Internet Marketing is similar to traditional marketing, but you don’t have a face right in front of you.

I’ve read plenty of books about closing deals, using body language to read your prospect.  These can be useful on many aspects of life but…

… right now, you’re facing an opinion without a face.  (and, no… <– smileys do not count…)

What to do, when all the knowledge you acquired while learning about the trade is, to say the least, obsolete?

Oldie But Goodie

Here’s a Top 10 list of things you’ve learned from marketing that used to work and, surprisingly, still work!

10.  Know your business:  Having a clear view of the business you’re promoting builds up credibility.  It will also let you know the extent of your marketing campaign, where and when to launch it.  Talk to your clients and get as much information as you can.

9.  Talk to REAL people:  Keep in touch!  Give them a call or arrange an appointment.  How can you build up trust (and let’s not talk about bigger business chances) if you don’t take the time to actually talk? That’s the difference that helps business transcend to useful relationships.

8.  Not every action means a sale: Some actions don’t necessarily imply sales.  You’ll have to invest tons of time doing PR chores, putting your company on the map and creating (or strengthening) strategic relationships.  Sometimes you’ll have to stop chasing customers in order to get real deals.

7.  Follow-up your customers:  This will not only open future chances, but this will create a word-of-mouth buzz about your company post-sales services.  This is a trade that demands lots of follow-up operations.  If you show them that you care, they’ll spread the word.

6.  If it works, then it works:  Reinventing the wheel is a waste of time.  Some things, due to technology and the infinite fluctuations of economy, will be reevaluated.  The more we know, the more things change. But having a clear principle of customer service will always be the key element.

5.  Priorities, priorities, priorities:  What’s top on your list?  What do you have to do before anything else?  If you have no idea, take paper and pencil (yes, ancient technology that works!) and set a list of things you have to do for your campaign.  Arrange them from urgent to smooth and from the hardest to the easiest and, no matter what, stick to them as much as you can.

4.  Customize your presentations:  One part, a huge one, is to know your customer.  Then you have to speak your customer’s language.  Organize your presentations to be short, informative, clear and, mostly, meant to fulfill your client’s needs.  Generic presentations only show a lack of interest and lots of ignorance.

3.  Be ready to pull out the big guns: Negotiation is a real pain.  People will always use the sneakiest schemes to get a cheaper price.  Then’s when you have to show them the benefits and make them forget about the price.  If it is good for them, if the outcome is rewarding, they won’t mind spending a pretty penny and, most important, they will listen.

2.  Keep yourself updated: Sounds like a paradox, doesn’t it?  Here we are, talking about ol’ fashioned marketing and here I am, talking about keeping yourself in the now.  Values are perennial, yet the world changes.  Read newspapers, watch some TV, talk to people (see Number 9).  The word in the street influences us.

And, finally, our top ol’ school tip of the day:

1.  APPLY THESE TIPS AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT PEOPLE! Marketing will never be an exact science, but some things have passed the test of time.  Being there for your customer, answering your customer’s questions and going the extra mile is what makes a marketeer stand out from its peers.

When it comes to Internet Marketing, some thing changed drastically, but the principle will always be the same:  taking care of business.