Surviving the World of Internet Marketing

The world of on line marketing is as mysterious to the general public as the Bermuda Triangle is. It seems that every person you meet or get an e-mail from has a new and exciting product that they want you to try! And to add to the confusion, it seems that they all cost at least $19.00 and sometimes as much as $997. For a product that does not guarantee you a thing other then the possibility that it will work. They all have one thing in common, which is great ad copy. Each one seems to be written by the same person, even though there are thousands of offers out there that all claim to be able to bring you millions in just a year or less.

There are very few "real" opportunities out there. Most of the ones you will be presented with are gimmicks to take unsuspecting "newbies" as we are called and get our money without making any real promise. My favorite ones are the ones that promise to "teach" me, or want to "give back". They are always schemes to get more money out of you with no real guarantee. And in my experience, they are things I have already learned the hard way. Maybe if I were more willing to take advantage of the hopeful people who look to improve their lifestyles, I would make a fortune. I guess it's a good thing a fortune isn't one of my goals, because I will not ever see it if I am not willing to take advantage of the hopeful, the desperate and everything in between. Be sure to read the fine print. They all say the same thing in various terms. "Income projections are estimates. " Or the famous, "We cannot guarantee you will meet these numbers. Income depends solely on the amount of time and work you are willing to put into this program." Hey, they want to protect themselves, and I don't blame them. One good lawyer, and they would be ripped apart without their fine print to save them.

I have committed myself, as an Internet marketing "newbie", to writing a series of articles based on the programs that I use on a regular basis. Every one of them is free to join, free to use, and yes, you will only get out of them what you are willing to put into them. Marketing and building your on line presence takes years of hard work, especially if you operate on a shoestring budget, but it can be done. After spending months reading these ads for every program under the sun, I have come to the conclusion that if they all worked, I could retire at the end of this year. Me...a 35 year old mother of 5. But I have tried many of them, I have put my heart and soul into attempting to making them work, and the sorry truth is that someone walked away with my hard earned cash singing "If your happy and you know it, clap your hands!", while I busted my butt to try to make back just the cost of the investment into the program.

Investigate your programs by reading every printed word. Visit the on line marketing forums that are all over the web, and read both the good and the bad that will be presented about these programs. Don't jump on every wagon train that comes along singing its own praises as the next biggest money making program to hit the Internet. If these people have phone numbers posted with their ads, pick up the phone and call them. Did you get a real person? Chances are you got a recording that said, "Leave me a message, I will call you back." If you did, write down the date and time that you called them, and wait to see if you get a return call. If you do, listen to what they have to say. Are they for real? Where is the proof? What marketing techniques do they use? Where do they advertise? How much do they spend on advertising? Are they willing to really give you their "secrets" or are they spouting the same tired old information about safe lists and traffic exchanges? Last but not least, will they give you a trial run of this "program"?

Just as you would protect your child or your baby sister from a stranger, protect yourself. Do not readily hand over a $1000 just because it sounds like it might work. I refuse to even give up $20 until I have every ounce of information and a comfortable feeling that I just might be able to make this work. There is money to be made on the Internet, marketing great products to individuals who have a need for your services. But there are also scam artists working to bilk you out of every last penny you have on a total dream. Investigate, question, consider the pros and the cons. As you investigate, visit sites such as Scambusters. It is a sad fact, but this site was created to protect innocent people from being scammed. Your rule of thumb, your mantra and your everyday routine should include checking Scambusters, similar sites and the Better Business Bureau Online to find out what kind of business you are about to give your financial future too.

Wave to me on your frequent trips past my little shop on the corner. Hot coffee, fresh cookies and a comfy overstuffed chair will be waiting in a quiet corner of our world for you to slip into and enjoy as you read the next article in this series.