Avoiding Online Marketing Scams

There is a gold rush mentality among network marketers to get  the #1 spot in Google – NOW!   Especially in my primary business, people are just realizing the power and importance of having a strategic online marketing strategy.  Unfortunately, in the rush to capitalize on the “millions of dollars exchanging hands on the internet” they are  falling victim to “online marketing services” that prey on their lack of online marketing knowledge.

It’s true if you are not using the internet to build your network marketing business, you are at a disadvantage.  PERIOD.  There is an urgency to not waste anymore time, or waiting for your MLM company to create an online marketing plan for you.  Still, you need a plan, some knowledge of online marketing and you must know who you are targeting.

Avoiding online marketing scams-

There is NO “Just do it this way” to market online.  It takes a multi-faceted approach. And that approach depends on your TARGET MARKET or your NICHE.  Even if you are using a reputable company, you need to have some idea of what to do.  And what ever you do, MUST include a follow up system – like autoresponders – that is independent of the marketing company you are using.  You always want control over your own database.

Protect yourself from scams by doing your homework.

1) Sometimes it’s easier to read a book in order to get a feel for what you want to do online.  Secrets of the Online Marketing Superstarsby Mitch Meyerson is a decent overview for non-techies.  There is always the
Dummies series books.  For network marketers specifically, I like Guerrilla Multi-Level Marketing .  It has some tips and it’s duplicatable.  Most importantly Guerrilla Multilevel Marketing will help you identify your niche or target market.  Don’t do anything until you know WHO you are marketing too.  (Hint: It’s not “everybody”.)

2) Get current information on online marketing trends.  Marketing Profs is very helpful, even though you might have some difficulty with the marketing jargon.  Go for the big picture.

3) If the agency or service you are considering is offering you a  replicating site to generate traffic, as your primary marketing thrust, don’t buy it. The majority of systems for network marketers promote replicating sites (each site is identical except for your contact info).  Google and the other search engines will bury it.  You can have a replicating site on the back end, but replicating sites don’t generate traffic.  Ever.

4) There are 100,000,000 + websites for network marketing online. You and everyone else wants to be on page 1 of Google, MSN and Yahoo.  So someone had better have a pretty darn good strategy to get found in the organic searches. Organic searches are what consumers put in Google and the other search engines when they want to find something. What research are they doing to get you there?

5) Your best bet is to take a reputable course from someone who is not marketing downline builders. If you have a strong primary business that could stand on its own merits, downline builders are a waste of time.  Even if you want to outsource your marketing efforts,  you must have an idea of what your service is telling you is reasonable.

6)  If these strategies are the primary way someone wants to  promote your site is:

website submission
traffic exchanges
traffic “blasters”
safelists
free ad exchanges
online networking that is SWAMPED with other MLMers (like Direct Matches, Adland Pro)
funded proposals
pay-per-click (very pricey in our industry)
“thousands of search engines” -only the top 5 matter

You are not getting current online marketing information.  You are getting techniques that are several years old.  (been there, done that, learned some stuff, wasted lotsa time).  Those work some of the time for some of the people.  BUT is your target market using a safelist? (probably not).  Are the stay-at-home moms who are looking for non-toxic cleaners surfing a traffic exchange?  NO. Can you afford $2 clicks - from your competitors and teenagers?  If you are looking for people who are jumping from company to company, then certainly use a safelist, traffic exchange, and Direct Matches.

You can avoid online marketing scams with just a little bit of research and knowing your own market.

Just my .02 from life.

Karen Miner Hurd

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About the author: Karen Miner Hurd is an armchair movie critic and confessed marketing junkie.  A former public relations executive, Karen lives with her husband Dale, 5 children, Bomber and Gordita (their pets) in Virginia Beach, VA. Her passion is empowering women to create financial security through her business www.womanwize.org.

Tags: online marketing, scams, SEO