Have you ever seen an Octopus? Its tentacles reach out in all directions from a rather alien looking but extremely efficient body. That's how I see marketing on the Internet. First open a website on the Internet, then reach out in all directions to find prospects. Your center is the website, this is where you engage the prospect and convert him/her into a customer. The tentacles are articles, or other enticements to draw the prospect back to the website. Now, this would seem to be the natural order of things. It's the same with fishing or hunting, you have to ensnare the pray and pounce upon it before it gets away.

Survival on the Internet is pretty much the same as off the Internet. In order to eat you have to catch something. How do you go about doing that on the Internet? The same as off the Internet! Throw out a bait and wait for a bite. Or set a snare and wait for someone to get caught in it. Be sure the bait is what they're looking for (the niche factor) today and place it in front of their noses.

Internet Marketers are domesticated, they are herders not hunters. They want to herd people to their websites. And one website isn't enough, they have to have dozens. They feel it's easer to round people up and drive them into their site where the trap lies in wait. Once on the website they are baited or enticed into signing up for some super duper-deal that will end in the next ten minutes. They dangle a carrot in front of the prospect's nose and expect them to join the herd.

What's the problem?

There's a problem with that scenario. There are too many herders and they are herding people not cattle. Those who are fishing are caught in a maze of fishers. (I'm trying to make this generic, ladies) There are so many lines in the water the fish becomes confused and refuses to bite. Another thing, the bait isn't real. It's plastic, only a false replica of the real thing. It's a promise of a meal that will never come. Soon, the prospect won't take the bait at all. He/she has been tricked so many times he/she has become weary and starts looking for better waters.

Internet Marketers need to clean up their acts or fish in someone else's pond. The fact is, they fear telling the truth because for sure, no one would bite. I mean, can't you just see the truth? ?ONE THOUSAND A MONTH AFTER ONLY YEAR'S WORK?. I mean, who would go for that, they can get a job and do a lot better. Another fact: There are no six figure incomes for a few hours work. The principles of making money haven't changed just to accommodate the Internet. You either work long and hard or put up a lot of money to make money. There's no easy street in life. Everything comes with a price. The bigger the prize the higher the price. You know those guys who brag about making six figure incomes, they are spending five figures to do it. That's right, spend fifty thousand to make a million, not bad, if you have fifty thousand to spend in the first place.

Cut bait or fish?

Also, you can fish all you want but if you're not in productive waters and using the right bait, you won't catch Jack. You can have the most expensive pole there is and beat the water all day long to no anvil. You still have to be in the right place at the right time with the right bait to get results. Just because you catch a few fish doesn't make you an expert. It seems like everyone on the Internet is ready to give advise but it's all geared toward catching you. You become the catch of the other guy, who just like you, also has his line in the water

So here we are in our self made stupor running around catching each other. We write long pages of hype each a carbon copy of the other. Let's face it, you get the pitch, the testimony, and the super offer. Everyone is the same old lame B.S. ?I was a poor starving student until I discovered the secret and now, look at me in my new BMW. Oh by the way, here a few customers that also couldn't live without my secret.? They are all the same lying pieces of garbage. ?And, oh yes, let me email you about five thousand times so I can shove my lies down your throat. After all, you did sign up for my super BS ebook so that gives me the right.?

All is not lost.

I believe the Internet is an untaped medium. The potential is enormous for future generations, and despite our misgivings, it will evolve into a thing of wonder. Ecommerce will be the wave of the future, but it will be real products in real Estores and Emalls. Affiliates will sell their merchant's goods from real Eoffices in real time. And me, well I'm seventy years old and quickly fading into the sunset.

There is still a lot to be made on the Internet by using good logic and sound principles. You still have to reach out to the prospect and you still have to do some sales work. You are still working with people with needs and desires who trust you to do the right thing. Life is the same on or off the Internet. No one can escape the reality of life. We are the merchants of the future, ready to fulfill dreams and build on even larger ones. Let's try to be honest and forthright in our dealings with each other and maybe, just maybe we will all benefit in the end.

Happy Trails