From the desk (and BlackBerry) of Keith Parnell

I get this question quite a bit. What is inbound marketing and why should I care?

Simply, inbound marketing is the opposite of outbound marketing. Remember the old days of setting up outbound call centers (telemarketing), creating television and radio commercials, and pushing out email blasts to get your word out? Well, that inefficient and expensive method of advertising and marketing is no longer a necessity.

Think smart website design and development.
Think online call-to-actions.
Think strategic blog content.
Think SEO (search engine optimization).
Think social media marketing.
Think audio and video marketing.
Think efficient online lead generation.

All of these strategies and methods are important pieces of the concept, inbound marketing.

What inbound marketing methods most interest you? What larger internet marketing methods do you already have in place?

RSS and Facebook readers: click here to view and enter comments.

On Twitter? Follow me at @parnellk63.

Listening to Blame It On Me by Barenaked Ladies.

A group of business professionals from Hampton Roads gathered at Panera Bread in Ghent, Norfolk, VA to talk social media, new media, SEO, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, website designs, Southside Hampton Roads & Peninsula meetups, New Media Conventions, business strategies, video sharing, photo sharing, social bookmarking, marketing strategies, internet advertising, inbound marketing, email marketing and many other intriguing topics.

RSS and Facebook readers: click here to watch the video.

Related Information:
http://www.coffeewiththeceo.com
http://www.jasegroup.com/advertising
http://www.jasegroup.com/design
http://www.jasegroup.com/email_marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/inbound_marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/internet_marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/search_engine_marketing
http://www.jasegroup.com/social_media
http://blog.keithparnell.com
http://www.keithparnell.com
http://www.newmediaconventions.com

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Here’s a quick definition of Internet Marketing from the JASE website:

Internet marketing focuses on creating powerful content that will lead potential customers to your brand, product or service line through online methods like searching, referrals, and links from other web entities such as blogs, video and social communities.

If you are not investing in and actively participating in Internet Marketing, you are certainly missing an audience that is looking for you.

I talked a while back during the Coffee with the CEO series about aligning your business to attract Inbound Marketing traffic. See the video here. A quick overview of the video: social media fits into an inbound marketing campaign, inbound marketing fits into an internet marketing campaign, and internet marketing (along with traditional marketing) fits into an overall marketing plan.

Read that again if you didn’t understand. Internet Marketing can be, should be, and (if you talk to us) will be a vital aspect of solid sales leads generation for your sales staff.

Don’t miss out on Internet Marketing. Let’s talk.

I received the email below in my inbox earlier this week. Dumb.

First, Brian Fullmer, I wouldn’t rent construction equipment from an unsolicited email that was sent to my inbox. Know your business and know your business’s consumers.

Second, Brian Fullmer, don’t forward an email from your gmail account to your yahoo account and BCC it to some crazy distribution list you bought from a scammer.

Third, Brian Fullmer, don’t run your email marketing campaign from your free yahoo or gmail accounts. Brand them with your domain’s email address!

Fourth, Brian Fullmer, … man … I could go on forever.

Do you guys have any silly comments for Brian Fullmer?