In today’s online world, it’s difficult to rely on one form of internet marketing when it comes to your website. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a great way to market your website but it takes time (especially if your in a competitive industry). Search engine marketing (SEM) also known as Pay-Per-Click (PPC), is a great way to get instant exposure online. Ultimately, this method is just a temporary fix. The minute your budget runs out, or you stop paying for ads, your website is no where to be found.
Ideally, combining multiple methods of marketing will achieve optimal results in the short-term and long-term. While starting an SEO campaign, one of the first crucial steps is beginning a PPC ad campaign to test out which keywords are driving the most traffic and converting the most users. PPC ads are a good way to begin your keyword research, which is also a vital first step in search engine optimization.
Besides your online marketing initiatives, you should also be tapping in to your ‘warm market’. This includes promoting your website to your friends, family, acquaintances, business associates, etc. Furthermore, you can also cold call (over the phone or door-to-door) and promote yourself or your business. Make sure you always leave someone a means of getting to your website. The best way I can think of to do this is through the good ol’ business card.
So in essence, don’t be discouraged if SEO is not driving instant traffic. It’s definitely going to be an important part of your internet marketing campaign in the future. But until then, make sure you’re getting out there or utilizing other methods to get instant traffic!
