| Do you want to hear my answer to why Internet | | | | easy money. They will not last. Others get scared |
| Marketing is so popular? It's simple, really - 250 | | | | by all the terminology, all the geek-speak, all the |
| million. You're probably thinking - what the heck? | | | | acronyms. They think it's rocket science. They will |
| Okay, let me explain - 250 million is approximately | | | | not last either. Yet others view online marketing |
| the number of Internet users in North America, | | | | as a project - with an end in sight. They stick to |
| according to Word Internet Usage Statistics | | | | the program, get their websites off the ground, |
| website. But really, it gets better and my answer | | | | and then stop learning. They will only last for as |
| now is 750 million. Because you know, the | | | | long as Google doesn't change its ranking |
| average time spent on browsing Internet each | | | | algorithms. |
| day is 3 hours per person. | | | | You don't have to be one of these people. Again, |
| How is this time spent? Since you are one of | | | | remember the 80/20 rule. Get your website or |
| these users, you already know or at least guess | | | | blogsite and get to work. Set the goals, based on |
| the answer. Moving beyond guesses, research | | | | your business model - B2B sales, B2C sales, sales |
| shows that people mostly spend time | | | | of advertising space, lead-generation, etc. Identify |
| communicating, gaming, shopping, and simply | | | | your target market based on your business |
| surfing. Surfing takes up as much as 15% of time | | | | model. Write your copy focused on your target |
| spent on Internet or roughly 27 minutes per | | | | market. |
| person per day. 27 minutes of "just browsing" | | | | Now start communicating to your prospective |
| might not sound like much, but it sure beats the | | | | clients. You don't need to jump on the |
| amount of time people spend exposed to | | | | pay-per-click bandwagon to start bringing traffic |
| newspaper ads or TV commercials on any given | | | | to your website. Get involved in the forums and |
| day. | | | | online communities that relate to your products |
| Of course, it would've been great if the entire 27 | | | | services. Social networking sites can be great |
| minutes of unstructured surfing time were spent | | | | tools for finding consumer networks. |
| on your website learning about your "amazing | | | | Get the word out about your business and |
| super-widgets" or whatever else you're selling. | | | | establish some authority by writing and submitting |
| Except of course, there are millions other sites | | | | online articles. Article marketing is one of the least |
| promoting "super-widgets" similar to yours. And | | | | expensive and most effective ways to bring |
| even if some or most of them are a lot less | | | | more visitors to your website. You don't even |
| amazing than yours, they will still beat you to the | | | | have to write articles yourself. There are lots of |
| top of Google search unless you get serious | | | | free articles on virtually any topic available online |
| about Internet Marketing. | | | | at sites like articlesonline.org. You can also hire a |
| Heard of an 80/20 rule lately? Well, guess what?! | | | | freelance writer or a virtual assistant specializing in |
| 80 percent of income on Internet is being earned | | | | articles writing to do this work for you. Bonus |
| by 20 percent of the marketers. The problem is | | | | point - a virtual assistant will even submit your |
| having a website is not enough, hasn't been | | | | articles to online directories for you. |
| enough for a long time. Getting your website to | | | | Whatever you do, be genuine. Internet users hate |
| the top of search engines' results pages takes | | | | spammers. They are tired of blunt sales |
| lots of work, knowledge and discipline. Note that I | | | | messages. They are sophisticated and know how |
| didn't include "lots of money". Yes, it doesn't hurt | | | | to deal with marketers whose attitude and |
| to have a good marketing budget. But really, you | | | | practices are built around making a quick buck at |
| can still get very successful on Internet even on a | | | | any cost. Web 2.0 is a community where |
| very tight budget. And that's another reason | | | | information and influence flows both ways. Keep |
| Internet Marketing is so popular. | | | | this in mind when planning your internet marketing |
| Of course, lots of people dabble in it. Don't worry | | | | strategy. |
| about them. Many are confused - they think it's | | | | |