In Today's Social Media World, Is there Need for a Website or Not?
There is a debate around whether there's a need for a website or not in your affiliate marketing online business. This is due to the growth of Social Media and Sales Funnel approaches. I see this debate is bound to continue in the marketplace and, having looked at the question, I see the answer being a matter of choice, especially for those starting out in online business.
On the one hand, the tried and tested website approach is comparatively inexpensive, involves organic traffic, and will hold the internet marketer in good stead over the long term, as it provides credibility in the marketplace and a good opportunity to build brand authority.
In the short term, however, there are challenges posed learning SEO techniques and, also, it's notoriously difficult to sell to "cold" traffic. Patience is therefore required in setting up a business online using the traditional approach.
It's also clear that entrepreneurs can reduce business start-up times using organic traffic from social media to build a tribe of followers. It is possible to generate "warm" traffic relatively quickly, and many successful affiliate marketers accomplish sales within their tribes using this approach. Therefore, there's now a strong case in favour of the social media approach for start-ups. It's attractive, as affiliate marketers can "earn as they learn".
Marketers are therefore adopting social media channels increasingly to get organic traffic to start online businesses in the knowledge they may then progress later to website SEO and/or sales funnel methods, or use email marketing with paid traffic, whatever, to scale their businesses.
I therefore believe aspiring entrepreneurs will defer building traditional websites in favour of accumulating basic skills and knowledge in sales and marketing, while simultaneously generating an earnings stream from affiliate commissions from the warm traffic available on social media. It's indeed a neat approach as it provides new entrants with the benefit of postponing payments for more sophisticated and traditional systems until later, if they are ready to scale their businesses.
Those with established website businesses should equally know these current developments. Although in the long term, the attraction of the website and the value it offers to communicate with your customer base is unlikely to diminish, there are challenges posed by the social media and sales funnel alternatives. Webmasters, therefore, need to be aware and keep abreast of the disruptive effects of sales funnel technologies. The impact on business operations could be severe if business owners do not keep pace with current developments and upgrade strategies accordingly.
Recent Comments
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I agree, there seem to be a lot of possible ways to achieve success and Social media is right at the front of them, Alan
Yes, my research findings are clear, start with SM, it’s a quicker form of organic traffic to find customers than blogging. Once you have a business, use the cash flow to build your website, if you conclude you want one,
Yes, looks like you are partially right. One might need a website for some affiliate marketing, but you sure need one to establish yourself and make some presence in your online world. The choice is definitely there.
Only “partially right”, I’d love to get feedback on the wrong part, I promise to modify in event I learn from it 🙏🏼
All the gurus of social media do have a place to air their opinion (view) about issues, training etc. These are their own private place where people go to learn more about them. If you follow one, or fond of one, you will notice the person has a website.
Thx for reply, Lanu. I entirely agree with that and I say so in the post that it's the prevailing view. However, the post is about transformation in the industry and how astute marketers are deferring the website route in favour of social media and sales funnel techniques. Nowhere do I intend to state that people are dropping websites. Indeed, in the long-term, I acknowledge the value of a website. I'm therefore disappointed you say only "partially right" without being able to justify it?
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I understand what your thoughts are concerning the debate, yet I feel that it's fueled by those in the latest surge of funnels, Youtube, Instagram who went there first, and had success and subsequently say it is the Holy Grail of marketing versus just organic growth through SEO and Websites.
This benefits their sales of webinars, Ebooks training etc. Most media specialists I know are aware of these newer tactics, and yet they say that a proper balance will be the case for years to come.
I feel the scaling should be done after a solid website has been marketed along with Social media as arms of the company.
Guess we will find out soon enough, but for over 15 years we do know Wealthy Affiliate is still here, and when there are trends they certainly modify and teach us.
Good food for thought in your post.
Bill
I understand your reply, there’s a lot of hype, of course, in many forms of affiliate marketing. However, my research is focused on getting started in business and the discussion is specifically focussed on relationship type marketing by forming tribes via social media. It’s an organic approach, no hype, and a good way to get customers quickly. Once the business is off the ground, I anticipate most will then use available cash flow to build websites and scale their businesses. Sales funnels are a different type of threat but are equally real.