How Does Internet Marketing Work?

You may be wondering how exactly this thing works. There are so many ways of promoting your own or affiliate product. If you want to go the paid route, it is faster to make money provided that you get the technicalities right.

You can use Google Adwords (more about that in another blog later). You buy an ad space with Google Adwords. Your ad has a link to your product website. What you essentially do is to find out and enter the most profitable keywords related to your product in the right way. If you use common/popular keywords which everyone else is using then you are going to pay more for every click on that keyword-related advertisement. So you find less used (less competition) and cheaper keywords in order to minimise your ad expenses. If any one clicks on your ad you pay what Google has asked you to pay. This is only the basics just to give an idea.

You can also promote your site through other paid and free methods (to be discussed in a different category.

The other way is you have good quality website with relevant original contents. This content includes all the possible variations of keywords used in relation to your product. You also keep your affiliate links there. If your website is search engine optimized, then, when people search for your type of product in Google search engine your page will be shown on the first page or maybe the second page depending on your ranking. Of course, optimizing a website for search engine is not a one-day affair. It may be a forever thing due to ever-competing web pages.

The idea is you must make people visit your site again and again. Some will purchase from you. You reward them with bonus gifts so they are happy with your customer service.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Business

Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet Business

While talking about Internet business only the advantages come to mind. They are plenty and obvious. And the disadvantages are only a few and are applicable to some only. Since the merits outweigh the demerits, we tend to safely ignore the disadvantages.

However, you must be aware of the disadvantages. That's because Internet business may not suit everyone's attitude, mentality, beliefs and knowledge and skill levels.

So let us deal with the disadvantages first.

• You need to cope with technology or employ people to handle the technical part of it. In other words, you must be familiar with Internet and computer usage. (But believe me it is not at all that hard as you might think because of the terminology you hear often. The factors you must consider are:
  

* You must be willing to face technical failures or problems which may arise occasionally leading to financial losses.
* You have to learn a lot in order to succeed. The learning curve may be steeper for some. Most people who fail have done it the wrong way. It is important you follow the right way in a systematic manner.
* You should take it up in a disciplined manner. Daily allot some time for this work.
* You should be willing to do research where needed to select the right profitable business area (niche).


The advantages of online business are obvious to the general user.

• Little or no investment to start with
• No overheads like office space, warehouses, billing and management employees; everything is fully automated
• Can be operated from any part of the world
• Can work with flexible timings - day or night
• Can take long vacations
• Financial freedom in the long run
• and many more...
  

These are the reasons why many people jump on it. Why should you suffer the 9 to 5 job after all if you can earn from home?

In a survey conducted, about 40 percent of US office goers expressed their desire to work from home. However, one should not enter Internet business by suddenly giving up the job.

The fact is not everyone can appreciate and tackle the work involved in Internet business. The sales letter you read from Internet marketers will claim things are as easy as opening a car door and life will become smooth as a bed of roses. Don't be carried away by such fancy sales letters. It is their business to try and trick to win clients. It is your business to exercise wisdom, control and judgment. Never get carried away by get-rich-quick schemes either. There is no such thing as free lunch. You have to work hard in the initial years to get yourself up step-by-step.

That's why I have included a page on the life of an Internet marketer. So you get the idea. If you believe you can do all such work given there, then it is for you. If you are capable of learning the basics, then it is for you. If you have very little money but are willing to give your best in terms of time and efforts, then it is for you. If you have huge money to invest in order to get it managed by others then it is for you.

So go to the next section and take a look at the work ahead.

Lesson 1: What is Online Business

There are many who do not understand what online business is. Some think that it is only for big companies. And for some it is only for technical people. There are some more who believe that it requires huge investments.

It is time their confusion is cleared. I decided to present a series of articles on the topic of Internet business or work from home business in a simple way they can understand . Not only that, they can actually plunge into online business and profit from it with the information I am providing here. So watch out for articles every other day.

What is online business?

Any business that is conducted through the medium of Internet can be called on-line business or Internet business.

A business may be also carried out off-line (outside of Internet - the traditional way) in addition to the main online route. This way the Internet business is supported or complemented by the brick and mortar model.

It has now become a necessity for all small and medium scale business or even for some professionals to have an online presence to support their offline business activities for more business and profits, publicity, advertisement, expansion or simply for the sake of prestige.

What exactly is done online? Online does not necessarily mean business done through web sites alone You can do business online through your emails, blogs, and an advertisement on a website or through an e-book. Reaching people globally online has become much easier because everyday millions of people use the Internet to find information, to buy things, to research, to find relationships or business partners and things like that.

Every year online transactions as well as the number of people entering the Internet are increasing by leaps and bounds. In fact small companies and individuals have a better chance of doing successful business online because of its anonymous nature, global reach, low investment and ease of use.

Some people ask me whether online business areas are overcrowded. Okay, in some popular areas it is. But just look at the shops in your neighborhood. You will see thousands of shops selling same things side by side. Yet everyone is getting business.

There are many who have their part-time business carried out through their emails alone.

They find or buy approved (safe) mailing lists and send information on the products they are dealing with regularly to potential buyers. At one time or other the prospect buys from the person depending upon the relationship he has built and the service he renders. This is known as e-mail marketing.

Two kinds of business can be done online: physical products and digital products. When you sell a physical product you have to collect the money first and then pack the material and safely deliver them to the clients.

This kind of online business involves extra responsibilities, labor and after-sales care. Also there is the risk of product getting lost or damaged during transportation. However, this business has potential for long-term sustainability. Everything depends on how well you service your customers.

In the case of digital products, there is no such headache of storing or warehousing the products, packaging them and sending them. In the case of digital products, once a product like an informative e-book, or music or speech can be easily stored in the computer and copies can be taken as many times as needed to meet the demand. Above all, there is instant delivery of the product ordered. As running this kind of business is much easier, most people go after information products.

However, selling physical products can be more profitable if done rightly. Information products are easy to sell as minimum customer care requirements are required.

There are quite a few books in Amazon. You may like to check out it on the
My Picks column on the right.

Mindset Matters...for Internet Marketers

What is mindset and how does it matter?

Since we all have a unique mind (often not even known to ourselves) what we tend to think or habitually think soon forms a solid mental pattern from which we cannot escape.

According to Dictionary.com, mindset is:
" 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations.
2. An inclination or a habit."

What we think, say or do or even what we experience is very much determined by our mental attitudes. Attitudes, in turn, are formed by our usual type of thoughts.

In short, we create our own circumstances - including our success in Internet marketing. That there is a strong co-relation between our attitude and success is well established. Some of us know it. Yet we find it very difficult to change our attitudes for the better.

So how do we change our attitude to succeed in IM?

Well, wait for more juice on the topic in the coming days...

Yesterday, I spoke about practical aspects of Internet marketing. Rather practical obstacles of Internet marketing.

Why does theory fail when it comes to practice? Theory talks about the positive aspects. Practice deals with the negative nature of the human mind.

Mind always resists change. It doesn't want to leave its comfort zone. It wants the survival of its own beliefs settings. Change it, it will hang or crash.

So when you want change in your mental settings (what you already know), it is not possible with one click. You have to practice the new belief regularly until the mind accepts it as part of its own.

Everything comes with practice. You might have heard the saying 'Practice makes perfect'. With repetition, mind accepts and learns to live with it. Then things go easy for you. So never need to give up under any circumstances. All that is needed is patience and persistence. That is part of the game. Any game.

You can only take one step at a time. Take that step well. The next step will be secure and easy. Learn to do one thing at a time and stick with it. Complete a task already taken.

Multitasking is a necessary evil these days. But take only a few items you can definitely handle and handle them intelligently and innovatively. Focus on one item, complete it before moving to another.

If it is a huge task, break it up into small manageable chunks.

Prioritize things and do not look back at things undone.

There are many ways you can increase your creativity and productivity. Everything boils down to effective time management. Speed reading courses help in saving time.

Practical Aspects Of Internet Business

What does the online business entail besides selling? What kind of work the Internet business man has to perform in order to remain in business?

As I told you earlier, these marketers will say everything is as easy as shutting your car door. In practicality, things are different. They are far from the truth. You must be prepared.

The No. 1 resource required for the Internet entrepreneur is time. He has to make time. The more quality time you spend on your business the better results you will have.

Someone can accomplish a task in 30 minutues what another does in three hours. Needless to say it depends upon one's experience, skill levels, money power, enthusiasm and dedication.

Naturally, a beginner will need more time to accomplish even so-called easy things. Remember, Internet involves technology. It is a marriage between technology and arts.

What are the tasks a beginner is expected to do?

Reading - do you have sufficient time to read books to gather knowledge on marketing as well as some basics of technology?

Writing - do you have the writing skills? Or willing to learn basic writing skills? Or do you have the money and know-how to get writing done by others?

Knowledge - have you done some research to find the cheapest and best sources to implement the technological side like web hosting, installing scripts and programs on the server, setting up accounts, etc.? Even if you are out-sourcing, it is better to know the basics to avoid people taking you for a ride.

emails - do you have the time and ability to read and reply too many emails? Can you filter out the wheat from the chaff?

They are easy. But they don't come easy.

Instant writing software, instant automation software and all such things take several instants - sometimes hours to days - to implement.

So besides money, you should think about how much disposable time you have. If you have less than two hours to spend per day then be prepared to for a long haul before you see first sign of success.

I am not saying instant success is impossible. A minority has achieved that. In theory, you can start earning within 15 minutes of starting your online business. A few have experienced that. But those things don't repeat often.

What I am essentially saying is beware of the sales letters cleverly crafted to draw people into this business so that the marketer makes a quick buck.

Buy things on the Internet. But be prepared for a long haul.

Don't believe in instant results. Or you will be disappointed.

So you are thinking of plunging into Internet marketing? You are convinced that it is easy and is sure it is going to rain money. You have learned something from the books and you know the first steps.

Now is the time to - Look before you leap.

Don't believe the Internet gurus. Their success story may be true but the lessons will not necessarily apply to all. People are different. Different in education, mindset, skillset, budget, and so on.

Ask them how many years it took to reach the present stage.

When they tell you there is no need to work hard, they are actually saying 'buy my expensive book and you don't have to work hard. Cash will flow into your coffers'.

It is their style and they have to maintain their status after all. But you think for yourself. If there is any obvious good thing take it and leave the chaff.

When you are new to Internet marketing you really have to learn a lot on the practical side. They will say it is easy to set up a website within seconds, easy to write article in 10 minitues and so on. Just take it with a pinch of salt. If they told the truth you will become useless to them. At least that's what they think.

To tell you the truth, in the initial years, you have to sweat it out. There will be teething problems and you may even be tempted to give up. You will be suffering information overload and things will come to a standstill. That is point you turn either right or left.

Always think and take your own decisions. In my next blog, I shall expand it further.

A Great Profitable Resource for Newbies in Net Marketing

Today I came across a wonderful dependable resource on Internet Marketing useful particularly for newbies. Even advanced marketers should benefit from it because the source itself comes from top class Internet marketers who made it to the millionaires' club.

When very successful marketers reveal their secrets on mundane topics the world listens. What led them to the riches? What techniques did they use? How did they succeed?

Every Internet marketer knows marketing has basically to do with email marketing, Internet marketing, advertising, free promotions, press releases, effective copy-writing and the like. But the Internet experts also use the very same marketing methods. What makes them stand apart is their techniques. Tried and proven techniques.

And normally they don't easily reveal them. Because who would want to lose their status? They would not like their tricks to get diluted. It may interfere with their future. Mass copying of techniques means others will soon take over.

Wait. There is good news.

A gentleman named Dr. Mark DeBrincat has done a fine job by contacting at least 25 of the Web's richest millionaires and extracting the secrets of success and a host of tips on practical internet marketing.

Why did he do that? Simple ...

It is something few have done before. Dr. Mark had the "privilege" of getting a "sneak peek" insider scoop at 25 of the World's top Internet marketers' collection of best-kept secrets - "secrets" that enable these same millionaires to occupy the top positions while everybody else is struggling to make a living online.

Dr. Mark has compiled a collection of 53 of the best-kept secrets from the 25 Internet experts (millionaires!) and has revealed them all to the public.

Each of the 53 secrets is actually a report by itself. Each report provides specific detailed instructions on how to carry out the task in the effective way. He has covered all the fundamental areas: 1. Email marketing 2. Internet marketing 3. Advertising 4. Free promotions 5. Press releases 6. Effective copywriting and more.

You may think what is so great about Internet marketing. I know all those things. I too advertise. I too do promotions. Send press releases. And all that routine stuff.

Here is the catch.

There is a huge difference between what you and I know and what the actual successful Internet marketers know. Likewise, just because you may be into email marketing to some extent, it doesn't mean that you know "email marketing" like the one Internet expert (from among the 25 Internet experts) who's making $60 million a year online from just email marketing alone!

Or, like one of the other experts (again from the 25 Internet experts) who makes over $180 million a year using just 1-page mini websites that contain no graphics, and nothing fancy, yet which churn out cash by the ton daily.

How are they doing this?

For that you will have to read "25 Internet Experts".

Dr. Mark details the exact steps to take outlining what these experts are doing. That's perhaps just a degree or two off from the mainstream (and that's what makes all the difference in the World!)

It is understood that these top gurus are now worried that since Dr. Mark is making his info collection readily available, the secrets to Internet wealth may fall into hands of ordinary folks.

If you'd like more information about Dr. Mark's work, you can go here and get a better idea of exactly what he's offering. Here is the link:

http://tinyurl.com/2t7tl7

Is a website really needed to start an online business?

Today, I just want to talk about whether it is necessary to have a website in order to start an on-line business.

When people think of on-line business, websites come to mind. They imagine an e-commerce site with all the bells and whistles attached. True, once upon a time business was done only through websites. Today, with advanced technology, things are different - fortunately.

This is not to say that website is not essential. Having a website means better income, faster growth, wider market and long-term benefits. But owning a website also means recurring expenses in terms of hosting, content management, daily time to maintain, and ability to deal with website programming problems and the like.

It is better total beginners start business without a website at first just to grasp the fundamentals of the game and then graduate to advanced things. This way you can avoid the frustration that may follow when you plunge wholesale into on-line business without knowing the whole thing.

Even people who don't have the seed investment to start an on-line business with an e-commerce website, can really sell things and make money. How?

There are many proven ways to sell things without owning products, without handling the products and without dispatching the products! And you pocket the commissions. The commission could range anywhere between 20 - 70 percent and sometimes even 100 percent!

Let me list some of them:

1. you can sell other peoples' products as an affiliate (an associate or partner of a company)
   
2. you can promote the products of your choice by sending e-mails with your affiliate link (your affiliate ID tracking code embeded in it)
3. you can place paid advertisements in ezines with your affilate ID link in it
4. you can place free ads in some selected advertising websites
   
5. you can write articles about the product and submit it to a reputed ezine, again with your link
6. you can participate in Forum discussions and display your link to your product owner website
7. Finally, you can place PPC ads in search engines (like google) to promote your product owner's website with your link

If you are wondering how you are going to do all these, don't worry. Stay with me. I shall reveal every method in detail. All that is required of you is a willing, disciplined and enterprising mind. You can start part-time or full time depending on your time resources. You only need a computer with an Internet connection to the world.

Standby for my next post.

Welcome To My First Online Business Blog!

Online Business Secrets Exposed

Hi All,

Better late than never. I just entered the blogosphere. I welcome you.

Looking for some solid information and tips on starting and running an online business? You are in the right place.

Once you get the information it is no more a secret. It is up to you to implement the knowledge or tips and make money out of it.

You will get to read a lot of valuable information here. Of course, every now and then, I shall be also giving away some free stuff such as software, books, short reports, etc. Plus, I shall be revealing useful free as well as paid resources for your quick success. That's my way of showing gratitude for sticking with me.

The information I shall be sharing with you alone will be worth several dollars if converted into an e-book or something. While I have researched and collected tons of useful information on successfully running an on-line business, I also have hands-on experience in the field. I am not going to claim that I make millions every month.

Way back in the late nineties, during the Internet boom years, I left my job as a journalist and ventured into green pastures of Internet content editing field. The work was hard, learning curve steep and the pay was handsome. Whoever knew that green pastures are not meant to be ever-green!

Sure, the dot-com bubble burst. And my finances too. Everyone said that was the end of Internet. Some sane voices argued that just cannot be the case. Today, the Internet is blooming thriving and growing at a faster pace than ever.

Technology has made life simpler for the common man as well as for the super man. I just type my blog and people searching for my kind of information find it instantly. And they use it, make money out of it or simply enjoy reading it... They prosper. You prosper. I prosper. That is online business.

The beautiful thing about online business is it is recession-proof. Recession does not hit all the countries in the world all at once. There are always some flourishing countries while some economies are fading away. Internet is global and so there is always opportunity for everybody to thrive.

So on-line business for you and me and all. It is my business to see to it you get the right information. It is my joy to share with you the right tips so that you do not have to suffer the effects of trial and error that I went through. True to it name -- inter - net --the network of global information will provide food for thought, food for the soul and food for the body.

So keep an eye on this blog. I shall be posting at least twice a week in the beginning.

Please feel free to add your comments, suggestions, etc.

Have a great day!

Jo Kumar