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Paid Search Predicted to Surge – But will browsers become buyers?

I write about strategies to turn fans into customers and customers into fans. I also share ways to use real-time strategies to spread ideas, influence minds, and build business.

I’m amazed at the amount of money spent on paid search
engine listings. Of course this form of marketing makes total sense: It is one
of the only ways a marketer can reach an audience at the precise time that they
are looking for what you have to offer.

Last week Merrill Lynch analyst Lauren Rich Fine said in a
report
that the amount spent on sponsored search listings will increase 47
percent this year--to around $5.1 billion. Much of those dollars will go to
Yahoo and Google and the share prices of both companies rose on the report’s
positive predictions.

As so many companies are spending on search engine
marketing, I’ve noticed that most of the money goes into the media spend and
very little into turning those browsers into buyers. Many advertisers just drop
visitors who click on an ad onto a home page or non-targeted site, losing the
opportunity to open a communications channel with them. Once someone clicks,
that person is in your sales funnel and you must communicate with them in an
authentic way to drive them to your desired action. Many companies are relying
on best practice to turn browsers into buyers.
Are you?