Making the Most of Your Online Advertising 2006 Qtr 3
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Making the Most of Your Online Advertising |
Marketing is not an emergency. It’s a planned, thoughtful exercise that started a long time ago and doesn’t end until you’re done.
Seth Godin
The Web’s impact on advertising has grown significantly in the past several years. It has become an important part of a successful marketing plan. According to Forrester Research, nearly 85 percent of marketers planned to increase their online advertising spend in 2006. So, why is it important to develop an online strategy? Companies rely on the Internet more because their customers use it more. But, there are many other reasons:
- Measurability. You know exactly how your ad is doing, almost instantaneously with click-through reports.
- Flexibility. You have the ability to quickly change the creative materials to meet your needs.
- ROI. Set your own objectives; many sites will continue to run your ad until your impression goals are met.
- Efficient. You can achieve an impact, often for less cost.
- Access. The Web is one of few places where your message is available to viewers 24/7.
- Targeted. Connect with the audience when they want the information.
- Leverage. Drive more traffic to your company Web site or a specific page within your Web site.
Where can you start with a Web marketing initiative? Select sites that are appropriate to your audience. Once you’ve found a site you like, research the typical visitor and make sure this meets your audience profile. Ask about the advertising options. For example, many sites have several different banner sizes and locations along with advertorial options. If using a banner ad, will your banner be rotating with those of competitors and other advertisers? Is the location of the banner highly visible? Would a focused section sponsorship make sense?
Take it a step further – would a video be valuable to site visitors? These are all questions that will have different answers, depending on your specific needs and goals. There are numerous possibilities on the Web. You must decide what makes the most sense for your ad and how far you want to take it.
Then there’s the question of when should you advertise and how often should you change it? First, consider timing, particularly if you have an event to promote or a seasonal product. Then, determine if the site is visited by the same user often or if it’s more of a one-time stop. For instance, if you are advertising on msn.com, you may want to change your creative materials often so it won’t become stale to returning visitors.
Effective online advertising should be simple and simply engaging. You want to be creative enough to catch attention, but not so intrusive that you turn viewers away. Concentrate on the message. Make it as concise as possible and unambiguous. Include a link your website and/or a phone number. And be sure it’s a reflection of your brand.
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