Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The Power of Attitude in Internet Marketing

By Ken Bradshaw

The Internet has loads of information about the technical side of doing business online, including the essentials of Internet marketing such as online advertising and search engine optimization. In contrast, there's a dearth of online information about the right attitude to make money online. But the bottom line is this: When it comes to running a successful Web business, having the right attitude to make money online may be just as important as having the right technical skills.

How exactly should a Web marketer regard his business on the Internet? What kind of attitude should he have? This article examines three instances of the right attitude at work, and each example has been proven to help Web marketers dominate their competition. However, before we divulge these strategies, let's tackle one of the major myths that has wrongly influenced the attitude of so many Web marketers about doing business on the Internet.

A Myth about the Fully Automated Internet Business

Many people mistakenly believe that doing business on the Internet is easy. With the right product, they think they can just relax and let the Internet make money for them automatically. Some even quit their jobs believing that their online business can make them retire in a few months. This myth fosters the wrong attitude towards making money online. The truth is, there is no such thing as a fully automated Internet business. Overcoming this myth is the first step towards acquiring the right attitude to make money online.

Here are three success strategies based on having the right attitude towards an online business. They prove that you need the right attitude to make money online.

1. Business is business, whether on the Internet or not. Treat your online business like a real business Some people treat their Internet business as a hobby. With no boss around them, others handle their online business according to their mood swings and only work when they're in the mood. That's not the right attitude to make money online. For an Internet business to be successful, it has to operate according to basic business principles. Someone must think about marketing, advertising, product testing, customer service, site maintenance, billing and collections, etc. Oftentimes, this means working harder and longer than a regular 9-to-5 job. It's hard to make a business succeed with part-time hours and a part-time focus.

2. Be there when your customers need you. When potential customers find something interesting on your site and want to ask you some questions, they should be able to do so, whether by e-mail, phone or fax. And they should be able to count on a quick answer from you, too. That's how a professional business operates: with customer satisfaction in mind. That's one surefire way to gain their trust and let them know that you're dependable. If you're committed to addressing your present and prospective customers' questions and concerns, you have the right attitude to make money online.

3. Experiment on different things to know what works and what doesn't A desire to constantly improve the way your business operates on the Internet is a central part of the right attitude to make money online. This desire should extend to everything - from your Internet marketing and customer service to your customer's experience in finding and using your site. The key is to find out what works and apply that practice constantly and to discover what doesn't work and what can be done in its place. This kind of diligence will help your Web site become competitive and profitable.

In the final analysis, having the right attitude to make money online means going the extra mile for your customers and giving your business all the time and attention that it needs. Treat your Internet business like any other business. Simply stated, there are two words that sum up the right attitude to make money online: total commitment.

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