A common question asked among online business owners. In today’s economy it is not uncommon to find businesses based solely online. It has become part of our culture, and readily acceptable by society. These same business websites receive more hits than visits, and more visits than purchases.

What prevents people from buying? You could argue fear of identity theft, but would argument be sound enough? The answer could be a phenomenon Bibb Latane and John Darley called diffusion of responsibility.

While we know purchase is necessary for survival of owner and his/her business, we also know there are millions of other people. These millions will purchase, or have purchased in our stead. So, we do not feel guilty about not purchasing or moving on to another site where we ultimately do purchase.

Sites that are questionably designed, lacking credibility, etc. still sell their products. Artistically designed sites, with all bells and whistles, also generate income. They do so because people are specifically looking for that item, at that price, at that time. Generally, it is an impulse purchase that will be associated with a pleasure. Whether it is making someone happy or enjoyment for oneself. In purchasers mind, at time of purchase, it is a need and they will justify it.

Have you ever wondered how can you possibly figure out how to market your Internet business when you’re bombarded with so much conflicting information? Lots of “how to” advice applies to many online businesses.

But avoiding common marketing mistakes will work for EVERY business. If you make even ONE of these mistakes, you’re leaving money on table:

Mistake #1: Believing, “You can make a fortune online while you sleep.” This mistake has a sidekick or two: “Make millions in just 2 hours a day!” or “Give us a month; never work another full day again!” and “Make a living working less than 2 hours a day!” These are tempting; they’re all dangerous.

But these promises aren’t most amazing part - what’s outrageous is number of people who buy into them – with their time, their money and their hearts.

Avoid Mistake #1: Ignore pie-in-the-sky promises – you’ll have to spend serious time on a serious Internet business.

Mistake #2: Believing, “You can support yourself online with just a small investment.”

This headline captures attention, but that’s all it does.

Your Internet business is just that – a business. Develop a budget you can afford; don’t take a risk you cannot.

Almost everyone loses some money along way to making their business successful. Plan for that.

Avoid Mistake #2: Spend a realistic amount of money to grow your business.

Mistake #3 “Get in on opportunity you’re excited about FAST – before it’s too late.”

For an Internet marketer, this is probably worst piece of advice. These pyramid-like “business opportunities” sound too delicious to be true, and they are.

It’s never “too late” to begin with a solid business opportunity, and they are likely to generate profits whenever you set up shop.

Avoid Mistake #3: Do your homework before you do anything else!

Mistake #4: Having no marketing plan. With a little help, anyone can write one. Get started by making lists: a daily task list, a weekly to-do list, monthly benchmarks, and so on.

Figure out what you need to do every day to get number of emails out, flyers distributed, ads placed, press releases written, and articles published to achieve your goals.

Avoid Mistake #4: Outline your battle plan and follow it to letter.

Mistake #5: Not getting enough visitors to click on your site.

I’m sure you’ve read story after story about people who make mega-bucks on just a few hundred hits a day. Yes; it’s possible you could break records, too. But it’s quite unlikely you ever will.

If you build your website, they will NOT come. You’ve got to push them there.

Avoid Mistake #5: Use as many methods as you can to drive traffic to your site.

Mistake #6: Sending out sales and recruiting emails all day long.

Some say marketing is a Numbers Game.

Is it? Not exactly.

You can calculate number of prospects you must have to get number of hits you need to get number of click-throughs necessary to end up with enough visitors who read your sales message.