We hope that
following article may be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on your web site. You have permission to publish this article (formatted to 60 characters, approx) electronically or in print. If it helps others "out there" in any way, then we're happy. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF INTERNET MARKETING (PART ONE)by Craig Lock
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use Internet, and he won't bother you for weeks." - anon
Introductory Thoughts:
I hope that following article based on our experiences may be informative and/or helpful in your online marketing.
A successful online business isn't built overnight; but is result of many late nights. If anyone says that they can teach you to make a substantial amount of money without hard work, realize they are talking through "a hole in head and are out of their trees".
After four and a half years doing it, here are my TEN COMMANDMENTS setting out how to conduct business online (in spite of recent demise of so many "high-profile dot-bombs"- ready availability to large amounts of capital, I believe, can be a big disadvantage to small/home business cyberentrepreneur):
* Now time to "get straight into it"...
1. Understand that technology should help you achieve your business and personal goals. It is merely a tool to move you forward with your vision: a "means to an end" to HELP and enable you, rather than being an end in itself, (or perhaps even be a disabler to "untechnos" like me). So make modern technology work to it's highest potential for you and your business. Spend time learning about various computer programmes and applications (hard though it may be for 'technically challenged'). Then "use it repeatedly , so you don't lose it!" Accept that vast majority of www. users are not "technofreaks" (like my "geek associate", Bill) and have great difficulty learning new computer procedures. Well, I certainly do (just ask Bill)!. However, by making a conscious effort and with discipline and effort habit ingrained makes it easier and easier, as your confidence grows in leaps and bounds.
2. Don't take competition for granted...and don't "knock" them. Never ever! Accept that no business can be best in every facet. The convergence of computer, media, entertainment and communications means underlying structures of computer world will change rapidly and soon... or so my "technogeek" associate, Bill (not Gates) says. The TV/computer/music center is not far away, I hear.
The net is a world wide market-place, so don't be too zenophobic (now that's a really big word, that I tried very hard to bring in). I think many Americans (and New Zealanders too) think that theirs is only country on earth in which to trade and is centre of world... and we're nearly falling off bottom near Antarctica!
However, we can all compete fairly ("fairly") against competition by transcending international boundaries on a "global level playing field" - whereby even "little guys" can take on big corporations around world (except for their massive marketing budgets, of course!) . It may mean adjusting your marketing efforts to take into account some cultural differences (like my rather 'weird' sense of humour, or different spelling - although it's same English language). However, I believe people around world have more in common than their differences. Common aspirations, eg. security, to do their best for their children, etc. Enough philosophical digression, Craig... and back to your point...
