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Internet marketing is the use of the Internet to advertise and sell goods and services. Internet Marketing includes pay per click advertising, banner ads, e-mail marketing,affiliate marketing, interactive advertising, search engine marketing (including search engine optimization), blog marketing, article marketing, blogging and PPC(Pay Per Click ads).
Definition and scope
Internet marketing is a component of electronic commerce. Internet marketing can include information management, public relations, customer service, and sales. Electronic commerce and Internet marketing have become popular as Internet access is becoming more widely available and used. Well over one third of consumers who have Internet access in their homes report using the Internet to make purchases.
History
Internet marketing first began in the early 1990s as simple, text-based websites that offered product information. Over time Internet marketing evolved into more than just selling information products, there are people now selling advertising space, software programs, business models, and many other products and services.
Current culture
In the beginning there were only a few people doing Internet marketing, but over time many people have come to see the benefits of working from home with an online business. Unfortunately, a large number of Internet entrepreneurs have failed in their search for online success because of an explosion of sites that profess to show people how to make millions while charging a small amount to do so. These sites have created a sense of disillusion as many people ignore the fact making money online needs to be treated like a real business.
Business models
Internet marketing is associated with several business models. The main models include business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C). B2B consists of companies doing business with each other, whereas B2C involves selling directly to the end consumer (see Malala, 2003)[1] When Internet marketing first began, the B2C model was first to emerge. B2B transactions were more complex and came about later. A third, less common business model is peer-to-peer (P2P), where individuals exchange goods between themselves. An example of P2P is Kazaa, which is built upon individuals sharing files.
Internet marketing can also be seen in various formats. One version is name-your-price (e.g. Priceline.com). With this format, customers are able to state what price range they wish to spend and then select from items at that price range. With find-the-best-price websites (e.g. Hotwire.com), Internet users can search for the lowest prices on items. A final format is online auctions (e.g. Ebay.com) where buyers bid on listed items.
Benefits
Some of the benefits associated with Internet marketing include the availability of information. Consumers can log onto the Internet and learn about products, as well as purchase them, at any hour. Companies that use Internet marketing can also save money because of a reduced need for a sales force. Overall, Internet marketing can help expand from a local market to both national and international marketplaces. And, in a way, it levels the playing field for big and small players. Unlike traditional marketing media (like print, radio and TV), entry into the realm of Internet marketing can be a lot less expensive.
Furthermore, since exposure, response and overall efficiency of digital media is much easier to track than that of traditional "offline" media, Internet marketing offers a greater sense of accountability for advertisers.
Limitations
Limitations of Internet marketing create problems for both companies and consumers. Slow Internet connections can cause difficulties. If companies build overly large or complicated web pages, Internet users may struggle to download the information. Internet marketing does not allow shoppers to touch, smell, taste or try-on tangible goods before making an online purchase. Some e-commerce vendors have implemented liberal return policies to reassure customers. Germany for example introduced a law in 2000 (Fernabsatzgesetz - later incorporated into the BGB), that allows any buyer of a new product over the internet to return the product on a no-questions-asked basis and get a full return. This is one of the main reasons why in Germany internet shopping became so popular. Another limiting factor, particularly with respect to actual buying and selling, is the adequate development (or lack thereof) of electronic payment methods like e-checks, credit cards, etc.
Security concerns
For both companies and consumers that participate in online business, security concerns are very important. Many consumers are hesitant to buy items over the Internet because they do not trust that their personal information will remain private. Recently, some companies that do business online have been caught giving away or selling information about their customers. Several of these companies have guarantees on their websites, claiming customer information will be private. By selling customer information, these companies are breaking their own, publicized policy. Some companies that buy customer information offer the option for individuals to have their information removed from the database (known as opting out). However, many customers are unaware that their information is being shared and are unable to stop the transfer of their information between companies.
Security concerns are of great importance and online companies have been working hard to create solutions. Encryption is one of the main methods for dealing with privacy and security concerns on the Internet. Encryption is defined as the conversion of data into a form called a cipher. This cipher cannot be easily intercepted unless an individual is authorized by the program or company that completed the encryption. In general, the stronger the cipher, the better protected the data is. However, the stronger the cipher, the more expensive encryption becomes.
Effects on industries
Internet marketing has had a large impact on several industries including music, banking, and flea markets - not to mention the advertising industry itself.
In the music industry, many consumers have begun buying and downloading MP3s over the Internet instead of simply buying CDs. The debate over the legality of duplicating MP3s has become a major concern for those in the music industry.
Internet marketing has also affected the banking industry. More and more banks are offering the ability to perform banking tasks online. Online banking is believed to appeal to customers because it is more convenient than visiting bank branches. Currently, over 50 million U.S. adults now bank online. Online banking is now the fastest-growing Internet activity. The increasing speed of Internet connections is the main reason for the fast-growth. Of those individuals who use the Internet, 44% now perform banking activities over the Internet.
As Internet auctions have gained popularity, flea markets are struggling. Unique items that could previously be found at flea markets are being sold on Ebay.com instead. Ebay.com has also affected the prices in the industry. Buyers and sellers often look at prices on the website before going to flea markets and the Ebay.com price often becomes what the item is sold for. More and more flea market sellers are putting their items up for sale online and running their business out of their homes.
The effect on the Ad industry itself has been profound. In just a few years, online advertising has grown to be worth tens of billions of dollars annually. [2][3] As Advertisers increase and shift more of their budgets online, it is now overtaking radio in terms of market share.[4]
Recent issues
In November 2004, a lawsuit was filed against Bonzi Buddy software. The lawsuit alleged that Bonzi's banner ads were deceptive. These ads often looked like Microsoft Windows message boxes. Internet users would run across the ads and when they attempted to close the boxes, they found themselves redirected to a website determined by Bonzi.
On May 27, 2005, Bonzi Buddy agreed to change the format of its ads so they did not resemble Windows message boxes. The boxes will now contain the word "Advertisement" so computer users know what they are looking at. The boxes will also no longer carry buttons that do not perform the correct actions.
Sales tax issues have also recently become debated. In the USA, the current laws require that buyers of online products pay their state all due taxes on these goods at the end of the year, along with their other state taxes. However, most consumers do not appear to be making these payments. Thirteen states have now begun encouraging Internet businesses to collect sales tax on every sale. These states are currently not forcing the companies to collect the tax. However, it appears that if companies do not begin collecting the sales tax on their own, states will begin forcing the companies to do so. The states are claiming that each year they lose $15 billion in unpaid sales taxes associated with online purchases.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Credit Score Common Misconception
By: Michael Russell
The credit card companies are a tight knit group of people, in the sense that they don't like sharing much information with the general public. For example, they don't often, if ever, divulge their methods of computing an individual's credit score. Because of this and the lack of solid information available, many people are uncertain as to what does and what does not affect their credit score. This can often lead to confusion and inappropriate action, which can be detrimental to your credit score.
For example, many people would have you believe that decreasing the number of credit accounts you have will improve your score. This isn't necessarily true. You'll often hear thing to the effect that if you pay off some of your loans now then it'll increase your credit score, or if you close some particular credit account your credit score will increase. This simply isn't the case, however, even though it may seem a little strange to begin with.
The first main reason that it may not be appropriate to close one of your accounts is that credit companies give good credit scores to long-standing accounts. So, for example, if you have some small credit card that you've had for years (maybe since college or something similar) and you don't really use it that often, you should opt to keep this card. The reason being that you've had the card for a long period of time and it's, presumably, been paid frequently and so from the credit bureau's point of view it is a sound investment and so they will reward your credit score accordingly.
Another reason for not closing a number of credit account in the hopes of increasing your credit score is that if you close all of your accounts, you'll likely be opening a few more up immediately afterwards. If you cancel your credit cards, for example, you've likely done this to get a new card with a much better interest rate, however, this requires you to make a number of credit score and account inquiries, which decreases your credit score.
Also, closing a number of unused accounts will cause your relative debt amount to increase. Meaning that if you are using, say $100 out of $1,000 worth of credit and you close a number of accounts so that you now are using only $100 out of $150 worth of debt then you appear to be in a worse financial situation because you are close to maxing out your available credit.
Now, while it is true that closing credit accounts will likely make your credit score drop, it will only occur in the short term. Meaning that doing these sorts of things will have a negative repercussion if you are intending to take out a new loan in the near future. If, however, you don't have any such plans then closing your unused accounts and paying off accounts is beneficial to you since it will increase your long term credit score.
Remember that you need to take into account a number of things before taking any action on your current credit score and situation, a good idea would be to contact a financial advisor or at least make sure that you do your research before committing to any one plan.
If you are looking for safer online shopping you may want to consider a virtual credit card. It takes away a lot of the risk of personal information and credit card numbers falling into the hands of thieves.
A virtual credit card offers you the option of shopping online with a disposable credit card number that are single-use credit card numbers, which expire within one or two months.
The security benefit of using a virtual credit card for online shopping is your normal bank account is not affected if an online scam artist happens to get your account number.
There's no value to hackers because you use a different, random card number every time you shop online. A virtual credit card number is only good on the Web site where you made your purchase.
With identity theft and email phising scams rising at an alarming level it's a good way to keep your sensitive information private. Even if a scammer does somehow acquire your virtual credit card number, the disposable credit card number expires quickly so it's not an ideal target for them.
The major credit card companies all offer prepaid virtual credit cards and the amount is limited to how much you apply to the card. You are protected just like a regular credit card if they are lost or stolen.
MasterCard calls them MasterCard gift cards and Visa calls them virtual Visa gift cards. You can use them anywhere MasterCard and Visa are accepted.
There are some instances when paying with a virtual credit card won't work. You can't pick up theater tickets; confirm airline, hotel or rental car reservations with a virtual credit card. These credit card numbers don't exist off the Web so they don't work for these things.
But if you are using the disposable credit card numbers for buying products online the security benefits are well worth it. If you are looking for safer online shopping consider a virtual credit card.
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