5 Golden Lessons from an Internet Marketing Agency
I'm a long-time lurker, but only just signed up today. This site has so much great content, thought I'd start by contributing some things I've learned.
For the past few years I've worked at a digital advertising/marking agency. I've been lucky enough to work with big clients who can afford to spend big $$$ their online marketing efforts. Because these are established companies, some of what I've worked on doesn't translate to I.M. as it tends to be talked about on the Warrior Forum; however, there are a few things that I've learned that I think you guys will be able to profit from (however small).
1. Track Everything
First rule, and very important. Every site you run should be properly tagged and tracked to make sure that you know everything that is happening on the site at any given time. Google Analytics is free and comprehensive enough for most people. Remember that you are tracking trends and not concrete figures. See where you traffic is coming from and adjust accordingly.
2. User Test
If you're building a site that's going to get a lot of traffic, you should try to do some user testing before you launch. Get some potential users of your site together (just use friends if you don't have much budget) and watch them use it (you can do this remotely, using a site that I've forgotten the name of...). Make sure that your target users can access the site properly and don't have any problems. If they do, go back and redesign the site to encorporate their feedback - it will be worth it
3. Know Your Worth
If you're working with clients, don't undersell yourself. A simple point, but if you're going to do something that brings in $xx,xxx more sales, make sure you charge a good fee. If you're doing good work, people will pay.
4. Your Brain Often Doesn't Work The Way You Think It Does
Sitting in front of a blank piece of paper looking at a problem isn't often the best way to solve it. Your brain works on problems in your subconscious, so go off and do something else - go and have a shower, go for a walk, play with your kids. Whatever takes your mind of the problem at hand.
If you need some creative ideas, try looking at some inspiring stimulus (pictures, videos etc) and then just writing down the first things that come into your head. Or, try to get to 50 ideas in 10 minutes (seriously). Go back and pick through what you've written and act on the best ideas.
5. A.I.B - Always In Beta
Nothing is ever finished. Everything can be improved. Google recently tested 42 types of blue for their 'Search' button - if they're still working, don't you think you should be too?
I hope this helps inspire some of you to bigger things
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