Internet Marketing Sharks

Among the circles that I frequent, there has been a lot of recent discussion about all of the internet marketing scams. Each of us have our own opinions about what constitutes a scam but one thing is certain, new internet marketers are easy prey for Internet Marketing Sharks.

As a Realtor®, I was acquainted with many sharks. Although I found them difficult to work with, I understood their bravado and learned a lot from observing them. Unlike Internet Marketers, all Realtors® are bound by similar ethical guidelines that are policed by regional and local boards. One of the first things that good Realtors® do when they connect with a potential buyer is to qualify them for their ability to purchase in the price range they wish to shop.

Internet marketing has no enforced guidelines or regulations and the ethical choices are left up to the marketer. Internet Marketers rarely, if ever, provide a phone number to call but a credible marketer will and, if it is there and the marketer is credible, it will lead to more than a recorded call from some opportunity meeting in the past.

When considering the Reverse Funnel System years ago, I decided to use Google to locate all the people promoting the product. I found a page with a phone number and called to ask how much one REALLY needed to invest in this system to obtain the fantastic earnings that were described on their page. Not surprisingly, the cash outlay was vastly understated, as well as the amount of time that it would take to be in profit. I will always be grateful to these Internet Marketers for their honesty.

It is up to the individual to perform due diligence for any purchase. Not everyone will persevere at this task for the amount of time it takes to gather all the facts about a product that has captured their interest. New internet marketers may not be savvy enough to read between the lines of the product or service claims. When I hear stories about new internet marketers who have over-extended their credit resources to purchase a program they could not afford, it is heart wrenching.

All too often, a website owner may have only recently stumbled upon the business opportunity and are using a replicated page to position themselves as experts in a field they know nothing about. Tiny print might include language that stipulates no earnings guarantees or cautions that income results from the testimonials are not typical. This is only good information if someone takes the time to read it.

Internet Marketers are taught that people are looking for solutions. As an authority in our niches, I feel it is important to be sincere about all our offers, regardless of the impact to our sales volumes. We know that most shoppers choose to buy on an emotional level and that our carefully crafted sales letters are specifically designed to overcome any objections. Some marketers circumvent rational judgment by imposing a fear of loss system to enforce immediate action on the part of the buyer. Sadly, as P.T. Barnum observed, there is a sucker born every minute. Even more tragic is the fact that some internet marketers will not stand behind their products or promises.

I sometimes pull pearls of wisdom from entertainment sources and confess to being an avid fan of Star Trek Next Generation so I hope you will appreciate what I feel is a relevant reference from that show. In one episode, Data criticized his captor by saying, “It is a pity that you have used your superior language skills for mere hucksterism and the advancement of your greed.”

There is a reason that people distrust internet marketers. Do your business practices support of debunk this point of view?

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The Internet Overdose Song

These marketers have come up with another brilliant YouTube video that is fun as well as being informative.

How To Market Effectively

As a former Realtor, I completely understand the importance of having a friendly image AND a good marketing message. A tagline I added to my business card, after hearing myself repeat it over and over again, became an amazing marketing tool.

That tagline was:

MY BUSINESS IS ABOUT YOU!

It was cleverly worded to fit that business but I also meant it.

Despite the fact that I no longer sell houses, nothing about my business ethics has changed. There are tons of things that I brought forward from my real estate business that assist me in present time with my internet marketing business in present time.

Internet marketing is much different than marketing beautiful homes. With the help of many generous mentors and a lot of personal dedication to expanding my own knowledge, I am learning to translate what I know about marketing to Web 2.0.

Effective marketing is much more than SPIN! You must KNOW and BELIEVE in your product. Blasting email to promote your “next best thing” is about as effective as cold calling a fish to sell them a bicycle.

Through the power of you intention, you will attract people to you and, once they respond, you MUST build a relationship with them. If you stop to think about it, this is to everyone’s advantage. It is nearly impossible to conduct business with someone you do not know, trust and respect.

How do you do this? By listening, asking questions and learning more about each other! Successful marketers listen MUCH more than they talk!

Still Smiling!
Marj Wyatt

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