The Ten Commandments of Internet Marketing (Part One)

Article Title: The Ten Commandments of Internet Marketing (Part One)
Author: Craig Lock
Category/Subject: Internet Marketing, Internet, WWW

Web Site: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com

Other Articles are available at:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, 'spiritual writings' (how 'airey-fairey'), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig

Publishing Guidelines:
We hope that the following article (originally written about 13 years ago) may be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on your web site. If it helps others "out there" in any way, then we're happy. This article (as with all my articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print.

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."

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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF INTERNET MARKETING (PART ONE)

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use the Internet, and he won't bother you for weeks."
- anon (Sorry men... however, I presume this principle also applies to our women-folk!).

Some Introductory Thoughts:

I hope that the following article based on our experiences may be informative and/or helpful in your online marketing.

A successful online business isn't built overnight; but is the result of many late nights. If anyone says that they can teach you to make a substantial amount of money without hard work, realize they are talking through "a hole in the head and are out of their trees".

After fifteen long yet exciting years 'doing it' online, here are my TEN COMMANDMENTS setting out how to conduct business online (in spite of the recent demise of so many "high-profile dot-bombs"- ready availability to large amounts of capital, I believe, can be a big disadvantage to the small/home business cyber-entrepreneur):

Now time to "get straight into it"...

1. Understand that technology should help you achieve your business and personal goals. It is merely a tool to move you forward with your vision: a "means to an end" to HELP and enable
you, rather than being an end in itself, (or perhaps even be a disabler to "non-technos" like me). So make modern technology work to it's highest potential for you and your business. Spend time
learning about various computer programmes and applications (hard though it may be for the 'technically challenged'). Then "use it repeatedly , so you don't lose it!" Accept that the vast majority of www. users are not "techno-freaks" (like my "geek associate", Bill) and have great difficulty learning new computer procedures. Well, I certainly do (just ask "Billy boy")! However, by making a conscious effort and with discipline and effort the habit ingrained makes it easier and easier, as your confidence grows in leaps and bounds.

2. Don't take the competition for granted...and don't "knock" them. Never ever! Accept that no business can be the best in every facet. The convergence of computer, media, entertainment and communications means the underlying structures of the computer world will change rapidly and soon... or so my "techno-geek" associate, Bill (not Gates) says. The TV/computer/music center is not far away, I hear.

The net is a world wide market-place, so don't be too zenophobic (now that's a really big word, that I tried very hard to bring in). I think many Americans (and perhaps New Zealanders too) think that theirs is the only country on earth in which to trade and is the centre of the world... and we're nearly falling off the bottom of the planet near Antarctica!

However, we can all compete fairly ("fairly") against the competition by transcending international boundaries on a "global level playing field" - whereby even the "little guys" can take on the big corporations around the world (except for their massive marketing budgets, of course!) . It may mean adjusting your marketing efforts to take into account some cultural differences (like my rather 'weird' sense of humour, or different spelling - although it's the same English language). However, I believe people around the world have more in common than their differences. Common aspirations, eg. security, to do
their best for their families, etc. Enough philosophical digression, Craig... and back to your point...

Here in "Sleepy Hollow" (with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country) in little provincial New Zealand near the bottom of the world, we make a big effort to sell our various products around the globe in response to customer needs.

3. Consolidate your business by focusing on what you do best. Don't try to be "all things" to your customer, nor try to offer too many products. Concentrate on perfecting and marketing your "best sellers" in your CORE business activities. That is the area which produces the most profitable results for your organization. (remember the old "80-20 rule" - 20 of your activities produces 80 of your results/profit and vice versa!). For us it's my various books, as well as creative writing courses.

Define your "USP" (or "unique selling proposition") - a "fancy" term loved by "those marketing types". What is the key, that makes your product or service really special?

Now for one rather more philosophical...

4. Honour your parents, your teachers and your communities and especially your family. Family is most precious of all and strong and stable family units make for a strong and stable country. Parenting, I believe is the most noble occupation of all - and parents want their children to be safe on line, so supervise them closely. Teach them responsibility in internet usage... so they don't push your telephone bill sky high (as my dear boys do - but then that's the price of having and educating children - a tax on sex!). Teach your children well (as Crosby, Stills, Nash ... and Young used to sing so melodiously) and wisely. Let them learn that the net is a great EDUCATION tool for the present and the future and they could be learning "practical skills on the job" and preparing for a future technological career.

5. Do not send spam (sending masses of unsolicited e-mail) - under any circumstances. You are likely to be cut off by your server. I find it rather irritating receiving "mountains" of spam and simply delete all unsolicited e-mail selling products and services... and wouldn't you do likewise; because it just clutters up your mailbox? These days filters help a lot in reducing unwanted emails (perhaps this article!). (Hope you don't see the regular submission of my articles as 'spam', as I have a genuine desire to share my knowledge and experiences through my words to attempt to help others. That is a 'mission' of mine ...and I do get a lot of positive feedback from my articles - thanks).

But then you can only please some of the people some of the time (and not all of the people all of the time)!

Finally...
We have made a lot of 'cyberpals' and formed some productive associations with talented people around the globe, together with having a lot of fun, learning as we've gone along these past ten years (After all, we have all been "newbees" at some time). This article has been written in the spirit of helping others around the world through sharing our experiences of the www in the vast and unchartered world of cyberspace. So please don't get lost "out there".

Have great fun travelling the "cyber-highway"*of life

"total non-techno" Craig Lock (this article was originally written about 13 years ago))

* that's a metaphor, btw!

"Together, one mind, one life at a time, let's see how many people we can impact, encourage, empower, uplift and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials

End of Part One (Part Two to follow)

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