Most people don't buy on their first visit. So, if they leave your Affiliate site, but take an interest when they see that name again, they could very well buy or join under someone else in the same Affiliate program. That's great for the Affiliate company or the program manager, as it is helping them get their name better known, but it doesn't necessarily do a whole lot for you.

And, what if you want to promote more than just their product, as good as it may be? You would be in the position of having to launch a new advertising campaign for each product or company.

What's the answer? Promote yourself. If you're shy about promoting yourself, promote your own company name. If you don't have a company name, think one up. Be creative and somewhat unique, but be sure it's appropriate, professional sounding and relevant to your product or service. Don't put this off -- it's essential!

Essential #2 - Provide Something of Value That People Want

What do people look for the most on the internet? Information. It is the most efficient and cost-effective product you can produce. People are willing to purchase information even if it's available somewhere else for free -- provided that the information is reliable, easy to get, beneficial to them and they trust you.

And, unlike most businesses, it can be provided automatically 24/7. And there are no shipping costs, product storage, returns, employees, infrastructure, etc.

Everybody has information to share that they are an expert at. You are the only person in the world that has had your experience. You are unique and you have learned something of value that other people want to know more about. Share it.

That does not mean that you have to write a best selling book. You only have to write a report or a newsletter with some valuable information that people are looking for and would be willing to give you their email address so they can come back for more. You are primarily promoting you and your experience. If it's appropriate, use it to promote your own website -- but be careful not to push your product or service until you have established a relationship.

In order to develop their trust in you, you must provide something of value. You must always be thinking "how will this benefit them more than me?" Gradually introduce how your product or service will help them become more successful and prosperous. You are cultivating trust -- never abuse it -- it's essential!

Essential #3 - Own Internet Property -- Your Own Website

If you really want to succeed on the internet, you must have your own website. There's no getting around it. That does not mean an affiliate site that comes with your monthly fee. Your own site with your own domain name -- one that promotes YOU!

You then ONLY promote your front-end site. From there, promote your products and/or opportunities. This way, whatever you're offering is available from YOU. That way, if you wish to or need to, you can change the products or opportunities in the background. Even better, you now can have a wide range of products or opportunities available from the one site that you promote.

Contrary to what you may have heard, it is important to have several income streams, products or programs to market. Assuming that you started your internet business as an investment that will ultimately pay you whether you work hard at it or not, multiple streams of income will provide the life-changing abundance you presumably want.

You may choose to concentrate on one program when you're starting, just to learn how it all works and get comfortable doing it. You may want to offer only one at a time but don't limit your potential income to one source once you get familiar with internet marketing.

Gradually build on your "flagship" business with related businesses that you can link and promote from your "parent" site. You will often find that if your customer is interested in one, they may very well be interested in several, especially now that they trust you. Have your own website -- it's essential!

Essential #4 - You Need a Continuing Follow Up System

Very few people sign up or purchase a product or system on their first visit to a site. In fact, some studies suggest that a person has to have contact with a name or site at least seven times before they'll trust you enough to investigate. If you don't have a means of following up anyone who makes contact or visits your site the first time, you're dead in the water, even if you have the best designed site in the world. Your advertising efforts will have been a waste of money and effort.

There should be a way of immediate follow-up and again every few days and every few weeks for a total of at least 5 to 7 follow-ups or more. Keep the follow-up brief, friendly and highlight one or two benefits of returning to your site or pursuing what attracted them. How are you going to follow up? First, you need their email address, so you can present them with an opportunity for more information, subscription to a newsletter, a free or irresistible offer of some kind, or a bonus if they act quickly.

So, what's the purpose of your home page or first sales page? To sell them on your favourite program or product? Absolutely not. Your primary purpose is to start creating an element of trust and to offer something of value that they would be willing to share their email address with you in order to get it. Then, you have the means to follow up and follow up you must -- it's essential!

Essential #5 - You Must Have Your Own Email List

Your number one asset in internet marketing, or almost any other kind of marketing for that matter, is your list. Your own list of people who have given permission to you to contact them. Treat that list with respect -- never abuse it. The primary objective is to build up a level of trust so that your personal recommendation is worth more than a killer sales letter.

You may decide to have more than one list. Perhaps you'll have a master list, a newsletter subscribers list, a list of those who requested more information, a customer list -- whatever is appropriate for the type of business you're in. Each list might have a separate series of responses. This is where a good autoresponder or listserver program becomes invaluable.

The initial list might consist of people you know and are already in your address book. This is a good start but some people don't have much of an address book or don't want to contact those people until they're more established. This is where you promote your web site like crazy and have a system to collect email addresses from people who visit and accept your invitation to subscribe to a newsletter or take you up on your free or irresistible offer.

Another way of creating a list is to subscribe to a lead generation system. This will cost you some money but it is well worth it, especially if you collect leads of people who have already indicated that they would like more information on the types of things you have to offer. This is sometimes referred to as permission marketing. Beware -- avoid spamming at all cost.

Over time, you will gradually develop a very high quality list of people that want your expertise, system, or product. And you don't have to have a huge list in order to make a fortune -- sometimes as few as 100 quality contacts, especially if you're offering something exclusive, will change your life forever. The more general your offer, the bigger the market and therefore the bigger the competition, the bigger the list needs to be. Develop your own list -- it's essential!

Essential #6 - Your Offer Must Be Easy or Duplicatable or Both

If your internet business involves network/relationship marketing or you have joined up with an affiliate program, one thing you must understand is that many will join but few will duplicate. More and more people are searching for their road to freedom and financial independence through the internet. Unfortunately, many people expect to make a lot of money fast without any effort or investment.

On the other hand, there are some who are genuinely looking for an alternative to their present situation and you may have exactly the opportunity they're searching for. In a nutshell, you're looking for those who are looking for you. And accept the fact that many who appear to be looking for you will not do what is necessary to be successful. Treat them all, however, with the utmost respect, courtesy, patience and assistance. Even if they do not do what it takes, they may lead you to those who will.

It's important that your offer or system is easy to learn, join and duplicate. Never assume that those who are interested already understand it or have the same work ethic as you do. Keep it simple. The simpler, the more duplicatable --it's essential!

Essential #7 - Ready, Fire, Aim

One of the biggest mistakes many people make is looking for the perfect opportunity and then trying to create the perfect site to market it. As a result, it often doesn't get done. That's not to say you don't have to research and prepare. Or do your due diligence. But don't let the research paralyze you.

It's more important that you find a product or service that you can be passionate about and that people want. Once you do that, you can test and perfect your marketing strategy as you go. That may include your web site. You want it to look professional and focus on what you have to offer. But it will always be a work in progress. If you create it yourself or have content management, you can change and add over time.

The most important element is action. Get things moving. Get your website up and running so the search engines can find it (which takes time) and you can start advertising it. Prepare, take action, perfect. Ready, fire, aim. It's essential!


About the author
Paul Pettypiece is the CEO of AbundanceNet.com, a network of internet properties dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs, both locally and world-wide, achieve abundance, prosperity and freedom not just for themselves, but to assist others in achieving the same in order to raise the well-being of the planet. Paul can be reached at mailto:paul@abundancenet.com

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