Here are 10 simple Internet Marketing Rules to Live by. Print them. Post them to your desk. Use them everyday.

1. Invest Small When Starting Anything New.

Always invest small when starting out. It’s possible any ad you run may lose money. Always keep your risks and investment small whenever you’re starting a new type of advertising. Even if you had that top level copywriter write your ad, not everything they write will be a home run. It may need a few changes to produce the results you want. The market you’re advertising to may not be perfect. There is no such thing as a “Sure Thing.”

2. Test Everything.

Only one expert is right, and it’s not me. It’s your own personal test results. Test headlines. Test the length of your ad copy. Test audio and video on your sales page. Test a squeeze page before visitors get to the sales site. Constantly run 2 ads on Adwords for every ad group. Test a “try before you buy” offer. Test telephone follow-up. Quit blindly following gurus and test everything!

3. Be Unique.

Don’t ever be a me-too business. Take a look at everyone in your marketplace. What is different about you from them? Here’s a quick exercise. Write down all the benefits someone gets from your product or service. Now cross off all the benefits they can also get from other people’s products and services. What’s left? If nothing is left, you may need to rethink or modify what you offer to provide something unique in your marketplace.

4. Target Your Ads Only to Buyers.

You’ve chosen your niche, but do you write your ads to all your visitors. No. You will never achieve a 100% buying rate. Much more common is 1%…and 10% is extremely high (possible at times with strong follow-up). This means at least 90% of your website visitors are NOT your target audience even though they came to your site. You’re not writing to them. It doesn’t matter if those people like what you write at all. You’re writing only to the BUYERS…that 1 to 10% of your unique visitors who will take action.

5. Develop a Backend From the Beginning.

You should already have a basic idea or outline for your next offer before your first one is done. If your first product is an ebook or CD, what will you offer next? You may start your backend by offering joint venture deals and affiliate offers from others. The money is any business comes from repeat purchases and backend sales. In fact, I’d never want to be in any business where I HAD to make money from one product. It destroys your marketing ability. If your competitor can break even or even lose money on their advertising, how can you compete if you have to make a living off the same offer?

6. Your Network Determines Your Net Worth.

First heard that expression from Mark Victor Hansen. Strategic Alliances, social networking, referrals, viral marketing, etc. are the key to building your business online. Going it alone is a recipe for failure. In most businesses, affiliates make up 50% to 75% of sales. Incoming links from other sites is the key to search engine optimization. Find ways to serve the other top players in your niche. Network. Mastermind. Grow together…even with competitors.

7. Don’t Restrict Your Business to Internet Only.

You’re not an Internet business. You’re an Internet based business. Develop your business model with both Internet and offline strategies. Follow-up on customer by phone. Here’s a quick tip – call people who just purchased from you to thank them for their order and also offer them something else at a discount price right now (I’ve seen people increase profits by 40% from that alone). Send direct mail to your customers. Rent a targeted mailing list and send postcards to drive people to sign-up for your list. Use offline publicity and networking to generate leads.

8. Build your Relationship with Your Lists.

Yes, I said “lists,” not “list.” Concentrate on educating your list members…both with good content and about your products/services. Use online follow-up methods such as email and be willing to use direct mail. Send thank you cards to JV partners and customers. Run a teleconference where you meet with your customers or prospects. Create a blog. Put a face on your company and let them get to know you as a person.

9. Focus on Your Gifts.

Focus your time and attention on what you’re best at. There’s dozens of ways to market your site. Concentrate on the ones that most fit with your style and skillset. If you hate writing, then don’t use writing as your primary advertising method. Or hire out the writing. Figure out what skills you have…and focus on those. Outsource the rest to others. If you try to force yourself to be just like “Guru #1,” it’s simply going to be an exercise in frustration. You’re unique. Build a unique business suited to you.

10. Plan for the Long Haul.

I’m sure you’ve been told about instant riches overnight. Quit trying for that. And quit trying to jump on the “new thing.” Pick a business and work on it. Yes, I said work…that dirty four letter word so many people hate. Things might no go right when you first start. You might have to modify a few elements of your presentation. You might have to change your product. To be successful in this business requires you have a backbone and stick to it even when things don’t go your way! Develop at least a one year plan with daily actions to push you to success. You’ll make modifications along the way, but at least you have a basic roadmap of where you’re going.

Terry Dean helps business owners Earn More, Work Less, and Enjoy Life. Receive his Special report, “10 Key Strategies for Any Business Owner to Earn More, Work Less, and Enjoy Life” along with “Live the Internet Lifestyle…Retire Young and Wealthy” here: http://www.theterrydean.com

Are you ready to get an education in making money on and off the Internet…one that will last you for the rest of your life?

What if it costs less than $100?

I love information products. I have hundreds of CDs, DVDs, eBooks, and manuals. I’ve attended dozens of seminars. My education has cost me at least $100,000 over the years.

My absolute favorite information product is the simple…lowly physical book. Everyone is a little different in which form they prefer to learn from. I love to sit outside and read. It’s fun. It’s enjoyable. And it beats every other information format for me.

My office is filled with books. My wife and I also have a game room in our house with bookshelves lining the walls. It is full of books. Books have flowed into another room of the house. They take up a lot of room, but you won’t get me to part with them anytime soon.

I remember at a conference where another speaker was talking. He said that if you ever get into financial problems, you sell your books for cash. Kirt Christensen leaned over to me and said, “Forget that…I’ll sell my clothes before my books!”

I wholeheartedly agree.

Today I want to share with you how to get a top notch copywriting education for under $100. Yes, there are some great courses out there for $200, $500, and even $2,000. They often go into more advanced strategies. But you can get started on a budget with just these resources to start.

Tested Advertising Methods
by John Caples – $10.15

This is one of the must read classics that virtually every copywriter uses and recommends. It shows you why testing is the only way you can really measure an ad. It also teaches you the basic systems to get started writing.

Web Copy That Sells: The Revolutionary Formula for Creating Killer Copy That Grabs Their Attention and Compels Them to Buy
By Maria Veloso – $14.52

This book isn’t often mentioned when talking about copywriting, but I love it. Many copywriting books talk about what you should do, but they don’t give you the How. Maria has included in her book tools…a checklist…a list of emotional words…and more. In other books, you would be told to pay at least $200 for a “backend” course to get the meat she gives in the book itself.

The Ultimate Sales Letter: Attract New Customers. Boost Your Sales
By Dan Kennedy – $9.23

Dan’s book contains a lot of valuable insight and a system for writing your sales letter. There are a lot of nuggets throughout the book you can immediately take and use. The promotion for his other courses and products is a little heavy though compared to all the other books in this list.

Internet Integrity: The Truth About How Any Business Can Increase Profits Online
By Terry Dean – $19.95

This book isn’t about just copywriting, although a 15 step copywriting system is included. It also covers how to generate visitors to your website and how to use email to close them. There is also a chapter dedicated to local businesses and people who are just starting out without a product to sell. It’s a great beginning Internet marketing education for under $20.

Advertising Secrets of the Written Word: The Ultimate Resource on How to Write Powerful Advertising Copy
By Joe Sugarman – $39.95

I could have easily listed at least 2 or 3 other books if I left this one out. It really is that good. It includes his 24 psychological triggers, the slippery slope, and many other strategies. There are two additional books to the series, and while they’re good, they are not as good at this one in my opinion.

All 5 books above add up to $93.80 today at Amazon. Get started in copywriting for under $100 with these resources. If you master this skill, you’re on your way to success. No money changes hands until something is sold. Copywriters hold the key to selling on the web, through the mail, on video, and in person.

Terry Dean helps business owners Earn More, Work Less, and Enjoy Life. Receive his Special report, “10 Key Strategies for Any Business Owner to Earn More, Work Less, and Enjoy Life” along with “Live the Internet Lifestyle…Retire Young and Wealthy” here: http://www.theterrydean.com

If there is one thing I know, that’s book marketing, and from time to time I learn about a neat new tool that makes selling books online just a little bit easier.

I would like to introduce you to Skirbit. Skirbit.com allows an author to easily add a small widget to their blog which gives readers a chance to communicate directly with the author. At the end of the blog, this small widget asks one simple question “What should I write about?” What a perfect question. This allows an author to customize blogs based on reader suggestions.

If you want to be one of those authors who are really in touch with your audience, Skribit allows you to do just that. Learning how to sell books on the Internet is a meticulous process but if you can get feedback, not only from customers, but potential customers, it will make the process much easier.

Once you create an account with Skirbit, you are presented with an easy to use dashboard to easily create your widget. Simply code the code given to you in your blog and you’re done.

Remember, the marketing calendar is finally available, and for only $5.95/month. You will get daily emails of exactly what you need to do to market a book online. I realized how hard it was to sell my books once they were published, but after years of experience, I am brining my knowledge to your email box on a daily basis. Even if you want to write a book, this will be a great preparation tool for you.

Michael Volkin is the author of the new book Social Networking for Authors-Untapped Possibilities for Wealth. Check out his book and book marketing services at www.SellaTonofBooks.com.

Believe it or not, people do still read books! However, if you want to draw attention to your published work, then it is important to take it to the Internet. The Internet is a viable resource for valuable information, and many people are looking for great content to read in the form of books and e-books.

One of the most important things to do as an author marketing your book on the Internet is to find your audience. This will allow you to tell them about the book that you have available in their area of interest. This is going to happen through the process of informing your audience, whether you are selling the book directly or providing affiliate information.

One of the best resources available to any Internet business, including authors marketing their books, is to use social media marketing and forums. If you are not yet plugged into Twitter and Facebook, then you need to do so immediately to begin to gain exposure for yourself and your published book. On top of that, you do have the opportunity to become a member of specialized forums where you can interact with readers who are interested in your specific subject.

Depending on your topic, consider creating a smaller e-book form of your book that you can offer for free or at a low cost. If you do have a How To book or a book on a specialized subject, then you can provide a small e-book that will tantalize your future readers and prompt them to buy your physical book. For instance, if you have a book on beauty, then consider creating a small e-book on “The 5 Best Skin Care Tips”. This is just one example of a way that you can easily market your book through the form of a free e-book available to readers interested in your subject.

It is a fact that people will be attracted to anything that is free, and that is precisely the way that you can give them a sample of the writing in your book and also establish your credibility as a valuable author. This is a basic and necessary component to effectively marketing your book on the Internet.

Chuggin McCoffee is a coffee fanatic that has spent the entirety of his career cultivating and studying all of the best uses and brewing styles for optimal coffee and espresso flavor. His specialty site for all coffee needs, supplies, and the Bodum French Press can be found at www.thecoffeebump.com.

I started selling my books online from my own website in 1998. For the first couple of years, more orders came in by phone than through the website. What often happened was that someone went to the website, decided to order the book, then called me on the telephone because they did not want to enter their credit card information on my website. This was probably a result of not knowing anything about who was behind the website, and also just the general unease many people had at that time with ordering online. Once they talked with me, learned I was a real person, and felt comfortable with me, they were willing to order over the phone.

I can point to an exact date when it all changed. In 2002, I was featured in Woman’s Day magazine. They mentioned my book and my website. Because I was expecting to get slammed with phone calls, I set up a fulfillment service to take orders.

To my surprise, More than 90% of orders came via the website. About 5% came by telephone through the fulfillment service, and the rest by mail or fax.

I attribute this to two things: People were starting to feel more comfortable ordering online. They had ordered things from Amazon and other large companies and understood the process better. Nothing horrible happened when they ordered online, so they felt better about ordering from other websites.

The second, and probably more important, factor was that I had credibility due to being in Woman’s Day. The people who read that magazine trust it. They assumed that Woman’s Day would not put my website in their magazine if it was a scam.

This doesn’t mean that you have to be in Woman’s Day or another major magazine to get people to order directly from you. What it does mean is that you need to establish credibility.

Here are several ways you can make your website credible and encourage customers to buy your book directly from your website:

• Have a professional-looking site. List your contact information on the site, including an address and phone number (not just email).
• State that your ordering process is secure. (It is, isn’t it?) Include appropriate logos that give credibility, such as the Better Business Bureau, Authorize.net, HackerSafe, VeriSign, etc. It couldn’t hurt to display the logos of the professional and industry organizations to which you belong.
• Mention awards or media exposure you and your book have received.
• Put up endorsements and blurbs. The fact that my book, The Mystery Shopper’s Manual, is endorsed by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association gives it and me instant credibility.
• Encourage them to order directly from you by giving them something they won’t get at Amazon. For example, I autograph books sold at my site and give customers a free PDF download with clickable links to the online resources listed in the book.

Make them feel comfortable about ordering from you, and they will. Some will go to Amazon to get a discount or free shipping, or just because they feel better ordering there. Some will go to their local bookstore because they prefer to buy that way. And some will buy from you. Bottom line, what is most important is that they buy the book. But the extra margin you get when they buy from you makes it worth the effort to encourage direct sales.

Cathy  Stucker is the author of The Mystery Shopper’s Manual, the only book for mystery shoppers endorsed by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. You can learn how to become a mystery shopper at http://MysteryShoppersManual.com/.