A Sure-Fire Profit Plan For Selling Anything On The Internet

The Fundamentals of Marketing (Part 1)

If you're wondering what it really takes to sell something on the Internet and you want to sell more than you ever have before, then listen up!

There are only a few critical tasks when it comes to selling on the Internet and a few less important tasks, but it really isn't complicated.

In the next 3-4 TIPS we will explore what's working and what isn't in online marketing and selling.

I'll also give you the details on my 2 sites: .com and, of course, .com.

I'll show you how I get traffic, what critical tasks I perform everyday and what role trading communities play in my strategy.

The TIPS will also give you the reason I emphasize the need for trading communities in your marketing strategy.

So let's get started.

= Practicing The Fundamentals =

This may seem too simple. I apologize to those who consider themselves too sophisticated in the art of marketing... or if you're looking for some magic potion, a magic key or some other talisman to work magic for you-- you won't find it here.

I can tell you honestly that it's the fundamentals, time and again, that will help you succeed. I see so many web sites and Internet marketers (and off-line marketer' too!) violate the very basics of marketing that I'm surprised any of them make any money at all!

Of course there are those who just want to 'dabble' at making money online. They will throw up a web page and see what sticks. If they make a $10 sale they're happy. They have a day job to fall back on as their safety-net.

I don't have a 'safety-net'. I make my living online by sticking to the fundamentals and being creative within the frame-work of the basics. Not by blazing new trails...you know what they say about pioneers? of course you do. They are the one's with the arrows in their backs.

My goal, and my only goal, is to
make money by helping people. That is a basic and fundamental principle of good marketing- in any business. Is that too simple for you? My apologizes again. Does it work? Big time.

Just like in basketball or football or baseball or any other sport you must first master the fundamentals of the game, if you want to excel.

Make Money By Helping People

Let's take this one step at a time.

You're in business to make money- right?

If you're in business for any other reason- then you're not in business. The goal of operating a business is to make money. Period. You can argue all you want to about 'social responsibility' and 'doing good'- that's wonderful. And you may even be diverting some of your profits into these causes. But you need to make money first...not only to BE in business but to STAY in business in the long term.

So, how do you make money? That is the question.

Since most of the money you want currently belongs to (or is in the pockets of) other people what's the best way to get them to send you money?

Is it by hurting them?

Is it by stealing from them?

Is it by tricking them?

I don't have to tell you you CANNOT succeed in business by doing any of these things. Although some people do try.

There are unscrupulous people who are in business. They trick and they often steal to get other people's money. They lie about their products and services just to get other people's money.

Some people even hurt others to get other people's money. They rob and mug people just to get their money.

This is a very practical discussion. I'm not moralizing. All I'm saying is these are ways in which people try to get other people's money from their pockets.

There are some people who get other's people money by working for them. It's called a "job". In exchange for showing up and doing what they are told, they get the company's money- in a paycheck.

That's not too bad. You go where you are told to and do what you're told to and you get some money.

A lot of people make money that way. You may even know some people who make money that way.

OK, I'm being a slight bit sarcastic.

You don't want to hurt, steal, trick or get a job to get other people's money. So, what's left?

How about helping other people? In exchange for helping them, they give you some of their money. Hmmmm.....

Unlike hurting, tricking or stealing the nice thing about this arrangement is that you won't have to go to jail if you get caught. That's right, you can help people all you want- and even if you get caught you won't go to jail!

What about having a job? Well, to me, having a job is like being in jail. You have to go where you are told to go and do what you are told to do, or you don't get any money. Sure you can still help people and that's good- but it's someone else telling you to help them.

Let's take the basic, fundamental idea that the ONLY viable way to get other people's money is by helping them. OK? if you have a product or service to sell, ask yourself this question, "Is my product or service really helping my customers? Am I really helping my customers?"

If you haven't yet developed a product or service to sell, make sure anything you do decide to sell genuinely helps other people. We could even extend the statement, "make money by helping other people", and adding "get what they want".

Wow, now we are on an entirely different level. Did you see that? -- "
Make money by helping people get what they want"

= Make Money By Helping People Get What They Want =

Why is this so important to a successful business?

There are a lot of people who start a business because they used to work in that business or their father did or they heard people make money doing it, etc. There are thousands of reasons, but only one is the right one.

People have to 'want what you're selling. I talk a lot about this in the Marketing section of Electronic Publishing 2001 so I'm not going to repeat it here. My point is, if you can find out what people 'want' and then help them get it, you can make a lot of money.

And one of my favorite ways to find out what people want is to
ask them. More about how to 'ask' later.

Seems simple enough, doesn't it? But this is where some really bright and intelligent people blow it. They are great at coming up with ideas and projects and plans. So they created a product or service, developed a web site to promote and sell it and...ummm...nothing happens.

The problem is that they created their product or service (and wasted hundreds of hours and lots of money) before they even knew if anyone 'wanted' it.

= A Few Critical Tasks When It Comes To Selling On The Internet =

OK, it seems relatively obvious now that you should only make money by helping other people.

And it seems relatively obvious now that you should only develop a product or service after finding out if someone wants it and is willing to pay for.

But it really isn't that obvious to a number of new businesses. In my opinion this is why 80% of all new businesses fail. It isn't due to lack of capital or management ability. They are selling to an empty crowd. No customers=no money.

Remember that:

  1. The number #1 goal of being in business is to make money.

  2. And you make money by helping people get what they want.

  3. And you find out what they want by asking them.

  4. And you when you find out what they want- you give it to them; and

  5. Other people give you money for helping them get what they want.


On the Internet or off the Internet these are the 5 critical tasks that need to be performed before you can make money in any business. Without these fundamentals firmly rooted in your conscious and subconscious mind, you will fail. This may explain why you haven't done as well as you wanted to in the past.

In the next few TIPS we will take each critical task and, with concrete examples, show you how to build an extraordinarily successful business online or offline.

By the way... one thing to think about while the next TIP is being prepared:

Trading communities on the Internet are the easiest and fastest way to ask a group of potential customers if they 'want' what you're selling.

-Dave


Entire Contents © Copyright 2001 by David Vallieres. All rights reserved.