Internet Ads: How Different Methods Help Different Businesses

Internet advertising is enjoying a comfortable position amidst traditional tools of marketing such as print, radio and television. Its low cost, far reach and ability to conform to different platforms has made it a much-loved tool among small and large businesses alike.

Free web tools and software are available for download to create simple yet effective ads. More expensive ones boast better features and are used by large corporations, some even designed in-house. This range of tools makes it easy to flood different platforms whether it's mobile phones or computers which means prospects are less likely to miss them.

Social media

Social media is on everyone's lips because of the sheer size of networks that can be built and reached. Networking sites are massively popular and almost every internet user has an account in a social media site. Pages can be created about a company or product and updates and offers posted to reflect in members' news feeds. Separate ads can also be created and carried by the sites.

SMS/text

To make sure customers don't miss ads, they can subscribe to SMS alerts. These alerts are displayed no matter what mobile OS a phone uses and even if it doesn't use any. They're purely text-based which means even customers using the most basic of cell phones can be accessed.

Using text messages also ensures that people on the go can be reached as long as they subscribe to SMS alerts.

PPC

Pay per click advertising is a method that aims to direct traffic to a website. Advertisers pay a website owner to host ads which generate revenue for the owner when the ads are clicked.

PPC is popular because advertisers only have to pay when the ad is clicked. Creating targeted ads increases the chance of web users clicking them and being directed to the advertising website. It also guarantees faster results as search engine return pages display them prominently, typically among the top three or four results.

Email

Email advertising can be effective though a lot depends on how the mail is drafted, whether subscribers have opted to receive them and whether the mail contains content not deemed spam by email clients.

For example, subscribers who've regularly shopped from an online retail store and have subscribed to a mailing list are less likely to label that store's mails as spam. However, if a sender receives unsolicited mail, there's a close to 100 percent chance of marking it as spam and unsubscribing from the mailing list. This tricky issue means advertisers using emails need to know how to compel people to open mails and click on relevant links.

Display ads

Display ads are like physical banners but in digital form. They may be static, flash-based or interactive. All three can be effective as long as the ads don't contain dead links, are attractive, strategically placed and contain relevant information.

Adware

Adware is generally considered malware by many because a lot of unsolicited ads are installed without a user's permission. If done right, it can be a highly effective marketing tool by being displayed in web pages a user visits, and in pop-ups/pop-unders.

SEM

Search engine marketing relies on search engines to increase the visibility of an advertiser's website. This prominence is achieved using a number of search engine optimizing techniques.

Marketing through the online medium is nowadays preferred over traditional tools, one such method is Internet advertising. Visit this link to find more about internet advertising!