subject: Basic Internet Marketing Online Principles [print this page] There are still many Internet based companies who feel that using spam is the best method to get their products in front of their customers, but by using this method they are breaking one of the most basic principles of Internet marketing online. They do not like having their mail box jam-packed with a lot of spam, so why on earth do they think their customers will. Spam marketing does not work, as people will either just ignore anything that comes from that address or get it automatically filtered out by their email program.
A very successful way of reaching potential customers on the Internet is by using target marketing. This is where you focus on the members of specific online groups, and forums, who are already showing interest in similar or related products or services. This will usually have a better hit rate than the 2% you will get from bombarding people with spam messages.
It is true that by adopting this method you will decrease the amount of exposure you get significantly, but you will also reduce the number of complaints and the associated bad publicity as well. The majority of the people that received your unwanted promotional mails, and were not at all interested in your products, will just think that your business is just another fly-by-night scamming operations.
You could well be a very hard working business person, producing quality merchandise, but that will not change their opinion of either the product or what they feel about your business methods. As they say, you have only one chance to make a first impression. However, if you focus on people who are interested in products such as yours, then there is a greater chance that the percentage of sales, in relation to the size of your mailshot will increase. There are a lot of similarities between marketing online and offline.
Another very important rule of marketing is being able to realize what people are willing to pay for your product. Too often people do not calculate the value of their product or service properly.
If people feel that a product is too cheap they will worry about the quality, and wonder why the price is so different to that of other, similar, items. However, if it is priced to high it could just be too expensive, and they will ignore it completely.
A way to find a price that would be acceptable is to do some research. Visit the websites that are selling similar products, and see what they are charging. Price your item slightly lower, and by adopting this tactic it will appear that you are offering a good deal. But be careful not undercut the price too much or any potential customers will start to be concerned about quality.
If pricing your product is still a problem then re-visit the forums related to your niche, and find out what people would be willing to pay. Do this by checking through all the conversations, or by raising the question yourself, discretely of course. This is a tactic often used by large public relations companies on behalf of clients.
At all times you must be professional in your marketing. Do not be too pushy or offensive. If you keep these basic principles in your mind at all times you will soon be marketing safely and successfully.
