Please let me tell you about the Internet marketing systems
I use and find helpful. This information may be of some benefit
to you, especially if your goal is to monetize your site or
earn an income from your online marketing.
My name is Titus Hoskins and I own and operate a very modest
marketing website called www.bizwaremagic.com. I have been
designing web pages and sites since 1998. I have an
Art/Education background but in the last couple of years
I have been studying online marketing systems and using them.
Yes, studying them, since I have an art background I like to
examine structures and beneath the surface of things in order
to gain a clearer picture. I like to see the whole picture
- the big picture. But the underlying elements behind these
complex systems interests me the most. What's beneath the
surface excites me: the structure holding everything in place,
how they are designed, the methods and tools used to make these
marketing systems work.
Keep in mind that I still feel a bit funny referring to
myself as an Internet marketer. Last week my marketing
efforts made me around a thousand dollars. I don't know
if that qualifies me as an Internet marketer or not
- probably not. Most of the people with whom I associate
and have contact, make that in a day. The really smart
ones make that in an hour.
A thousand dollars in one hour?
How is that possible? Well, the marketing experts who earn
the big d's - usually have complex automated marketing
systems set up and operating on the Internet. These systems
start with their own products but quickly expand and build
with large opt-in lists or ezines, 1000's of affiliates,
large JV networks, multi-sites, viral marketing, membership
forums, brandable ebooks, online marketing tools/resources
and the list goes on...
No doubt you may have stumbled across some of these marketing
systems on the Internet... one of the first I encountered was
Internet Marketing Center run by the late Corey Rudl who died
tragically in a car crash at the young age of 34. I made my
first affiliate check through Corey's system and it changed
the way I looked at the Internet forever. And the check was
only $5!
What helped me earn that $5 were not only my own efforts but
more importantly the whole marketing system behind IMC. It
took an ordinary webmaster and showed him how to market on
the web. It showed me the way. More importantly, it also
taught me that Internet marketing is a skill anyone can learn.
These marketing systems can be good places for the beginning
marketer to learn those skills. There are many marketing
systems quietly working the Internet. Some of the best
(in my opinion) are Ken Evoy's whole Site Sell system,
Marlon Sanders Higher Response Marketing, John Reese's
Traffic Secrets, Bryan Winter's PushButton Publishing,
Jeff Mulligan's CBmalls, and Nitro Marketing.
These Internet marketing systems are all different, yet they
all have common elements or features that make them very
effective and powerful marketing systems. A close examination
of the different components or parts might give you a better
understanding of what makes these Internet marketing systems
work.
Here's a list of the different parts of an effective Internet
Marketing system:
- Founder or Helm: All these marketing systems have
a strong leader or founder at the helm. A very vocal and forceful
communicator or spokesperson is needed as a focal point. And like
any company, it's only as good as the person leading it. Because
the Internet is still a very 'scary' place for the average user
- a friendly outgoing spokesperson is needed to break down those
barriers (real or imaginary).
- Unique Product or Products: Most of the effective
marketing systems have their own products to market. These can
be digital information products, web building/hosting packages,
or even self-contained marketing systems - or all of the above.
Some popular products that come to mind would include Ken Evoy's
whole Site Sell and SiteBuildIt line, or Jeff Mulligan's CBmalls
which promotes the well-known digital download affiliate site
ClickBank.
- Databases or Lists: All these systems collect and keep
large databases or opt-in permission contact lists of customers
and potential customers. The real net value of any marketing system
is in the quantity and more importantly the quality of its lists.
All deliver a weekly or daily ezine or ezines to these lists.
Consider these databases as the engines that empower any Internet
marketing system.
- JV Networks: Most have large Joint Venture Networks or
contacts that will kick-start any new product. Momentum and sales
are created with these JV partners. An ideal JV partner is a
well-respected online marketer with very responsive and very large
opt-in lists. If databases are like engines, JV networks will fill
those engines with the fuel they need.
- Affiliates: The best marketing systems use 1000's of
affiliates to promote and market their products. This is usually
done in-house with their own affiliate program or onsite software
set up. Some use third party affiliate programs like ClickBank,
1ShoppingCart, Commission Junction, LinkShare, or Shareasale.
This is your ignition.
- AutoResponders: One of the most effective marketing
tools these systems use, autoresponders, are essential for
delivering the sales. A series of follow-up e-mails will
increase sales dramatically. Studies have shown that it
takes 6 or 7 follow-ups before someone purchases your product.
Consider the autoresponder as a fuel injection system.
- Tracking and Marketing Resources: All have extensive
tracking and marketing resources, usually located online within
a membership site. An easy to use and accessible tracking system
for affiliates is needed. So too are marketing resources such as
banners, links, coupons, graphics, SEO tactics, landing pages,
lead capture pages, brandable reports, articles and ebooks.
Obviously, these are your toolkit.
- Viral Marketing: All great Internet marketing systems
use viral marketing techniques. This can be as simple brandable
reports, articles, software or ebooks. Affiliates can embed their
own IDs and pass these viral products along to their friends and
visitors. These useful viral products then get passed around all
over the web - creating links, contacts, buzz and funneling
prospects back to your marketing system. Consider viral marketing
your Turbo Charger.
- Online Forums: Many of the better Internet Marketing
systems will have an online forum where members can network and
interact and could offer workshops and tutorials. This is a
vital community building tool that must not be overlooked or
underestimated. It will greatly enhance the effectiveness
of any marketing system, building a foundation and launch pad
for any new products. Online forums are your gas stations.
- Cross Promotion: These marketing systems can become
very complex: promoting programs within programs, cross-networking
whole systems within systems, joint ventures within joint
ventures. Marketing seminars, conventions and workshops are
other lucrative features these systems use to market their
products and to network with other marketers. This is your
Hybrid fuel.
- Corporate Blogs: Most have company blogs or a
network of members' blogs. It's important to realize the
power of these relatively new mediums for getting the word
out. RSS feeds are also used to syndicate your sales message
and content. That would be your satellite radio.
- Affiliate Incentives: The better marketing systems
have affiliate incentives and contests to motivate their sales
force - from cruises to Ferraris.
- They Pay Their Affiliates On Time: This might seem
trivial, except to the affiliate. The best Internet marketing
systems pay their affiliate regularly and on time. They are
trusted and respected by affiliates and online marketers.
This trust has been built up over many years of good solid
business relationships. The best marketing systems are the
ones that can harvest and develop those relationships with
thousands or even millions of affiliates. This is your
accelerator.
- Automation: Automation is the one key element that
makes all of the above possible. These Internet marketing
systems are automated to the highest degree possible. Without
automation these large marketing networks could not function.
Therefore, almost all the day-to-day operation of a marketing
system is automated and can run smoothly without much work or
maintenance. This is the grease that makes everything run.
- Internet: These marketing systems have taken full
advantage of the World Wide Web and used it to their benefit.
It permits global marketing with affiliates in every country
around the world. This large multinational marketing force
is made possible only with the creation of the Internet.
Consider it the glue that connects the whole system.
The computer and the Internet make these whole automated
marketing systems possible. Closely studied and dissected,
these systems are complex, intricate creatures solidly
embedded into the Internet and the lives of millions
around the globe. Together it's enabling lifestyles
that offer mobility, freedom and enrichment never
before seen this side of a Powerball win!
When you picture these complex marketing systems, don't
think of computers, databases, autoresponders, and wires.
Rather, picture a sun-drenched tropical beach with a light
breeze and a clear blue sky. Picture a person sitting to
one side, checking daily sales stats on a cool sleek
shinny laptop. Don't forget to zoom in close and you
will notice a slight smug smile. But don't stop there,
if you stare really hard and think about what you have
just read, you will have a clear view of an Internet
marketing system.
......
The author runs a modest Internet Marketing web site where you
will find helpful online guides on RSS/Blogging, SEO, Affiliate
Programs, List Building, Laptops, Internet Fax and quite a
few
Internet Marketing Tools. Including the very popular
Free Desktop Calendar & Planner Copyright © 2006 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely
distributed if this resource box stays attached.
