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Analyze the Competition:
Step One: Surf22 Internet Marketing Program

So you are ready to start making money online!

All you need to do is keep reading, all the information you need is on this one web site. We challenge you to stick with us, most of you would rather quit or are looking for the magic solution that will make you rich overnight. We wish you luck but unfortunately that isn't reality. Ask yourself: Am I serious about wanting to make money online? If the answer is yes bookmark this site and attack the information we offer. There is no excuse not to make it!

There are many offline marketing tactics that when applied correctly work just as well online. One of the first steps in starting any business, whether it be brick and mortar or online is to check out the competition. 

That is where you need to begin as well.

85% or more of standard traffic comes from search engines, that is how consumers will find you (and your competitors). First step is to turn around and use those search engines to identify and track your competition. Get some ideas from them. 

Try to think like your potential consumers. What key words or phrases might they search on? Do you carry specific brands or are you selling information? Choose your target keywords and phrases accordingly, based on what you are selling. We will help you refine those keywords later, don't worry too much about getting exactly the right ones yet.

Target a major search engine such as Google, they are rapidly becoming one of the largest search engines. You want to use one of the larger search engines as this is where the most traffic will come from. Many of the smaller engines are great for certain searches but we are trying to make the most effective use of your time.
Use the box below to search on the keywords or phrases you have chosen. Try to limit it to one to three (1-3) as you don't want to waste too much time on this in the early stages.

 


How many pages found? Don't give up or get discouraged by the overwhelming number of sites you find. Unless you have a very specific product or service, chances are there are many sites already in existence that carry a similar item, product or service. Always remember throughout this course Internet Marketing is not easy, and initially it may appear to be slow going but you are laying a solid foundation for a successful e-commerce venture. 

We'll help you narrow down your target niche to make sure your site rises above the competition but for now you need a way to record the sites you find. You can create a separate folder in your bookmarks (this way you can refer back easily) or use a word processor or spreadsheet to record your findings. A combination of the two is usually the most effective. Record the top 5 or 10 sites found for each keyword or phrase. I personally find AltaVista or Google attractive. Using a directory like Yahoo or Looksmart will work but tends to be slower going. 

Visit each site and explore them fully. For each one ask yourself the following simple questions:

  1. Do they offer a similar product or service?

  2. At what price?

  3. What features does their site offer?

All of this will generate ideas in your mind and probably allow a clearer image of what direction you want your e-commerce to take. You can adjust and evaluate your business and marketing plan accordingly. There is a lot more competitor analysis to come later on but for now it is almost time to move on to Step Two.

Now that you have seen what is already out there you can start visualizing your web site. Put the ideas on paper, sketch yourself some layouts. You are almost ready to start developing your website, first you need to define your Market Niche. What are you offering that people want? Now that we've got your brain hopefully churning read the summary and move onto Step Two.


Summary:

  • Brainstorm keywords relating to your site

  • Use a major search engine like Google or AltaVista to search on those keywords. 

  • Record top 5 or 10 sites per keyword or phrase

  • Visit each site

  • Explore the site fully

  • Take note of similar products or services along with pricing

  • Record features you'd like to see on your site

  • Evaluate and adjust your plans accordingly


Proceed to Step Two:

Web Development


 
 

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