Internet’s Most Dominant Digital Players

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When we started the business, the Internet was a far different place. Google was threatening the digital dominance that Yahoo! had enjoyed for years, websites loaded in double or triple the time in some instances and pure-play social media networks were but a vision in the minds of technology innovators.

Things have changed dramatically since then, and very much for the better. The Website Marketing Group has been fortunate enough to be at the intersection and epicenter of Web business and digital technology in the past decade. We have been occupying a vantage point that affords us a unique view into the most powerful solutions, practices and processes employed by the millions of readers, and offered by the thousands of companies. We also have had the opportunity and privilege to see emerge, grow, and sometimes even falter and fail as much and as often as they succeed.

One thing is for certain, the Internet is truly an amazing place. As a result, it is useful from time to time to explore those that are making a positive difference in the lives of each category. In today’s post, we have examined various criteria in the Web industry and the big names behind it. We’ll start the recommendation with:

1. Project Management Software

It might seem odd to start off the list with a category on project management software, but anyone that has run a Web-based business will understand. There are so many moving parts to today’s Internet enterprises, that only those who are organised and capable of streamlining their task completion will be able to achieve success. Fortunately, many software solutions exist to help brands keep track of the work they are doing and optimise their processes.

  • Wrike.com
  • Basecamp.com
  • Trello.com
  • Microsoft.com
  • Harvest.com

2. Domain Names

Few verticals in the world of Web business have seen as much disruption in 2014 as that of the domain space. With the introduction of the new generic top-level domains (gTLD’s), the preferred .COM – which, of course, remains the dominant extension – is experiencing slower growth as geographic extensions including .BERLIN and .NYC, and community and industry focused extensions such as .CLUB and .REALTOR capture the attention of Internet professionals. With thousands of the new gTLD’s entering the digital landscape in 2014, domain name registrars have benefited greatly from the increased attention as you might expect.

  • GoDaddy.com
  • Name.com
  • 1and1.com
  • Doteasy.com
  • NetworkSolutions.com
  • Domain.com
  • eNom.com
  • Register.com
  • NameCheap.com
  • Web.com

3. Web Hosting

The Web is moving faster and faster, and Internet professionals that manage to deliver a faster experience to users not only benefit from an increase in engagement and sales, but can even see higher search engine rankings as well. For these reasons, the Web hosting decision made by your enterprise is an important one. With the varying demands of the modern Web business however, it’s nearly impossible to identify which Web hosting providers are worthy of being designated in this list. There is shared hosting, dedicated hosting, managed hosting, database hosting, not to mention cloud hosting. Vendors in a category like shared hosting don’t belong alongside vendors which cater to larger enterprises focusing on e-commerce or those which run database-driven apps in the cloud.

  • Budget Hosting: HostGator.com
  • Dedicated Hosting: Softlayer.com
  • Cloud Hosting: Microsoft Azure
  • E-Commerce Hosting: Rackspace.com
  • Application Hosting: Amazon

4. SEM – Search Advertising & Optimisation

Of all the different types of online marketing that today’s digital-minded brands can leverage – including email and social – search remains dominant and, as a result of the value it can potentially provide in terms of raw unique visitor numbers, is perhaps the most attractive option. There has always been confusion about what search engine marketing (SEM) really is, however – is it purely unpaid and natural traffic from the search engines, or does it relate to advertising on the search engines, paying for visitors with a clear, keyword-driven intent? SEM is essentially any marketing on search engines, be it through advertising or through optimisation. The market for solutions on both sides is in great demand.

Search Advertising

  • WordStream.com
  • MarinSoftware.com
  • Kenshoo.com
  • SEMRush.com
  • Acqusio.com

SEO Software

  • WebCEO.com
  • SEOclarity.net
  • Moz.com
  • RavenTools.com
  • Position.ly

5. E-Commerce

E-commerce consistently elicits a great deal of attention from our community of digital professionals. Total annual e-commerce sales increase each year, due in great part to today’s software solutions which provide Internet retailers with opportunities to do ever more amazing things with their digital presence.

  • MagentoCommerce.com
  • Volusion.com
  • Shopify.com
  • Hybris.com
  • BigCommerce.com
  • X-Cart.com
  • 3DCart.com
  • GoeCart.com
  • Mozu.com
  • Miva.com

6. Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn (sorry Google+) have become an integral part of maintaining a digital presence on the Internet. While the value these destinations provide to enterprises is up for debate, marketers continue to take advantage of these platforms in the hopes of raising awareness for their brands, deepening engagement with their fans and followers, including:

  • Hootsuite.com
  • Sendible.com
  • SproutSocial.com
  • Buzzsumo.com
  • AgoraPulse.com
  • ViralHeat.com
  • GroSocial.com
  • SocialBro.com
  • Bufferapp.com
  • Offerpop.com

7. Live Chat Software

Once an absolute necessity in the arsenal of digital tools for top Web brands, live chat software remains a popular option for those that want to help guide their users to a more personal experience and a more profitable one for their brand.

  • Livechatinc.com
  • HelpOnClick.com
  • Olark.com
  • Velaro.com
  • TouchCommerce.com

8. Email

Love it or loathe it, email is a fundamental element of the Web today. Every digital brand from information publishers to service providers (e-commerce merchants too) use email to communicate with customers and their audience, and ultimately drive conversions. Those platforms that make the process simpler, empower marketers with the tools they need to automate the required processes and integrate with existing systems are listed below:

  • ConstantContact.com
  • GetResponse.com
  • MailChimp.com
  • iContact.com
  • AWeber.com
  • ActiveCampaign.com
  • Campaigner.com
  • VerticalResponse.com
  • Listrak.com
  • + MyEmma.com

9. Advertising & Performance Marketing

For those brands that need to raise awareness and garner mindshare in their respective markets, digital advertising and performance marketing are increasingly necessary. However, the industry has seen and experienced a variety of discouraging setbacks in 2014, from Google’s recent acknowledgement that just over half of its display ads are visible, to the ongoing tracking challenges for affiliate networks. Even with these rather significant issues, digital advertising and performance marketing are healthy industries and remain effective options for those looking to improve their bottom line.

Online Advertising

  • AdRoll.com
  • OutMarket.com
  • Chitika.com
  • Criteo.com
  • Brightroll.com

Performance Marketing

  • Conversant.com
  • RakutenMarketing.com
  • ShareaSale.com
  • AvantLink.com
  • ClickBank.com

10. Help Desk Solutions

There’s a growing trend among today’s web enterprises – improving the efficiency of customer service. Where companies once had to staff call centers with knowledgeable teams of sales and support personnel, today they are turning to help desk solutions so customers can, effectively, serve themselves. Fortunately, some powerful technology platforms have emerged that are making a positive difference in the world of Web business.

  • Zendesk.com
  • Desk.com
  • Freshdesk.com
  • TeamSupport.com
  • HappyFox.com

11. Experience Optimisation Software

If there is one single word that defined 2014, it’s that of “experience.” The data is clear, enterprises that deliver personal experiences, those which speak directly to the needs and wants of users, are the ones that are accelerating their success and reaching profitability far faster than their competition.

  • WebTrends.com
  • Optimizely.com
  • Monetate.com
  • Unbounce.com
  • VisualWebsiteOptimizer.com

12. Gamification & Loyalty

Today’s Internet users expect a different, a better, experience from the brands they patronise. They do not just want great products and service, they want to be rewarded for giving their time and attention. That demand has been met with some rather innovative solutions which enable brands to employ gamification principles to deepen engagement and increase the number and quality of interactions.

  • Klout.com
  • Influitive.com
  • Bazaarvoice.com
  • Badgeville.com
  • Bunchball.com

13. Subscription Management

One of the most exciting trends in 2014 was the uptick in subscription management usage by Internet enterprises. No longer content with traditional payment models, technology vendors emerged forcefully to enable brands to offer subscription-based billing and recurring billing in a way that was both affordable and incredibly effective.

  • Zuora.com
  • Chargebee.com
  • Cleverbee.com
  • Avangate.com
  • Braintree.com

14. Mobile Management

Smartphones were supposed to change everything – and they did. Upwards of 30% of all web traffic these days comes from mobile devices, and the savviest brands are doing everything they can to get in on the action – from rolling out responsive or adaptive designs, to personalising and prioritising content for users when they are away from the desktop. Solutions catering to this increasing demand fared quite well in 2014 and mobile analytics, mobile site builders and app platforms captured the attention of digital professionals.

  • MixPanel.com
  • AppAnnie.com
  • DudaMobile.com
  • Flurry.com
  • Appcelerator.com

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