Here are some tips:

1.WHO OWNS THE INTERNET?

We people. What does that mean? Well unlike other means of communicating, Internet started with a bunch of guys messing around, and it still has that flavor to it. It's hard to find a really "high brow" site, although they exist. The Internet very much belongs to all of us, individuals in world, and this egalitarian and inclusive ambiance is part of it because that's who designs websites, and writes for Internet, as well as visits it!

There are probably millions of websites designed by individuals, and many articles circulating Internet are written by people like you and me. Some are more credentialed, some less credentialed, but everyone's welcome.

Consider how your newspaper was even a decade ago. There were paid writers, who had titles and specific education, and only they were "allowed" to write for publication. There was a letters to editor section which was limited, and that was about it.

2.HOW DO WE LIKE TO INTERACT ON THE INTERNET?

Very actively, thank you very much. We want dynamic websites that are changing and offer us chances to take polls, respond by email, fill out forms and send them in, give feedback, interact! We want a blog!

3.WHO IS ON THE INTERNET?

It started out as a US thing, but other countries are quickly gaining ground. I've read various predictions as to what country will come in #2 - India? Spain? Spanish-speaking users are leading in use of Instant Message. It's becoming more international all time.

The Internet started out as a thing for people with money, but as price goes down, and computer access goes up, participation becomes more broad.

4.WHO BUYS ON THE INTERNET?

This is like a marketers dream come true. Latest reports say that individuals with incomes over $100,000 lead in buying off Internet, and more women than men. It's a generally affluent market as to purchasing online. How does that grab you?

5. HOW DO PEOPLE ACT ON THE INTERNET?

It is nearly impossible to remain profitable while employing enough people to maintain frequent contact with existing clients, let alone seek new clients.

And even for companies with deep pockets, hiring outside sales reps, trainers, and speakers to communicate monthly, weekly, and in some cases daily with all clients in organization is just plain ludicrous.

The high cost of human-to-human contact makes it impractical to attempt to implement a steady stream of consistent communications with everyone.

A common solution is to regularly communicate with company's ‘ideal client’ and neglect all others. It becomes agame of economics.

There is a better way.

A better solutions for maintaining regular communication with your clients and prospects while at same offering a valuable service is to adopt Internet eCourses and eSeminars in place of in-person courses and seminars.

Electronic seminars (eSeminars) are similar to real seminars or real courses that you attend at a local college or meeting facility.

Just like real courses you have a fixed term or time period in which to complete course, and a fixed subject to discuss.

For example let's say you sell automobiles and you want to maintain regular communications with your automobile buyers.

What you could do is conduct an electronic seminar every month which discusses a new facet of maintaining vehicle or informs course participant of new developments in industry that may affect them and that they may be concerned with.

The purpose of eCourse is not only to provide a valuable service by keeping your clients educated, but to insure that they remember you now and into future when they are ready to buy again or refer business to you.

The more contact you maintain less likely they are to forget you. The less contact you maintain more likely they are to forget you :(

A side benefit to regular communications is that within your course you can refer to other products or services that you offer, provided discussion remains within theme of electronic course.

If your course drops into hard selling or hucksterism then most people will drop out of your course or add your email address to their spam filters.

That’s bad!

So keep discussion centered on topics that are of real value to your course participants and they will remain with you for as long as course continues.

These virtual seminars eliminate most, if not all, costs ordinarily associated with communicating with clients on a regular basis.

You can now afford to reach all clients, not only those considered to be ideal.

This is possible because your electronic messages will be available online 24 hours, seven days a week--without need for any employees to maintain contact.

Now don't get me wrong I’m not saying that Internet can completely replace people, especially in areas where high personal contact is necessary. I’d forego a virtual handshake for a real one any day.

However strength of Internet is such that it can decrease common costs associated with communicating to large numbers of people on a consistent and regular basis.

This is important because more frequently you communicate with your target market greater chance of their remembering you, and greater chance of their buying from you again in future.

Even if they don’t buy from you right away, communicating regularly helps maintain relationship you worked so hard to build.

You are able to eliminate losing your clients to your competitors as a result of letting even one person slip through cracks.