Your website is a marketing tool and with any type of marketing having a strategy prepares you for success. When preparing to put up a website the first thing to consider is not what your website will look like but how will your website resonate with your target audience. Here are four key elements that must be a part of your website marketing strategy for online success:

1. Know Who You’re Selling To. The most important question you need to answer in your website marketing strategy is “Who am I selling to?” The “who” is your target market. Think of them as the group you’re willing to spend money and time on to get their business. It’s important to understand that even if your services or products can benefit many types of individuals, it is a lot easier to focus your marketing efforts when you have a target audience in mind. In order to do that successfully, you’ll need to know who you’re talking to, what problems they have and what benefits are they seeking.
Tip: Don’t skip this step. It’s an integral part of any marketing plan.

2. Speak Their Language. Once you’ve identified your target market, learn the words they use to describe the problems they’re having or the benefits their seeking. With this information you’ll be able to “speak their language” in your website content. You’ll also be creating a connection with your audience when you use terms that connect with them.
Tip: Try WordTracker Keyword tool to find out what keywords your target marketing is searching on. http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/.

3. Educate Them. Research shows that most buyers use the internet to search for information before they buy. If your website doesn’t provide information to help your visitors in their buying decision they’re most likely to leave without contacting you. But if you have an understanding of your target audience you can provide targeted information that speaks to their concerns. My favorite quote is from the department store, SYMS whose slogan is “An educated consumer is our best customer.” Apply this philosophy to your website marketing strategy and you’ll start to see how easy it becomes to get qualified leads that convert into a sale. Tip: Educate your clients through Blogs, Special Reports, Mini Courses, Free Teleclasses/Webinars and Articles. Use these tools to get qualified leads on your mailing list or at least coming back to your website so that you can continue to market them.

4. Follow Up With Them. Research also shows that it takes at least seven contacts with a potential buyer before they even notice your ads. Once you get your website visitors to provide you their email address, continue to educate them through an e-zine (email newsletter) or blog. Create a schedule for your e-zine or blog and stick to it! The content of your e-zine should be at least 75% education and 25% sales. Remember you want to educate your leads so you can build credibility with them. People buy from people they know, like and trust and your e-zine is a start to building a relationship that can eventually lead to a sale.
Tip: Be sure to use an email or blog service that allows you to track if your email subscribers click on any links in your email. Aweber, Constant Contact, iContact are just a few of the e-zine management services out there that include statistics like this.

Janice Gentles-Jones, AKA Online Success Queen, is a online marketing consultant, author and technology enthusiast. Through consulting and workshops, Janice has over 12 years experience educating small business owners and business professionals on how to use technology for business success.

Janice publishes the free special report "15 Website Mistakes That Kill Online Success...And How To Avoid Them". If you're ready to boost your visibility, credibility and profitability, get your FREE report now at www.15websitemistakes.com.

View my Better Business Builders profile: http://betterbizbuilders.com/onlinesuccessqueen