by Scott F. Geld

 

You are aware that it is important to market your

online business and search for creative ways to do so,

but you must also guard against using tactics that are

not effective and that may hurt your business. Here are

some tactics that you should NEVER use:

 

Mass Emailings

 

You may have been encouraged to buy and use Email lists

with tons of addresses for an Email campaign. This offer

probably came to you via an Email you didn't sign up for.

Don't be tempted to buy unsolicited Email lists, even if

the seller tells you that the names on the list are

targeted towards your business offerings. Sending unwanted

Email to people who have not indicated a desire to receive

information from you is considered "spamming". It's

annoying and intrusive, and usually sends the receiver

running in the other direction whether they have an

interest in your products and services or not. The bottom

line is that you risk losing potential customers and

damaging your reputation.

 

Email campaigns are an effective way to bring in new

business, but only if they are targeted to 'qualified'

prospects. Send your advertising only to those people who

signed up to your mailing list.

 

Using Search Engine Software

 

Some software applications work very well to submit your

Web site for a listing in the search engines. But,

unfortunately a lot of these programs are not effective.

Often you'll find that the software submits your Web site

to irrelevant listing engines. Worse than that, some of

these software applications cause your site to be banned

from the popular search engines (just the ones you want to

be listed with), because of multiple attempts and

incorrect submissions.

 

A better way to get listed with the search engines and

directories is to go to the site, read all the submission

guidelines, and then submit your site individually to each

search engine. Yes, it takes longer, but in the long run

it is less expensive and more effective. The extra time is

well spent.

 

Irrelevant Postings

 

You can attract visitors to your site by posting to

relevant forums and message boards; however, if you just

haphazardly post messages to every bulletin board, forum

or discussion room you find, you will quickly upset the

memberships. Your messages should be relevant to the type

of products or services you promote, and they should be

the type of messages that are permitted in the forum. For

example, if you sell fine china, posting to a forum about

gardening is a real stretch. You'll alienate a lot of

people and you won't sell a thing.

 

Like traditional marketing strategies, good Internet

marketers know that only tried and true methods really

work. Make sure that the messages you send about your

business are welcomed by the receiver. To do otherwise is

a waste of your time.

 

Scott F. Geld is the Director of Marketing for

MarketingBlaster.com, a company providing targeted traffic

and direct links starting at just $5.  For more info: