GMU Pop Culture Journalism

Website Response-Ontopinternetmarketing.com

On Top Internet Marketing Services is a website dedicated to small business owners to develop an Internet presence to generate more leads and sales. It focuses on ways for smaller business owners(especially “mom and pop” restaurants) to get the word out about their business without wasting a lot of money on business cards and yellow pages, which they have mentioned have become nothing more than door stops in this electronically driven society.

The company was founded in early 2010 by a married couple, Monique and Derek Alvarez, after both becoming fed up with, and quitting their corporate jobs/firms. After learning about Direct Sales principles and Internet Marketing, the couple managed to only offer their products and services to people who are already interested in buying what they have. Monique is now a Social Media Extraordinaire, and Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube are just a few ways she offers advice on getting information out to the public. Derek figured out how to get websites ranked at the top of Google, as well as get heaps of leads and sales through Google and Facebook Pay-per-click advertising, so this couple is far from lost in the Internet market.

Most importantly this corporation/website focuses on marketing your site, converting your visitors to loyal customers, and following-up with them through such avenues as Facebook Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Paid Ads, Email Marketing and Text Message Marketing.

The biggest weakness I see is just how the site is organized and displayed. The site provides quality information and I do believe the couple has credibility because they do identify their clients(and many are very recognizable), but the site could be more presentable, especially when marketing and advertising is their strength. When giving out such important information, you would think they would take their own advice. Their biggest strength is that they give a lot of do’s and dont’s, and although some of the advice may be common sense to some, it is extremely helpful and emphasizes the basics of advertising and marketing.

Three Articles to Check Out:
The Times Square Guide to Email Marketing: This article informs public about proper ways to set up email/Internet Advertisements. They make sure to emphasize to avoid busyness because too many choices sometimes turns consumers away.

Facebook Fan Pages and Advertising: They have found that “Facebook Advertising to send users to your Page can give a business “instant gratification” aka “instant results” because it’s like direct marketing, only with a better response, not to mention it’s easier to track.” This article also provides a video.

When Marketing Your Business…Don’t Whiz on the Electric Fence!: This article reminds business owners that with all of the ways that consumers block out commercials and other ads, you must be savvy in how you decide to promote your business.

Three Pitches:
1) With Apples new iAd, I would emphasize the merging of this company and at least one ad since they have finally gotten the idea of marketing to only the people interested in their product. This is what iAd specialized in and the converging of the two would make the company even more successful.
2) Being younger, and in a society where the entrepreneurs come along younger and younger, I would make a section directed specifically to the younger generation. For parents and those in the older generation, the step-by-step directions are helpful, but in a more fast-paced younger society, a branch off to the younger generations would make this company/site even stronger.
3) This site specifically targets small business owners, which is a plus because with the experience the founders have, as well as the marketing techniques they are providing, these business are sure to get their names out to the public. However, restaurant businesses are the only market they specifically target and there are going to be other steps when in other industries. They emphasize that not enough businesses are putting videos on facebook, and I believe by marketing not only to restaurants, but a broader category of industries, this company/site would be even more successful!

Tags: Advertising, Internet Marketing, Restaurants