You have a product or service that you want to sell? So what’s the first thing you do? Name it. Given that we live in the age of websites, computers, and Internet Marketing, it’s extremely important to check potential names on the web. What about Brand Management? Will the colors and logo you choose display well for a Website Design? What about price? How easily will you be undercut by competitors through a simple Google search? You might start to fear that you have zero input in the process, that everything will be dictated ahead of time by forces far beyond your control.

Don’t fret. This is more of a strategic opportunity than a constraint. Any artist will tell you that it’s impossible to paint on a canvas without borders, and the same is true when creating any great masterpiece. In this case, a few careful constraints can go a long way to help the creative process!

Name Your Business with Internet Marketing in mind

Ideally, a business name conveys trust, and displays something fundamental about the brand. Consider when Anderson Consulting, a Technology Consulting Firm, renamed themselves Accenture, emphasizing sophistication and the ability to rise above the competition. As an established business, this did two things: it differentiated them from other businesses with “Anderson” in the name (such as Anderson Windows and Arthur Anderson), and gave them a dedicated Internet Marketing search term to be found with. You can do the same with your business right from the start. By comparing domain names and looking for available Twitter names in the beginning, you can secure an uncontested place in your Web Strategy. What better gift for a new business than an edge over your competition?

Logo and Branding

There are colors that are considered very Web Design friendly. The most popular include corporate (aka “IBM”) blue, orange, gray, white, and black text. (Black backgrounds might look nice in print, but cause horrible glare on the computer screen.) They stand out well on the page, and help you avoid issues with individuals who suffer from colorblindness. (Red-green colorblindness is thought to occur in up to 10% of males.)

The goal is to end up with a Web Design and color palette that looks just as good online as it does in print. When you can tie your business’s online and offline presence together seamlessly, it conveys a well-established and professional image, regardless of how newly formed it might be.

Establishing Pricing

Take the time to mystery shop your competitors, both online and off. Whether offering accounting services or computer repair, it’s important to know what your competition is offering to be able to price your goods and services accordingly. But don’t take this at face value, weigh this information against what you can offer: If the competitor can beat your price by 20% but you can offer a guaranteed 24-hour turnaround time on orders, knowing this well in advance is critical for planning your Internet Marketing Strategy. To paraphrase a car salesman, “There’s no reason to sell a Lexus at a Toyota’s price, but the closer you can get, the faster the car sells!” It’s true of any product. More features at a good price help win sales for YOU.

So there you have it. Three ways the Internet can influence your business before you ever get your first customer. Checking these things out in the beginning can save you a lot of trouble down the road. Once you have addressed these areas it is imperative to develop an Internet Marketing Strategy and decide how technology like Social Media will integrate into your marketing and branding plan.  RevenFlo Web Team specializes in Internet Marketing, SEO and Content Marketing; we would love to hear about your experiences and any questions you may have.  Please Comment Below.