Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The Power of Attitude in Internet Marketing

By Ken Bradshaw

The Internet has loads of information about the technical side of doing business online, including the essentials of Internet marketing such as online advertising and search engine optimization. In contrast, there's a dearth of online information about the right attitude to make money online. But the bottom line is this: When it comes to running a successful Web business, having the right attitude to make money online may be just as important as having the right technical skills.

How exactly should a Web marketer regard his business on the Internet? What kind of attitude should he have? This article examines three instances of the right attitude at work, and each example has been proven to help Web marketers dominate their competition. However, before we divulge these strategies, let's tackle one of the major myths that has wrongly influenced the attitude of so many Web marketers about doing business on the Internet.

The Fully Automated Internet Business Myth

Many people mistakenly believe that doing business on the Internet is easy. With the right product, they think they can just relax and let the Internet make money for them automatically. Some even quit their jobs believing that their online business can make them retire in a few months. This myth fosters the wrong attitude towards making money online. The truth is, there is no such thing as a fully automated Internet business. Overcoming this myth is the first step towards acquiring the right attitude to make money online.

Here are three success strategies based on having the right attitude towards an online business. They prove that you need the right attitude to make money online.

1. Your Internet business is like any other business. Treat it that way. Your Internet business is not your hobby. It is not something that keeps you busy only when the mood strikes. That's not the right attitude to make money online. To succeed, an online business has to be treated like a real business. Basic business principles such as marketing, advertising, product testing, customer service, site maintenance, billing and collections, etc. must come into play. If you can only give your business a part-time focus and part-time hours, then it can only be a part-time success, which means that it's a failure.

2. Be available to your customers When someone visits your Web site and has a question, he should be able to contact you - whether by e-mail, phone or fax - and you should be able to address his concerns. That's the hallmark of a professional business; being someone your customers can depend on. Being available to your customers is one of the best ways to gain their trust. A key part of having the right attitude to make money online is making a commitment to your present and prospective customers and addressing their questions and concerns.

3. Know what works and what doesn't A desire to constantly improve your business is part of the right attitude to make money online. Keep track of what works and what doesn't in every aspect of your online business. Identify which Internet marketing techniques work best for you - whether it's pay-per-click advertising or e-mail marketing - and which ones don't. Track how easy (or difficult) it is for potential customers to find your site and order your products, and work on making it even easier. Experiment on different kinds of keywords to find the best ones that work. Check every aspect of your business and see how it can be improved. If you can have this kind of diligence, then you are poised to constantly improve and constantly challenge your competitors.

Simply stated, there are two words that sum up the right attitude to make money online; total commitment. Having the right attitude to make money online means going the extra mile for your customers. Having the right attitude means giving your online business all the time and attention it needs. As long as you have the right attitude to make money online, you will control the high ground and be competitive in online marketing.

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