Internet Business

Have you noticed the many internet marketing books using the word “secret” in their title, headline or copy?

Why do they do this?

Is their actually one or two online marketing methods or strategies that are going to bring to your site an ever growing consistent stream of willing to buy targeted clients?

The simple answer is NO.

Unfortunately many website owners think this is not the case and continue to accumulate book after book and software package after software package looking for “the ultimate web traffic method”.

The fact is that there is no one single marketing method that will make your online business successful, period. Only continual application of the right methods will see your business grow and expand.

The main reasons why most people think there is one main method is because of the following four elements:

- If you wanted to be a “plumber”, you would do your apprenticeship and then work for someone or then start your own business. If you wanted to own a “milk bar” you get a business loan, buy the “milk bar” and start running the business. Why do we know this and why are there no so called “secrets” regarding being a plumber or running a milk bar? Because these businesses have been around for a long time, to start them is “common knowledge”.

- Therefore because the internet is new and evolving, how to start an internet business has yet to become “common knowledge” and there is still many unknown aspects regarding the subject unlike traditional business. Unfortunately, many now capitalize on this “unknown aspect” by selling so called “secret information” type products thus only increasing the myth regarding internet business.

- Even if starting an internet business was “common knowledge”, there is simply too much information to decipher. Unlike going to the local library, finding the business section and picking one or two of the five books on “starting your own business”; you are now on the internet. You have a world library, the business section is as big as a football stadium and books on “starting your own business online” are in the thousands (including many misleading ones).

- This final point is the most important one. People want to believe there is an easy way to get a lot of web traffic and make a fortune without any work; they just have to find it! This is just human nature.

So know you know that you must use more than one internet marketing method to make your online business successful.

Stick with the main tried and true methods -

SEO
Content
Linking
Articles
Sales Copy
List Building
Joint Ventures

And your traffic will continue to increase rapidly.

Chris Taylor - helping web based business achieve unique distinction & maximum growth by building “life-time, client based relationships” - http://www.search-engine-optimization-training-resource.com

Copyright © CATDynamics - Catdynamics.com 2005.

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A colleague and I were going over details of a collaborative project when he said “IT.”

“IT” was, “Ya know Donna, you really need to update your website - it’s it’s really, well - YOU KNOW needs something.”

A sudden rush of fear came over my body and for once, I was speechless and sooooooo busted.

Seconds later; when I recovered I said, “I know, I’m my own worst customer - my website always seems to come last after taking care of my clients”

“Yes, this is true.”

“BUT!” I began in protest, “That’s no excuse”

And so the truth is out. I confess to the world: The Chief Web Goddess needs to follow her own advice, right here - right now!

After we ended our call I grabbed my notebook and began to furiously take notes and realized MY SITE needs an entire overhaul!

Wanna know what’s really sad I wrote all these items out on my action list at the beginning of the year, and still haven’t done it. That’s Confession #2.

Print this out and grab a pen & paper. Prepare to take your own notes while you read this article. I’ll wait.

1. Remove outdated events or expired offers. Nothing is more unprofessional than outdated info. Ie, Sign up for our February Super Conference. Either revised it, or delete it. As you prepare for the 3rd Quarter, include your “still on the burner” projects on your site. Give your visitors something to look forward to. (Ie. My progress on WebSiteU, and the expanded QuickStart Web Workbook are still in the works.)

2. Update client testimonials and completed projects. Let the world know how busy you’ve been and what you’ve been up to. If you’ve not been so productive - make it look like you are - new clients are attracted and want to work with successful “happening” people.

3. Move a successful product or service to the front page. Make it a feature product and run a “special” for the month. Then next month, swap it out for another service or product. Take the time now to plan your “specials” for the next 6 months, or better yet - for the whole year! (ie. Teleclasses, website specials)

4. Have your products or services morphed into a life of their own? What I mean is, look at your navigation - do these categories still apply? (ie. About us, web development, business solutions, etc.) Break out an item worthy of standing on it’s own into your navigation menu. Your customers will thank you for bringing your goodies out of hiding.

5. Got an updated photo of yourself? Or is it time to make an appointment with the photographer? Enough said just do it.

6. Check your auto-responders. ALL of them. Test the entire series by sending to yourself and scouring over each with a critical eye. Prepare to update and freshen up your copy. (I changed my free download of QuickStart Web Workbook document to just the MP3 audio, and started charging $20 for the hard copy and DIDN’T UPDATE MY AUTORESPONDER, which gives out the download link to the hardcopy workbook, DUH! Big dumb confession #3)

7. Review your Pricing. Do you have unnecessary services listed you can delete? A new service you can add? This is also good time to declare a rate change.

8. Revisit your pre-contact Assessments and Questionnaires. Did you notice questions that went unanswered more often than others? Perhaps re-wording the question or deleting it all together would be wise.

9. Double check your contact info. Include your instant message (IM) id’s or modify your business hours. Add your turn around time for answering inquires, etc. (my office number changed)

10. Edit copy on all your web pages but save the homepage for last. Now stand back, see the big picture and incorporate those edits into your homepage. Remember, you’re going to take your visitor by the hand and lead them where they are to go.

While you’re on a roll - don’t forget to take a look at your System’s housekeeping. For example, I revisited a production checklist I use for one of my major clients. Adding in little tid-bits of info that I spent way too much useless time searching for each month will save me thousands of moments of frustration. Plus, every production based item I need for this client is right at my fingertips.

WOW, now doesn’t that feel better! Coming clean is one thing - now to implement.

While you still have pen in hand, what else can you do to improve and simplify?

What about being creative - do you spend enough time marketing to attract clients? Do you spend quality time reflecting on your business to learn from past mistakes and how to avoid them?

Now that you’ve created a weekend project, please don’t obsess. Start out spending only 15 minutes with each task. You can do ANYTHING in 15 minutes.

Now I’m off to follow my own advice!!

Copyright 2006 Donna Payne

Donna Payne is the Creator of the Money & Time-Saving “QuickStart Web Workbook.” To Learn Techniques that Everyone should know when working with a web designer, download your FREE copy and experience Web Site Development, Marketing and Coaching in the most SIMPLIFED way possible go to http://thewebcoach.net

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Several months ago I went on the cruise from hell. It wasn’t advertised as a cruise from hell, but instead as an opportunity to check out a networking club, to have fun, to see what this particular group had to offer . . . but make no mistake, it was the cruise from hell.

A THREE HOUR CRUISE . . .

A client of mine insisted I go on this evening cruise as her guest. She’d been talking about this group, and about how I should come to a meeting and sign up, about how much it would benefit me. She was insistent, and not easily dissuaded. The cruise was put together by the local chapter, so involved quite a few separate clubs.

I acquiesced. I was free that night, and didn’t think it could hurt. I was wrong.

My client had another guest also, so the three of us embarked on our adventure with the expectation that this would be a good business networking event, and should also be, as promised, fun. We were assured there would be food available, as well as the no-host bar.

And yes, a cruise around the Sound is always fun. But on a winter’s night, the scenery is limited to lights in the distance, so we were hoping there would be more going on inside than outside. And there was. Each club was clustered together in its little pocket of togetherness. On the dance floor, off the dance floor, these were people who knew each other well and didn’t seem to be very interested in meeting anyone new.

We signed in at a “guest register,” but the purpose of this was never made clear. After that, no one seemed to care that we were guests, that we were there to find out what this group could offer us, and afterwards, no one ever followed up with the information we’d left behind. Perhaps it was an exercise to make us feel welcome? If so, it didn’t work.

The no-host bar was quite a success. The food . . . not so much. It was brought by the members, and apparently there was a contest, though I never did figure out the purpose or the results. Some of it was abysmal, some of it was good, and there wasn’t nearly enough of it to feed a boatload of drinking people. (Or drunken people, for that matter.) Yes, many people seemed to be having a very good time. These appeared to be the people in the group, who were of the idea that this cruise was an excuse to party with their own group of friends. That’s nice for them. Other guests that I noticed were, much as we were, standing around looking for an emergency exit. Even my client, a member of a club, was not particularly enjoying herself. This could be because she was saddled with two unknown guests, or because her club wasn’t as much “FUN” as some of the other clubs.

This event seemed to work just fine as a gathering for club members from the local chapter to get together and party, as a way to solidify bonds already formed, as a way to relax in a non-business environment, but not as a means to introduce prospective new members to the club. I am not particularly motivated to attend any meetings after the cruise from hell.

Suggestions for making an event such as this work on both fronts:

Define what you want to accomplish before planning the event. A social event for your own members will have quite a different structure from an event that’s to attract new members. If you’re combining the two, don’t assume potential new members will be drawn in by your obvious ability to have fun with each other . . . we have our own groups of friends who meet that need just fine. We’re looking for business opportunities.

Show prospective new members what they can gain from joining your organization. How does your organization differ from others?

Take an interest in prospective members, keeping in mind this does encompass more than saying “hello” when they show up. If you’ve asked them to provide contact info, follow up with them after the event.

If alcohol is available, ensure there’s enough food for everyone. In fact, even if there’s no alcohol at your event, make sure there’s enough food available. Give us something to remember that was positive, even if it was just the great appetizers.

Remember that most people are not innately extroverts, able to mix right in with any crowd they walk into.

Defining your mission in advance and planning around what prospective members might want to experience, rather than planning a good time for your members, will improve the success of your networking event, and boost your club’s membership.

Monique Young relies on networking extensively, and considers it the most effective form of advertising for her business. She can be reached at http://www.youngbusinesssolutions.com

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