Ideas for the New Online Business or Marketer

You sit down excited to start an online business. Maybe you are surfing for one or maybe you had one but now want to bring it onto the web. You type in your first phrase and thousands of opportunities pop up at you. Everyone claiming to get your website to the top. Everyone claiming they have the magic get rich quick solution to today's chaotic financial picture. You quickly find yourself in a maze of honest and deceitful entrepreneurs and no idea how to move forward. In fact, this picture probably feels familiar.



So how do you find your way through the maze of millions of websites, promises and opportunities. How do you find a solution before your spouse threatens to take an axe to the computer you have been enslaved to? The maze can be so complex that the new entrepreneur will end up in withdrawal symptoms when away more then five minutes for fear of missing that right link, that perfect opportunity or driving just one more lead to their business site.

First, do not do Internet business with anyone that won't give you their real name, address and phone number. Without this signature of legitimacy, how do you know you aren't dealing with a computer savvy 12 year old? A real ethical business or Internet marketer will be willing to share who they are with you and where they are.

Second, there are some huge scams the new business owner needs to be aware of while working online. One of the most hurtful to a new business is the scam in which the customer will offer to buy multiples of a product but they can't use their credit card through a legitimate site. They will offer to send a money order or a certified check. These are cleverly disguised fakes that are often not discovered till after the business owner has already shipped the product, leaving the business owner holding the bill. There is a list online of current Internet scams, be sure to monitor them.

The next is vital, anything that sound to good to be true, most likely is. While there has been growth in legitimate network marketing companies, even the most successful will tell you that it is work. The concept that you have to spend money to make money has not gone away. The advantage to Internet businesses is not having to pay for things like office space, other employees wages and other expenses that a brick and mortar business must have. But there are still some basic expenses that will occur. For example, advertising that is free to use will possibly produce some results, but it will leave you chained to the computer. Good Marketing takes a plan, one purposeful plan. The maze of offers can lead the new entrepreneur from offer to offer, nickle and diming them till they give up in frustration. There are some good companies out there offering to teach their plans. There are others that will offer to take your money and do it for you.

The most innovative idea and spectacular website will not make sales without traffic. Meanwhile, a mediocre product or website may have phenomenal sales with a good marketing plan. I have found that I can do all my marketing for less then $200.00 a month and in about 30 minutes a day. But I made every mistake above before I figured it out. I spent hours surfing traffic exchanges and placing free ads; there was no plan. It takes a good marketing plan with targeted selections designed for the type of business that is being promoted. With a solid marketing plan, you can get your business out there. Otherwise, the new marketer will find themselves spending $20.00 here, $9.95 there and even $100.00 here till their budget is mysteriously gone with few hits to show for the time or money spent.

Once you have a plan and a business. The final piece is stick to it. The biggest error online is working something for a month or two and because it doesn't pay off, moving to the next golden carrot. What makes a great online sales manager is the ability to learn what is new but stick to the business they have chosen. For example, do you know what a Squidoo lens is? Do you know how to Tweet? As new technology comes out, being able to learn how it will apply to your business is an essential tool. At the same time, it takes more then a month or two to build a solid foundation. If your business isn't growing, then chances are it is your marketing plan that is at fault. However, even a good marketing plan may take awhile to take hold. Be prepared to stick it out for awhile. Then, once you have a good foundation, you can add additional marketing phases to boost traffic.

If you have limited income to invest, consider multiple small income streams. But do not spread yourself to thin. It is difficult to market multiple earning opportunities unless they are under the umbrella of a single URL An example of this umbrella marketing for those who like traffic exchanges is the Traffic Tornado. Once you set it all up, you only advertise a single URL and can build an income stream from all of the opportunities gathered in the tornado. However, once again, you would make more if you do some investing to a basic paid member. So even if you start as a free marketer with an umbrella opportunity, be sure to upgrade as soon as you can regardless of what you are doing, usually the payout is higher.

There are just some ideas of for the online business beginner. Whether you are working on MLM, Direct Marketing, Promotion or Affiliate sales, there is success online. But just as you can find your fortunes online; you can also be sucked into the maze of scams and be nickled and dimed into dismal failure. Like any business or event in life; failure to plan is a plan to fail!

Have a Prosperous and Balanced Day!
Cheryl Matthynssens