With the increasing number of digital marketers, online marketeers, and online marketings, it’s no surprise that many tool and software solutions have cropped up in response. One of the more popular solutions is HubSpot. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution for creating leads, driving traffic, and converting that traffic into paying customers then check out HubSpot. Or if you’re just looking to create a solid foundation for your marketing efforts then consider Marketo. These are just some of the most popular solutions. There are literally hundreds of SEM, email marketing software, and lead generation platforms out there.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Microsoft, and I use their tools for a lot of the same things I do with HubSpot and Marketo. But sometimes, you just need something custom, and you need it quickly. The reality is, not all SEMs, email marketing platforms, and lead generation systems are made equal. Sometimes, you need something specific, and you need to know exactly how to use it.

What Is Online Marketing?

Before we dive into this topic, let’s take a moment to define what online marketing is. According to Merriam-Webster, “marketing includes all activities undertaken to promote the sale of goods and/or services. It usually involves communicating ideas of value to potential customers through various channels (such as print, television, or the internet) in order to increase brand awareness, generate sales, and achieve business goals.”

In short, online marketing is any kind of marketing done online (e.g. through social media, email, and websites).

What Is SEM?

SEM stands for search engine optimization. It’s the practice of adjusting a website’s content and meta data in order to get higher placement in search results. There are several SEM tools and plugins that you can use to speed up the process of getting your site optimized. Once you have your site optimized, you can then put in place more traditional forms of marketing, such as paid ads or affiliate marketing programs. 

SEM is a critical part of the marketing mix for any business, big or small. Letting your site rot is practically guaranteed to damage your business’s brand image. If your website gets penalized or disavowed by search engines for having excessive keywords, then potential customers will be affected. Your sales will probably decline, and you’ll end up having to eat some SERP penalties (search engine results price increase). This is why it’s important to invest in SEM.

What Is Email Marketing?

If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance that you’re already aware of email marketing. If you’re not, let me give you a quick crash course on the topic. Email marketing is the practice of sending regular marketing email messages to potential customers. There are a variety of tools and platforms available to help with this, from simple autoresponders to sophisticated email marketing software.

Some of the advantages of email marketing include the fact that you can reach a lot of people with relatively little effort. Also, since people are already used to getting emails from brands, you don’t have to worry about losing subscribers due to over-saturation. Finally, email marketing is one of the more affordable forms of marketing. You can get started with a free autoresponder account from HubSpot, for example, and then find inexpensive email marketing software to build upon it.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Many marketing professionals look down on affiliate marketing. The reason for this is that most affiliate marketers only focus on promoting products that they’ve been paid to endorse. As a brand manager, that’s completely acceptable. You’re not expected to actively market every product that your company endorses. However, you are expected to actively market the products that you’ve been paid to promote. So, in a way, affiliate marketing is kind of like commission based marketing. You’re not actively marketing a product you don’t believe in, but you are getting paid to do so anyway.

It’s important to point out that not all affiliate marketers are bad. In fact, there are many solid affiliate marketers who promote products that they believe in. The key is to figure out how you’re going to promote the products you’ve been paid to promote and to keep your affiliation with those products confidential. If you don’t, then you’re leaving money on the table. And, as a brand manager, that’s something you’re not supposed to do. So, keep your eyes open for opportunities, make sure that you disclose your affiliation with the brand, and you’ll be able to find a profitable niche amongst the sea of SEM, email marketing, and affiliate marketing platforms.

Why Do You Need An SEM Solution?

Aside from the fact that not all SEMs are created equal, there are several reasons why you might need an SEM solution. First of all, search engine optimization can be a lengthy process. It can take several weeks, even months, to see significant results from your SEM campaign. In some cases, it can take longer than a year.

Because of this delay, it’s important to have some kind of automation tool in place. Otherwise, you’ll be spending most of your time scouring the web, hunting down the little tidbits of optimization that SEO gurus have for you. That’s a lot of work, and it takes away from what you could be doing to grow your business. For those reasons, you might consider using an SEM tool.

Is HubSpot Right for Your Business?

So, you’ve decided that you need an SEM tool and you’re reading this article. Congratulations! You’re about to discover the best in breed of SEM tools and platforms. But, before we get started, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions.

Do You Need An All-in-One Solution?

You’ve decided that you need an SEM tool. That’s a good call, because, as I mentioned above, not all SEMs are created equal. One of the things that make HubSpot special is that it is an all-in-one SEM tool and marketing platform. That means that you don’t have to worry about setting up your email autoresponder, monitoring social media, and handling lead generation. You can do all of that and more with the HubSpot platform. This makes it simpler and more convenient to use than most other SEM tools and platforms. For those reasons, it might be the best all-in-one solution for your needs.

Are You Ready To Take Your Marketing To The Next Level?

If you answered “yes” to the questions above, then you’re ready to take your marketing to the next level. Congratulations! You’ve just found the best in breed of SEM tools and platforms. Now, it’s time to upgrade. To get started, simply log in to your HBS CRM software (assuming that you’ve somehow managed to set it up) and then click on Marketing.

You’ll see that there are several SEM tools and platforms that you can choose from. Some of the most popular ones are shown below. Take a few moments to explore each of these tools and platforms and then, when you’re ready, click on the green plus sign to add them to your shortlist.

What Are You Looking For In An SEM Solution?

When you’re ready to make a purchase decision, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for. This is where the shortlist comes in handy. Simply scroll through your shortlist of SEM tools and platforms and then click on the ones that you’re interested in. From there, you can read detailed information about the tool, get a feel for how it works, and then make a decision.

As you can see, not all SEM tools are created equal. Some are better than others. And since we’re already talking about the best in breed, let’s discuss a few more features that set the HBS CRM platform apart from the rest.