Message From jl

Hi Everyone!

WELCOME to all of our new subscribers, this week! We truly appreciate you! "Trade Journal Subscribers are THE BEST!"

Today, we'll go back to a series we were doing, and we'll jump right in. "How Do I Start an Online Business?" Pt 5

Part 1 - OnlineBusinessTradeJournal.com/08-10-09.htm
Part 2 - OnlineBusinessTradeJournal.com/08-17-09.htm
Part 3 - OnlineBusinessTradeJournal.com/08-24-09.htm
Part 4 - OnlineBusinessTradeJournal.com/08-31-09.htm
Market- OnlineBusinessTradeJournal.com/09-21-09.htm

Marketing, YUK! NOT my favorite subject! In fact, I've wasted as much time as possible this morning just to keep from starting on the subject.

It goes back to the time when I became suffocated by information overload. We had so MUCH out there, I stopped seeing anything. Just reading my email would have me gasping for breath!

Much of what we see in marketing is all the same. Every time I see the headline, “Who else wants to ...?” I nearly scream, “Where's the creativity, people?”

Then, we have the “secrets.” Everyone has a secret to sell you, and everyone's secret is “the ONE.”

I got SO sick of it, I unsubscribed from all the gurus' lists. At least, all who were into hard-sell marketing.

The Head Guru

Now, once in a while, I check out something I hear about. For instance ...

I joined the membership site of one of our TOP gurus. It's a free site. Once you join, you begin receiving email every day with something f.r.e.e for you to download - sometimes, twice a day.

As soon as you take the download, you're met with a full-blown sales letter for another product. Since you have to give your name and email address each time you download, he knows who buys what, therefore, what to show you again.

It didn't take me two weeks to simply relegate his email to the junk folder!

Now ... is that a good marketing technique? Of course! As long as it isn't over-done.

Send that stuff once a week and he'd have kept my attention. But, every DAY? On the other hand, it MUST be working for him, or he wouldn't do it.

You decide.

Sales Techniques

We have a bazillion sales techniques. You can learn them from any online marketing ebook. In fact, you can learn them from simply paying attention to what is put in front of you on the websites you visit.

We have the “Up-Sell” and the “One-Time-Offer.” You can stick these just about anywhere. Use them on the “Thank You” page of a sale just made. The theory is the customer is still sitting there with the credit card in hand.

The one I run into most, these days, is the, “Stop, don’t leave and I’ll give you a better deal” technique. Usually it’s a break on shipping costs – if it’s a tangible product. This is so common, I never pay full shipping.

Well, I do – but it was over-priced in the first place. So, I should say I never pay the inflated shipping we see so much online. Just start to leave the site. They’ll roll over for a reasonable cost!

Most techniques work great for a while, then, slow down. Affiliate programs, viral marketing, f.r.e.e offers to sales, autoresponder marketing, ezine publishing, SEO perfection, blogs, social networks, it goes on and on. Some tend to last longer than others.

Targeted Traffic

SEO never lasts since they constantly change the algorithms. But, if you make a career of staying up with them - and you're happy doing that - it can work for you.

It would be nice if people actually searched for your specific key words and phrases - and you came up on the first page of results. But, we all know that doesn't happen often in the real world.

Nevertheless, you MUST drive traffic! Not just any traffic, but targeted traffic. Folks looking for what you have. I've never tried a traffic program, but I think I might just to see how it works.

A few weeks ago, Dennis Gaskill of www.BoogieJack.com told you right here in this newsletter how to both drive traffic AND build your list:

OnlineBusinessTradeJournal.com/08-31-09.htm

Dennis was writing about today - what it takes TODAY.

Create a System

I don't mean an out-of-the-box money-making system! I mean a system to your particular marketing preference.

What you really want to develop is the over-all system that works for you. Are you going to use hard-sell or soft-sell tactics? And, how are you going to get your offers in front of the right people?

Typically, I think most of us try many different systems, then, settle on the one we like best. That would be defined as the one that works best for us.

But, in online business, we MUST be flexible. When sales slow down, it's time to move on to something new. I know - I'm a great one to talk about flexibility since I burn out so easily. Truth is I bore easily.

Actually, that's okay in this business. I'm a person who likes projects. We plan, set goals and execute. Sometimes it works, sometimes, it doesn't.

If it doesn't, that's okay. Don't lose any sleep over it. Just move on to the next project.

Those who have read me for years know I don't hesitate to step right up and tell you when a project tanks. Who cares? We have so many options online.

We can change products, websites, marketing plans, anything we want. Everything we've learned helps a little more with each change. What I wouldn't do is flog a dead project. When it's time to move on ... giddy-up!

I'm not even touching the tip of the iceberg on marketing. I couldn't live long enough to put everything I've learned down “on paper.” But, again, you have so MANY techniques to try - on every level.

Just don't buy into the ones that only enrich the clown selling it to you. If they're using “tricks” and hype you can usually be sure you're the mark.

I did find an excellent article on tips to increase the conversion rate of your online business:

tinyurl.com/kmnlpw

And, as long as we're discussing where to find good information, you can get online business coaching from the TRUE professionals. In The iCop Training Manual, iCop's most knowledgeable members reveal how you can follow in their steps to success!

And, they ARE successful. Over 75% of iCop's original members from our first two years are still in business today!

www.i-cop.org/training-manual-sale.htm

Yeah, I guess I did slide that in. I even put it on sale for you - just this week.

'Cause, dang it - if you want to really learn - go to the PROS!

Have a fabulous week and ... keep on keepin' on!

  jl

P.S. Do YOU have the iCop seal on ALL your web sites? Scammers abound in a depressed economy. You will need the credibility of your iCop membership NOW, more than ever!

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Online Business Trade Journal™ is published solely by dr. jl scott, Director of the International Council of Online Professionals (iCop) and may not reflect the opinion of all iCop members.

Material in the "Leaving You With a Smile" column may be copyrighted by unknown persons.

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Copyright © 2009 jl scott, ph.d., Director
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