How to market a product effectively on the internet?

It would appear to a lay surfer as if the internet was meant only for marketing. Considering the ease with which one can advertise a product to the whole world from a webpage, a number of companies have adopted the beaten track of 'internet marketing'. It has cut down costs and time, crossing international boundaries like never before.

Now you have 'salesmen' working for you whose faces you have never seen before. If they are fortunate to make a sale, you are equally fortunate. You can simply show all models under your portfolio in nice-looking graphics and the buyer has to simply 'add to the cart' and make a credit card payment. You are awake, you make money. You are asleep, you make money.

Not all are so lucky! Even some are not lucky all the time. If you care to distinguish between 'selling' and 'marketing' as well as if you follow 'live and let live' policy, you may succeed. Right from Peter Drucker to Philip Kotler, the secret of success in business is said to be - 'innovation'. This involves a deep study of the current market and a yet deeper study of consumer psyche. Filling a void is one thing but always finding a void somewhere is a genius' mind. In this sense, marketing has to be a continuum.

You are a seller when the consumer, not finding an option, approaches you. The moment he has other economic and quality options, you have to go to the consumer to market your product. Now, those who go straight with a product to the consumer invariably fail or spend a great amount of time to make a sale ' often in distress. It is quite common to find some enterprising marketers being shooed away by their 'prospective' consumers. On the other hand, the impatient young and intelligent marketer tries to show off his oratorical skills on simpletons, ultimately scaring them about their depth of ignorance.

What I really cannot fathom is the advertising of certain commonplace products on the internet. People prefer to buy some products at shops. Different shades of, say, 'lipstick' cannot be identified from the description or from the graphics howsoever the photographic skills may be. To a brand known is one thing and selling it is another. It is always better to give enough product information and declare your services to the customers. References from customers do not count much except to the naïve because people strongly believe everything can be 'managed'.

It is no longer a cost plus formula or penetration policy that can vouch for a sale. You may not come face to face with your consumer. You may not know why he does not come back for another buy. You just do not have competition only from peers ' you have it from website owners. You have to advertise, advertise and advertise. You have to follow paid advertising route, start email campaigns, bother about Alexa rankings, please Google's search engine and what not. Gifts and discounts can come later. First, you have to be visible ' and on the first page! You may not know the nuances of your products but you have to know what search engine optimization is.

Meet Me On Technorati

Online business is one exciting opportunity on the internet.

Yet, it could be quite frustrating for many.

Reasons:

• Bad advices• Scams
• Wastage of time
• Poor marketing
• Competition
• Ignorance
• Ill-conceived ideas
• Lack of discipline
• Poor commitment
• Mob mentality
• Lack of finance
• Impatience
• Illegal practices

There may be many more to add to the list!

What drives people to home based internet businesses is the attraction towards tall claims made by many marketers most of whom are pure charlatans. Some Jack would try to surprise us with claims of ' How I made $ 4000 in a week!' and goes on to tempt you with a free ebook only to discover no substance but only links to affiliates.

Now-a-days, you have these Jacks turning out videos day in and day out like nobody's business! Some have started showing how they had taken up 'live challenges'.

My advice would be to follow these simple steps:

1. Collect free information as much as possible
2. Make notes in a systematic fashion
3. Note references or tag them in Delicious in your browser
4. Go to Squidoo and learn ' it’s free!

If you can succeed with a lens of your own ( and it’s easy!), you will start making money soon.

My best wishes.

Affiliate marketing is almost now synonymous with home based internet business. I won’t say Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising is out-dated but since the latter involves expenditure and good amount of luck as well, perhaps affiliate marketing is more lucrative.

Targeted Traffic

Make money while the internet thrives, may well be the motto of most of us. Now, setting up a website is no longer a rocket science given the vast even-a-child-can-do-it resources available - some free and some cheap web hosting sites. But getting traffic, that too, targeted traffic has become a challenge day by day with increasing additions to internet inventory.

Search Engine Optimisation

How do people overcome this traffic problem? Either you pay for traffic or get Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) experts to help your website get higher search engine ranking in Google, Yahoo, MSN etc. or carry out your own website promotion by writing articles, online advertising or offering an affiliate program. You can have a product or program advertised on eBay or ClickBank or Amazon and offer commissions to sellers or your affiliates.

Caveat

All said and done, affiliate marketing is not a child’s play. Most of us think we can just promote any product (or a niche product!) and can start counting money. Again you have the same traffic problem. You need to comply with Google’s landing page guidelines to be able to combine with PPC advertising (AdWords). You cannot simply re-direct your viewers to other sites for sales. One must consider the following issues:

1. Beware of Scams: Verify the genuineness of the seller. Just type the seller’s brand or website and prefix or suffix either “scam”, “fraud” or “reviews” in Google search engine. You can view the results and judge for yourself.

2. Don’t be Greedy: Don’t imagine earning thousands of dollars overnight! Be prudent. Start with one product on ClickBank and promote in different ways without spamming.

3. Stand Out: Don’t join the crowd. Study the trend of the product or business idea or keywords in Google Trends. Avoid seasonal products if you are looking for a steady source of income.

4. Security: As an affiliate you must verify the trustworthiness or credibility of the seller whose products you choose to promote.

5. Use It: Unless you buy and use the product, you won’t have first-hand knowledge. If it is bad, dump it and complain in proper forums.

6. Reason: Find out if the seller is making tall claims. Search for information and seek opinions at the relevant forums or websites. Your product should be believable. If somebody sells an eBook on “How To Fly Like A Bird“, it may gather some curiosity but only that!

There are now agencies that help you in advising on the credibility of many sellers like WebAssured. So why not verify whether it is certified?

There are a number of ways to earn money on the internet. Some are honest and most are crookedly dishonest. Naturally, unsuspecting people (that includes me as well!) get tempted by unscrupulous rascals and absolute scoundrels.

Having said that, there are several direct and indirect methods of making money on the internet. It could be persuasive or unpersuasive, specific or casual, gentle or brutish. That is, one can persuade or entice you to register for a free pdf e-book followed by a $47 get-rich-before-you-get-up-in-the-morning scheme or scam. Or one can carry PPC (pay per click) ads like Google’s Adsense on websites or blogs and make money based on some good samaritans clicking on the ads displayed. You need a great measure of luck because only some visitors may click on ads. Of course, I won’t recommend MFA (Made For Adsense) websites because one MFA may lead the visitor to another MFA.

What one needs, however, is to sift grain from the chaff. Read free e-books as many as possible - save the good ones, garbage the rest. If you don’t know how to go about it, just type your subject or niche keyword or keyphrase with the prefix “free e-book” into Google or Yahoo or MSN search bar. Search the top pages and make your selection.

The point I wish to make is: you have to search, research and decide. There is no need to know any HTML or Java. Only ideas and ideas (please don’t copy!) can and should help. If you can’t write well enough, get it written by your friends. Start a Squidoo Lens, write articles, collect info from Google search and Ezine Articles or Go Articles. Try to write what has not been written.

My simple steps to help you find easy ways to earn money from the internet:

1. Visit Dmoz.Org and find topics and sub-topics of your interest.

2. View the top websites there and make detailed notes.

3. Search article directories and read what has been written by experts.

4. Get Free Word Tracker and start collecting the top 500 searches.

5. Go to Google Keyword Tool and check up keywords used by the top traffic websites.

6. Find niche keywords from (5) the above and make a list.

7. Write e-books based on research done (1 - 6).

8. Start a Squidoo Lens which is free and simple and seek advice on Squidu forum.

9. Register your profile at the top social networking sites like Facebook where you can refer to your Squidoo Lens.

10.Write about 10 articles on your niche topic over 2 months and regularly update your blog (Blogger is free).

11.Refer to your e-books wherever and whenever pertinent.

Don’t forget to mention the URL of your Squidoo Lens or blog or websites or ALL in your e-book!

If you are short of content or ideas, you can always review other people’s blogs or articles or e-books in a fair manner. The easiest method for this is to get Google Alerts on topics of your interest.

For other tips and more details, please visit the author’s website on  Home Based Business. He has an Ever lens called Simplest Money Making Ever.

The internet is full of business opportunities. You need a computer and a legitimate idea to begin a small business. Income seekers can start making money online if they apply themselves with clarity of thought and planned actions.

One can find a new and promising franchise opportunity at Click Bank, Amazon, eBay etc. The product one plans to promote need not be the best or have high gravity but it must hold promise be scam-free and help you earn some residual income after discounting your monthly expenses.

I will tell you a simple method to get ideas and content for your home based internet business.

Go to Amazon.Com. Click on any category e.g., “Apparel”. You will find:

•   Accessories
•   Kids & Baby
•   Men
•   Shoes
•   Women

Click on “Accessories”. You will find:

•   Cold Weather Accessories
•   Electronics Cases
•   Eyewear
•   Handbags
•   Luggage, Bags & Travel
•   Travel Accessories
•   Wallets, Money & Key Organizers
•   Men’s Accessories
•   Women’s Accessories
•   Children’s Accessories

Click on “Cold Weather Accessories”. You will find:

•    Ear Muffs
•    Gloves
•    Mittens & Hand Muffs
•    Hats
•    Neck Warmers
•    Scarves

You can write:

1. one general article about “apparel”.(Top Level)
2. one general article on “apparel accessories”.(Sub Level)
3. one general article on “cold weather accessories”.(Sub Sub Level)
4. six detailed articles on “ear muffs”, “gloves”, “mittens & hand muffs”, “hats”, “neck warmers” and “scarves”.(Ground Level)

So you have nine articles to write about!

At first, you must carry out research.

• Type “apparel wiki” or “apparel history” into Google search box and note important points.
• Study the product details at Amazon by clicking some items you wish to promote.
• Copy the tags or keywords listed under each product description.
• Choose an appealing caption for your article like “All You Need To Know About Apparel Before You Buy”, “Check These Before You Buy Apparel”, “How To Choose Apparel For Your Baby?” etc.
• In your article, write only general stuff. Since you want people to visit your website or blog, implore upon them to know some “secrets” on your website or blog.
• Your article can be between 250 and 500 words split in 4 or 5 paragraphs with attractive sub-headings and with some bulleted lists.

Make sure the language is simple, grammar and spellings correct. Submit one article a day to Ezine Articles, GoArticles and other article directories.

You can do all these free of cost! For free websites, free hostings and other useful free stuff, check out these:

Internet Business OpportunitiesOnline Business Opportunities

I came across this incredible system developed by one Dr Jon Cohen who found a little-known "secret" in how to use the pay-per-click (PPC) and paid-for targeted advertising programs at Google and the other search engines like Yahoo!, AltaVista, MSN etc.

As you know, Google has this Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising system in their AdWords program where you can advertise your product, service or website using text or image ads. Google makes billions of dollars every year and pays partly to website owners who carry their ads under the AdSense program. If you have a website or a blog where you carry AdSense ads strictly as per Google’s guidelines, you can earn money when visitors click on ads (note: click fraud can get you banned by Google!). Unless your website or blog is well-known to visitors, you have to promote your site to be discovered. While free ads and article writing can help you, you can also adopt PPC advertising where you agree to pay for each click. Now it depends how much of that is going to convert into your website or blog views and then what percentage of it will click your AdSense ads.

Thus you pay in AdWords and earn in AdSense!

Dr Jon has personally used this to:

• Eliminate about $87 million in otherwise PPC ads at Google and other search engines over the period of about 9 years!
• Generate about $314 million in product sales as a result of this astonishing savings!
• Acquire a whopping wealth of more than $68 million! (Net)
• Start and promote 16 online ventures of his own.
• Has coached "online" where he taught about this same amazing formula - including executives from major Fortune 500 and FortuneSM 1000 companies, representatives of publicly-traded companies on the New York Stock ExchangeSM (NYSE), many on the NASDAQ, members of investment houses on the American Stock ExchangeSM (AMEX), as well as at least one former US Congressman (now retired also) who now stays at home and runs a home-based online family business, among countless others.
• This system is no way related to Google "vouchers" or "AdWords credits.

On the other hand, Dr Jon's system is very unique to say the least, and allows for the advertisers to avoid costs of their Google and other paid-for search engine advertising expenses!

It can even generate many additional streams of income downpouring money directly into your pocket very quickly!
Get Google Ads Free!

Step 1 -

Type in the URL of the video you opt to brand, make a folder where you wish to save these files. The software program will generate files in a simple format so that you can instantly upload and start to profit from the branded video.

Step 2 -

Enter your affiliate data to start earning commissions as a result of displaying the video! There are customizable features to make it look like you want it. You can add text to the page, choose the color, position, font etc. You can even enter custom meta tag info for seo (search engine optimization).

Step 3 -

Upload the files to your website or blog, and You’re done.

You can take a look here: The Affiliate Video Brander!

Now, you know a lot of people are simply crazy about watching videos! You watch some Jack or Jill talking ‘blah blah’. It looks convincing because seeing is believing, you are not reading some junk mail in the inbox.

People listen and get convinced to make a buy decision.

Herein comes the technique.

The product i am talking about is called New Affiliate Marketing Technique!

Using this new software is as simple as 1…2…3! (as detailed in the beginning).

I came across this new technique today and thought i should share with you for your

home based business.

All you need are:

1. A website or a blog

2. Clickbank account

3. Paypal account

If you are skipping past this, well, you are just kissing your luck goodbye!

Conclusion:

There are only two types of people on the internet: those who have a website and those who don’t have one. Those who have a website or a blog try to sell to those who don’t have a website. They call it affiliate marketing where you sell somebody’s products. Selling even a pencil to your neighbor is real tough. Try and see it! Convincing people with sales letters through autoresponders is costly and fate-dependent.

And here you can get your Free Websites!