Strategic Internet Marketing Plans are ideal for the small business that wants to powerfully leverage the web in such a way as to maximize lead generation, revenues, brand positioning and referral marketing systems.

What are strategic internet marketing plans?

Strategic internet marketing plans are simply marketing action plans that systematically integrate and diagram your use of online resources and their extensions (such as mobile device marketing) in a way that maximizes your return on investment. Strategic internet marketing plans take into account your business and communications strategies, your budget and allocation of other resources, as well as your subsequent ability to manage projects during the execution phase.

To help you design the perfect plan that fits within the resources of your business, here are 8 types of activities and platforms you can leverage online to strategically build your business.

8 Broad Channels To Deploy Strategic Internet Marketing Plans

This section is just a broad outline of the channels that you would be wise to account for if you indeed plan to deploy a strategic internet marketing plan to build your business.

1. Email marketing system

Contrary to popular belief, email is still the killer “app” of online marketing. A robust and well designed email marketing system can help you achieve just about any strategic marketing objective you have in your business. Done the right way, you can quickly double or even triple the “asset value” of your business through email subscriber lists that consist of well segmented prospects and customers.

2. Web site Marketing

Your web site marketing strategy is the most crucial component of a strategic internet marketing plan after your email system. It allows you to have a “public home” online where information seekers can come and find the most authoritative and comprehensive information about your company, your products and services, as well as any other relevant information.

A powerful tactic that I always recommend for our small business consulting clients is to develop a powerful authority content portal no matter what else you do (or don’t do) on your website.

3. Search Engine Marketing

While search engine optimization and lead generation programs include what you do on your website, they do not stop there. Since search engines are the most powerful method for getting free internet traffic, you should heavily deploy tactics like article writing and syndication, placement in web directories, placement in review and shopping sites and any other ideas that bring you free, targeted traffic from the activity of search engines.

4. Info-Publishing and Marketing

Online information publishing and marketing allows you to get your marketing message out there in a way that is effective and lucrative. For just a little bit of extra effort and investment of resources, many small companies have developed powerful and complementary profit centers that have the added benefit of promoting their business.

5. Affiliate Marketing / Resellers and Distributors

Ever since Amazon popularized the internet version of this age-old marketing practice, affiliate marketing has been here to stay. This strategy is a great way to amplify the effect of your online information marketing.

6. Social Marketing

Social marketing and digital publicity is all the rage today. By strategically developing content that pre-sells (or sells) your products and services, you can join the conversation and build value for your company. Social marketing covers such tactics as Business Blogging, Podcasting, Social Networking, Social Content sharing, Social Network Application Development and online brand/reputation management among many others.

7. Online Advertising and Media Purchasing

There are almost as many niche advertising platforms online as there are websites. From contextual advertising networks, to Pay-per-click, to advertising on Facebook and YouTube, and even to targeted advertising in relevant ezines, you can get your message out by purchasing advertising directly to every imaginable segment of your customer marketplace.

8. Mobile Marketing

In the future, your computer will be completely swallowed by the internet. Quite possibly, so will your house, your car, and many other “venues” in your life. The mobile devices are the forerunners of this powerful trend. The sooner you integrate your strategic internet marketing plan to account for the huge increase in mobile device usage, the better it will be for your business.

Conclusion

By thinking of your online marketing or digital marketing action plan in this way, you can comprehensively cover the internet space, keeping track of new developments and making sure you are well positioned to implement new business designs that will determine the competitive landscape of your industry niche.