Internet Marketing DON'T List

The internet offers unparalleled opportunities to succeed, but unfortunately, it also offers a wide range of potential problems for its users. I work on the internet all day, that's how I make my living. My life revolves around websites, e-zines, newsletters, email, and a great deal of online research. It can be fun, it can be fascinating, but it also makes me a prime candidate to have to deal with all of those problems and all of the abuse.

In light of which, I have composed a bit of a summary sheet for legitimate businesses. Instead of listing my favorite ways to succeed in interent business, I thought I'd publish a list of internet practices to avoid. These guidelines can help save your business from a quick internet death.

1. Don't break the law. Before you get into business on the internet, do your research and make sure that you aren't violating any state or federal laws. This not only preserves your business reputation but could save your business! Just a few of the potential pitfalls include product infringement, interstate commerce laws, replica products, and bulk email. Although some things are obvious violations, many apparently-innocent practices can get you into trouble.

2. Put yourself in the customer's shoes. Anything you don't really like, your customers probably won't like either. This means excessive use of flashing banner ads, excessive use of pop-up windows, bulk email (aka spam), or misleading advertising tactics.

3. Offer something of quality. Customer loyalty is built by offering quality goods and services, at appropriate prices, backed up by customer service. In other words, your internet business is a real business, and succeeds or fails by the same rules that apply in the "real world".

4. Make it easy for the customer. In every way. If you own a business website, make it easy for people to find the information or product that they need, make it easy for them to contact you, make it easy for them to buy what you are selling. If you offer an internet service such as searches, make it easy for people to submit a site to your search engine, make sure that your results are relevant, and make sure there is enough stability for people to rely on you.

My internet world today has been populated by three different email-borne viruses/worms, 2 websites with far too many pop-up ads, and 2 client sites that are not converting because their order process is too complicated. I have also seen Google and MSN both switch their search results again, and I'm not terribly impressed with what I'm finding in preliminary searches.

Some days the internet is innovative, other days, it can drive me crazy!

Comments

[Donnie Svederus]

Yes, I totally agree with everything you said in this Blog. Pop-ups are probably the ones that gets me all irate, especially when you go to buy something. I had many times when I wanted to buy something but the pop-ups got in the way. If a site has a pop-up, I will usually leave. Remember Netscape, I used to like using them, but now everytime you go too there website your guranteed a pop-up. I don't like to use Netscape now. And another thing I dont understand, why would anyone take the time to make a virus or worm. What a waist of time, and energy. The next annoying thing on the web I discovered is audio advertisements. Nothing like bothering noise to bother you while you surf. My mute button is constantly on now. Oh well, I gues life goes on as the internet mutates into the next annoying thing.

sincerely,
Don