BizE-zine: As a writer yourself, which ebooks or courses have you read that have really helped you?

AF: I have spent a lot of money on ebooks over years. I am a big fan of Marlon Sanders, Gary Halbert, Dan Kennedy, Jay Abraham, Bill Myers and Jim Straw. But one I really rate is Gordon Alexander. He has a wealth of knowledge. I am in process of learning to be effective in print as I am in direct sales. Remote Hypnosis, by Gordon, is a masterpiece in my mind. It's ridiculously low cost for gems it contains. Gordon and Gary Halbert are my favorite copywriters.

BizE-zine: How do you go about getting targeted traffic to your site?

AF: Targeted traffic? Without doubt, joint ventures. When you are dealing with a tight niche market, often quickest route is to use those already there.

BizE-zine: Lots of people talk about JVs - how do you go about seeking them out?

AF: I take a lot of time to ensure I contact right people in first place. Quality research is key. I use Copernic originally and then Alexa which automatically measures traffic to web sites. If they are not ranked in top 100,000, I don't investigate any further.

Alexa also has an excellent links service that provided prospect after prospect for me on potential jv partners.

I'll then do a whois search to find out contact details, if they are not on website. If I still can't find out details, I'll often phone and ask.

That's for web sites ...

... for e-zines, I'll go through directories for biggest readerships in my niche.

THEN it's all down to copy! If I sound like a worn out record it's because it's true. If you can't get inside your prospects head and get him to raise his hand, all hours spent researching are worthless!

BizE-zine: What has been your biggest mistake?

AF: Letting my soon to be ex wife be in charge of finances! I am still recovering from that one.

But other than that, I have made some poor partnership choices. Although I am trying to be much more careful these days, I do have a tendency to be too trusting. A fairly well known marketer still hasn't paid me for rights to my book after over a year.

BizE-zine: What software do you use and recommend?

AF: These are things I use most:

Ebook creation software: http://www.ebookcreator.com. I use this for a multitude of things including: + Special reports that can't be copied + Cloning web sites for promotional purposes + Sales letters that either expire or need access codes + And of course, ebooks.

Copernic.com for research (free download). Cant be recommended highly enough

Alexa.com (free download) This ranks web sites according to Alexa usage and is an excellent guide to site traffic to find joint ventures etc.

BizE-zine: How do you see your online business expanding in short term?

AF: I was waiting for this question! I am working on a project at moment that involves Local Email Marketing. It's exciting because I have found a way whereby people, even without sales experience, can easily find clients from their local community

And even more importantly, instantly turn as little as one client into an instant four-figure income.

I will show them step by step how to do this as I have. It really is very simple to do.

The details are just about to be announced for first time at http://www.hype-free-zone.com but essentially, small business owners have had 'sales' people to back teeth! They are now approached by a cold call several times a week or even a day.

They have also had to contend with 'big Internet lie' ... that web sites will earn PROFITS. The figures available indicate that 95% of web sites for offline businesses don't generate enough income to cover their hosting fees! So much for information-age gold rush.

This has meant that sales resistance has increased many times. Even since publication of my book. The Internet and web sites are full of BS sales pitches. Every time a businessperson switches on their PC, television or radio they are bombarded!

Small Business owners are subconsciously screaming 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!'

And, because of this, they have developed avoidance tactics to break through all manipulation and learned scripts. They have become a match for even most professional sales person.

The numbers game for sales just doesn't work any more:

5 years ago, you may have had to knock on 50 doors for two sales. Now it's 500 or more! And it's getting worse.

But I have developed a system that cuts through all this. It automatically gets business owners to trust you. And once they trust you, I have a system of leverage that will multiply your business quicker than you ever thought possible. I call it New Reality.

Mix New Reality with a concept whose time has arrived (Local Email Marketing) and boom will follow. Guaranteed!

BizE-zine: What would you say to someone who has just discovered online marketing and is looking to take his or her first steps?

AF: Don't try to rip up trees when starting out!

A lot of people are suckered into writing their own ebook or other big project. My advice is to become an affiliate first of a proven product. We are only scratching surface of Internet so don't worry about competition. There are always niches that have not been touched

BizE-zine: How would you suggest they select a good affiliate program?

AF: RESEARCH and ask personal questions!

If you have trouble deciding on a project, email originator and see whether you get a helpful reply. Ask them whether they can put you in touch with their highest earning affiliates personally. Then talk to those affiliates to ascertain their validity and integrity.

Use this experience as your 'Internet University' before creating you own master plan, and keeping all profits.

You have three choices if you want to succeed:

1. LEARN how to sell if so visit: http://www.sellmoresites.com

2. Get an expert so sell FOR YOU. Again, visit http://www.sellmoresites.com

and decide whether copy of that quality could sell your product or service

3. STRUGGLE!

If you want me to consider selling your product or service, drop me a line at andy@sellmoresites.com

____________________________________

Martin Avis is a management and training consultant. To get your unfair advantage in Internet marketing, business and personal success, (and 6 free gifts), subscribe to his free weekly newsletter, BizE-zine. mailto:subscribe5@BizE-zine.com or visit his information-packed website at http://www.BizE-zine.com

Lower Operating Costs

A Web site can help your business by lowering costs. Automated customer service functions - Web-based FAQ, order status reports, product specifications, etc. - can lower number of customer service calls, reducing customer service labor costs.

A Web presence can also lower operating costs by streamlining communication with your business partners. Business-to-business companies can create secure Web space to communicate and collaborate with customers. It is even possible to have individual, private sites for major clients. A central "meeting place" that archives communications and other customer-specific information can cut down on administrative costs related to "phone tag", inquiries, and/or need to consciously keep all players "in loop". On supply side, you could reduce costly business disruptions by giving key vendors Web-based access to your inventory or other real-time information.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Setting Your Objective ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While there are different approaches to setting objectives, my preference is to develop a single objective for a site, which may encompass more than one approach to business building. In plan, I include separate strategies and tactics to address each approach. I also like to include, in objective, both customer stage(s) and business building model(s) I will focus on in plan. This way, it is more apparent which strategies are appropriate.

Another approach is to address customer stages separately from your objective in a summary or write-up. With either approach, you should view your plan as evolving over time. As business environment and situation change, your focus should change as well. Once you get past launch stage of a new site, for example, you are in a better position to evaluate site traffic, so your plan may shift from focusing on awareness and interest to building trial and loyalty. Similarly, a better understanding of site visitors may lead you to adjust your business model to more closely address your company's and Web customers' needs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Other Articles in this Series ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In first article of this series, "Developing a Web Site Marketing Plan", I discussed elements of a marketing plan - objective, strategies, and tactics. In remaining two articles in series, I will take a closer look at strategies and tactics you can consider for your Web site.

Part One: "Developing a Web Site Marketing Plan" Part Three: "Strategies for Your Web Site Marketing Plan" Part Four: "Choosing Tactics for Your Web Site Marketing Plan"