For decades, marketers have been using the web to research purchasing behaviour and to attract, engage and convert website visitors into paying subscribers, customers and sales.

While there are a number of ways to get started with web online marketing, the most effective and simplest method is to use one of the many available tools that integrate with a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform.

Why SaaS?

SaaS stands for Software as a Service, and it’s a model that has been around since the early days of the web. As a consumer, you only need to pay for the software you need and nothing more. There is no subscription fee, and no installers to download or update.

It’s a popular choice for marketers who want to keep their costs down and focus on growing and optimising their business instead of spending time maintaining software and servers.

Why Integrated Marketing Automation (IMA)?

IMA is an integrated marketing automation platform designed for small to medium sized businesses. It integrates all the traditional marketing functions into one place including email marketing, social media, web analytics, and much more. It’s a highly configurable and robust platform that makes it simple to get up and running fast.

IMA also supports the implementation of digital marketing strategies and tactics including SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), PPC (Pay-Per-Click), and affiliate marketing. This gives businesses the chance to optimise for keywords and track the success of their campaigns from top to bottom.

IMA makes it simple to get up and running fast. The platform is very user-friendly and easy to navigate. Thanks to its visual marketing dashboard, even non-techy business owners can navigate the platform with ease.

Since launching in 2014, IMA has seen rapid growth. The platform now has over 500,000 active users from around the world.

Getting Started with IMA

To get started with IMA, you’ll first need to choose a membership type. There are three options including Individual, Business, and Agency.

As a solo entrepreneur, you can opt for the Individual membership. This gives you access to the entire IMA platform, allowing you to build processes, automate workflows, and create marketing campaigns easily. The Business membership is what you’d want for a small business. It provides you with access to all the features of IMA except for the Email Marketing module. Finally, the Agency membership is for those who want to build advanced marketing strategies and automated marketing processes using IMA’s tools. It provides you with access to the entire IMA platform including all the features.

After you’ve chosen your membership level, you’ll need to decide which plan you want to go with. You can choose either a Free or a Plus plan. The Free plan gives you access to the essential features of IMA. The Plus plan adds various automated marketing features and tools. Additionally, customers on the Plus plan can take advantage of A/B Testing and Canvas, a visual marketing dashboard.

Once you’re on the dashboard, you’ll see a list of all the available features. To get started, simply click on the big green Get Started button. This will guide you through a short tutorial on how to use the platform effectively.

Marketing Automation for Marketers Who Aren’t Technical

If you’re a marketer who is technical and skilled, you can probably create campaigns, set up automated email campaigns, and perform basic SEO. However, if you aren’t that tech-savvy, it can be difficult to create a fully functioning marketing plan using only tools that you’ve installed on your own server.

When it comes to growing and optimising a business, it’s essential that you understand every aspect of your marketing plan. You can’t cut corners when it comes to marketing. The last thing you want to do is try and guesswork what will work and what won’t. This is why it’s crucial to hire experts to help you navigate the tech side of things. They can set you up with the right tools, teach you how to use them, and help you find the most suitable channels for your target audience. With the right tools, understanding how to optimize your campaigns and run them on a regular basis becomes much simpler.

To find these experts, you can either look for companies that offer marketing support or you can create a shortlist of marketing specialists who you know and trust. Once you’ve curated this list, make sure you reach out to them directly to book a consultation.

What Next?

Once you’ve installed and configured IMA, you’ll see a Welcome screen that will guide you through the setup process. After you complete this step, you’ll be presented with a screen that asks you to create a marketing plan.

Your marketing plan will form the backbone of your entire marketing strategy. It will include everything from your vision and mission statement to your target audience, key performance indicators, and a plan of action. It might seem daunting to start off with, but creating a marketing plan is the first step toward becoming a successful online marketer.

The marketing plan you create will then be used to build a solid foundation for your future marketing activities. You can use this document to track your progress, analyse the results of your campaigns, and determine what you should be doing next.