes on for days that are set up to paralyze your mind
- Being bombarded by emails asking you to “buy, buy, buy”
- Someone offering you a free product and in the process you have to go through 5 (or more!) upsells and downsells before you can get it
Let’s me just make it crystal clear that I don’t think all internet marketers are like this at all. After much internal deliberation due to my not always so pleasant past experiences with many others in this field, I’ve come to consider myself an internet marketer. Although my primary focus is in information marketing, coaching and self-development, I use internet marketing as a primary method of getting my message and those of clients, out to the masses.
In case you are not clear on the what internet marketing is, here is the best definition I’ve seen thus far:
According to About.com,
Internet marketing refers to the strategies that are used to market a product or service online, marketing strategies that include search engine optimization and search engine submission, copywriting that encourages site visitors to take action, web site design strategies, online promotions, reciprocal linking, and email marketing – and that’s just hitting the highlights.
Eventually I came to the realization that “hey, not all internet marketers are a-holes” – pardon my naughty language and that many (I may even dare to say most) are good people with a talent to using the internet to multiply business efforts. Many of the strategies taught by internet marketers to promote websites, services, products, etc., are valid and effective means of online marketing.
However although internet marketing has been effective for many people, I feel that many women have shied away from it because of it’s “masculine” qualities. I have to admit marketing your business on the internet using traditional means such as the many sales letters you see out there and the generic emails that lack personality can be a huge turn-off, especially for women.
Us women want to be wooed (sometimes); we want to be heard; we want to be understood.
So one of my missions with this website is to change the paradigm on how internet marketing is used. That is, not only make it easy to understand and implement, but add some much needed flare and warmth to the process.
You may be wondering, “well, how the hell you’re going to do that Michele”? Well, that’s a work in progress. I do have some tricks up my sleeves that I plan to share soon enough 
, but let me start by sharing my prediction of the future of internet marketing:
- cold sales pages replace by warm, education-based, marketing pages
- compelling stories being used more and more
- case studies showing actual results
- shorter sales pages that are to the point and intentional
- more videos /audios utilized so you can connect with the author of the product or service
- warmer colors and text that don’t scream “WARNING! If you don’t buy this, you’ll be miserable for the rest of your life!” – Seriously???
- relationship marketing in place of fear-based selling
- growth in collaborative methods as oppose to the lone-ranger mentality
As with everything in life, things change. We are either growing or we’re dying. The old ways of internet marketing, although valuable in paving the way to many needed processes, is in need of redefining and a major facelift.
How we are using the internet to market our business and spread the message is changing from one of solitary to community; one of pushing to pulling; one of cookie cutter systems to one of personality and uniqueness.
It’s going to be a process for sure and not one going to happen overnight. It’s OK to embrace what’s here and now, but to look towards the future and be open to new possibilities.
Your thoughts?
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