There are certain pitfalls you need to avoid in starting any business, and Internet marketing is no exception. You want to arm yourself with tools for success while avoiding the pitfalls. You want to avoid wasting both time and money. Here are some schemes that you should exercise all due caution with before even considering them.
1. Buying e-mail addresses.
I’m sure you have run across companies that offer to sell e-mail addresses. Some are legit and some aren’t, but the majority are not. Unless you can be certain that the addresses you get are double opt-in, you should avoid them.
For the uninitiated, double opt-in means that a subscriber, after signing up for a list, is sent a link in his e-mail inbox that he must click on to confirm that he did, in fact, subscribe. This keeps nefarious third parties from subscribing those who aren’t interested.
Anyone can tell a lie but sometimes it takes a great deal more inner strength to tell the truth. Sadly, there’s a lot more of the former type than the latter. Fortunately, there are also some trustworthy folks out there with whom you can build a long-term relationship.
One thing is certain, the best way to build a mailing list is to do it yourself. Only in this way can you be completely sure that the e-mail addresses you have are of those who truly want what you are offering to them. Think two or three times before purchasing e-mail addresses, especially if the price is reasonable.
2. Safelists.
In a word: NO! These are often touted as a quick way of gaining traffic when joining a joint venture or giveaway event, but unfortunately they don’t work. Basically, safelists are groups of people who are trying to sell their stuff to each other. They are free to join, but of course you get what you pay for. Most such e-mails are simply ignored and deleted.
Joining joint venture giveaways can be a good way to build your client base, but they should not be promoted through the use of safelists, which simply don’t work.
3. Spamming
An internet marketing system that was, ironically, highly recommended in the past advocated the use of software that could be used for spamming people. Fortunately for Mac users, the software ran on Windows PCs but not Macs.
The fact is that spamming is against the law in the United States and if you are caught engaging in it you could be fined and have your computer equipment confiscated. The only thing spamming will do for you is ruin your reputation.
4. Time-Wasters
Get-rich-quick schemes can be found all over the Internet. Avoid them. These include money rotator schemes and so on. Usually they are touted as being “easy” ways of making money online. In evaluating such schemes, you should remember what most of us were taught as children: nothing worthwhile in life is easy.
A money rotator scheme is one in which you pay $5 to get in and have your name placed on a member list. When your name is randomly displayed and a new member signs up, you get paid $2 and the program operator gets the other $3
However, the operator gets paid every time a new member signs up, while you are paid only when your name is one of the thousands that is randomly selected. In addition, you have to spend countless hours recruiting others to join the program. It is easy money only for the operator, but not for you.
5. “Too good to be true” offers
The old adage that “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” always applies. Of course, there are people who have great products and service at a reasonable price. Nevertheless, if someone claims that something is easy, but your own personal experience and common sense tells you it is not, then you should consider this a warning sign. After all, if making lots of money were easy, then everyone would be doing it.
Read all details of an offer and don’t take anything at face value. Make sure you understand what you will be getting and, if software is involved, what operating system is required to run it. Any reputable merchant should be willing to answer honest questions. If they fail to do so, then you should move on to the next offer.
Internet marketing can be a profitable and exciting business, but it can also be one that is fraught with pitfalls, so you must be careful in all that you do. Remember that common sense will carry you the farthest in your quest for Internet success.
6. Negative thinking
This is one of the greatest success destroyers there is. It’s what I call the “failure mentality.” You won’t achieve positive results if you let negative thoughts stop you.
Sometimes, friends and family can be the biggest naysayers in life. True, they may have your best interests at heart, but it is hard for them to understand what you are trying to accomplish online.
Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak faced their share of naysayers, ranging from Atari to Hewlett-Packard, who could not see why they should put their trust in two guys who are trying to start a business out of a garage.
Even if you flop at your first idea, so what? Just keep trying. This is the mistake that many people make. Not everything they try succeeds, but they gain experience through their failures that can help them to succeed the next time. You must be willing to give that next time a chance.
