The place where it starts is with a well-defined service. Before you even think about building a web site, you should know who your target market is, how to describe your professional specialty, and what specific benefits your work provides for your clients. If you don't have a crystal clear picture of who you are marketing to and exactly what you're selling them, the most fancy web site in the world won't get you clients. 

Create Human Interaction
What is the key missing component in the virtual sales process? When marketing virtually you are missing a key component to the sales process.  That is human interaction.  This has been the biggest struggle to e-commerce businesses online. When a person enters a physical store they are met with the interaction of a sales person.  Face-to-face contact takes place and over 90% of normal communication between the two people is non-verbal. 

Websites or virtual storefronts like websites don't allow that non-verbal communication to take place in the traditional way and the friendly sales person is replaced with the cold technology of background code.

How can you provide that human interaction to potential clients and customers so that you are able to move that client or customer through a successful sales process? In the subject line of your e-mails, mention your customer’s name, or the area where they come from, when possible. Try and get as much information as you can about the person’s hobbies, interests, and more. Use this information in future e-mails with that customer. When possible, give a 1-800- number for customers to call about your online products and services.

Make Every Customer Work for You
Ask yourself: "What is the annual worth of one customer to you?"  Is it $25, $250, or perhaps $2500?  If having an Internet Marketing Strategy would help you cultivate and convert just 1 new customer each week, spend quality time planning that strategy.

Attract Quality Buyers - Before spending money on banner ads, web directories, or pay-per-click listings to drive more visitors to your site, you need to be sure that some or most of your visitors will want to do business with you through your website. Ask your colleagues and current clients to critique your site. 

Build your Subscriber List Effectively
Names acquired from promotional gimmicks or unknown sources seldom turn into paying clients. There's no question that a substantial opt-in mailing list is a valuable marketing asset, but the quality of names on your list is much more important than the quantity. Ask your site visitors and people you meet to join your mailing list and offer them something of value in return. A well-written ezine, helpful report, or informative audio are all effective premiums. Your giveaways should be directly related to the services you provide and also serve to increase your professional credibility. 

Professional Web Content - Your Internet marketing persona should reflect the same professionalism as the work you do with your clients. If writing marketing materials isn't your forte, by all means hire a professional copywriter. The copy on your web site should inspire feelings of confidence about your abilities, and communicate your reliability and solid qualifications. 

Increase Your Traffic
Traffic can be increased by search engine optimization, pay per clicks, or marketing your site in advertising campaigns. After completing the marketing step which brings the traffic you must then turn your attention to selling to your visitor once they get there.  

Written by Preethi Burkholder, Editor, Gifted Hands Writing, April 07th, 2009