The advent of the New Media and Internet have increased possibilities of online marketing
and internet retailing with new features of interactive shopping, pod casting and e-marketing. Consumers are connected to
online shopping sites with WiFi, Internet or 3G mobile phones. E commerce has taken a new dimension in retailing with increasing
number of people shopping online and even making flight bookings online (Papers4you.com, 2006).
One such example is the traffic on the British Airways website. A comparative analysis of
popular travel related websites and online ticketing facilities give us details on transaction costs, and individual and company
perceptions on e commerce facilities for ticketing and travel. Internet marketing however meets with major challenges of keeping
pace with consumer demands and developing relationship marketing to maintain consumer loyalty (Enzmann and Schneider, 2005).
The advantages and disadvantages of internet retailing could be studied in contrast to traditional marketing considering issues
related to online branding, consumer loyalty, spam, and advertising strategies.
The challenges of online marketing could be studied with the same models used for general
marketing management such as 4Ps or 7Ps models and trends in internet marketing and transactions can also be studied (Papers4you.com,
2006). Online pricing remains one of the major challenges and so is the prospect of virtual interactions with customers as
opposed to face to face interactions in a traditional market. Issues of security and privacy are important in e marketing
and shopping through secured sites is one of the major concerns of consumers (Enzmann and Schneider, 2005). Direct email marketing
of goods and services has led to debates on spam and the need for strict legislation on email marketing.
Online marketing seems to have completely revolutionized marketing techniques although it
has limitations on usage, privacy issues and security. The different traditional and non traditional advertising media such
as newspapers, television, magazines, newsletters, direct mail, telephone, and internet may have to be compared more thoroughly
and extensively to understand whether in the future online marketing would replace traditional marketing completely. Apart
from ease and convenience of internet marketing, one major advantage of internet marketing is customization or personalization
of products and services to suit the needs and tastes of individual customers (Ho, 2006).
Tailored products or services may not have been a very wide option in traditional shopping
which shows that interactive shopping has moved a step closer to the needs of the consumer and has improved the shopping experience
in general. Online branding has made local consumer goods popular in global markets (Ibeh et al, 2005). The concept of relationship
marketing is an important strategy for the new media and is an important tool within the contemporary marketing environment
in all spheres of business, from financial services to electronics products. Online marketing has been used by banks and supermarkets
and charities like Oxfam suggesting the rapid change in marketing methods used by a wide variety of organizations and show
the wide acceptability of online retailing and marketing in changing business environments.
Bibliography
Ching H.L.; Ellis P. (2004) Marketing in Cyberspace: What Factors Drive E-Commerce
Adoption? Journal of Marketing Management, Volume 20, Numbers 3-4, pp. 409-429(21)
Enzmann, Matthias; Schneider, Markus (2005) Improving Customer Retention in E-Commerce through
a Secure and Privacy-Enhanced Loyalty System Information Systems Frontiers, Volume 7, Numbers 4-5, pp. 359-370(12)
Ho, Shuk Ying (2006) The Attraction of Internet Personalization to Web Users Electronic Markets,
Volume 16, Number 1, Number 1 pp. 41-50(10)
Ibeh, Kevin I.N.; Luo, Ying; Dinnie, Keith (2005) E-branding strategies of internet companies:
Some preliminary insights from the UK The Journal of Brand Management, Volume 12, Number 5, pp. 355-373(19)
Papers For You (2006) "P/M/445. Internet marketing: problems and prospects", Available from
http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtmrk8.htm [17/06/2006]
Papers For You (2006) "P/M/434. E-marketing vs. traditional marketing: upsides and downsides",
Available from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtmrk8.htm [18/06/2006]
