Internet Marketing Tips for a Beginner by a Beginner
Three months into the world of Internet marketing has taught me more than I’d ever imagined—quite frankly, more than I’d even known existed.
Being a virtual assistant and intern gave my job an interesting edge. I’ve never met my mentors, only conversed with them through e-mail and Skype. Confusion on my part was inevitable, due to my newbie status in the worlds of marketing and behind-the-scenes HTML code of blogs.
The Online Market Exists?
Prior to February, I had no idea how much publicity and marketing methods existed online. At the start of the Spring 2011 semester in what was my first year at college, I was exposed to general information about media systems and processing. My professor touched upon advertising and how kids weren’t paid to wear their Nike sneakers each day, yet wore them anyway, thus becoming a walking, talking advertisement for the company. Another fact I retained after my final exam in May: Facebook plants cookies (whatever that means) and brings up ads in the side banners consistent with which pages we often visit. Other than that fact about Facebook, “Internet marketing” remained a blur.
100 Facebook Pages
When I began interning for American Muslim Mom, I reveled in the secrets of proper online publicity. Compiling the Top 100 Muslim Women Facebook Fan Pages had me visit numerous wonderful Muslim Moms and women, and witness what they had to offer and share. Posting on a hundred walls giving the ladies the news of making the Top 100 was a long process, but it was marketing nonetheless and increased each page’s exposure, which was the goal of the project all along. Ponn: It was a fabulous success story, because we reached 2020 Facebook “Likes” in the first-10 days and added over 200 more Facebook Fans.
Sparking Some Publicity
In anticipation of Publicity Spark’s launch, I learned much about Affiliate Marketing and looked through Ponn Sabra and Janet Thaeler’s free guides in which they shared their techniques for success in the online PR industry. I embedded buttons and more buttons onto the site in order to help people grab the codes as quick as the Web so far allows, and publicize the site on their own blogs. The tips and services Ponn and Janet revealed in their ebooks allowed me to take part in writing a SEO press release (soon to go live) for another major project I worked on this summer, the Eid Gift Guide. Ponn: Having been online since 2004, the html training Habeeba has received thus far exceeds many of my blogging colleagues to date–and her writing is exquisite (mashaAllah, God has will), don’t you think!?
Halal Shopping is Easy, Really!
Pitching to roughly fifty advertisers was rigorous work, but getting affirmative responses was truly revitalizing. Positive feedback on top of that assuring us the “Eid Gift Guide is truly working” and verifications of sale spikes was even more of a pleasure to hear. I find myself telling my sisters over the phone each day to check it out, because I truly believe it is a sight–and site–to see. Ponn: Our goal was to debut with half-dozen sponsors. However, we launched with 15 sponsors and added 6 more sponsors in the first 7-days! An amazing additional case study to add to her growing online marketing portfolio!
Pressing those Words on WordPress
I even became inspired to start my own blog, H2 Hoops, which took off on Blogger first. Ponn advised to make the switch over to WordPress to avoid glitches and take on a more professional look. After obliging to the request, I am pleased with the change, and now I need to start posting more often. This shift to WordPress allowed me to experiment on my own blog and learn how to add/edit posts, make use of the Media Library, and get accustomed to the entire WordPress format, which came to my advantage as I had to work more on the sites mentioned below. While I’m still getting used to it, I’ve figured out how to reverse mistakes and play around on the blogging website.
WordPress allows for great versatility. In addition to my aforementioned infant basketball blog, I’ve had amazing opportunities to work on:
1. The #1 ranked online community for Muslim parents- American Muslim Mom Blog by compiling the Top 50 Muslim Mom Blogs List too!
2. A professional ecommerce website- Publicity Spark
3. An online shopping catalogue- Eid Gift Guide
4. Even one website with static webpages- Ponn Sabra
Ponn: The majority of mom bloggers I know in this industry today don’t even know how to use WordPress for anything beyond a simple blog. However, taking the initiative Habeeba has added internet marketer, affiliate marketer, online sales assistant, and many more professional titles.
Using Screenr for Instant Recordings
As I have become versed in written blog posts, I even got a stab at screen recording, while explaining with my voice what my hand was doing with the computer mouse. Using American Muslim Mom’s YouTube videos as a guide, I created my first video tutorial for WordPress HTML, to debut soon on Publicity Spark. To think I hadn’t even heard of WordPress a few months back is a mind-boggling thought all on its own! Ponn: I feel in love with screenr.com and so pleased by Habeeba has taken an equal liking to this incredible free tool for educational purposes. Stay posted to see her great video tutorial, inshaAllah, God willing.
A Whole New Twitterverse
Just starting yesterday, I got some Twitter 101 lessons. As much as I would check some of my favorite stars’ Twitter updates, I did not know what it felt like to have an account or the importance of having Klout. Loyalty of followers based on trust and sincere information to guide a niche target audience is a vital step towards creating a successful online persona. Slowly, but surely, I’m beginning to soak my feet in the Twitterverse. Ponn: Don’t be surprised when we come up with a Top Muslim Twitter List. Please feel free to comment below with your twitter handle for our consideration.
My Publisher Pastime
Desktop publishing, using programs like Microsoft Publisher, has been a favorite pastime of mine. Throughout high school, I used the program to design the layout of my school’s newspaper, club newsletters, and event flyers. I use it personally to create light-hearted cards filled with inside jokes for my friends and family. I recently was able to go back to this dearly missed hobby in order to experiment with bookmark and award certificate templates for American Muslim Mom’s 3rdAnnual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge. Ponn: Something I’ve always wanted…they are so gorgeous, if you haven’t registered your kids yet–please do, because the gifts are just so adorable and has our special Islamic-touch.
The Best Part of It All
Most importantly, I’ve learned, during my time with these Internet marketing projects, that it’s necessary
- to not be afraid of asking questions,
- to keep your word, and
- to be sincere.
My Personal Internet Marketing Tips
First, staying silent will get you nowhere. Ask what is on your mind, and get clarification to avoid repeating the same tasks over and over again.
Second, giving false promises of availability will only hurt your efforts and delay you in projects and progression. Be responsible and punctual with your assignments in order to be efficient.
Lastly, while it is work, it should be enjoyable, educational, and fulfilling. Honesty has been the method that has brought these three feelings to me while working on my projects. I’ve completed tasks as a part of the “job,” yet built a virtual friendship filled with laughs, learning, inspiration, and spirituality that feels more tangible than many I have made in person. Ponn: Aww…the feeling in mutual. MashaAllah, I’ve enjoyed all our laughs, intense-learning curves, empowering both of us to be accountable first and foremost to Allah, subhanallahu wa Ta’ala (May He be Glorified) and our business.
After reading this post, would you ever doubt the benefits and experienced gained by agreeing to partake in an Internet Marketing internship? Please share your kind thoughts below.
Disclosure: This post is part of a blogger campaign organized by Bucks2Blog. Check out my review here, and Join Today to get paid to blog! If you get a gig, please let them know I referred you, thanks! We were not influenced in anyway to share only positive remarks. After all, lying is haram (prohibited). 
You’re welcome to read American Muslim Mom’s disclosure policy and contest disclosure.
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- American Muslim Mom Podcast #5
- The American Muslim Market is Rich, Educated, Growing Fast
Category: Tech & Travel
ASA,
great article, shukran so much for writing it.
My twitter is
http://twitter.com/acraftyarab
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Ponn Sabra Reply:
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Wa-alaykum asalam Kay, and thanks for commenting.
MashaAllah, Habeeba is a true professional and I’m so pleased to have her apart of my team!
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