3.
Feature Article:
* Exclusive *
"Three 'Golden Rules' to Internet Success"
By: Cort McCadden
Over the past few months I have been honored to become
friends with some of the top Internet Marketing experts on
the Net. One is this month's interview subject - Graham
Hamer, who has helped numerous people develop their permission
mailing list very quickly. In fact, I'll also be interviewing
one of Graham's star pupils, Felix Ibay, who has been able
to put together a list of 10,000 subscribers in one month!
Graham, who lives a few yards from the Seine River outside
of Paris, is the creator of the best selling ebook
"Traffic Jam Formula", which I have been putting to the
test as a consumer investigative reporter. I must say that
I have been very impressed with the results!
Cort:
Graham, it is a pleasure to have you with us this
Month. I know DEMC readers would love to know
how you became involved in Internet Marketing.
Graham:
I guess I got interested in the Internet in about 1999. One
of my sons had invested quite a lot into a Net marketing
scheme and (as one might expect) it wasn't living up to
the hype. He asked me to take a look at it, and it was
that which sparked my interest in Internet Marketing.
I could see there was (honest) living to be made, but I
didn't know how to make it. And, like all newbies, I started
thinking one day I would create a Web site that got so much
traffic that I would sell advertising space to the big
corporations; pocket thousands of dollars every week; and
live in the sun!
Then reality set in!
So I spent the next six months making every stupid mistake
you can imagine before finally settling down to learn the
right way how to profit. I've been so successful at it
that I now believe I can help other people do the same
thing.
Cort:
What are some of the "learning lessons" you can share with
DEMC readers?
Graham:
There are three "Golden Rules" if you really want to claim
success on the Internet.
a) Don't "Follow The Herd". Think and act independently.
b) As soon as you can, try to develop your own product or
service.
c) Give first to prove your worth.
Let me very briefly expand on those...
*Don't "Follow The Herd". Think and act independently.*
Too often I see the feeding frenzy around a program that
has little or no real value. Mostly there is no product and
what is motivating people is the hype.
If you REALLY believe six million dollars in six months,
is possible I suggest you spend some of your imaginary
profits on a psychiatric evaluation!
Stand back and examine the facts. You'll then put it in
the trash where it belongs.
Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that I'm a little outspoken!
I tell it as I see it.
Cort:
No, problem, Graham. So what would be the second step?
Graham:
As soon as you can, try to develop your own product or
service. Selling other people's stuff can make you a basic
living if you do it right. Selling your own stuff can lift
you above the crowd and put you into the six-figure bracket.
You don't have to write your own eBook or do your own
programming. All you have to have is THE IDEA and then
develop it into a workable program. Though it's cheaper
and easier if you can write your own code, there's no
necessity because there are plenty of people out there
who'll do it for you.
Try to spot 'gaps' and fill them. What would YOU like to
see on the Internet that isn't there? Do other people want
it? Can you develop the idea yourself?
Cort:
I would think that www.messagefriend.com would be a
great example of one of your ideas that you have
developed into a workable program.
Graham:
Exactly. And with this program I have practiced the third
principle: Give first to prove your worth.
This is SO important. All to often, newcomers to the
Internet think it's about TAKE.
Wrong! It's about GIVE.
Prove that you have a value and people will trust you and
follow your recommendations. That's why it's important to
develop your own subscriber list and develop a loyal band of
"followers." This lesson sank in early with me, when I took
a look at the program that had wasted my son's many hundreds
of dollars.
It was clear they were 'on the take', yet it struck me that if
they had given a little back, they could have built loyalty
instead of alienating their paying clients.
Taking is a shortsighted, short-term view.
Giving is wise and brings long-term success.
Which do you want?
Cort:
Since DEMC is focused on Email Marketing, what are
your thoughts on the subject? Does it play a major part
in your marketing campaign?
Graham:
Permission email marketing is still the best way to contact
like-minded people on the Net. Spam is a disgrace and is
threatening to make the email system un-useable for all of
us.
If somebody bangs on your door and shouts "Hey I'm a car
salesman, come buy a car from me," what's your reaction?
(Or need I ask?)
If that same person passes by your house each day and
spends a moment to sympathize with you because you
have a problem with your car, you're going to be a lot me
receptive when he finally says, "Hey listen, neighbor, why
don't you think about a new car? Maybe I can help you
out."
THAT'S what autoresponders and ezines do.
Your initial email is simply a polite "Good Morning."
Your autoresponder sequence is a "get to know you"
process that culminates in a buying suggestion from you.
Email marketing is vitally important to ANY online
business but it's necessary to understand, and use,
the whole range of possibilities.
Cort:
Graham, as you know, there is a great deal of controversy
over Spam Filters. Has this caused a problem in your
Email Marketing campaign? How are you overcoming it?
Graham:
My own ways of overcoming spam filters, is to now rely
on safelists (though the response rate is not good).
I also have launched my newest ezine
(http://www.Bull-Free-Zone.com) as a Web-Based journal rather
than trying to deliver it by email and having it blocked.
Cort:
How do you feel about HTML Email vs. Plain Email?
Graham:
I like to receive emails in HTML format. It lifts them out
of the ordinary run-of-the-mill messages.
Having said that, I'm basically lazy and have never pushed
myself to actually format my own emails in HTML.
I guess as much as anything it's a "time" thing. It takes
longer to create a page of HTML than a page of text.
Maybe next year!
Cort:
Permission lists are your area of specialty. What would
you tell a "newbie" in regards to permission lists?
Graham:
Developing a permission list should be high on your list of
priorities.
I used the analogy earlier about banging on the door and
shouting, "I'm a car salesman, come buy a car from me."
You know you wouldn't answer the door.
But a permission list gets over that problem. Once your
subscribers get to know you, you're a friendly neighbor
with a heap of good ideas.
And, again, I reiterate one of my three Golden Rules...
"Give first to prove your worth". You're not putting together
a list so you can hit them time and again with some scheme
that will line your pockets. You should be thinking further ahead
than that.
An intelligent marketer will offer advice and wisdom to
her list. She will examine problems that she has come
across, and tell her subscribers how she got over them. She
will look at shared opportunities, too, and her subscribers
will trust her to guide them down the right path.
Abuse your subscribers and they'll soon hit the
"unsubscribe" link. Help them solve their problems and
they'll come to trust you and follow your advice.
Cort:
I know some DEMC readers may want to contact you, how
can you be reached?
Graham:
If people are interested in finding out about me
they can investigate my new specialized ezine that is
available at http://www.Bull-Free-Zone.com
Here, as you might tell from the name, I try to spread a
little genuine enlightenment to tired Marketers. Judging
from their comments, they seem to appreciate it.
Also my eBook TheTrafficJam Formula (available from
http://www.thetrafficjam.com) will help people to get
visitors to their web sites.
Cort:
So, Graham, what is next on your busy plate?
Graham:
I grant you, Cort, you will be the first to know!
###
Cort McCadden has been a contributing writer to Money
Makers Monthly and Direct Sales. Currently he is
fulfilling his James Bond fantasy by producing
SpyFest 2003 aboard the Queen Mary.
Check it out at http://www.spyfest.org
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4.
~/~ SOHO Help Desk ~\~
http://www.demc.com
"Search Engines"
Today's SOHO Help Desk focuses on how to use Search Engines
in your marketing game plan. First you'll find advice on how
to effectively submit your site to the Search Engines. Then
you'll find practical advice on using Search Engines to
improve your advertising.
If you have any questions, answers or feedback for our
next issue send an email to - mailto:helpdesk@demc2.com
=== Answers For Jeff ===
Jeff's Question:
>I was wondering if anyone could share some insights on
>site optimization. I get the basic concept of meta tags
>and focusing each page on a different keyword or phrase.
>Once I have determined the keywords to optimize for each
>page, should I submit each page individually, or the index?
From: Joe Dean
Jeff,
There are a lot of different techniques for 'optimizing your
site' as you put it - the technique you inquired about is,
however, my biggest and most effective 'gun.' My site
focuses around several different themes associated with
classic adventures (i.e. Pirates, Indiana Jones, Ancient
Egyptian archeology, etc.) and because I keep each page
individualized, I am able to reach a much broader
audience. Here are the tips (and pitfalls) I've
learned (both the easy AND hard way :) )
* Yes, as long as each page has UNIQUE information,
submit each page into the search engine. This needs to be
done with judgement and prudence. I don't know what
content your site provides, but the stronger attempt you make
at categorizing your content into distinct pages, the m^re
readily the search engines will allow the submission of
individual pages.
* Taking it a step further, you can then target each
page/theme/content category to a separate audience.
For instance, my pirate page has content and downloads
pertaining to creating pirate themed treasure hunts et. al.
I have then made sure that THAT UNIQUE URL was
marketed to every pirate avenue I can find on the internet.
Likewise with the Indiana Jones page (i.e. I responded to
comments in forums, guestbooks, yahoo groups and clubs...
even offered to write content articles for newsletters
that pertained to the content on that specific page).
* It's a great way to cross advertise. For instance, because
I have a lot of peripheral links on each themed page,
visitors who come in via the pirate page might explore
further on the Indiana Jones page (whereas they might not
have ever visited that page before otherwise)
* In regards to site placement in search engines, check
back every now and then to see your placement. Check out
the sites that rank higher than you and try to see why.
* Don't do what I did and create a 'hub' for your
categorized page. For example, with my Ancient Egypt
page I got the not-so-bright idea (although it seemed like
a good idea at the time) to have a short, clean page with
simple links to articles and ideas I had for the visitors.
It looked nice, but my placement in the search eng^nes went
in the toilet. Now, I've put all my articles on the single
page (with tag links within the page) - minimizing the
amount of information I leave out. The result: Tons of
content which search eng^nes LOVE. When people look
up a specific topic (especially when VERY specific), my
page comes up because it is replete with content on that
subject.
I hope this helps!
Joe Dean
http://www.questexperiences.com
=== Answers For John ===
John's Question:
>As a business development strategist, I serve the suppliers
>of technology, micro processor based systems to the Oil and
>Gas and gas processing industry internationally.
>
>Where can I find my marketplace?
From: Deb Slatterie
Hi, John - try going to Google and typing in "oil and gas"
(WITH the quotes). I got 89 pages of results - that
should keep you busy for quite a while ;-)
Many countries also have trade directories online. The
one for Canada, for example, can be found at:
http://www.frasers.com and has 17 categories of oil and
gas producers. I didn't check how many computer equipment
manufacturers/supplier there are, but you can check it
out if you go there.
Deb Slatterie
Parrot Promotions
Elmira, Ontario, Canada
parrotpromotions@adexec.com
===> Develop Your Own Database
From: Valerian Dinca
John,
If I were in your position I would solve the problem this way:
a) To reach Oil and Gas people who are receptive to new
process technology I'd start an ezine dealing with this item.
An ezine is the best way to target your market. People
interested by this technology would be interested to your
products.
b) To find suppliers of technology to the Oil and Gas industry
that require assistance in marketing I'd do searches and
research using search eng^nes and directories
Valerian Dinca
Profit With Free Ads http://tinyurl.com/9juf
===
Send in your feedback for an upcoming issue.
Email your questions, advice and/or thoughts to:
mailto:helpdesk@demc2.com
Be sure to include your SIG and contact URL with your
post as we'll be sharing any viable ideas/information
in an upcoming issue of DEMC E-Magazine.
======================
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