Three Things I’ve Learned Over the Past 2 Months

You may have noticed that I haven’t been writing as much on this blog over the past couple months. That’s mostly due to us being extremely busy on some client projects and a personal project.

In that time I’ve learned a few things about internet marketing that I’m going to share with you now.

1. Social media is very important
Some background about myself: I’m a bit of a laggard when it comes to new things and new technology. (That’s actually an understatement.) Here’s a few examples:

• I still use FreeHand MX instead of Adobe Illustrator.
• I don’t own a cell phone.
• I still use a PC. I know I need to switch to a Mac.
• I’m at least 2 versions behind on Flash.

I never really paid much attention to social media. I knew it existed. I even knew that it was important. But it wasn’t until about 5 weeks ago when one of our web sites made it to the home page of Delicious that I really got on board with it. After seeing the amount of traffic and new links that being on the home page of Delicious brought, I could no longer afford to ignore social media. I recommend that every internet marketer learn how to harness social media asap.

2. Market your web sites to the influencers
We made it to the home page of Delicous because the editor at a Top 10 Technorati site wrote about us on their blog. Then a few other large blogs wrote about us and then about 15 smaller blogs as well. Prior to this, my strategy was to email the smaller blogs and let them know about our site. My guess is that 1 in 10 to 15 ended up writing about us. It takes a lot of time and effort to individually email bloggers. In fact to get 15 small bloggers to write about us would take as many as 225 emails.

Instead the better strategy is to target the influential bloggers in your niche. If they write about you, then the smaller bloggers will write about you too. Now you just have to figure out how to get the influencers to write about you.

3. Having a great web site is VERY important
It’s a lot easier to get people talking about you and build links, if you have a great web site. People won’t talk about a web site that isn’t unique or different from the mold. Spend the extra time making a unique and useful web site that people can’t not talk about. Your link building will go so much easier.

It’s been a great 2 months and I think I’ve learned even more than these three points. But I have to get back to work now.

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Hi Luke,

Great post you got there.

I do agree that social media is very important for internet marketing. But I am as outdate as you were and I am always lack of time to really look at the benefits of social media.

Do you have any advice for me?

I also like your comment about getting the big bloggers to write about you. Is it possible I find out from you how did you do that?

I mean they are so busy and how can I get their attention?

Good tips on Social Media.

Great talking with ya earlier today.

You are right, in order to be effective with internet marketing, you need to be more flexible with the changes of technology. It doesn’t mean that you really have it, but you always have that room to find out some information so that you can cope up with the changes.

Having a great website will take sometime. But it is important that you need to know the people you want to see your site and its content then influential bloggers will just come along.

Great web site = quality contests, right?

Ups, any typo with my comment above.

Great web site = quality conteNts

Yes, I agree with social media. I have just looked at it trying to see where I can get links from and have never figured out the buzz thing - a longer piece would help if you have time. Thanks.

It used to be ‘content is king’ - well, the king is dead, long live the queen (social marketing). Nice post.

[...] who has tried their hand at link building knows it can be tedious at best. Luke mentioned in his post last week that he has had some success in generating links by networking with influential bloggers [...]

Hi Luke,

You sound as if you are talking about me

I am way behind in many of these areas, and have absolutely new clue about utilizing social media. I realize it is very important, and getting even more so. Now that I am so far behind in this, it almost feels like there is so much too learn about it and not enough time.

Everyday, something new, improved, or updated is popping up on the net and in the IM… the dilemma is where to start and with what

Loved the idea about the influencers. Makes so much sense.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Sam

Expecting any tips from you about how to make the influencer write something about us…You know, it’s hard to get thair attention.

[...] of the main themes from the comments on the 3 Things I’ve learned over the past 2 Months post is how to get influential blogs to write about [...]

This “living in fear” shit is getting old.