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Internet Marketing Has Changed, Change Your Mindset
August 18, 2008 · Print This Article · Comments
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Online business and internet marketing have changed dramatically in the past year. Rather, it’s been changing exponentially for quite some time, but the change has finally hit mainstream. The change is a complete juxtaposed environment where marketers and businesses are no longer in control of the one-way pitch. Now, we’re facing a massive online shift where everything is a permission-based dialogue - surrounded by a million other dialogues. This isn’t news, unless you’ve lived in a cave, are a complete newbie, or just in denial (in which case, we need to talk).
The problem is, most marketers have such a minimal level of understanding how the whole enchilada works, they completely miss the fundamental shift in mindset that must come, when you recognize the changing dynamics of online business. Period. If you’re not doing things differently, it doesn’t matter what strategies you use - you will not be successful.
What’s the mindset change?
Things are just different now, grasp it, get over it, and make the shift. Your mindset has to shift in almost every area in online business possible. Internet marketing is now based on these necessary mindsets:
- Markets are no longer bulls-eye, demographics based islands, easily targeted. Every market (and anyone offering anything online has a market), is composed of dynamic humans involved in instantaneous dialogue a million times over. Shift your mindset by opening up your market research to data that is not just statistical, but logical and intuitive. Behaviors and connections are the important things now.
- Marketing is no longer controlled by companies, it’s controlled by the market, as a whole, and everyone in it, simultaneously. Your market is no longer accepting the same pitch, delivered in the same manner. It’s about two-way conversation, connecting at a deeper level than your value proposition. Understand that it’s now on your markets’ terms when, how, and why you communicate with them.
- Participating in a conversation is not the same as “hyped-up-copy,” stop insulting your market. Realize this - indirect communication, over-communicating, scarcity tactics, and flat out hyping things up - no longer work. Anyone who’s been in business online has to recognize this shift.
- How you measure success and failure is all wrong now. Shifts this large, create a need to re-evaluate how we measure and track, how we measure success, and even how we compile information. Basically, the old mindsets regarding metrics and analytics, have to be adjusted. Or, you’ll never make good marketing decisions.
- Your strategies can no longer be entirely automated or technology driven. There is certainly more opportunity now, than ever before, to systemize for scalability. While many of those opportunities create win-wins on budgets and returns — some can actually be self-defeating. You can not automate relationships and personal connections. No matter how hard you try, it will not happen.
These fundamental mindshifts will be the difference between success and failure. It’s time to shift.
Who needs to shift their mindset?
Everyone looking to target a market for anything. Period. Bloggers, while always progressive, still need to play some catch up. Internet marketers, service professionals, programmers, developers, and pretty much everyone else on the Net. Seriously, things are that different and not heading back.
The good news is…
Once your mindset shifts, many of the necessities for success will come naturally. Behind every marketer, there is a human who was made for connections and dialogues, experiences and developments. You’ll target naturally, engage authentically, and convert in a much easier and natural way. Business (and all other factors being good) is good.
Photo Credit: Massive Change on Flickr
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Internet Marketing has changed everybody’s mindset - including old fashion marketers.
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