I have been doing business as an Internet marketing professional
for a few years now and one of the most important things I have
realized is that people want to know the folks they do business
with just like in their Hometown. Let's face it, when you go to
the grocery store or even the local bank, you know the people
that work there. You know their names and they at least know you
by site if not by name.

It is a great feeling to be able to ask Alice what your bank
balance is and have her respond with, "It's $xx.xx, Mr. Smith."
Or Bill, at the Super Market, asks if he can carry out your
groceries and knows your car. Some of these folks are
even your friends away from their jobs. Imagine what it
would be like to be in a strange town where you didn't
know anyone and nobody knew, or cared, who you were.
Sounds a little like the Internet, huh?

You find a site that sounds like a good deal on a product or
service. You click on the credit card link and make your
purchase from someone that you don't know and that has
no idea who you are. Wouldn't it be nice if you had an idea
who they were and if they are real people just like you?
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to ask some questions and
get some answers from a real person that calls you by name?

Frankly when I do business on the Internet I want to be
recognized. I want the people I do business with to be there if
I have a question. Autoresponders are nice and save a lot of
time, but there is nothing like a personal e-mail from someone
who will take time to address your questions directly to you.

Yes, the Internet is changing. It changes every day and new
people are getting online every minute. People that are new
to the Internet and trust what they see just like in their
Hometown. This is an open door for the crooks that abound.
As more and more folks get screwed, more of them get
skeptical and cautious. This simply means you will have to
go the extra mile if you want to make money and be successful.

We are changing the way we do business, and if you market on the
Internet you had better think about doing the same. Bottom line
is the folks that have been online for a while are getting
cautious and the Newbies are getting taken. So what are some
things we all can do?

The first thing is to get your picture, name, location and
contact information right up front on your site where people can
see you. Just like the local store in your Hometown.

Second, let them know that they can e-mail you with any
questions they may have about your products and services.
Then take the time to reply personally.

You can play with the search engines, set up autoresponders, try
Safe Lists (phooey and BS), and all the other so called "hot
tricks". But in the end, the best business will come from those
folks that feel like they know you and can trust you. They will
send the people they know because they were treated "Special".

So write an Ezine and make it personal. Offer your help. Let
them know you are there for them. It may take a little longer
to make the Big Bucks, and you may have to work a little
harder, but in the end you will wind up on top. Take the time
to create your own Hometown on the Internet. We have.

Mike Smith, owner of CM/YMTC, has extensive experience with
computers and the Internet. His latest venture offers a 4-page
customizeable Ebusiness Website (NOT a mirror site!) for a
remarkably small investment.
http://cmymtc.com/index1.htm