On Being A Noob In Internet Marketing

Internet marketing can be very exciting.   It can also become very depressing if you don't have a solid grasp on what it takes to succeed.

Unfortunately, many internet 'noobs' consume a great deal of time, energy, and money not fully understanding some of the basics of internet marketing.   If this is you, don't let yourself become  easily discouraged and please don't break the bank.  Go litely with your money until you get a firm grasp on how you are going to proceed.
Do not buy into the latest, greatest, best... 'guru' package until you understand the ropes a bit.

Here are a few questions and answers to help you better understand what internet marketing is all about.

Just what Is Internet Marketing?

In general, marketing is about communicating to others, a product, a service, an organization or business, or even an idea.  It uses various forms of communications and techniques involving  advertising, promotion and sales to promote and sell.

Marketing also includes researching the market to learn what consumers want, and then sets out to meet their needs with the right product, at a good price, and a prompt delivery method.

Good marketing also includes attracting new customers, while keeping your existing customers interested in your products or services.  The other challenge is in maintaining, building and keeping your customer base.   In other words, creating product loyalty.

Internet marketing is really no different except for the tools you will be using.   Such as having a website, blogging, email, search engine optimization, RSS feeds, and autoresponders, just to name a few.

What Will it Cost Me To Do Internet Marketing?

First of all, what is your time worth?
If you have free time available, invest it wisely.  But my best advise would be to keep your day job, if you have one, until you have many months of financial success.

You can set up a web site very cheaply - under a $100 a year and/or a blog for free.  While free web hosting and free blogs sounds great to help get yourself established, remember that somebody else owns them and can take your site or blog down in the blink of an eye.  So as soon as possible make sure to get your own paid hosting so you have control over your internet marketing affairs.
You can buy text links for around $10 a month.  You could also easily  spend $25 - $100 or more a day for advertising, but there are many cheaper alternatives available

You need to do research for your particular niche, and then set up a basic business plan
Decide how much each prospective customer is worth to you.  This will enable you to plan out a budget if you decide to do an PPC - pay per click - internet marketing campaign.

It is always best to start small and and slowly build your business as you continually test and learn what is successful for your particular market.   No matter what you may hear...  There is no one particular formula or solution that works for everyone.

Every successful internet marketer uses the same basic marketing techniques and then 'tweaks' them according to their needs.

And no, they aren't going to sell you their multi-million dollar marketing secrets for $47.   Or even A few thousand dollars.    Would you.    They always hold something back and/or they have already played the game and see that that particular system is flooding and so they sell shovels to the miners while they find newer and fresher hunting grounds to 'rinse and repeat' as they say.

What Are The Benefits of Marketing Through The Internet?

The very nature of the internet means it is open for business 24/7.  Your web sites and blogs continue working to promote and market your product long after your initial marketing efforts are over.   And with having the right kind of linking, your sites will continue to do your selling over a very long period of time.

If you build your customer list correctly, email marketing also offers you the ability to personalize your content as well as reach a targeted customer, so your chances for sales dramatically increase.

Internet marketing offers convenience and immediate satisfaction for your customer.  You are able to offer them the ability to act on what interest them right now.   That is the power and attraction of internet marketing.

Successful internet marketing does not happen overnight, no matter what they - the gurus - say.
So stop procrastinating, you are ready to begin internet marketing -- and eventually succeed with your internet business venture.

Remember, you haven't failed until you quit.

Be Fearless

Billy Ojai