- by Dave Foster

Copyright © Dave Foster – All Rights Reserved

http://www.soloprofits.com

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If someone were to ask you: “What are the foundations of your
Internet Marketing business efforts?”, would you have an answer?
If you find yourself hesitating for even a moment, then it may be
time to rethink this age old concept and figure out how much it
effects your current and upcoming online ventures.

We are all taught that a great building is only as strong as its
foundations. This analogy is usually used when teaching a life
lesson – whether to enforce the importance of a strong base for
matters of family, friendships, education, or business
endeavors. With bricks and mortar businesses, the concept of a
solid foundation is not lost on most people either.

However, when it comes to an online business, this principle
seems to slip through the nets of internet business owners. One
reason may be that it is much “easier/quicker” to create an
online business than a traditional bricks and mortar one.
Therefore the importance of creating a solid foundation is often
overlooked during the lightening-fast birth of the new
enterprise.

In Internet Marketing circles, you frequently hear talk of the
“power of focus” (very important when creating a solid business
foundation), but being dragged (kicking and screaming) into
staying focussed is not going to magically build a solid
foundation for your online enterprise.

The sole purpose of a strong foundation is to uphold the entire
structure. When Internet Marketers are told to focus, what
should be emphasized is the importance of focusing on the
foundation…not simply focusing on a given product, or a
specific project or a dedicated niche. A strong foundation for
your online business is the rock-solid base that underpins
success for your products, projects and niches now and into the
future.

You don’t have to look far to see the effects of a weak online
foundation. Just watch the panic that ensues whenever Google has
one of its infamous algorithm changes. This is akin to putting
all of one’s eggs into one basket and has caught many a
marketing guru in the proverbial crossfire.

With Internet Marketing, the prospect of laying a proper
foundation can be a double edge sword. On one hand, it is risky
to jump from one project to another, whilst on the other, it is
critical to stay up-to-date with current trends and
technologies. Trying to maintain a balance between the two means
you walk a fine line in establishing a solid foundation that will
be both dynamic as well as firmly grounded.

Whether you’ve been marketing online for a while or you’re just
beginning to establish your position in the Internet Marketing
world, be aware of the direction in which you are going and
where it may lead you in the months and years to come.

Here’s a quick example:

Let’s say you choose a niche (by definition it will be based
upon consumer demand), its popularity may be largely dependent
upon current fads, available technology, market need or a
combination of all three. Whether you choose to serve that niche
through email marketing, affiliate programs, blogging, or content
sites, in each instance you will need to meet the current trends.

A typical scenario would be to capitalize on a niche topic like
MP3, podcasting, or something similar. However, the moment that
technology becomes obsolete and is replaced with the next
greatest electronic wonder, the profitability of the niche would
swiftly decline.

If however, you choose a niche such as consumer electronics or
audio video equipment, then your foundation would remain much
more solid and have the capability to stand the test of time.
Establishing yourself as an authority in the consumer
electronics niche — albeit through promotion of iPods, MP3s and
podcasting today — gives you a buffer to incorporate whatever
may become flavor-of-the-month tomorrow.

These are the things that need to be considered when building a
proper foundation for your Internet Marketing business. Using
this method of reasoning will ensure longevity. To do otherwise
will ensure only short term success at best.

Bottom line: Aim for tightly targeted niches, but root them
firmly in a less volatile foundation.

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Dave Foster owns and operates the “Solo Profits” blog and podcast,
guiding individual entrepreneurs and home-based business owners to
online success using audio, video and multimedia techniques. Dave
also explores the virgin territory of multimedia psychology and how
to present your message effectively through these new communications
channels.

Want to discover more? Go To ==>> http://www.soloprofits.com

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