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Many people new to the world of Internet marketing tend to get overwhelmed with all the hype and frenzy thrown at them and jump into what seems to be a rational, though exciting, world with both feet.
They see these really great websites, read about these really great opportunities, and, of course, about the millions of dollars to be made online, and say, "Why not me?" After all, it looks so easy.
Well, as anyone with Internet marketing experience can tell you, it is not always as easy as it looks. Not only that, being successful can actually wind up being an expensive proposition, in terms of time, effort, confusion, frustration, and an emotional roller coaster ride that can go from euphoria to depression...and, of course, money.
Most people lack three things when they sign up for, or create, some product or service to sell online.
1. Time
2. Money
3. Knowledge
Oddly enough, those are three of the key factors which cause the downfall of over 90% of all the small business start-ups in the U.S. according to many sources, including the Small Business Administration.
New marketers figure that their website will work 24/7, making them money even as they sleep. After all, that's what the recruiting web pages told them, and that is what so many articles tell them as well.
If it were 100% true, at least as presented to them, that would save a lot of time. Stick up a website, list it with a few search engines, and...wham!...lots of traffic, lots of sales, lots of money. Set it and forget it, you might say.
Well, that's a whole different article, or series of articles. For the moment, as we proceed to the part about using free Internet marketing resources effectively, let's just say that, while a good website, properly set up with all the search engine optimization bells and whistles in place, and properly marketed CAN produce income overnight, you don't just stick it out there and people flock to it.
You either apply some "sweat equity" marketing techniques or pay somebody who knows what they are doing to get it done for you.
The "sweat equity" thing is where you spend some time and effort, usually using free Internet marketing resources, to promote your website yourself.
So, many people are NOT going to be successful without investing some of their own time, which they are probably short of as they are probably starting by doing this part-time, after work, or in the mornings or evenings when the kids are still in bed.
The good news is that even if you do not have a lot of time in each day to invest, you can still invest time over long periods and accomplish great things...eventually, as my Polish instructor, Pan Sawicki, used to say when I was at the Army language school in Monterey, California so many years ago.
However, invest time you will, if money you have not! Sounds a little like Yoda.
Let's talk about money.
You probably don't have enough, whatever your needs for it are, if you are trying to start an Internet business. Or, alternative motivation, you have enough but want a different life. One without a boss or alarm clocks or commutes...all those things we love about a job.
If you have enough money and want to hit the ground running, you can buy the services of those whose business it is to make other people successful.
However...
Whether you have enough time, or enough money, if you don't have knowledge about marketing an online business, you are still behind the eight ball.
I am going to assume that if you are still with me, you are short on one, two, or all three; time, money, and knowledge and want to know how to use some free marketing resources to maximize your possibility of success with your new Internet business.
So, now let's talk about using free resources to promote that new Internet business of yours.
First, what free resources are we talking about?
There are many things which can be free which can be used to promote your Internet business, but I am going to concentrate on places you can go and things you can do to promote your business on a day-to-day basis. Obviously, making sure your website has been fine-tuned with all the latest search engine optimization (SEO) techniques is important, but a difficult one for someone without the knowledge and skill to do it.
Submitting your website to a large number of search engines and directories is another obvious step. though a time-consuming one without the proper software or submission service.
But, I am talking here about things like using social networking sites, posting free classified ads, participating in forums, and using free traffic exchanges.
Many people avoid these, not only because using them can be exhaustively time-consuming, but also because the general consensus is that they do not really provide targeted traffic, or visits by people who might actually become buyers...if they even read the ads or postings at all!
Those positions have some validity, but here are two points:
1. There ARE real people going to those sites, and...
2. If you apply the correct techniques(s), you CAN get their attention and send them to your site.
There are many things you can do to use free Internet marketing resources effectively, but here are three of my favorite tips that can help you drive targeted human traffic to your website and perhaps even create a few effective backlinks that search engines often value so dearly.
1. Never try to send anyone directly to your sales site from a free resource...be it classified ad, forum signature, twitter post...whatever. Unless you are dealing with a large number of people who know you and want what you have to offer, they probably will not even bother to click through and will not buy if they do. After all, they do not know you from Adam, or Eve, and, if they are also on these sites, they are trying to sell something to YOU...not buy anything.
2. Offer to provide something of value for free. Whether it is a collection of health tips if you are selling a health-related product, car care tips if you are selling an automotive products, or even some free software or report of use to the potential consumer if you are providing ANYTHING, providing something free, original, and of value to the potential customer will raise their opinion of you, make them consider you more as a friend and advisor, and will create a feeling of trust and respect...especially since you did not try to "sell" them anything.
As Zig Ziglar said, "You can get anything in life you want if you help enough people get what they want."
3. Be trustworthy, dependable, honest, friendly, and forthright in all your dealings. Tell the truth, offer facts, and back up your claims. Sure, if you sell exercise equipment, you cannot guarantee and verify all the specs that the manufacturer gives you about their treadmills, for example, but, if you learn that there is a defect or that the machine simply does not live up to its advertising, drop it and apologize to anyone who may have gotten information about it from you. If a question comes to you about something and you cannot give a valid, informed answer, sit down and do your research until you DO have an answer. If you cannot find out the facts...say so.
One of the most effective things you can do for a website is to provide valid updated information. One of the most effective things you can do to promote that website is the same.
You are going to have to commit to using either time, money, and/or knowledge if you want to be successful online, or just about anywhere else. If you don't have time or money, gain the knowledge to be most effective. If you don't have time or knowledge and don't know how to get more of either, you will have to spend money. If you don't have money or knowledge, be prepared to spend a long time getting where you want to go.
By the way, one tip for everything that you want to accomplish in life...never give up.
Donovan Baldwin is a 65-year-old bodybuilder, freelance writer, certified optician, and Internet marketer currently living in the Dallas, Texas area. A University Of West Florida alumnus (1973) with a BA in accounting, he has been a member of Mensa and has held several managerial and supervisory positions throughout his career. After retiring from the U. S. Army in 1995, with 21 years of service, he became interested in Internet marketing and developed various online businesses. He has been writing poetry, articles, and essays for over 40 years, and now frequently publishes original articles on his own websites and for use by other webmasters. Learn about free advertising at http://xtramoney4me.net/free_advertising.
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