Where Do You Want To Go In 1999
By Robert Smith
Wow ! A new year. I have been revising
my marketing plan and looking forward to providing the services you
want most in 1999.
When I started this ezine & Newsletter almost two years ago things
were a lot different. 1998 may be known in history as the year
Multi-level Marketing (MLM ) discovered the Internet, In 1999
associate programs are taking over.
In the last 6 months associate programs have been creative in
developing opportunities that work much like multi-level marketing in
that they create residual income streams. The associate opportunities
usually focus on direct sales of products and services - normally
paying out commissions only on one or two levels.
Multi-level marketing companies usually market products you will
purchase use over and over, or on recruiting new members. The two
aren't all that different.
Next year we will see even more home based businesses operate
on-line in the next year. 1999 will be the year of business to
business sales on-line, with many businesses selling to each other.
The year 2000 is expected to be the year that the masses establish
purchasing habits on-line. If I were an investor I would invest in
delivery companies who will get a tremendous windfall from on-line
sales.
The future of the Internet surely will affect us all as we become
accustomed to buying products wholesale on-line from "Virtual Shops"
with no physical address and unlimited inventory ready to be drop
shipped and at less cost than we are used to finding in physical
stores. In fact th Internet has many largest mall retailers and
mail-order firms offer more products on-line, especially Items that
are costly to stock , or products that require higher shipping costs.
In a national news feature recently there is an electronic hand
held tool, available that will scan a price tag's bar code - do a
search of the entire Internet for the exact same item at the best
price including shipping. This is what the retailer will be up
against in the next two years. Soon the only reason to purchase
locally would be to obtain better service and support on the products
we buy everyday. The service will have to be good to compete.
There will be a trend to develop partnerships between existing
businesses that have not enjoyed the success on-line they envisioned
their own with Internet based marketing firms and co-ops.
Every year as the percentage of our North American population tires
of the long drives, stress, longer hours, more services to do with
less time to do it while earning less benefits. You may work for a
business at risk and don't even know it yet. Are working for a
company that haven't developed their Internet marketing plan. Some
of these businesses will fail.
At the same time both large and small businesses are learning how
to sell an increasing percent of their products & services on-line.
All businesses will buy and sell more and purchase more products
on-line.
The cost to sell on-line is less every year. If you have a job
now it would a good idea to learn about your companies On-line
marketing plan. Your job might already be in danger and you don't
even know it yet.
Lately I see more & more web sites which are in essence
advertisements for a number of un-related MLM and associate business
opportunities. I usually click away quickly because I was interested
in getting free information from an expert. What incentive is there
for me to buy from you when I can join as an associate and make my
purchase wholesale ?
Is there a better way?
I think there is. Offer information & services targeted to your
specific targeted niche.
Everyone is an expert at something, and people are searching for
the exact information you already have to share. An equal number of
people are willing to sponsor your information in order to sell their
products and services.
The old saying "find a need and fill it" was never more true than
it is today.
When I started this publication I could put together the newsletter
and handle email issues in about 6-10 hours a week, Now I get an
average of 10-15 articles submitted every day. Lately the publication
efforts are taking well over 30 hours a week. When I add 60 hours to
a 30 hour week I can't even remember my kids ages. I have allowed
this growth to go unchecked too long. In 1999 there will be changes.
I started this publication on the concept that if I am investing my
time learning marketing on-line I might as well share the best
information I find with others. I haven't accepted paid advertising
in order to keep the information as "pure" as possible. I am
rethinking this issue.
I feel a responsibility to help people with their marketing
questions but with an average of 100s of emails a day, even filtered
by 90%. I still answer about 100 messages a day which requires 3-5
hours a day and usually all day on Mondays after the news-zine is is
published.
In order to help out, I have built a searchable on-line marketing
archives where anyone can get timely information on every aspect of
Internet Marketing, directly from the most successful full time
professionals free.
http://www.smithfam.com/news/archives.html
I support the best of the best sources of information & services by
re-selling their services or offering links to their websites.
You're wondering why I'm telling you all this?
I want your feedback, I want to focus my coverage of Internet
marketing to the issues you face everyday.
It is my intention to re-focus my attention to the issues that you
want to learn about most, I'll report my findings later this month.
This will not be scientific survey but it will reflect the desires of
everyone taking the time to respond.
I want to know which authors you learn the most from. Do you want
to learn more about web-site design, programing, advertising,
software tools, publishing, web-site promotion, producing graphics.
choosing business opportunities, strategies.
I want to offer the tools and services to take the experienced
marketers on to the next level, and at the same time I want to help
the less experienced or first time Internet marketer get a foot in the
door.
Thank you all for your continuing support, It' your support that is
buying my time so I can continue bringing you cutting edge marketing
services & information.
Bob
Click Here to Email Bob Smith
