Internet Marketing Tip From FriendsWhoCare: "When Less Is More"

We've all heard the saying, "The more the better." And in internet marketing we've heard things like, "The more targeted traffic the better." "The more interested subscribers on your list the better." "The more content the better."

Unfortunately, the internet marketing mores don't always translate easily into what they really mean. For instance, "The more targeted traffic the better" actually means -
The more targeted traffic the better. And "The more interested subscribers on your list the better" means -
The more interested subscribers on your list the better.
While "The more content the better" should be read as -
"The more relevant content the better."

Sure, having lots of traffic and subscribers is a good thing. However, having 1,000,000 site visitors or subscribers who have no interest in what you're saying isn't worth as much as 500 targeted site visitors or 500 interested subscribers.

Taking this "less is more" concept a step further, let's look at content.

"Content is king" and "Search engines love new content" are 2 common phrases you hear in internet marketing advice. And while both these statements are true they leave out the most important concept - relevance.

Relevant content is the king and what search engines are looking for. Just because you, the owner of a site on gerbils, are also interested in small-engine-repair doesn't mean all gerbil enthusiasts are also interested. And just because you've decided to put content about small-engine-repair on your gerbil site doesn't mean it will help you with the search engines.

Expanding the "less is more" idea, let's look at ads on our index or home page. Now while some might think that if they put lots of ads for a wide variety of products on their main page then surely some of their site visitors will find something they want and buy it.

Wrong - Wrong - Wrong

Wrong because people recognize ads for what they are and don't like to be sold to.

Wrong because lots of ads give the impression that you're just out to sell them something.

Wrong because offering a wide variety of products just confuses people and makes them leave your site quickly.

As the internet keeps getting bigger and bigger every day, the "less is more" concept becomes more and more important. Just as in the field of medicine where doctors are specialists rather than general practitioners, the modern online marketer must also become a specialist in their carved out niche.

A few years ago the big names in internet marketing were able to take the general practitioner approach to online marketing because there wasn't much competition. Today this is no longer true and all the well known internet marketing gurus have become specialists and so must you.

No matter what niche you've chosen you must learn to apply the "less is more" principle to your business. Don't try to give everything to everyone because it can't be done. Instead, become a specialist who can provide the best content and products to those who are interested in the little chunk of the internet you've carved out for yourself.

To Your Success,
Susan

P.S. Rosalind Gardner, Brad Callen and Rob Benwell all know and use the "less is more" principle and are well know specialists in their respective niches.