Hi guys, I'm gonna be doing Internet marketing and i was here thinking whether it would be good to use a corporate website rather than a blog, I'll be honest, i don't intend to post on internet marketing because i already have my hands full currently but i was thinking setting up a corporate website won't be a bad idea but when applying to Affiliate Networks is where i might run into trouble. We all know Affiliate Networks love to see a blog about internet marketing before they accept you. I was think if i should make a nice layout of the services i intend to offer such as the usual PPC marketing, Seo etc types of marketing methods i will use. I would like to hear your thoughts on this Corporate Website vs the IM Blog Idea. Also if you have already done such a Business Body website to what i'm speaking i would also like to hear from your experiences. Thanks SUB
I haven't actually had any IM websites however I do recommend having an IM Blog. Personally, I usually ignore IM websites unless it's a blog and I see that the owner knows exactly what he's talking about. A blog will help potential users trust you. Having said that, if you don't intend to post anything, then you have answered your question yourself. An empty blog will look bad and you will lose customers if it seems like you're not active. I would personally go for a combination of the two - A nice looking corporate website with a blog by the side with a few free tutorials and guides. That way it looks like you're helpful and don't mind sharing your knowledge for free. Just my 2c!
"Corporate"??? When selling a product or service, having a blog has its disadvantages. 1. It takes time to find GOOD subjects to write about, and then write it out. 2. If you don't have GOOD subjects in your blog, people will not come back, thus you lose sales. John Chow and Shoemoney (bloggers) lost a lot of traffic when they ran out of good stuff to read. They have good tid bits every now and then, but.... 3. The more free stuff you put in your blog, the lower your odds go down in making a sale. Why should they buy if they can read it on your blog for free? 4. Most people are not readers. They want to come into a site, look around, and if they what they like, they will buy. If they have to work at it, like, reading, many will back out. Practically all internet users do not go to blogs and boards. That, by itself, should tell you something. That's just the way many people are. If you are selling ad space, great, have a blog, but anything other than that, and you could possibly be cutting your throat. They do? I thought they love to see a nice site, sales page, along with a nice product or service, period?
That too, but some networks who actually call would love to see a blog about internet marketing and read it to make a assessment to see if the person applying is on the right track for conversions. I'm not saying they don't only look for a nice sales page, i could pay someone to make a sales page for me but what if i don't make conversions? Another thing its not that i don't wish to share knowledge, i'm still in the learning stages and i do have a lot to learn but i can't commit to posting on this blog, I do have a life you know While doing my research i came across another group of marketers which had the same concept as me. http://www.sunshinesearch.net/combined.html They built a website with a brief description of their self and what services they offer, the website isn't much to shout about but its the business model that i'm speaking of, instead of a blog. Like what copper12 said So who here have done this? Have you ever had your application rejected from a Network just for a corporate website? Thanks.
That hits the nail on the head. You come to the website to see goods, compare models and pricing, and only after you may prefer to get some additional info. Blog might be a good idea for clients who come for the third and fourth time. It also depends on the nature of the product sold: guns, cars, chocolate or detergent? The general idea is a website should be the core, while the function of a blog may be presenting some additional info. Another probable difference between them might be in the style, the corporate web site could be more official, while blog could be less formal.