Greg,

As you've seen the Internet marketing process takes some experience. And as you have obviously seen, we have given you some guidance, but you have been mostly on your own.

There is method to this madness, and in the next three weeks we are going to focus less on you surfing the Web and more on developing a system.

You have been introduced to:

1. Email marketing
2. Discussion groups
3. Ezines
4. Free areas to promote your site
5. Business Directories
6. Classified Ads
7. And, in a way, banner ads; since you have surfed so many sites, you can see how banner ads are used.

What we want you to work on this week are check sheets, outlining what is needed to keep a daily record for each of the marketing proposals listed above.

A. I also want you to explore the focus and purpose of each of these areas, and sum it up in a few sentences.

B. Finally, I want you to brainstorm how you would measure success.

We're not asking you to invent these things, but to consider them; go back to sites you have surfed, and take a look with a fresh eye. Pretend that you are selling a motorcycle part to someone, an unusual item that they can't find anywhere.

Use this as a case study as you go through each of the marketing ideas. Remember, this is more a writing exercise than a surfing exercise.

In the end, you should write up one sheet for each of the marketing methods listed above including:

1. Check lists for important factors concerning each.
2. Key frustrations you and others face
3. Systems that might be put into place
4. Ideas of what would help you out, what questions you have.

Just do one sheet per marketing idea, and work on this throughout the week. I'm sure that you are questioning what experience you have to do this. No one has experience, and you are the typical person we would be marketing to.

To begin, I want you to remember your key frustrations . What is the toughest part about your marketing? How can you best solve the problem? Think of a system that would take you from beginning to conclusion, and how you would measure success. Don't be afraid to be a bit creative here.

Here's how to do it:

1. Identify one frustration. Write it down. Don't jump to solutions too quickly.
2. Focus on what you can control and change.
3. Determine the underlying business problem. Ask questions, and keep asking; how can you measure success in each of the 7 areas listed above? As you keep asking questions, you'll discover the real cause of the frustration...most often lack of a way to solve the problem.
4. Identify a solution.
5. List the steps, the process, you would take with each of the 7 marketing steps listed at the beginning of this page.
6. How will you test this to measure if its working? How many units, i.e. motorcycle pegs, do you want to sell in each month?

The goal is not quantity, but quality. Print out your work at the end of each day and let me review it over night. We will meet each morning to discuss your findings, and to help you along the way.

Peace,
Declan