| One of the best things about writing articles is | | | | - There was no contact address or phone number. |
| connecting with people. Sometimes Internet marketing | | | | But the worse thing about this website is this person |
| can seem like an impersonal, sterile world. | | | | was using a HotMail account as his email address! I |
| People will write me asking for advice. The main thing | | | | told him that most people would not take this program |
| they want to know is how to be "successful" in Net | | | | seriously because he was using a "throw away" email |
| marketing. | | | | address. |
| One thing that strikes me about the people who write | | | | In response, he wrote: |
| me is that very few want to spend the money or | | | | - He could change the email account when he found a |
| invest the time necessary to be "successful." They | | | | better option, but that he didn't see that as an |
| seem to want instant riches without having to spend a | | | | immediate problem. |
| dime or invest a few hours each day. | | | | - That most of the marketing for this program was |
| The other impression I get is that people don't seem to | | | | done offline. The website was for people outside of |
| want to educate themselves about online marketing. | | | | Australia. That within Australia, more details were given. |
| They want the answers for making money handed to | | | | (Then why market outside of the country if you're not |
| them on a platter without having to actually do or learn | | | | going to give people complete details?) |
| anything. | | | | - That there were testimonials on the Members Only |
| I want to share with you correspondence between | | | | Discussion Board (They've already bought the |
| myself and one person who contacted me. He | | | | program. Why do THEY need testimonials?) |
| requested some information on how to be | | | | - Regarding the lack of a guarantee.he said (and I |
| "successful" in online promotion. The first thing I did was | | | | quote), "No network marketing company EVER gives |
| ask him some questions. They were: | | | | one of these." (I beg your pardon?) |
| - How long have you been in Internet marketing? | | | | And this person wants to set up "shop" online and |
| - What are you promoting? | | | | have it generating money 24/7, without his direct |
| - Are you promoting affiliate programs? If so, how | | | | involvement? |
| many? | | | | I came away from this experience thinking that he |
| - Or...are you promoting your own product? | | | | may have wanted advice but he wasn't willing to listen. |
| - What methods do you use to advertise (FFA's, | | | | I also thought he wasn't willing to invest even a small |
| classified ads, ezine ads, etc)? | | | | amount of money in order to earn money...nothing for |
| - What learning tools do you use (ezines, informational | | | | nothing. He was just looking for a sure-fire answer to |
| websites, membership programs, etc)? | | | | quick money. |
| - How many hours a day are you able to devote to | | | | The latter is a feeling I often have with people who |
| Net marketing? | | | | write me. Success is not given...Success is EARNED. If |
| - Why ARE you in Net marketing? | | | | you don't have much money, then you'll have to spend |
| - What are your goals..what do you want from this? | | | | your time. If you do have some money, then you can |
| - Is this a passion or a means to an end? | | | | spend less time. But you'll see better results if you |
| To this person's credit, he did answer all of my | | | | invest both time and money. I'm not saying don't use |
| questions. 99% of the time, people don't bother and I | | | | free resources to advertise. Just be realistic; it may |
| never hear from them again. | | | | take you longer to reach your goals going that route. |
| At the end, he said, "Okay, I have answered your | | | | When I started out in Internet marketing, I put aside a |
| questions.now answer mine." That struck me as a bit | | | | set amount of money for advertising. It wasn't much; |
| abrupt. But I know from my own experience that | | | | just what I felt I could afford at the time. I learned and |
| when we type we can be thinking one thing and it can | | | | continue to learn as much as I can about marketing. As |
| come out much different than we intended. So I gave | | | | long as I'm in online promotion, I will be a student. |
| him benefit of the doubt. I answered his questions. | | | | At this point, I take some of the profits I make each |
| He then asked me if I would take the time to critique | | | | month and reinvest it into more advertising. My ad |
| his website. Which I did. | | | | tracking tells me what is working and what's a waste |
| It was a replicated website which meant it was for an | | | | of time and money. It's been a slow build, but every |
| affiliate program. These were what I saw as | | | | month it gets better and better. |
| weaknesses in the website: | | | | We will get out of Internet marketing exactly what we |
| - The salesletter was confusing. I had no clear idea | | | | put into it; there is no "free ride." If you think there is, |
| how this program would benefit me. | | | | then you will get...Nothing For Nothing. |
| - There were no testimonials. | | | | "The successful person is the individual who forms the |
| - There was no written guarantee. | | | | habit of doing what the failing person doesn't like to do. |