Hire a Sales Person or Invest in SEO and SEM?

Clients have asked, instead of hiring a sales person, should I put that money toward an online marketing or Search Engine Optimization Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of enhancing a website's content, structure, and technical elements to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). Unlike paid advertising, SEO focuses on organic (unpaid) search results, aiming to attract more quality traffic to the site through search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. SEO encompasses a variety of strategies, including keyword research, on-page optimization (such as optimizing titles, meta descriptions, and content), link building, and improving site usability and speed. By aligning a website's content with search engine algorithms and user intent, SEO helps increase the site's relevance and authority in search engines' eyes. Effective SEO can lead to higher rankings, increased web traffic, and better user engagement, ultimately contributing to the site's overall success and reach. ? As a company that supplies SEO Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of enhancing a website's content, structure, and technical elements to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). Unlike paid advertising, SEO focuses on organic (unpaid) search results, aiming to attract more quality traffic to the site through search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. SEO encompasses a variety of strategies, including keyword research, on-page optimization (such as optimizing titles, meta descriptions, and content), link building, and improving site usability and speed. By aligning a website's content with search engine algorithms and user intent, SEO helps increase the site's relevance and authority in search engines' eyes. Effective SEO can lead to higher rankings, increased web traffic, and better user engagement, ultimately contributing to the site's overall success and reach. , SMM Social Media Management involves the strategic planning, creation, publishing, and analysis of content across various social media platforms to achieve personal, professional, or business goals. It includes activities such as creating a content calendar, scheduling posts, engaging with followers, monitoring social media channels for mentions or comments, analyzing performance metrics, and implementing strategies to increase engagement and reach. Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social are commonly used to streamline these tasks, making it easier to manage multiple accounts and platforms simultaneously. Effective social media management helps in building brand awareness, nurturing customer relationships, driving website traffic, and ultimately boosting sales or desired actions. By consistently producing relevant and high-quality content, and actively participating in community discussions, businesses and individuals can enhance their online presence and establish a strong digital footprint. and SEM Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a digital marketing strategy focused on increasing a website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) through paid advertising. SEM encompasses various techniques and practices, including pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, cost-per-click (CPC) campaigns, and search engine optimization (SEO) to some extent. The primary goal of SEM is to drive targeted traffic to a website by purchasing ads on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. By bidding on specific keywords that potential customers are likely to use when searching for related products or services, businesses can ensure their ads appear prominently in SERPs. Effective SEM campaigns can enhance brand awareness, generate leads, and drive conversions, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to expand their online presence and attract new customers. services, I love to hear this and it’s a good strategy if managed correctly depending on your current staffing and market focus. I can’t say enough about having someone that breaths air and knows how to listen to a prospect because computers don’t listen, they just tell. But on the flip side, things are changing and if you’re not online, you are just local.

There is a lot of talk about how the generation coming does not know how to communicate with each other without sending a tweet, txt or other online communication. I watch teenagers and they can’t seem to keep their eyes or hands off their smart phone. What is so important on that screen? YO! – put it down and look up and talk to me. So I must be getting old that I want to talk to someone when making business decisions. But when I’m shopping online, leave me alone until I ask for help and stop trying to chat with me. However, these teenagers might be the ones looking for products or services in the future and you want to make sure your company shows up where they look.

The next generation is very transparent and tech savvy so having a solid online presence is critical unless you are not interested in reaching them as consumers. But I think there needs to be blending between humans and technology, and you need to understand your target market. Online sales or lead generation through SEO Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of enhancing a website's content, structure, and technical elements to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). Unlike paid advertising, SEO focuses on organic (unpaid) search results, aiming to attract more quality traffic to the site through search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. SEO encompasses a variety of strategies, including keyword research, on-page optimization (such as optimizing titles, meta descriptions, and content), link building, and improving site usability and speed. By aligning a website's content with search engine algorithms and user intent, SEO helps increase the site's relevance and authority in search engines' eyes. Effective SEO can lead to higher rankings, increased web traffic, and better user engagement, ultimately contributing to the site's overall success and reach. , SEM Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a digital marketing strategy focused on increasing a website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) through paid advertising. SEM encompasses various techniques and practices, including pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, cost-per-click (CPC) campaigns, and search engine optimization (SEO) to some extent. The primary goal of SEM is to drive targeted traffic to a website by purchasing ads on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. By bidding on specific keywords that potential customers are likely to use when searching for related products or services, businesses can ensure their ads appear prominently in SERPs. Effective SEM campaigns can enhance brand awareness, generate leads, and drive conversions, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to expand their online presence and attract new customers. , SMM Social Media Management involves the strategic planning, creation, publishing, and analysis of content across various social media platforms to achieve personal, professional, or business goals. It includes activities such as creating a content calendar, scheduling posts, engaging with followers, monitoring social media channels for mentions or comments, analyzing performance metrics, and implementing strategies to increase engagement and reach. Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social are commonly used to streamline these tasks, making it easier to manage multiple accounts and platforms simultaneously. Effective social media management helps in building brand awareness, nurturing customer relationships, driving website traffic, and ultimately boosting sales or desired actions. By consistently producing relevant and high-quality content, and actively participating in community discussions, businesses and individuals can enhance their online presence and establish a strong digital footprint. and digital media should be a part of every companies marketing plan. Based on your business model depends on the extent of that involvement and it should also support traditional marketing methods. Marketing campaigns should drive traffic to your website which should be designed to convert that prospect into a lead or sale. Leads require responding and follow up. It’s proven that conversion rates are higher when a qualified sales person does the follow up and closing.

So the answer: There is a blend and I see the internet as a referral source to your sales team. So depending on your sales team configuration, that will determine how much should be spent on Internet Marketing.

I also recommend you hold your SEO Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of enhancing a website's content, structure, and technical elements to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). Unlike paid advertising, SEO focuses on organic (unpaid) search results, aiming to attract more quality traffic to the site through search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. SEO encompasses a variety of strategies, including keyword research, on-page optimization (such as optimizing titles, meta descriptions, and content), link building, and improving site usability and speed. By aligning a website's content with search engine algorithms and user intent, SEO helps increase the site's relevance and authority in search engines' eyes. Effective SEO can lead to higher rankings, increased web traffic, and better user engagement, ultimately contributing to the site's overall success and reach. , SEM Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a digital marketing strategy focused on increasing a website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) through paid advertising. SEM encompasses various techniques and practices, including pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, cost-per-click (CPC) campaigns, and search engine optimization (SEO) to some extent. The primary goal of SEM is to drive targeted traffic to a website by purchasing ads on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. By bidding on specific keywords that potential customers are likely to use when searching for related products or services, businesses can ensure their ads appear prominently in SERPs. Effective SEM campaigns can enhance brand awareness, generate leads, and drive conversions, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to expand their online presence and attract new customers. and SMM Social Media Management involves the strategic planning, creation, publishing, and analysis of content across various social media platforms to achieve personal, professional, or business goals. It includes activities such as creating a content calendar, scheduling posts, engaging with followers, monitoring social media channels for mentions or comments, analyzing performance metrics, and implementing strategies to increase engagement and reach. Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social are commonly used to streamline these tasks, making it easier to manage multiple accounts and platforms simultaneously. Effective social media management helps in building brand awareness, nurturing customer relationships, driving website traffic, and ultimately boosting sales or desired actions. By consistently producing relevant and high-quality content, and actively participating in community discussions, businesses and individuals can enhance their online presence and establish a strong digital footprint. vendor to the same accountability as your sales team. In most cases, sales professionals’ success is based on activities and goals. Why don’t companies hold their Internet Marketing vendors to the same accountability? I think it’s because most Internet Marketing vendors don’t offer accountability and most companies are not viewing online resources at the same value. But what if you did and expected results? If you hire a lead generation or cold call company, they provide you detailed lists, call scripts and record keeping to justify their services. At Intrada, we have an aggressive online internet marketing campaign using Pay-Per-Clicks, landing pages, call to actions combined with traditional print advertising. We also focus on article generation like this one to build ranking on target keyword/key phrases for organic placement. But we also have a sales team that follows up on all leads and does traditional cold calling. It’s a balance and, depending on your business, your current staffing and target prospects, determines how you balance this decision.

So how do determine this balance? Intrada offers a Strategic Market Planning session designed to teach our team about our client and then identify the marketing goals. With the goals identified, a marketing plan can be created to deliver those goals and provide tracking, accountability and desired Return On Investment Return on Investment (ROI) is a key performance metric used to evaluate the efficiency or profitability of an investment. ROI quantifies the return generated on an investment relative to its cost, expressed as a percentage. This metric helps businesses and investors assess the financial benefits of various projects, investments, or marketing campaigns, enabling them to make informed decisions on how to allocate resources effectively. Calculating ROI involves dividing the net profit generated from the investment by the initial cost and then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage value. Understanding ROI is crucial for business strategy, financial planning, and performance assessment, ensuring that investments align with the overall goals and deliver value. . Some of the questions asked and information gathered in the marketing planning session include:

• History and Company Background
• Service and/or Product Information
• Current Staff and Positions
• Current Market Reach / Target Market Reach
• Current Market Saturation / Target Market Saturation
• Current Competitor Challenges / Target Market Competitors
• Current Sales, Budgets, Marketing Campaigns, Web Traffic and Online Visibility
• Past Marketing Campaigns Efforts
• What do you want to accomplish? Goals / Objectives / Growth

With this information, Intrada researches the current placement of a company on both online and physical placements. Intrada also identifies competitors, both physical and online, to establish a competitor analysis. Using tools available from search engines and other paid services, Intrada identifies the estimated search traffic available based on keywords and key phrases. After compiling this information, Intrada is able to provide a detailed marketing campaign designed to accomplish the goals, objectives and desired growth of a company using both digital media and traditional media.

So you want to find out if you should invest in SEO Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of enhancing a website's content, structure, and technical elements to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). Unlike paid advertising, SEO focuses on organic (unpaid) search results, aiming to attract more quality traffic to the site through search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. SEO encompasses a variety of strategies, including keyword research, on-page optimization (such as optimizing titles, meta descriptions, and content), link building, and improving site usability and speed. By aligning a website's content with search engine algorithms and user intent, SEO helps increase the site's relevance and authority in search engines' eyes. Effective SEO can lead to higher rankings, increased web traffic, and better user engagement, ultimately contributing to the site's overall success and reach. , SEM Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a digital marketing strategy focused on increasing a website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) through paid advertising. SEM encompasses various techniques and practices, including pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, cost-per-click (CPC) campaigns, and search engine optimization (SEO) to some extent. The primary goal of SEM is to drive targeted traffic to a website by purchasing ads on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. By bidding on specific keywords that potential customers are likely to use when searching for related products or services, businesses can ensure their ads appear prominently in SERPs. Effective SEM campaigns can enhance brand awareness, generate leads, and drive conversions, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to expand their online presence and attract new customers. and SEM Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a digital marketing strategy focused on increasing a website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) through paid advertising. SEM encompasses various techniques and practices, including pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, cost-per-click (CPC) campaigns, and search engine optimization (SEO) to some extent. The primary goal of SEM is to drive targeted traffic to a website by purchasing ads on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. By bidding on specific keywords that potential customers are likely to use when searching for related products or services, businesses can ensure their ads appear prominently in SERPs. Effective SEM campaigns can enhance brand awareness, generate leads, and drive conversions, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to expand their online presence and attract new customers. service instead of hiring another sales person? Contact an Internet Marketing company, establish some goals and get a quote. If you decide to move forward, hold the vendor accountable for hitting those goals and benefit from the largest referral network in the word.

If you would be interested in learning more about Intrada, give me a call or email me today.

David Steele, Partner / Webmaster A Webmaster is a professional responsible for maintaining, managing, and improving websites. The role of a Webmaster encompasses a broad range of tasks, including designing web pages, updating content, ensuring website functionality, and optimizing site performance. Webmasters must possess a solid understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other web technologies to effectively handle the technical aspects of website management. Webmasters also play a crucial role in implementing and managing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategies to enhance a website's visibility on search engines. This involves keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and analyzing site traffic through tools like Google Analytics. Moreover, Webmasters are often tasked with ensuring site security by implementing measures to protect against cyber threats and regularly updating software to prevent vulnerabilities. In addition to technical expertise, Webmasters must have good project management and communication skills, as they frequently collaborate with content creators, designers, and marketing teams. Their ability to troubleshoot issues, manage hosting services, and enhance user experience makes them an indispensable asset for any organization looking to maintain a professional and functional online presence. Overall, the role of a Webmaster is dynamic and multifaceted, requiring a blend of technical prowess and strategic insight to manage and continually improve a website's performance and security.

djsteele@intradatech.com
570-321-7370