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So what is Internet Marketing? - I'm looking for a definition

by Peter Bestel
9 replies
A friend's son wants to get in on this IM thing. He approached me for some advice and I'm helping him as much as I can.
He's got the opportunity to get a grant from an organisation to help him start up in business. It will only be a few hundred £s, but it'll be a great start for him.

In order to get the grant he's got to provide this organisation with a business plan. This is where I come in as business advice is my background. But when it came to the very basic issue of describing his business, he got stuck. He couldn't effectively describe what IM is. Now, I don't DO business plans for people, I guide them through the process, so I wasn't just going to give him an answer, I wanted him to figure it out for himself. He's gone away to do that.

But it got me thinking; if you had to define Internet Marketing to an offline guy, probably a dyed-in-the-wool, straight-laced, computer-illiterate, bank manager, how would you do it?


I've got a few ideas of my own, but I didn't want to steer your answers in any way.



Peter
#definition #i’m #internet #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author Kyle Tully
    "Internet Marketing" doesn't really mean anything by itself... other than "marketing on the Internet".

    What's his actual business model?
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    • Profile picture of the author jensrsa
      Internet marketing is the marketing, advertising and promotion of a business, any business, using the Internet.
      Originally Posted by Kyle Tully View Post

      "Internet Marketing" doesn't really mean anything by itself... other than "marketing on the Internet".

      What's his actual business model?
      The definition will vary per business model and for a business plan you will adapt your definition to suit the business model in question.

      Jens
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      • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
        Ok guys,

        Thanks for your thoughts so far

        I think the story of my friend's son has skewed what I what asking. Sorry!

        It was a generic question; what is Internet Marketing to you? How would you define it to (as Neil said) a 'suit', who has no concept as how to market on the internet?

        I was looking for a general definition, given the most common models used.

        Hope that clarifies it a bit.

        Peter
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  • Profile picture of the author MoaddinFM
    IM describes the process of giving exposure to your enterprise/service in the internet to virtually several hundred millions of people.

    Therefor IM will let you brand your enterprise very fast for a relatively small amount of money.
    You can get contacts very easily and fast.

    Hope you can rephrase this in good english
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    Martin Fehrenbach
    Dominate FB groups in less than a day - And make $$$$

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  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    Hello Peter

    Internet Marketing has come to mean two things and therein lies confusion.

    The one we all know and love is

    - products and services for making money on the Internet

    ...and all the s*** that goes with it.

    I'm not sure a 'suit' would like to hear that though.

    So a more generic response would be better.

    Internet Marketing is simply marketing on the Internet. No big deal. Marketing and selling products and services online, whatever they may be.

    Cheers,

    Neil

    EDIT - Kyle beat me to it - I think the distinction is a worthwhile point though!
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    • Profile picture of the author VegasVince
      Here's what I'd tell the kid.....after I slapped him upside his head.....several times....just to get his attention.

      The very fact Internet Marketing needs a definition is the main reason why most people will fail and fail miserably at it.

      At what point did we turn IM into something so sexy that people forget you still have to sell something?

      Cuz what you sell---your product/service...... IS YOUR BUSINESS......NOT THE COMPUTER YOU USE TO SELL IT!

      THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BUSINESS PLAN FOR INTERNET MARKETING. NONE. NONE NONE!!!!!!!!

      THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN INTERNET BUSINESS....NONE!!!!!

      INTERNET MARKETING.... it's just a catch phrase.....that describes a medium...but it aint the business you in..capiche?

      If you sell widgets by way of the computer..you're in the widget business..not the IM business...and people better figure out the difference before they even bother starting.

      What is he selling???? And if he doesn't know....he doesn't need a business plan...cuz he has no business. Period.

      A business...and/or a business plan...that lacks a product or service to sell for profit....aint either.

      So to answer the op's question requires me to know if the kid has something to sell. What ever that is...is the business he's in...the rest of it....is just the means to get out the message. Simple.

      A business plan that describes no business...isn't a plan...it's a waste of time.

      xxx Vegas Vince
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      • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
        Originally Posted by VegasVince View Post

        Here's what I'd tell the kid.....after I slapped him upside his head.....several times....just to get his attention.

        The very fact Internet Marketing needs a definition is the main reason why most people will fail and fail miserably at it.

        At what point did we turn IM into something so sexy that people forget you still have to sell something?

        Cuz what you sell---your product/service...... IS YOUR BUSINESS......NOT THE COMPUTER YOU USE TO SELL IT!

        THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BUSINESS PLAN FOR INTERNET MARKETING. NONE. NONE NONE!!!!!!!!

        THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN INTERNET BUSINESS....NONE!!!!!

        INTERNET MARKETING.... it's just a catch phrase.....that describes a medium...but it aint the business you in..capiche?

        If you sell widgets by way of the computer..you're in the widget business..not the IM business...and people better figure out the difference before they even bother starting.

        What is he selling???? And if he doesn't know....he doesn't need a business plan...cuz he has no business. Period.

        A business...and/or a business plan...that lacks a product or service to sell for profit....aint either.

        So to answer the op's question requires me to know if the kid has something to sell. What ever that is...is the business he's in...the rest of it....is just the means to get out the message. Simple.

        A business plan that describes no business...isn't a plan...it's a waste of time.

        xxx Vegas Vince
        Vince, I couldn't agree more - Internet Marketing is not a business in itself.

        However, there are times we need to explain what it's all about.

        Say the kid I know is selling Clickbank products via a few blogs/websites, whatever. Fine, he can go to Mr Bank Manager and say "I sell other people's stuff on my website for a commission." But Mr Bank Manager is intrigued. "How does that work, son?" He's then got to explain the concept of sourcing hot niches, finding appropriate products and driving traffic. etc etc

        As part of any business plan, if it's being read by someone else who doesn't understand the concepts, then we need to explain them.

        Peter
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