I hate the term "internet marketing"

[MichaelHiles]

In my opinion, the various facets of the internet are simply just MEDIUMS for communicating a message and conducting sales transactions.

As a whole, "marketing" is a far larger concept that encompasses more strategy than technique or sales transaction, and not distinct from one medium to another.

Discuss.

[Ron Douglas]

I agree. I think website promotion is a better term for promoting a website and ecommerce is a better term for making money online.

[Nick Brighton]

I agree. However, what really makes me chuckle is when I see people "going after the internet marketing niche"...that's a real double whammy

[JayXtreme]

Originally Posted by Nick Brighton

I agree. However, what really makes me chuckle is when I see people "going after the internet marketing niche"...that's a real double whammy

It depends how ambitious you are

That's one BIG niche right there....

[JeffLam]

I don't get it...what's wrong with going after the internet marketing niche..?

And yeah, I agree fully that internet marketing isn't the right term to use for what we are doing. Ebusiness perhaps? Or like what Ron said, ecommerce (though that seems more market-like).

Internet Business? Ibiz? Internet Promotion? IE, we should start using more specific terms for various actions rather than throwing the terms 'Internet Marketing' all around.

[BIG Mike]

I've always said I'm not an Internet Marketer - I'm a businessman who happens to conduct part of his business activities online.

In and of itself, Marketing is but one aspect of running a business. It's neither the most nor least important part of any business, online or off though.

In many cases, Marketing may drive product development or service offerings, but it's inter-dependent upon those developing the products or delivering the services. In Internet marketing, more often than not that tends to be the same person, which, ironically, is why so many people seem to struggle with it.

[John Willer]

How about just saying you're a business owner...

[Paxton]

When people ask me what I do for a living I usually say I sell stuff.

The internet for me is the high-street and my websites my stores.

Location, location, location they say. I say ranking, ranking, ranking.

Nothing complicated - I just sell stuff

[MikeGriffith]

I'm wondering if "online marketing" would be a better term. It describes what you're doing (marketing) and where you're doing it (on the internet).

But I see your point. It still doesn't say anything about what you're marketing. I think I'm beginning to have second thoughts about the term too. I think another word might be in order. But have a great day anyway.

[Bill Farnham]

I think it depends on the context...

If your wife keeps referring to you as Mr. Sits-On-His-Duff-In-Front-Of-A-Computer-All-Day, you'd much rather your wife call you Mr. Internet Marketing.

I know I do

KJ

[genietoast]

I'm fine with it. If that's the lingo going around and people understand it, so be it. Why rock the boat if it's floating along just fine?

If it moves to another ocean, however, then I'll have to start re-navigating.

[Sandor Verebi]

Hi,

Internet Marketing: this may be not the best expression, but implies the essence.

The elements of the marketing mix: (4 Ps)

- product : what you make or sell
- price : value of that product
- place : where you sell or exchange that product
- promotion : device of the selling

[Side note: If you are deling with services, then there are 3 more elements: (7 Ps)

- people (who influence the perceived value of the product or service)
- process (flow of activities which lead to an exchange of value)
- physical evidence (the direct sensory experience of a product or service that allows a customer to measure whether he or she has received value for money)]

If we take it narrowly then we are able to see that every elements have their own place in the IM. I've to admit I cannot give better name to it, so I also use the Internet Marketing expression in certain environment, too.

But I'm convinced there are much clever people in the naming process than me. I let the naming career to them.

Have a nice day,

Sandor
___________
"It doesn't matter how many times you fail. It doesn't matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you because... All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are." Mark Cuban

[Andrew Maule]

Always felt this way too. I don't know what else to say about it really...

[Matt D.]

Well Internet Marketers are those who do only that. I don't really consider myself as one, because usually I market my products through other people. But those who are only doing affiliate marketing, obviously it is done over the internet and everything they do is market products so I guess they can be called Internet Marketers. Many call themselves Internet business owners, or Information developers, Website owners.... There is a lot of names that people give themselves. Internet marketing is the most broad one, because at the end everything that is selling is also being marketed.

Just my opinion.

Take care

[Nick Brighton]

Originally Posted by JayXtreme

It depends how ambitious you are

That's one BIG niche right there....

And that Jay, my young friend, is what they call an Oxymoron. ;-)

[CDawson]

Originally Posted by MichaelHiles

In my opinion, the various facets of the internet are simply just MEDIUMS for communicating a message and conducting sales transactions.

As a whole, "marketing" is a far larger concept that encompasses more strategy than technique or sales transaction, and not distinct from one medium to another.

Discuss.

A lot of people would protest that Hardcore "Marketing" is exactly what they do on the internet.

[Arted4Life]

Originally Posted by John Willer

How about just saying you're a business owner...

Originally Posted by Paxton

When people ask me what I do for a living I usually say I sell stuff.

The internet for me is the high-street and my websites my stores.

Location, location, location they say. I say ranking, ranking, ranking.

Nothing complicated - I just sell stuff

Same here. Besides, you can't argue with results.

[dsmpublishing]

Hi guys

my downside is when ive had a few too many glasses of white wine and im trying to explain the job title internet marketer or i work online in internet marketing to the locals in my terrible british accent whilst im desperately trying to learn the portuguese.

that is really tough!

kind regards


sam
X

[chateauRedunet]

Originally Posted by MichaelHiles

In my opinion, the various facets of the internet are simply just MEDIUMS for communicating a message and conducting sales transactions.

As a whole, "marketing" is a far larger concept that encompasses more strategy than technique or sales transaction, and not distinct from one medium to another.

Discuss.

Hello Michael;
I seem to recall a book, 20-30 years ago titled "The Medium is the Message". One main proposition explored was the medium, be it stone, papyrus, vellum, paper, or the Internet not only impacted but DROVE the many messages using that medium.

My conclusion, you are totally correct, in paragraph 1 above, but the Internet plays a very, very large part in Internet Marketing.

I agree with your second paragraph also. "Marketing" certainly is much broader than sales or transactional processing. In fact "Marketing" may encompass 50% to 75% of an organizations expenditures. (Short story. At my second job the President of the company asked, "Who was in sales?" About 25 people out of 110 raised their hands. He spent the next 30 minutes explaining why EVERYONE was "in sales."

Sneeky devil, he changed the DEFINITION of sales to be all-encompassing, customer-centric, process and project driven.

All the best,
chateauR