Everyone gets emails about Web marketing. What are you to do? There's Twitter, Facebook, social media, and Search Engine Optimization. What works and what doesn't. How do you make sense of it all?

Here's your target: get your company into the top 3 pages at Google for whatever you sell. Take dead aim on that and forget about everything else.

Imagine a steady stream of prospects for your company. Our economy is changing. It's moving to the Internet. The reduction of U.S. Mail from 6 to 5 days per week, newspapers disappearing, and phone books shrinking underscore this trend. We all love the Internet but its effect on business is tough.

Rather than becoming a victim of the Internet revolution, profit from it. People are shifting from paper-based advertising (newspaper, magazines, phonebook) to the Internet. You should think about shifting too. The adage that a business can build a better mousetrap and people will beat a path to your door doesn't work anymore. What people do is beat a path to Google and see what comes up. That's where they go. That's why getting your company in the top 3 pages at Google is critical in the new economy.

Google is the Internet's directory. Two thirds of all Internet users use Google to find things. That's more than double everyone else put together. If you want to prosper get your business in the top 3 pages at Google. A Google listing is oxygen. It is the singular marketing goal for the new economy and here's why:

1. A Google listing is permanent

Most advertising stops the microsecond you stop paying the bill. Google isn't like that. A free listing at Google will stay in force for months or even years. As long as you make a decent effort to keep the site current you will remain there. A free listing at Google remains in force, working on your behalf all day every day with no bill. It's ironic that the most powerful advertising in the world is also free.

2. A Google listing is everywhere

The Internet isn't a fad anymore. There are now 7 billion Internet users worldwide. Google reaches them all. When your business comes up (for what you sell) it is life changing. Users don't meander through the Web like people think. They're on a mission. They are undeterred. They use Google to go directly to what they want. If your business comes up as their end goal you're in great shape.

3. A Google listing is about you

Google isn't generalized. Google provides specific, detailed facts on every subject known to mankind. When someone clicks on you at Google, they step directly into your showroom. The information on your site is about you alone. Pre-qualified buyers, searching hard for what you offer, are looking you over. Advertising like that should cost a fortune but it doesn't. If you work it right, it's free

The Internet revolution is going forward. If you're aware of these changes and want to take advantage of them, you will prosper. If you let other people get established for what you sell you could be in trouble. Don't get beat out. Get into the top three pages at Google for your category. This is where you want to put your marketing effort and budget.

We've had success getting businesses onto the first three pages at Google, although this isn't a sales letter. We do it by deploying focused web sites on strategically purchased domain names. Experience has shown us that you can optimize your site to the ends of the earth with limited success. Focused, little, strategically named web sites will beat optimization every time. We're not saying not to optimize. What we are saying is get your priorities in order. Deploying your site on the right domain name is top priority. If you don't get that right, the rest is ineffective.

Keep your eye on the goal: a steady stream of new customers beating a path to your door. A Google listing is permanent, everywhere, and about you. If you like marketing, this should be your focus.

You Don't Get Internet Man's Internet Tricks Newsletter?

Subscribe to our free, monthly Internet Tricks Newsletter. To see past newsletters, go to our Internet Tricks Web site. There are tons of good ideas there. Click here for the last Internet Tricks Newsletter.