Marketing on the Internet isn't really hard to understand. It's perhaps too easy. Internet marketing works a lot like off-line marketing, but the difference is that the costs to market and follow-up on-line can be much less than conventional marketing. You can reach and follow-up with prospective customers for a whole lot less money.
The year 1999 was the year for big money to try to purchase on-line success. Internet stocks were getting bought up as fast as new startups come along. These start-ups are often judged based on how long they can afford to lose money before they go under. For example, iwon.com has been giving away 10,000 dollars a day - one million a month and a ten million annual prize just for visiting their search engine. At That rate how long will they stay in business?
We hear absolutely outstanding success stories from Internet startups, yet few are earning any actual profit. In fact, 47% of all high tech stocks lost money last year.
Many dot com businesses have already lost everything and are out of business after spending millions. Dot com businesses that have done best on-line are businesses that are already profitable. In reality over 90% are still losing money. Profitability is only a distant hope to many of these businesses.
A good example is goto.com, where anyone can bid on keywords or combination of keywords to guarantee a top position in the search results.
Almost anyone can afford to test market a product or service on-line. Many conventional off-line businesses are using the Internet to fine-tune their classified ads and marketing letters. It is much less costly to market and test on-line. If a product sells on-line chances are it will sell off-line.
On the other hand, there is a *FREE* mentality on-line. You can find free information about almost anything on-line. In fact, the word "FREE" is one of the most commonly used search keywords on-line.
I have hardly spent a dime promoting my business on-line. The money I have spent in marketing my business has been investments in marketing courses.
These are the best Marketing Courses I have found
http://www.smithfam.com/training.html
The Internet marketing courses I re-sell on my web sites are the main marketing tools I use. They have paid off for me big-time. It only takes a little good information in one area to more than justify the costs of the whole course.
Rather than change the nature of the Internet, which is pretty hopeless, fit your business to the demands of the Internet
Here are a few timeless Internet marketing guidelines I use everyday:
1) Choose a product that sells for under $50. If it's a business opportunity you shouldn't need to spend a lot of up-front money. In fact - don't spend too much money, period. You usually can't buy success. Your business should help pay for itself very quickly.
2) People go to the Internet for free Information. Offer them useful information for free. This builds trust and helps establish your expertise. Everyone is an expert at something.
3) Create a dialogue with people you can help and people who can help you. The Internet can be impersonal - you must establish a relationship with your niche market.
4) Use your email. It's your most valuable marketing tool. I'm not talking about SPAM, which doesn't work. You *communicate* with people to establish and build on a relationship.
5) Develop regular e-mailings - both personal and for your business. Share information with others.
6) Develop your own success story. Facts tell and stories sell. Once you make that first sale, tell your story to others within your sphere of influence. People will be attracted to your success and will want to do what you do.
7) Duplicate the success of others, If you want what they have in your life then do what they do. Another reason to purchase marketing manuals and courses.
8) Develop some of your own ideas. Take chances. You won't always have success, but the more things you try, the more things will actually work.
9) Make goals and do what you say you will do.
10) PLAN - plan what you want and you'll get what you plan
Best Wishes
Bob
Click Here to Email Bob Smith
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