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How narrowly do you define "Internet Marketing"?

by dvduval
10 replies
I think I may be a little in the dark still about what it means to be an internet marketer. For me, I have been "marketing" my software on the internet for years. Does this make me an Internet Marketer? Generally speaking, what does it mean to be an Internet Marketer as the term is used on this forum?
#define #internet marketing #narrowly
  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    It's probably going to be a little different across different people.

    For me IM just means including consideration for Internet marketing channels when promoting my own or someone elses product/service.

    Andy
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    nothing to see here.

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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Andy nailed it.

    Using the internet for promotion or marketing.

    Enough said in my humble opinion.

    TL
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    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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  • Profile picture of the author Brad Gosse
    If you get any business from the web/email/online and work on that you are an internet marketer in my book.
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    Free Clip Art
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  • Profile picture of the author dvduval
    Okay, I guess I am an internet marketer.
    Thanks for verifying.
    Signature
    It is okay to contact me! I have been developing software since 1999, creating many popular products like phpLD.
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  • Profile picture of the author artwebster
    This is an interesting question and one which I have been puzzling about for some time since an internet marketer gave up my methodology, which had earned him $1,250 in his first five days because 'he was an internet marketer' and what I teach is not strictly internet marketing even though it does involve building very simple web sites.
    Signature

    You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
    Build it, make money, then build some more
    Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!

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    • Profile picture of the author dvduval
      Originally Posted by artwebster View Post

      This is an interesting question and one which I have been puzzling about for some time since an internet marketer gave up my methodology, which had earned him $1,250 in his first five days because 'he was an internet marketer' and what I teach is not strictly internet marketing even though it does involve building very simple web sites.
      Yes, it seems the term has an extremely loose interpretation, though there are certainly some specific practices that one would say, "Yep, that's one of those IM products". Yet, it seems like anything you can market and make money online is IM as best as I can tell.
      Signature
      It is okay to contact me! I have been developing software since 1999, creating many popular products like phpLD.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alminc
        Internet marketing is any marketing activity that uses Internet
        as a medium.

        What is marketing activity?
        Marketing activity is any action that can create a prospect or a customer.
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        No links :)
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  • Profile picture of the author Akky
    "The electronic way of Marketing"

    G'day,
    Akky
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    Just a random guy. Learning Ruby On Rails at the moment.

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  • Profile picture of the author Chalky
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author debra
      Here's a little snippet of an article I wrote a while back when someone asked me this same question:

      The terminology of Internet Marketing is a large and sometimes confusing Industry.

      In order to understand the precise functions of the term, we should break it down to its core original meaning.

      Using the Webster Dictionary if you were to look up the meaning of the "Internet" you will find the explanation of:

      Internet: an extensive computer network made up of thousands of other, smaller business, academic, and governmental networks.

      The internet is used as a Media Tool. We send and receive information by way of the Internet. It has become the chosen source of Media. It serves as nothing more; nothing less. The term Internet can be adjoined to just about any function. Internet Promotion, Internet Advertising, Internet Marketing, Internet Business are all proper terms when using the implied term as the choice of media used in the transfer of information.

      In the same way if you were to look up the term "Marketing" in the Webster Dictionary you will find the explanation of:

      Marketing: 1. the act of buying or selling in a market. 2. all business activity involved in the moving of goods from the producer to the consumer, including selling, advertising, packaging, etc.

      As you can see the explanation given by Webster Dictionary failed to communicate the precise understanding of the term. Instead of explaining the precise term, they have chosen to generalize the Industry as a whole. And that is exactly where people get confused about the actual understanding and function of the term Marketing.

      In the Corporate World, true business professionals understood the precise function and applications of Marketing. This is the reason you will find that Corporate Structures have separated the Marketing Department from the Advertising Department and Promotional Department. Each serve their own function and each having their own set of guidelines they adhere to.

      The Corporate World also knew that one function could not survive without the other functions being properly in place either. This might explain why the Industry as a whole has been largely misunderstood, causing such confusion with identifying its proper roles within their separate context.

      Let's take a look at the functions that each department are responsible for. Here we discuss three main core intensities that make up the Internet Marketing Arena. These are only the basic elements. It by no means does it entirely cover the integrant complexities within each subsidiaries of each core.

      The basic core elements of Internet Marketing are:
      • Marketing
      • Advertising
      • Promotion
      Marketing is responsible for the gathering of statistics, identifying trends, research of those trends, and finally analyzing the data gathered from the research after tracking a possible trend. After the market feasibility is compiled, the marketing department then relates this to the Advertising Department.

      Advertising: 1. printed or broadcast matter that advertises; advertisements collectively 2. the business or occupation of preparing and issuing advertisements.

      Webster Dictionary did a much better job at explaining this term than they did the "marketing" term. But, it's still not accurate. The Advertisement Department is responsible for creating the presentation of a product or service not actually sending or issuing it to the masses. A more in-depth look at the departments responsibilities are, product creation derived from the feasibility of the marketing department, creation of the presentation of the produce including the lingo communication and visual aspects that represent the project.

      So far you have learned that the Marketing Department is solely responsible for identifying trends and compiling feasibilities of those trends. Advertising Department is solely responsible for creating the presentation of the product/service based on the market feasibility.

      This leads us to the last core element, the Promotion Department. Again, I will consult the Webster Dictionary.

      Promotion: 1. the act of an instance of promoting; specif., a) advancement in rank, grade, or position. b) furtherance of an enterprise, cause, etc.

      The Promotion Department is responsible for bringing the creation (advertisement) to the Media. In this case the chosen media is the internet. This is where most all of the self proclaimed "Internet Marketers" actually resided. Yes, they are in fact merely promoters of an already existing product/service. Some of the experienced promoters actually re-create their advertising but not that often. Those that do are quickly labeled a "Guru".


      You can also say that each phase is dependant on the other but, at the same time very different in its place of function. Without marketing you can not have strong and reliable advertising. Without the creation of Advertising you can not have a productive promotion. Without a productive promotion you can not have a flourishing business

      As a whole, society has accepted the term "Internet Marketing" to symbolize the complete picture rather than keeping it within its separate parts.

      In order to change that perspective you would have to ask everyone to change their inner Ego as well. I just don't see that happening. The term Internet Marketer sounds much more prestigious than that of a Promoter.

      So that leaves you with asking yourself where you want to fall into the ranks. For me, I sum it up this way; I call myself an Internet Business Entrepreneur. That is a more elite way of saying that I'm "Jack of all trades but, master of none".
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