People will write me asking for advice. The main thing they want to know is how to be "successful" in Net marketing.

One thing that strikes me about people who write me is that very few want to spend money or invest time necessary to be "successful." They seem to want instant riches without having to spend a dime or invest a few hours each day.

The other impression I get is that people don't seem to want to educate themselves about online marketing. They want answers for making money handed to them on a platter without having to actually do or learn anything.

I want to share with you correspondence between myself and one person who contacted me. He requested some information on how to be "successful" in online promotion. The first thing I did was ask him some questions. They were:

- How long have you been in Internet marketing? - What are you promoting? - Are you promoting affiliate programs? If so, how many? - Or...are you promoting your own product? - What methods do you use to advertise (FFA's, classified ads, ezine ads, etc)? - What learning tools do you use (ezines, informational websites, membership programs, etc)? - How many hours a day are you able to devote to Net marketing? - Why ARE you in Net marketing? - What are your goals..what do you want from this? - Is this a passion or a means to an end?

To this person's credit, he did answer all of my questions. 99% of time, people don't bother and I never hear from them again.

At end, he said, "Okay, I have answered your questions.now answer mine." That struck me as a bit abrupt. But I know from my own experience that when we type we can be thinking one thing and it can come out much different than we intended. So I gave him benefit of doubt. I answered his questions.

He then asked me if I would take time to critique his website. Which I did.

It was a replicated website which meant it was for an affiliate program. These were what I saw as weaknesses in website:

- The salesletter was confusing. I had no clear idea how this program would benefit me. - There were no testimonials. - There was no written guarantee. - There was no contact address or phone number.

This is especially true for those of us wishing to do business online although it really applies to even those just seeking a community of like-minded people.

EVERYONE on Internet wants:

1. To find more INFORMATION on a given subject. or 2. To find PEOPLE with similar interests.

Many refer to this as your niche. Others involved with online business call it finding your target audience.

Give some thought as to why you want to reach people.

Once you know WHY you want to contact people, then you will know WHOM it is you need to communicate with and for WHAT reason.

So where should you begin your search?

As question itself suggests answer, you should begin your quest for either information or people by doing extensive research with your favorite search engine(s).

I personally like to use Google, http://www.google.com, and that is where I begin my research.

No matter which Search Engines or Directory is your own personal favorite, just take that as your starting point and build on it from there.

But, certainly, do not limit your research to just one source. You should use no less than top ten Search Engines and Directories for your research.

For a list, via Auto-Responder, of current "Top 10 Search Engines and Directories!", send a blank email message to: mailto:Top10SE@emailexchange.org

Here is an excellent strategy to make use of for your own quest for information or people:

1. Prepare a list of "Keywords" to find what you seek.

2. Visit each of Top 10 Search Engines and Directories.

3. At each of Top 10 enter your "keywords".

4. Visit and review Top 20 to 30 results of "keywords"

used in your search at each of Search Engines and Directories.

5. Weed out useless or dead links.

6. Begin to form your community and bookmark all web sites that hold interest and promise.

This will give you a solid foundation from which to begin.

Your next step is to reach out and "touch" that community of people that you seek by sending out email.

ALWAYS use email without resorting to SPAM.

Because SPAM is against Internet rules and because it creates more problems that it solves. SPAM is should NOT be an option.

With list you compile from your research, decide if it is important to your quest to contact web masters of each of those individual web site.

This list of web masters gives you a good start on which to start building your own little community of contacts.