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It's pretty much widely known by all Internet marketers that one of the best ways to generate leads is by giving away free content. Like ebooks, audio lessons, video lessons, and things of that nature.

But one thing that is starting to happen is, these things are losing their power.

In fact, I have been hearing for years now how giving away free reports and content in exchange for someone giving you their email address isn't quite as powerful as it used to be.

At least, that is what is seems like.

The truth is, giving away freebies to generate leads not only works, but works as well as ever before -- as long as you do it the right way.

What is the right way?

The answer is simple:

Instead of doing what most other people do -- which is to give away things everyone else is giving away, and that people already have ten copies of -- you give away unique gifts they can't get anywhere else.

In other words, if someone can get your freebie from anyone else, don't use it. Instead use your own proprietary content. Content that has real value to it and that people would actually be willing to pay money for on its own.

If you don't have anything to give away, simply call an expert, record the call and turn that into unique content. You can have an audio file and written transcripts -- true value.

Whatever you do just know that, in reality, nothing has changed.

People still love free things. The problem is nobody wants two copies of something they already have.

And if youre creative with what you give away -- if you use some real strategy -- it will work for you like gangbusters.

Michael Senoff is a sought-after Internet marketer, interviewer and business coach with more than 50,000 students on four continents. He is also an expert on showing people how to create their own high ticket information products from scratch using just your telephone. For a 100% FREE REPORT that reveals how you can take your own ordinary book, e-book or even a concept and turn it into a information product you can sell for up to $3,900 or more go to:
http://hardtofindseminars.com/Audio_Marketing_Service.htm

Internet marketing can seem mystifying not only for beginners, but for moderately skilled internet marketers. With all the courses, forums, blogs, reports, seminars and teleconferences available to help people learn how to get traffic to their sites, it is one of the most overwhelmingly dense subjects on the internet.

Unfortunately, and this is perfectly true, most of the advice or "expert" tips are outdated or completely false. Since anyone can publish on the internet, you have a mixed bag of good information followed with much more bad information.

The mysticism of internet marketing is created largely by this glut of some good and mostly bad information. It makes the whole topic SEEM like rocket science when, in fact, much of what was true about internet marketing years ago is true today.

Most people think that since search engine marketing changes every five minutes, that ALL internet marketing tactics must have changed as much in the same amount of time. Not true.

The basics, like trading links, article syndication, testimonials, forum signatures, joint ventures, affiliate programs - most work as well today as they did years ago. That is, if you know how to value the work above for what it will truly do for your website traffic.

Funny thing is, no one places much value on the above tactics anymore because there is always some "new" tactic around the corner that claims the death of everything that came before it. And most people blindly follow that advice as if it were true.

Most of the time, this is to the detriment of their internet marketing efforts. The basics are what work all the time and what have always worked on the internet.

You can always experiment with new things, as long as you have not forgotten to do the basics. The basics proven to drive traffic, page rank, link popularity, and branding to your business.

Conservative, relevant reciprocal linking

Article syndication

Participation in your field and among your market (forums)

Blogging

Offline advertising

Non-reciprocal linking tactics

Press releases

...and many other proven methods.

Everything else is just a big experiment until proven to work over time. "Over time" being the operative words. Lots of flash in the pan crack pot schemes work for awhile. But most never stand the test of time.

Links from a widely syndicated article will never fade away, yet I see people chasing down fly-by-night linking pyramid schemes as if they truly believe something like that is a smart thing to base their internet business on!

Tens of thousands have walked away from their dreams, gone back to their depressing, predictable, slave-labor jobs never knowing how close they were to actually succeeding.

Good people have left this business proclaiming it an utter lie that any average person can make it with an internet business and an internet marketing plan.

I guess there is truth in that statement. Average people do in fact quit this business before they ever get started because average people fall for tricks and schemes that above average people avoid on their way to success.

If you have read this far, you are probably in the above average category. Why? Because average people would have take one look at the list of things I mentioned that are the bread and butter of internet marketing and saw nothing but hard work. And they'd be right!

Above average people don't shy away from work though. I don't know a single soul (and my rolodex has some of the biggest names in internet marketing in it) who got where they are today without a lot of hard work.

You can succeed in internet marketing if you are not afraid to work, and not constantly tempted by those who say you can succeed without it!

Focus on the basics of internet marketing and stay with them as you try new strategies. We all experiment. But successful internet marketers never leave their bread and butter tactics behind unless they cease to be effective.

Copyright 2005 Jack Humphrey

To learn bread and butter internet marketing tactics along with cutting-edge new internet marketing tactics, check out Jack Humphrey's all new Power Linking 2005. http://www.power-linking-profits.com

Q: What is the biggest problem most new internet marketers face, especially article marketers?
A: What to write about and how to find the information you need to write about your topic.

First of all, if you're just beginning, you need to know how to find topics for your articles and some research basics. Let me suggest that you pick a topic you like to begin with. Then go to dmoz.org and begin digging for a niche. Here is an example of how you could do that. Start with a broad subject like Recreation. Next, let's chose a subject like Motorcycles. Ok move down to Organizations. Now click on North America. Pick a demographic area like the United States. You could narrow it down to a State if you want to however; let's stick with U.S. Military Veterans. Now you have a whole list of Bike Clubs for Veterans. Go to some of these sites and read what they are talking about. What needs or desires do they have? Can you fill these needs and desires? Yes, you can. How? Search for a product that fills the needs and desires you just read about. Now write an article about these needs and desires and the product you found that fills those needs and desires. Remember to keep your article relevant and use the proper keywords. Now when this niche market is looking to fill their needs and desires you'll be a likely source in which to buy from.

What if you have a product but not a niche? Then you need to find a niche. Try this method to find a niche market: Go to dmoz.org, amazon.com, ebay.com, or your favorite shopping place online. Now, start by going down their indexes and keep clicking until you get deep into the realm of ever-narrowing niche market. That's one method to finding your niche.

Ok, let us dig a bit deeper into the subject of how to find topics for your articles and some research basics. Actually, this may go a bit beyond research basics.

What should I do before I start? Before you begin researching the internet or library you should consider the following:

Think about the information you are researching for.
Would a book or other electronic source be more appropriate? Like an encyclopedia or a database of refereed journal articles.
Would it be better to use a search engine, a subject directory, or both?
What words would best describe your subject? Try to be as precise as possible.

To keep your research effective it is important that you consider exactly what question you are trying to answer. This is called developing a research strategy. Following the steps below will help you to simplify your question:

What is your topic?
What are the key concepts in your question?
What other ways could you can express these key concepts?

When you have completed these steps you will have a list of terms with which to commence your research.

What to do when your initial research is not successful or returns too much information. Try these techniques of refining or improving your research:

Use more search terms to get fewer, more relevant records
Use fewer search terms to get more records
Search for phrases by enclosing research terms in commas ("German Sheppard Training")
Choose search engines that allow you to refine your search results
Limit your research to sites that end with .gov .net. or a country code like .uk .au and so on
Use Boolean operators or '+' (an essential term) and '-' symbol (for a term that should be excluded) to refine your search

That is how you can I improve your research results. Some search engines exclude some types of pages by policy. They do this to avoid cluttering up their databases with unwanted content. So, how do you dig deeper into this hidden web? Simply think "databases" and keep your eyes open. You can find searchable databases containing hidden web pages in the course of your research. Here are a couple directories of value in academic research:

Librarians' Internet Index (lii.org)
Infomine (infomine.ucr.edu)

Use search engines to locate searchable databases by searching a subject topic plus the word "database". If the database uses the word database in its own pages, you are likely to find it. The word "database" is also useful in searching a topic in the Google directory or the Yahoo directory, because they sometimes use the term to describe searchable databases in their listings.

Examples:
Airplane crash database
Languages database
Toxic chemicals database

Remember that the hidden web exists. In addition to what you find in search engine results (including Google Scholar) and most web directories, there are other gold mines you have to search directly. This includes all of the licensed article, magazine, reference, news archives, and other research resources that libraries and some industries buy for those authorized to use them.

In conclusion, keep these key points in mind when developing your research strategy. Be as specific as possible about what you are looking for and become familiar with the phrases and concepts you're researching. Divide your question into concepts for searching and think about and look for alternative research terms. Review your strategy and your results and use what you've found to build upon what you're researching. Don't forget that libraries are filled with books that are shelved together in subject areas. This means that when you find one useful book on the shelf, there will probably be others nearby.

Now you know how to find topics for your articles and some research basics. Use these tips to get you started and let me know if you have other suggestions.

About me: I am Clyde Mears, author of http://www.everydaylifeat.blogspot.com a blog that gives everyday people legitimate advise on how to become a legitimate internet marketer. I began my internet marketing career by going to the Wealthy Affiliate University http://www.learn-at-wealthyaffiliate.com and learned the in & outs of legitimate internet marketing. Go check out all the great learning resources and tools at the Wealthy Affiliate University today. Their eight week course will give you the skills you need to become a successful internet marketer. Remember: There is no impact without contact. Learn all you can today.

Internet marketing strategies are there for the plucking but you need to choose the right strategy for your needs. Therefore, it's important that you develop your own successful strategies. It will stand you in good stead.

Step 1: Development of the Product

You can't have a successful internet marketing strategy without a great product. If you don't have a quality product then all your energies and strategies would involve fooling the people who actually want to buy a quality product. Therefore, develop a product that you can sell and configure an online marketing strategy around that product. Try to make it exclusive and unique.

Step 2: Developing Web Page or Website

One of the prerequisites of good internet marketing strategies would be the development of a website or web page. The purpose of such a website would be that it would be used to specifically sell the product or service. Everything on your website must scream just one message "Buy my Product or Service". The message must be subtle but there must be no doubt regarding the same.

Step 3: Fine Tuning Your Strategies

Internet marketing strategies are liable to go wrong and one must be tuned in to the components that are not working and those that are. This way after a bit of trial and error you can zero in on a strategy that will work for you. There are host of strategies that you can create and implement but all of them will require a bit of fine tuning. So, be ready for that.

Fabian Tan is a well-known Internet Marketing expert and the author of the popular 59-page Report:

"Murder Your Job: How To Build Cash Sucking Autopilot Businesses In 30 Days Or Less!"

Head over to http://www.MurderYourJob.com to get your FREE copy now!

Also, quickly download his FREE "Explosive Traffic System" report that shows you how to generate 10,000+ unique visitors per month at no cost! => http://www.ExplosiveTrafficSystem.com