Let’s face it … the world is dominated by technology, and for most of us not a day goes by without spending some amount of time surfing the web. Fortunately, this has opened up a world of opportunity for us business people to really make an impact and grow our companies with this new advertising medium. Whether you are marketing to the masses or B2B is your thing, the internet is one advertising opportunity that you definitely don’t want to miss!

Back in the early-nineties when the tech boom was beginning, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the first internet marketing class ever offered by a university. I’m sure some of those Silicon Valley gurus who flew in weekly for the Wednesday night “Marketing On The Web 101” are still using some of those valuable lessons today. We’ve learned a lot and have come a long way since then. Let’s explore a few of the fundamentals so your business can harness the amazing potential the world wide web offers.

A Clear & Concise Message
Patience is a virtue. Unfortunately most of us can’t claim to possess this trait. Therefore, promptly getting your point across is integral. The design and layout of the website is critical. Ultimately, visitors to your site need to have enough information to make an informed decision that translates into a sale. But, you don’t want to bore them with loads of confusing copy and inadvertently send them to another site… a competitor! Professionally written copy without grammatical and spelling mistakes can work wonders when tailored specifically to your site.

Painless Navigation
As web technology progresses, so does the desire to use it in every possible way. This isn’t always the best marketing decision. It may be amusing to hear music playing when the site loads, but does it help you increase sales? Heavy flash animation seems cool, but it can be distracting and cause long download times. Once again, you need to make it as easy as possible for visitors to navigate the site and eventually accomplish your goal — whether it’s an online sale or a “contact form” submission to find out more about your company.

An Innovative Image
Portraying professionalism is no doubt invaluable. Many times a website is the first impression for your business and you should make sure it’s a good one. One of the essentials of any business is differentiation. What makes you stand apart from the competition? An original website built specifically for your company is a huge asset and a relatively cost effective way to really jumpstart your marketing.