My Dumbest Marketing Blunder And How You Can Avoid It

When I started submitting Ezine articles, I never realized their true power. I was just happy to see the articles being published.

I expected to get some traffic and hopefully some sales. I would have laughed if you told me those early words would still be floating around the web over five years later.

Well, smack me on the wrist and call me shorty, they are. You would think that's a good thing and it is except... That's the operative word, "except." The little critters are still multiplying around the web like rabbits in heat, but there is a little problem. Actually, the problem isn't so little.

This darn problem haunts me. At least a couple of times a week it drives me insane. Whenever I run across it I feel like the dullest axe in the shed.

If I were double jointed, I'd kick myself in the "hello there."

So what is this dumb mistake that:

  • Has me pulling my hair out by the roots

  • Has me kicking myself over and over

  • Haunts me like that house in Amityville

Outdated resource boxes with links leading to that dreaded 404 error.

I'm afraid to guess how much money and traffic I'm losing. It's a nightmare. Those babies are doing their part, but crazy John has made the ultimate dumb mistake.

How did this happen? How could I end up looking like the "village idiot?"

The only answer I can give is, "I didn't realize."

I never realized how viral articles were. I had no idea that little articles could circle the globe for years.

I didn't see the big picture. I wrote those resource boxes with no regard for the future.

How can you avoid making the same mistake?

1. If you're going to promote an affiliate program, don't link directly.

Sometimes programs just disappear. Other times, you may find the program hasn't lived up to your expectations.

Set up a redirect page on your website. If the program disappears, or you no longer wish to promote it, you can reset the page to lead wherever you choose.

2. Don't lead directly to your opt in list.

You never know when a list may change their pricing or services. For one reason or another you may change listservs.

A better option is to set up a page on your site to capture addresses. If you leave your present service, you can edit the page to lead to your new list.

If I had set up my links according to option number one for affiliate programs, or two for list building, I'd have kept the leads flowing and the orders coming for years.

Creating killer articles can drive traffic and pull in profits for years. So avoid the mistakes of this "dumb monkey" and reap the full rewards of your efforts.

Wishing You Success, John Colanzi

About The Author

Copyright (c) John Colanzi. John has been writing on the Internet for 5 years and has a special gift for you. Sign up for your complementary e-Course "How To Build Your Business With Free Advertising." Visit: http://www.thesimplesystem.net/cashflow.html

jcolanzi@johncolanzi.com



Why Submitting Articles Gnaws at You Like an Unsent Thank-You Note

Writing and Submitting Articles is More about Psychology than Writing... Read More

Aggressive Marketing

If you get an email with a title like 'Don't... Read More

12 Benefits of Internet Marketing for Your Business

1. Far Cheaper and Much More Flexible Than Print AdvertisingThe... Read More

How Internet Marketeres Can Create Their Own Powerful Niche... Even In an Over-Crowded Industry!

For some reason, people who look to the internet to... Read More

Part Time Internet Marketing with A Full Time Approach

The deluge of people wanting to make money on the... Read More

Autoresponders = Automatic Internet Marketing Success

What if you could send out all the information that... Read More

Dont Tell Me What I Cant Do!

Have you ever watched ABC's hit TV show Lost? My... Read More

Internet Marketing Requires Lots of Patience!

When you first make a decision to start an Internet... Read More

Internet Marketing Simplified! 2 Pillars For Achieving Massive Results

Are you confused by the flood of information on how... Read More

Network Marketing Online ? The Method

Network Marketing online works by giving you your own online... Read More

3 Simple Steps for Revealing Marketing Secrets of the Experts

Learn the easy method I use to reveal marketing secrets.... Read More

The Paradigm Shift of Internet Marketing

There is a trend going on in the world of... Read More

Stepping Outside the WAHM Zone

Often times on message boards you'll see several reps from... Read More

9 Great Reasons To Help An Internet Marketing Newbie

Zig Ziglar the famous self help guru was once quoted... Read More

Online Advertising Techniques

Online advertising is necessary for your computer business to grow.... Read More

What The Home Shopping Networks Can Teach Us About Online Marketing

Who would have thought that a TV network dedicated to... Read More

Double Your Revenues with Joint Ventures

The best way I know of to multiply your online... Read More

How To Let Your Customers Search For YOU! ? Part 1

Actually I love the techniques I will explain below. These... Read More

10-Essential Points When Considering Pop-Under Advertising

I have been running tests on the use of Pop-Unders... Read More

How To Make A Lot Of Money On The Internet Doing Nothing

"You can make a lot of money on the Internet... Read More

Build the Snowball and It Will Run

Setting up your own online business can seem extremely daunting.... Read More

Internet Marketing: 5 Innovative Internet Marketing Strategies To Generate Tons Of Orders

There are two different groups of online marketers.First group: those... Read More

Starting an Internet Business is not for Everyone

Creating and building your home internet business does not need... Read More

How to Get $250,000 Worth of Free Advertising for Your Business

You and I know that whenever you have a business,... Read More

What The Internet Owes Me

What does the internet owe me for all my hard... Read More

If you'd like to keep up-to-date,
please complete the form below and we'll put you on the mailing list
to receive our twice-yearly newsletter for supporters

* Your email address:
* choes your language: