Today I want to talk about just how you start in the internet marketing arena. If you have been involved in even one program you know that once you sign-up for a program or start preparing to launch your own, the first question is How Do I promote my Site This is where I made my first mistake. I got caught in the affiliate loop. I signed up for the first sure thing Traffic Exchanges. Traffic Exchanges are basically where you advertise your site for FREE and then you surf through other sites to earn credits. Every time your site is displayed, credits are deducted from your account. Do they work There are some good ones, but you have to be very selective. Remember, everyone is trying to do the same thing, so you spend a lot of time surfing to earn credits. But it is a numbers game, and you can have some success. I personally have two that I recommend.
Another cheap or free advertising is ezine advertising. Ezines are on-line magazines, just like the one you are reading now, which have subscribers. You can get some fairly cheap ezine classified ads that pull pretty well. There are so many out there, you will need to do a search for one that covers your topic. For example, you probably dont want to advertise a site selling scuba gear in a sky-diving ezine.
So there are some cheap and free advertising methods out there. But they take time and time is money. I suggest that you prepare yourself for the fact that at some point you will need to open up your wallet. Our goal here is to get by as cheap and effective as possible.
So, do your homework up front, find some good cheap/free advertising, and get ready.
Have you seen those ads that say Send your ad to 1,000,000 people FREE Sounds too good to be true, huh Well let me tell you, it is too good to be true. The only things you get from these are the chance to fill your inbox with tons of mail from other people wanting to do the same thing as you; promote their product. So I suggest staying away from most of these. Safelists are advertising you should definitely stay away from. They sound really good, but can actually lead to SPAM complaints. Opt-in lists, however, are a much better way to go. Opt-in list simply means the person has agreed to take your email. Much like when you signed up for this newsletter. You opted in. But the key is to be able to cancel. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter and I keep sending it, I am crossing the line. There are several good opt-in lists available. Most of them you agree to receive other peoples emails so you can send yours
Note: All of these FREE programs will have very enticing upgrade features which will cost you money. Be careful. It is easy to start racking up huge monthly fees for the hits to your web site. And remember we are not looking for just hits. We want a sale!
If you are new to internet marketing, or are thinking about undertaking an on-line business venture, I hope you will send for my FREE interactive newsletter today. I am trying to help people just like you weed through the hype, myths, and just plain bull. While I dont have all the answers, I do have a burning desire to succeeed and help others. Sign-up Free today at:
I will give you some free ways as well as paid methods to promote your site. And you will be able to tell me what worked and what did not.
Together we can acheive great things. You can unsubscribe at any time. If you are willing to put in some effort, you can make money on the internet. If you are looking for a get rich quick business this newsletter is not for you. Either way, I wish you the best of success in all your endeavors. Dont forget to sign-up today for my FREE newsletter at
Willis Brown
As far as search engine marketing tactics go, your goals must be defined and long term oriented to attract targeted, high-lead-yielding web users with the greatest potential of conversion to customers. SEO, or search engine optimization is NOT a one-time shot. Winning the lottery or discovering oil will get your rich quick. Hiring an Internet marketing company to do a job and leave will not get your rich, ever.
We will examine the importance of long term goals as they apply liberally to search engine and general Internet marketing, and show you how to view your web marketing strategy with knowledge, confidence and vision. See your target clearly, not through the rose-colored glasses so many marketing geniuses and false gurus try to slip over your eyes.
WHY TALK ABOUT GOALS
Because too many people still dont understand that building a well optimized site, establishing and maintaining search engine rank, and helping your customer base continue to grow takes effort and time.
Because the Internet can most definitely help your business and probably increase your sales immensely, but not overnight.
Because nothing is free.Getting on the first page of a search is not free. It takes money for someone to research if its even feasible to attempt high ranks with your product or if an ulterior approach must be developed. If you have the expertise to do it yourself, it takes your own, valuable time to build and rebuild your pages for long term gain. It takes time for changes to be picked up by the search engines and ranked.
OPTIMIZATION DOESNT HAPPEN JUST ONCE
This is another concept many people misunderstand, where some shady SEOs take advantage, and what fuels a lot of ulcers. If you optimize a page for a targeted keyword phrase and you, I, or someone doesnt keep supporting that page by adjusting and tweaking the optimization techniques as the competition changes, as the internet changes, and as you add new content, then your money will be a wasted.
You might pay thousands of dollars for someone to successfully get you top the top three pages across the main search engines if you have a particular non-competitive niche or unique approach to a competitive one. And you could get record sales that first month you reach those great positions!
But, then your competition starts outranking you, your unique approach is now hindered by copycats, search engines have changed their focus and algorithms, youve just purchased raw materials, hired extra help because you thought your demand had spiked, and invested in a bigger office. Three months later youre screaming at your web guy who rightly says, Im sorry, I did what you paid me to do!
BUILD YOUR SITE LIKE YOUR BUSINESS
As you must build your business, so must you build your web site. It should have a solid and strong foundation that will keep it at the top once it gets there. You are much better off investing in a web design or optimization firm thats going to stay with you for several months. Invest in monthly maintenance programs so your new pages are continually changed to match the Internet and competition.
Remember, every main page on your site should be optimized. Each page is a chance to be ranked in a search engine. Monthly maintenance plans may seem like a lot of money, but when you add up the time it takes and the amount of constant research and tracking involved, its a valuable investment. If your serious about your presence on the Internet, dont sell yourself short.
Just like traditional marketing, Internet marketing has multiple thrusts and targets. You wouldnt try to brand a new national company by running one ad in the local newspaper, right Youd hit all sides of your market with PR stories, advertising, maybe telemarketing, parties, and incentive programs. And youd track every move and response and lead and sale to five decimal places.
Its the same principle with Internet marketing. The best part is that dollar for dollarmarketing on the Internet costs almost nothing.
If you have a pay per click campaign, it is even more important to have a good handle on that. Its very easy to waste thousands of dollars because you didnt continually modify your ads and target your keywords.
DEFINE THE GOALS
Whether web design and development, maintenance, search engine optimization, or any Internet marketing endeavor, always begin with a clear vision of where you want to go. If you hire a company to work with you, let them help you define those goals.
Even a simple website that is nothing more than an online brochure has a purpose. Understand what that purpose is. And dont let anyone touch your site in any way that doesnt have a clear idea of what the objective is!
By outlining where you are and what you are striving for you will spend your money wisely, and get the most beneficial results from your Internet marketing.
John Krycek a creative director at . Learn more about search engine optimization, internet marketing, web development and graphic design in easy, non-technical, up front English at !