In nearly every business industry there is a requirement to have a website, whether it acts as an information portal, an online tool designed to install trust and credibility in a company brand, or an e-commerce site dedicated to marketing products or services.

It’s all very well having a website that has amazing graphics, images and products, but if online users don’t know how to find your business or haven’t heard of you, then the money you invested in your site and your business may well go up in smoke.

With e-commerce sites in particular, there is a considerable requirement for online marketing. Without it, your products and/or your brand will not effectively reach out to your target market, meaning you will most likely not succeed online.

There are two forms of online marketing that should be considered at the time of a website being launched – Social Network Marketing (ie. Facebook and Twitter) and Search Engine Optimisation (organic search engine rankings). Both of these combine to form the ultimate online marketing plan.

I have had dealings with many businesses running online e-commerce sites. In most cases, they’ve realised straight away that they need to have more than just a great looking, informative site with well-priced, quality products. A large number of site owners have approached me about this and I’ve then presented them with an online marketing concept plan and implemented it for them.

There are also clients who I’ve designed e-commerce sites for that weren’t aware of the implications of not having an online marketing plan in place. It is my role to inform them of their needs and ensure they get the online presence they require to be successful.

There has been an explosion in social network marketing in recent times, with the majority of businesses using Facebook and/or Twitter. Both of these tools help promote ongoing interaction (ie. informing them of special deals and offers).

Through the right knowledge and experience, a website owner can quickly learn to grasp the concept of social media. Depending on the industry a client is in, the time involved in maintaining communication via Facebook and Twitter can be significant. A businesses’ customers will often communicate using social media rather than via email. I have found that businesses that attract a large number of Facebook friends and Twitter followers often require a staff member who dedicates their entire working week to maintaining their social media marketing obligations.

Ranking on page 1 for the main keyword phrases that relate to your business will bring success, but through utilising social media, you can generate a whole lot more online success. You’ll be surprised how well both work together.