Internet Marketing is an incredibly competitive business -- especially if you are trying to compete in the Make Money Online niche.  Obviously, it's so tough because the people you are competing with are experts in critical areas like SEO and the like, so they are able to re-use the tools and strategies that that they are selling to win in the market.

That's why you have seen so many Internet marketers turn to niche marketing.  If you are an expert in SEO or Article Marketing (or whatever) and you want to be the king of Barbie Shoes online, as an Internet marketer, you can win against a Barbie enthusiast with a mediocre website and no SEO expertice almost over night.

Taking It Offline

But what about the olld-school brick and mortar businesses out there?   At first glance, you might think that there is not much opportunity for Internet marketers in that space.  However, that could not be further from the truth.

I am constantly amazed in conversations how little people in the "real world" know about SEO, traffic, conversion, and Web 2.0.  It makes sense, really.  Most people are busy running their businesses.  How in the world can they find time to worry about a web site.  After all, to many people, websites are just one step away from magic.

Filling A Need

So what does that mean for you?  Let's say you frequent an offline business in your area and you notice that they have a poor web presence.  Do you think you could help them?  The answer is probably yes if you know anything about

• How to hire and or build a great looking web site
• How to optimize that site for search traffic
• How to buy ad traffic to that web site
• How to capture email addresses and send a newsletter
• How to establish a Web 2.0 presence on Facebook or Twitter

You get the idea.  Chances are that you know a hell of a lot more about SEO than the guy at the local vacuum cleaner repair shop.  Maybe you should talk to that guy next time you are in.

A Great Example

So, I found a great example of a brick and mortar business that I thought I could show to make my point.  Frontier Labels is a company that sells sitckers.  That's right -- they print and sell stickers.  I am not sure if they have a storefront, but they have a great site.

This is really a nice website, and it looks to me like they have a great product and an awesome business model.

Things that I see on their site that you could learn from

• Great modern site design (easily done by a pro)
• Lead capture (Instant Quote)
• A blog
• A Facebook account
• Testimonials
• eCommerce cart
• Live chat

The testimonals are really great -- check this one out:

"I was blown away by the speed and quality of service with Frontier. All of my expectations were exceeded and then some. The labels pretty much "pop" off of the rolls with the vibrant colors. It only took one week from the time I submitted project to the time I received my shipment to get my labels. I can't say enough about what a great job they did! I will definitely be back for our other brands soon. Avrum Elmakis Owner, Top Dog Treats"

One opportunity I see for Frontier Label is that they could have more SEO-friendly URLs, especially for their blog,

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that Frontier Lables has a great site that has lots of fundamental Internet Marketing strategies successfully deployed.  If you are reading my blog, you probably already know more about Internet Marketing that 99% of all small business owners.

Can you help them?  Sure!  Is that worth money to them.  You bet.

So how can you get started?

Well, here are some tips:

• Research the company before you go.  Offer them a free Internet Marketing Evaluation, and bring it with you when you come.
• Don't overstate your qualifications.  Be honest, and when you start out price your services accordingly.
• Consider offering risk reduction in the form of a guarantee.  No results from your work, no charge.
• Do not over-promise on results.  Most Internet Marketing campaigns take longer than you think.

Hope this starts you thinking about new markets for your Internet Marketing skills.

Regards,
Mark

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means. It's time for another weekly Internet Business Fortune Cookie.

This week I skipped the entree and had hot-and-sour soup and steamed dumplings (both appetizers).  It was kind of nice.  Less Filling.  Tastes Great.  I like those little dumplings.  Steamed are yummy, but like most things, dumplings are even better when you fry them.

This week, the cookie speaks about the wisdom of friendly internet marketing gurus:  "Investigate new possibilities with friends.  Now is the time."

Clearly the cookie speaks about the need to get to know an internet marketing guru and learn from them.  It's where we all start, and lord knows we all could use someone to mentor us with business.  Plenty of my own mistakes could have been avoided with a little help.  If you are looking to niche your business into a particular specialty, find a guru to guide you along.

Real Versus Pretend Gurus

What is a guru anyway?  When I first heard that word many years ago, it sounded like a holy man living high up in the mountains.  Actually there is no reason you cannot become a guru one day.  A guru is just an expert in a field who is willing to share their secrets to success with others looking to prosper in that business.

Real Guru examples are Garry Conn and Josh Spaulding.

A Pretend Guru example is Jeffrey Lant.

When it comes to niches, a guru has found a way to hone their skills and their product offerings to appeal to the widest market possible.  Everywhere you go, you’ll see their name mentioned in publications and testimonials.  Often times, they will have an online presence as well as one in the real world.

Fake It 'Till You Make It

Many claim to be experts but all are not.  Look for particular characteristics.  How well do they know the niche?  Check their websites and feedback in forums about this person.  If their revenue is coming from marketing to that niche, it is worth a look.

How did they begin their business?  It could be that they began just like you.  They wanted something better.  Their “guru” status is a testament to persistence and not taking “No” for an answer.

Ask them questions.  Gurus are meant to be accessible.  They have blogs and websites, do podcasts and interviews, and partner with other viable business ventures to make more money.  But they always have time to give advice to others who are struggling to get where they are.

Finding a guru may take some time.  It all depends on your niche.  What you hope to find is someone who has found a new way to market a product or service that is a success.  Test their advice and methods.  If it works, continue to follow their lead.  A guru is also someone who is open to new ideas.  They are not the only one with great ideas, they just happened to discover most of them first.

A guru can be your teacher in the niche business world.  One day, you may even partner with them in a business venture.

As the cookie says, Investigate new possibilities with friends.  Now is the time.

Have a great day.
Mark

Photo credit: Uploaded on July 17, 2006 by headcase