This is my first post in 2010. Last year was a very busy time for me with travel and taking online courses along with some major changes in my personal life.  I took some time away from my blog which I would not suggest doing for long when you have a business online. There is a certain momentum that must be maintained when we are doing business online. Things change quickly and there is always new information to be communicated to your list.  I learned a whole lot of new information last year that I plan on sharing with you over the coming weeks and months. I’m sort of a research hound and I love to take classes especially about internet marketing.

Today I’d like to share with you 10 important tips that I learned about internet marketing that will help you get ahead of the game or keep you out in front so that you can be successful online.

1. You need to have a website or preferably several websites. Your main website should have information about you so people know who you are and what other products or services you offer.

2. You need to continually be building customer lists. Your customer list is like gold. Your list is your business. Ideally, for every product that you promote you should have a lead capture page to get the prospects name and email address so you can follow up with that customer. Potential customers need to see your offer or be reminded of your offer sometimes several times before they make a purchase. By sending follow up emails, your customer is also getting to know you and hopefully are getting some good content in your emails to keep them interested in staying on your list.

3. Develop a sales funnel for your business. This usually starts with giving away free information. Then suggesting purchases such as ebooks or other low end products. Then you may suggest other related products and at higher price points. You may also offer some form of coaching or teleseminars.

4.Time management, self management and self discipline are major challenges for online marketers. You need to decide how much time you have to devote to your business each day. Then you need to focus to make that time productive. Productive tasks may be writing articles, developing products, email marketing, gaining JV partners, updating your blog. One suggestion is for you to decide how much time a task is going to take and schedule that time on your daily schedule. I like to break down projects into 30 minutes to an hour. If I focus in this way I tend to get more done. Decide what big project you are going to complete in the next 30 days. Then get it done! There is a lot more to say on this subject but I will save that for another time. You see, I only allowed 30 minutes for me to update this post:-)

5. Keep up with technology for marketing such as the use of audio and video. OK, I didn’t say that I’m doing all of these things, I only know they should be done to make your business more successful. Video works and helps you to make more sales. If you don’t use video, at least try audio. It’s very effective to offer products in both PDF versions as well as MP3 format for example.

6. Work with JV partners and affiliates. Get to know people who can help you with your business. There are people who may have  larger lists of customers than you do and they may be interested in promoting your products.

7. Create your own products. We all have information that we can share in an info product. If you don’t feel comfortable putting your own information out there then use private label material and change it up a bit. We  need to promote our own products with our name on them. The possibilities for products is endless. Just think audio, video, ebooks, newsletters, membership sites, teleseminars, how to info etc. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just get it out there! No sales are ever made by ideas that are still in your head or sitting on your hard drive.

8. Choose your mentors wisely. You definitely need to have a mentor online or maybe several. Find someone who is doing what you want to do. There are really no short cuts to success online. Even with a mentor, you will need to do the work! So choose someone you want to work with and be committed to doing what they tell you to do. There are thousands of ways to earn money online. Choose  a coach that is using the method that you would like to follow.

9. Keep updating your blog and visiting forums and submitting articles. Keep your name and your products  out there  and in front of people.

10. Never give up!! Make a decision that you will be successful no matter what, and never give up.

If you continue to utilize the above 10 tips in your business you may notice that success is not an accident, Success Happens on Purpose.

To your continued success,

Ann