The best way to get started using free information

Learning about Internet Marketing before jumping in with both feet is vital. You would not start any other kind of business without prior education and online businesses aren't any different. To be able to succeed with an online business, you have to know how to market it. Waiting until after you've started to obtain education you should have gotten beforehand will cause you to do major back-tracking.

Benefits:

1. If you don't take this necessary first step, you'll end up making mistakes that you could otherwise have avoided. As with regular "brick-and-mortar" businesses, time is money. You should look at the time you spend on Internet Marketing education as a good investment that will help keep you from making bad investments later.

2. You'll be able to see the big picture and learn how the system works before you get started. By doing this, you'll learn and be able to develop a step-by-step system to follow. Having a systematic approach will ensure that you don't leave anything out.

3. You'll build the foundation. The more solid the foundation is, the more stable the entire structure will be.

4. You can learn what is working for successful people, thereby saving yourself a lot of time and money...not to mention getting started on the right foot. There is nothing better than following in the footsteps of people who already know what they're doing.

Options:

· Search online for free information regarding Internet Marketing. The best places for this are related blogs, articles, forums, newsletters and free eBooks. It's easy to get overwhelmed using this method because there is such a plethora of information available, so be careful.

The best way to get started using free information is by reading some articles on Internet Marketing, then joining some Internet Marketing forums. Many experts on this topic frequent the forums. You can get any of your questions answered. Always read the posting rules before you begin using a forum.

· There are also membership sites specifically geared towards helping new people learn Internet Marketing. You have to be extremely careful when choosing this option, however, as there are many unscrupulous people online. Make sure the site you're considering gives a list on their sales page of exactly what you'll learn about if you join.

· Finally, you can sign up for a training program that teaches Internet Marketing techniques. These programs are usually conducted by mentors who have been there and done that.

With the second and third methods above, read the websites very carefully before shelling out any money. You need to verify that the sites aren't offering a business opportunity or a way to make money. They need to be only about teaching you Internet Marketing.

What to Learn About

There are many things you'll need to learn about, as you'll see when you begin your research. However, some things are vital. These include:

· Copywriting - Copywriting is one of the most important skills you'll need to learn. You'll use this to write your web pages, sales copy and advertisements.

· Article Writing - Article writing is one of the best free marketing methods available online. It helps you brand yourself as an expert in your niche while at the same time providing useful information.

·Social Marketing - Social marketing sites are those such as MySpace and Facebook. These are perfect ways to let your customers get to know you before trying to get them to buy something. As you'll learn, success online is all about building relationships with your customers.

· Keywords - You cannot do without keywords. These are necessary for search engine optimization. Without keywords the search engines can't find your site. Without the proper keywords, visitors will come to your site expecting one thing and finding another...and will promptly leave.

· Traffic Generation - You can have the best product in the world, but if nobody knows it, it is like having nothing.

· Traffic Conversion - You can have all the traffic you need, but if you are not able to convert those visitors into subscribers or into customers you are not going to make any money.