Subject Classification
Reader Feedback
Subscribing
Unsubscribing
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
Books by
Gerry McGovern
Content Critical
Gaining competitive advantage through high-quality web content
The Web
Content
Style Guide
The essential guide
for online writers, editors and managers
November 29, 2004
Internet marketing motto: be useful
By Gerry McGovern
E-marketing is about substance over show, logic over emotion, and text over graphics. Good web marketers follow the Google motto: be useful.
Recently, I had a talk with an IT manager from a large organization. I was impressed at how clued in this person was, not about IT, but about web marketing. He talked about appropriate targeting, about creating content that moved the customer to a point of action.
He knew his stuff. And like many other people in his situation, he complained about the "marketing people" who still didn't get it. The marketing people who were still enthralled by big graphics and who still think that cutting edge web design means using the latest version of Flash. The marketing people who can get excited about search engine optimization and buying keyword ads, but keep forgetting that bringing someone to your website is only the first step.
I have asked thousands of people in practically every continent in the world what they do when they see a Flash intro. "Skip Intro" they all shout without hesitation. About a month ago, an executive from a web design company told me a story about a potential client who came to him looking for a "Skip Intro" for his website.
If commerce is selling with people, then e-commerce is selling with content, and e-marketing is marketing with content. Content management is about getting the best out of your content. The reason why much content management is still seen as technical is because many marketers and communicators have shied away from embracing it as a core part of their job.
And metadata? No self-respecting marketer would be seen dead near metadata. It is simply not a skill you would put on your resume. Do you know what the title metadata is on the Ryanair homepage?
"Ryanair.com - The Low Fares Airline - 50% cheaper than easyJet"
(Ryanair is a hugely successful no frills airline, and easyJet is its biggest competitor.)
"What about branding on the Web?" Every time I hear that question, I want to reach for the sick bag. It's not that I don't believe in branding, but rather that the person who usually wields that question is the last person you should ever let near developing a web branding strategy for your website.
There is a huge role and a very bright future for marketers who truly understand web content, and know how to use it to drive profitable actions. Unfortunately, many marketers I meet are not rising to the challenge.
Web marketing is a daily grind of doing lots and lots of simple things well. It's about being useful. It's about creating a website that is convenient and fast. Amazon.com, eBay, and Google are mega brands that have achieved their positions by having a genuine focus on serving the customer.
The IT manager I wrote about earlier in this piece knows that the Web is not about IT anymore, but rather about marketing. He has thus focused his energies on learning about effective web marketing. His reward for doing this is that he is now in charge of the website, and can tell all the traditional marketers in his organization what to do.
Gerry McGovern
You are welcome to republish this article once you place the following text and link at the end of the article:
Gerry McGovern provides website content management solutions
Related content
Next issue:
Technology not answer to every problem
Previous issue:
Achieving greater simplicity means
managing increasing complexity
Subscribe or unsubscribe
"The input we received from Gerry McGovern's Scorecard was a critical component to assessing our customer positioning and defining our work priorities for the next 18 months.”
Maurice Coleman, Head of Commercial Strategy, Aer Lingus
More client feedback
Information on upcoming content management seminars and workshops
New Thinking Newsletter
Subscribe to this free weekly newsletter covering the role and function of content on the Web.
More info | Privacy policy
Content is your
asset and it is an asset that grows in value the less of it you publish.
Selected clients
Find out more about Gerry McGovern's clients
Home - About - Solutions - Clients - Contact - Search
Tel: +353 87 238 6136
Email: info@gerrymcgovern.com
Privacy Policy
Copyright © Gerry McGovern. All rights reserved.