Marketing
Strategic Marketing is the key to long-term
success in any business.
Most folks marketing on the Internet (or in
most other businesses for that matter) do their
marketing in a very haphazard manner, usually on
impulse - when they have extra funds available, or
when they are desperate to generate sales. Both
are tragic mistakes.
The successful business owners / marketers do
two basic things.
First, they set an Advertising
Budget.
and
Secondly, they schedule a year-round Marketing
Program.
The Budget: -
If you are not flush with cash or just
starting out, your initial budget may be quite
low. Maybe just a hundred dollars or two.
That is not a problem. On the Internet you can
often substitute money for "work"
(activities) that can achieve the same results.
Only difference is it will take a little longer.
You should also set aside a fixed percentage of
revenues you receive each month and add it to your
advertising budget.
The average advertising and marketing budget
for most well-established businesses is between
3-7% depending on the industry, substantially more
for start-up companies.
When we first got started we ear-marked 40% for
marketing.
As the business and revenues have grown that
percentage has declined each year but today we
still reinvest 15% back into promoting our online
business.
The Marketing Plan and
Schedule: -
This is where focus,
dedication and stick-ability comes in.
We will soon see if
you have a burning desire to build a business or
if it is just a whim, a dream you will never act
on.
Get out your notepad and
list the activities you should do on a daily basis
to promote / market your site, products and
services.
These tasks may include
activities to build traffic,
place free ezine ads, generate leads, exchange
ads, trade links,
search for new products, start a joint-venture,
and a multitude of other things.
I suggest you assign one
activity per day and, based on time available, set
a number of times you will do that activity.
ie. Monday
- Contact 5 webmasters to trade links.
Tuesday -
Offer ad exchanges to 6 ezine publishers
Wednesday
- Find one new ebook to sell
Thursday -
Place 2 banners on new banner exchanges
etc
etc
Schedule
these daily activities on your calendar and also
include dates you will place any paid advertising,
if your budget permits.
You probably
noticed that the activities listed do not require
a financial outlay.
These
activities are part of your apprenticeship. There
are plenty of resources
you can use to help in your education.
It's time to
go to work and start building your business.
Let
us know whenever we can help.
Warning:
Despite
what you may read on all the scam site there is no
easy, fast road, to incredible wealth. It take
education, hard work, and persistence to build any
business. The Internet is no different. Find
a product or program and commit yourself to giving
it your best shot for at least a year.
It
you want to invest a few bucks and expect to get
rich overnight you are at the wrong site - A
home-based business is not for you. Go buy a
lottery ticket and settle back into your sofa and
dream.
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