By Tom Lauer

How does a “newbie”, begin the journey of starting his or her online business? This a question for the ages. There are several parts to the answer. First and foremost you must have a product or service to sell/promote. After that, you must determine if there is a market for your product. Then you must determine how much competition you will be up against.

After you have selected a product or service, whether it is your own or someone elses, (afilliate), it is time to set up a website of some sort. This can be a Blog, a simple squeeze page, or a full blown website with multiple pages. You can advertise someone elses website but this is not really the way to go if you plan on building a name for yourself, which is crucial. Also, you need to start building a list of people/prospects who have shown an interest in what you have to offer.

Ok, now that you have a website, you need to start advertising your product or service. This is where it really gets crazy. There are alot of ways to get your products in front of people’s eyes.

There are paid methods and there are free methods. The paid methods can be very tricky because there are a ton of companies on the internet that claim they will get you a lot of traffic to your site, but in reality they just take your money and you never see the traffic. I’m not saying there aren’t good companies out there, but you really have to do your homework before forking out your hard earned cash or you will lose interest in no time. This is one of the many reasons only about five percent of online startups make it at all. Scary, Huh?

One example of a very good paid method is something called pay per click. This is an excellent way to promote your business, but if you are not thorougly familiar on all the ins an outs, then you will just be wasting your time and money. Now, like I said earlier there a many ways to promote your online business using free methods. These ways of advertising are excellent but will take time instead of your money. BUT… in the long run this is far and away the best way to go.

A few examples of these are Article marketing, press releases, you tube, my space, SEO, blogging and forums. All of these take time, but once you are set up and running, you need to develop a routine of what you will do on a daily basis and then you stick to that schedule and you will start to see results.

I wrote this article to give just a simple basic overview of what it takes to start an online business. My next article and thereafter will be to introduce and explain in laymen’s terms all the steps mentioned above.

My name is Tom Lauer. I am a one year “newbie” who stopped chasing all the fantasy get rich quick schemes and got serious. Join me on my blog for my trip down the road of doing it the right way.If you want to be successfull with Pay Per Click, Click Here. I invite you to check out my Blog at MarketManTom.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com

It’s not always easy to promote yourself, especially if that mode of social interaction doesn’t come to you naturally. But there’s no denying the benefit of a well-run community website. It’s a place where business owners and marketers can talk freely about their companies and their ambitions, and where they can find support in their endeavours. And for those who own such websites, there’s money to be made. Here are 7 keys to a successful community website.
1. Focus. Your community website should have a clear and consistent focus, and you should regularly remind your participants of that focus, just so everyone is on the same page. Don’t try to be all things to all people by letting your website be about whatever comes to mind. You want potential participants to know exactly what to expect. That’s what keeps them coming back.
2. Follow Your Bliss. If your website is focused on something you don’t really care about, your visitors will know. Find something that you’re passionate about and you will motivate others to join you on your journey. You’ll have a good time, and so will the participants in your community. Don’t pick a focus just because it looks profitable or popular. Choose what you love.
3. Do it Yourself. Your website needs to have your personality stamped all over it from the very beginning. Let the content reflect your own passions and keep yourself accountable for consistent, relevant updates to the site. If you’re not invested in it from the ground up then you can’t count on it to succeed. It’s not getting it started that’s difficult; it’s easy enough to create a blog or a forum. It’s keeping it going in the early stages that can be challenging, so make sure you’re investing enough time and energy from the start.
4. Ask for Help. As soon as you’ve gotten your website up and running, enlist whatever help you need. Ask people to post responses, comment, and moderate on your behalf. Generate as much interest as possible by starting great discussions and asking people to join in. The more the merrier, particularly at the beginning when you’re convincing potential participants that your website is a great place to be. Start close to home with friends and family whom you trust. Then branch out to others in your field who might be interested.
5. Keep Everyone’s Interest. Post stories that will engage your participants. Ask engaging, edgy, controversial questions. Offer good advice and always be positive. That’s the kind of stuff that keeps people coming back for more. Avoid the temptation to simply post news that your readers can find anywhere, although it never hurts to do this from time to time, especially if the news is relevant to your niche. If you need inspiration, check out Digg to see what kinds of stories people find interesting and exciting.
6. Give Things Away. Who doesn’t love a fun contest? You can get your participants coming back again and again if you give things away that have some value and are related to your niche. Think of things that might not even cost anything, like a story on your website that features their business.
7. Offer Constant Encouragement. You’ll find that some of your visitors are more active than others and participate on a daily basis. Use your website as a way to recognize their participation and thank them for continuing to come back and contribute. Maintain contact with them and solicit any suggestions they might have for improving your site. When you keep your active visitors happy then they’re more likely to recruit more participants for you.
You’ll find that people are much more willing to talk about their businesses when they have a positive, encouraging facilitator. Be that person and you’ll be on your way to a successful community website!

Seomul Evans is a SEO Consultant specializing in Search Engine Advertising and a contributor of Article Marketing Tips

Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com

Writing through the eyes of a person still very “green’ or “wet behind the ears” to the concept of how to earn decent money as an Internet Marketer, my journey to find a good Internet Marketing resource really reminded me of shopping for new shoes.

Step #1: Off To the Shoe Store

So what is the first thing you do when shopping for a pair of new shoes, obviously you head for your local shoe stone to look around. As a “newbie” to the world of Internet Marketing, I head for my computer to look for Internet Marketing resources online. Googling this term “Internet Marketing” or perhaps a phrase like “Internet Marketing resources” is like entering the doors of a huge shoe store! For more information logon to www.website-conversion-mastery.com .The shelves, or in this case, the Internet, is jammed with all kind of products for your inspection .Each one competing for your attention and eventually your hard earned dollars.

Step #2: Browsing the Merchandise

If you are like me, I like to browse around to see what is available in my area of interest before seeking the help of the sales people. Others I know prefer to go directly to the sales people first, get advice and then browse in their area of interest. So that means steps #2 and #3, may be done in reverse order, depending on your shopping style.

So to continue, rather than walking around the shoe store, as a person interested in Internet Marketing resources you are browsing the Internet listings by clicking on various websites to read what the authors have to say, or perhaps you go to the paid advertisements and click on some of interest.

Step #3: The Sales Pitches

Sooner of later, you will seek out a shoe store clerk, or they will notice you browsing and approach you. In the Internet Marketing world, this process is often started after you read a marketing article, a product review, or a paid sales advertisement, and are taken to what is sometimes called a “pitch page” or a “landing page”. This is where someone is going to tell you all the many reasons why buying this product is going to make you very successful and rich as an Internet Marketer, it is a “one of a kind product”, “best of the best”, etc..

Just like the shoe store clerk telling you all the advantages of buying the shoes they are describing to you based on appearance, durability, level of comfort, and other features designed to make each shoe “the one you just have to have”.

Often a shoe store will have “specials” or brochures available to view as well to promote products in the store and your Internet Marketing product search experience is no different. Instead what will often happen is that some website “pitch pages” will have gimmicks to obtain your e-mail address, often in the form of a free downloadable information product related to some aspect of Internet Marketing. Often these are very good products and merchants know that we all like to “get something for free”.

Step #4: Trying On the Product
After listening to the sales pitches, either from your shoe store clerk, or visiting a number of “pitch pages” in your Internet search and reading the sales e-mails you probably have flooding your e-mail in-box, it is time to start trying on the products to see what “fits” or will work best for you. As you well know with shoes, one size does not fit all, one shoe type does not serve everyone’s purposes, and not very one likes the same color.

Step #5: Decision Time
So now we have reached biggest step, where the “rubber meet the road”, and you have to haul out your wallet, get out the cash, or credit card and buy the shoe or Internet Marketing resource that you feel is the best fit and value for you. Now here is where there is a real difference between shopping for shoes and shopping for Internet Marketing resources that greatly favors you, the consumer.

Yet in contrast you can put the Internet Market resource to the test, use it 24/7 to try and earn money, and at the end of the trial period if you are not happy simply ask for a total refund .Should you feel guilty about “test driving” products? For more information logon to www.tube-traffic.com .No way, this is all part of the way “business is done” on the Internet this day. So if you can test a product for free, take advantage of this! After all, in the end it is your money!

I hope you know have a better understanding of how finding an Internet Marketing resource is like shopping for shoes.

One final point I would like to make. When we go to buy a product such as shoes or a good Internet Marketing resource, it is often very helpful to seek the advice of others who have bought the product, reviewed the product themselves, or perhaps if we are lucky, someone who actually worked with the product. Shopping around for Internet Marketing resources and advice before you buy is certainly no different. There are many programs out there claiming to full fill this need for beginning Internet Marketers.

www.mrx-interview.com www.the-forum-list com

Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com