I just wanted to share with you my thoughts on the current so called recession or credit crunch.

It’s virtually impossible to turn on any news from any source, without being bombarded with news on how bad the world economy is doing, how everyone is suffering, how another bank has been taken over or went bankrupt.

It’s freaking depressing!

Let me ask you a couple of questions….

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There, I’ve said it!

Sometimes we as Internet Marketers gets so caught up in what we are doing, we don’t realize how we disrespect our list, nor do we notice the SILLY mistakes we make.

I just sent out an email promotion to my WHOLE list, promoting the new Stomping The Search Engines 2 launch.

This is the email, VERBATIM:
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If you have taken the leap to start your own online business. Then you probably know that it’s a learning process just like everything else. Learning to make money online takes education and lots of practice. Think about it, if you are looking to start your own business offline, there are plenty of accredited schools you can attend; but, trying to find the online equivalent is virtually impossible. That’s not to say you can’t find good places to learn.

In fact, when learning how to make money online you can search the Internet day and night for useful information. You will definitely learn one thing very quickly: the most difficult thing about using the Internet for research, especially if you don’t have guidance, is information overload. Once you’ve found a method that suits you, stick to it as long as it keeps working for you. Making money on the Internet is all about duplication and consistency.

Anyone who can read, write, and has Internet connectivity can start an online business. Obviously, a computer helps. If this is your path, the first thing you will need to do is find the right source that will give you knowledge you need which can be done through a number of ways.

One method is to seek guidance and direction from a coach or mentor to help you establish a solid plan. Working with a coach one-on-one is the best way to eliminate information overload, because they will tell which steps and actions you need to take to build your business. A coach will cost you anywhere from approximately $30 per session to $100’s of dollars per session.

Frequenting forums is a way to learn from multiple people in the Internet business. Apart from experience, most of my knowledge has come from these types of forums. A simple Google search for “marketing forum” or “Internet forum” will give you many to choose from.

You may also choose to sign up for e-courses. These will give you regular lessons and assignments to follow, as well as measurable goals to achieve. Most successful e-courses set measurable monetary goals, and show you how to achieve them by the end of the course. Note: Please remember that even the best e-course will do nothing for you if you don’t take action on its lessons.

Lastly, search for a seminar or Internet marketing group in your area. If money is an issue as seminars can be costly, offer to be a volunteer. Most likely you will get more value out of the event because you will have direct contact with people who actually know the seminar leader.  Networking seminars is also a great way to get good connections with other people who are seasoned in the Internet marketing game.

Don’t believe all the get rich quick schemes you see. This is a real business that will take time to perfect. You can be sure that after you get over your learning curve and start to build momentum, the money you make online will be most rewarding.

Whether you realize it or not, you will only make money if you sell. Now this doesn’t mean you have to be shilling inferior products, or come across like you’re selling snake oil. You are not a carnival barker, you are an Internet marketer.

Your first thought may be that there are lots of ways to make money without selling. If there are, I haven’t found one. What it comes down to is the definition of the word ’sell’. The only way you will ever get people to give you their money is if you convince them to do so. They have to feel like it is the right decision based on the information they have.

Doing what’s known as the ‘hard sell’ often turns more people away than it’s worth. This is because they are programmed to recognize this selling technique as one that scammers use. Trying to force people to buy may get you a few sales, but it will never bring in the lifelong customers that are the soul of any successful business.

The skill you need to master is that of the ’soft sell’. Which one of the following do you think is easier?

A. Begging, pleading, convincing, forcing or beating people down until they buy.

B. Presenting the facts and benefits of your offer in a way that people convince themselves.

If you said ‘B’, you’re right. It’s not just easier – it’s more effective. There are a few basic things you can do to help your potential customers convince themselves to buy from you.

Show what’s in it for them. People don’t care about the features of your product, they do care about its benefits. For example, people don’t buy sports cars because they have more horsepower, people buy them because they go really fast. It’s a thrill to drive them. You can still mention the horsepower, but sell the thrill.

Don’t be pushy and avoid hype. This can be tricky when you are enthusiastic about your product. Please, by all means, use that enthusiasm to bring your sales message to life. Get people excited. Just strike the right balance. If you come on too strong, then you are back to doing the hard sell.

Use a conversational tone that’s appropriate for your audience. The idea here is to build rapport with your visitors. Get your potential customers to think of you as one of them. Don’t talk above, or below, their level or it will turn them off. People feel more comfortable buying from someone they can relate to. It’s only natural that people feel this way about whomever they are doing business with.

A fellow Internet marketer has said, “People like to buy without feeling like they are being sold to”. That’s an excellent observation. Putting these soft sell techniques into action increases sales, and increases your lifelong customers. They see the benefit of buying from someone they like who doesn’t overhype their products. Not only is that common sense – it’s good business.