Synopsis of Internet Marketing

Internet marketing is basically the marketing of products or services over the internet. Web marketing, online marketing and e-marketing are some of the other terms used to describe it. Internet marketing ties together the creative and technical aspects of the internet e.g. design and sales. The goal is to effectively reach as many people as you can. The internet is one of the best mediums of marketing today as it possesses certain unique qualities. Its interactive nature is an exclusive property that no other medium possesses. It also enjoys a broad reach to a global audience irrespective of their geographical location. The power of 24x7, the fact that your customers can shop whenever they want, at their own leisure and convenience is unbeatable. Lower costs of distribution of information and media means that for a fraction of traditional advertising budgets you can reach a global audience. Speed is another handy characteristic. It allows immediate updating of information. Typically a customer browses the net alone therefore you also get the benefit of the one-to-one approach. The fact that it appeals to specific interests rather than a broad demographic is another plus factor.
An indirect advantage of the internet is that it makes the process of measuring statistics easy. This is useful in tracking the results of various campaigns. Advertisers can use the pay per impression, pay per click, pay per play, or pay per action method to attract customers. In this area, Adsense and PPC are the most familiar. As online marketing programs usually involve clicking on an advertisement, performing a required action or visiting a website, it is easy to track results of various campaigns and compare them to find the best one. As a result of the exposure, response and overall efficiency, internet as a medium of marketing is fast gaining popularity.
As popular as it maybe, it is not all a pretty picture, it does have is drawbacks like any other medium. Security concerns are the most dangerous problem. A widely used method to safe guard against this is encryption. But, even if you are reasonably well secured, the fear of a problem arising is next to impossible to erase. Lack of customer service is another predicament that little can be done about. Speed besides being an advantage also ranks as a disadvantage, as easy updating of information also results in easier outdated information. Software and hardware costs are another snag. Purchasing and maintaining your software and hardware can occasionally total up to quite a bit. Also, the obvious challenge of too much competition is a bit hard to block out.
Internet marketing along with its pros and cons has undoubtedly taken the world by storm. This is evident by the massive impact it has made on several industries such as film, music and pharmaceuticals. The number of banks now offering the ability to perform banking tasks online is another great example which proves that internet marketing is here to stay.