Internet marketing in Utica, NY? Why the heck is such a newfangled and quickly evolving technology (or  artsy sciencey thing) so important to a relatively small town like Utica, NY?

Last Saturday, while driving from Utica, NY to Sandy Pond, NY, I listened to an interesting radio story on NPR (WRVO, 89.9FM). The story described life in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (the UP). The UP is so remote that businesses must embrace Internet marketing to compete effectively; and compete they do. As an example, the reporter talked about a local bingo supply company that was thriving due to it’s presence on the Internet.

Now I’m not saying that Utica is as remote as the UP, but it’s not exactly a mega-metropolis either. Situated between, Syracuse and Albany, Utica is home to large(r) national companies (Par Technology, Conmed and Adjusters International – Public Adjusters), as well as regional companies, and smaller local companies.

While every company, from restaurants like Symeon’s, to larger public adjusting firms like Adjusters International can be helped by Internet marketing, companies selling outside their local area stand to gain the most. Unlike large and regional firms in bigger cities, our Utica, NY based companies have to bridge a significant geographic gap to compete.

Companies in bigger cities have better access and a lower cost of transportation. The result is that they can more easily travel to clients, and are more frequently visited by current and prospective clients. This allows them to get their message out and build relationships more effectively. Before the Internet, this was almost an insurmountable advantage.

Fortunately, Internet marketing (search engine optimization, pay per click advertising, and social media)  has leveled the playing field.

Search Engine Optimization and Pay Per Click Advertising allow companies to position their message (website) directly in the path (on the search engines) of prospects at the exact moment (when prospects are are searching) and place (first page of Goolge, Yahoo!, Bing…) they have a need for the company’s products or services.

Social Media Optimization (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Blogging, Social Bookmarking, YouTube, and more) is a very effective way to build and maintain relationships with prospects and clients. With just a few minutes each day, you can be in contact with your most important clients and prospects. No efficiency in travel can produce that result.

At the end of the day, Internet marketing in Utica, NY is so important because it puts us on the map. Rather,  Internet marketing puts Utica, NY on the cloud, referring of course to the cloud that is the Internet.