The dynamics of marketing on the internet is very different from regular offline marketing.  Offline, we use things like billboards, the sides of buses, adverts on television and radio, salespeople etc. to market our products. If you are on the other side of the buying 'equation' as a consumer, you learn of new products through these marketing tools.

More often that not, we do not have a choice about what and when marketing information is available to us. In most cases we cannot choose to ignore the huge billboard on the road or the side of the bus unless you decide to drive with your eyes closed – but that is not something that is generally encouraged.  You could change the channel when adverts show up on your favorite TV or radio show – but it is more than likely you will hear or see it again.

With marketing on the internet, the dynamics are a somewhat different. The internet is vast and intricate. It is an intense web of information that needs some skill to navigate, but if you do so, you can rest assured that your needs will be met.

But the internet gives you more choice. You can choose which website to click on or ignore.  And there is a certain 'class' of people that purposely research and shop online BECAUSE of this.  This demographic of internet user is generally college educated, often with additional education beyond college.  This means that the average internet user or anyone looking to do business on the web tends to be a little smarter than someone who does not use the internet for business.  To market to a more intelligent set of buyers, the online seller (affiliate marketer, webmaster, internet marketer) also has to elevate his or her game accordingly, and become a smarter marketer.

You need to have an extra edge to make your business or website stand out among the millions out there. Building trust and authority to be considered an expert in your field will serve marketers well in the new Web 2.0 age.

How do you do this?

It is said that word-of-mouth is the strongest marketing tool. For example, friends starting a new shop, café or blog will most probably tell you to ‘spread the good word.’ We are more likely to believe our friends and peers than a stranger on the television or radio. This is because we know our friends/peers well and we often share the same concerns, needs and tastes as the people around us. If something is good enough for them, it is good enough for you.

What we need to remember when marketing on the internet is that internet users are a community. Internet users will therefore trust, and have faith and confidence in their fellow internet users. If, for example, a fellow blogger recommends an interesting blog to you, then you are more likely to visit the blog. For this reason, Social networks are becoming more and more important in the internet marketing world. Networks of like minded people create an easy target market for savvy internet marketers.  Communications within these rapidly growing target market groups about a certain product or website are even more crucial to internet marketing.

Marketing on social community sites - Social Marketing -  is the ‘word of mouth’ of the new interractive World Wide Web.

Article provided by Web 2.0 Media Marketing - Check our Guides to marketing on the top social sites.  And our newest guide to marketing on Twitter. 

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