Internet 101: New Coke, New Products and Your Wallet!

By Dave Turner


It's been said time and again that approximately 95 percent
of all online businesses fail. I don't know how accurate
that statement is, but if it's anywhere close to the truth,
I know the reason why. Besides being woefully unprepared and
underfinanced, too many online businesses try to reinvent
the wheel.

In other words, instead of applying sound, proven
advertising and marketing principles, most online businesses
never even bother to learn the basics. Instead of focusing
on trends and what people are actually buying, too many
online businesses try to force-feed people new products and
ideas.

Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with trying to be a
pioneer. And there's certainly nothing wrong with trying to
come up with "the next big thing." But before you even
attempt to undertake something of such magnitude, you really
have to know what you're doing. And unless you have deep
pockets and the kind of marketing expertise that is required
to "finesse" people into trying something new, I recommend
you take the path of least resistance.

Blazing new trails usually requires a great deal of luck,
money, creativity and marketing expertise. The kind of
resources that, quite frankly, most companies just don't
have.

And even if they do have the resources, that's still no
guarantee of success. Here's a perfect example of what I'm
talking about:

For over a century now, Coca-Cola has been the number one
soft drink company in the world. They have vast financial
resources and some of the greatest marketing minds available
at their disposal. Despite all of that, Coca-Cola failed
miserably when it introduced New Coke to the public back in
1985. Why? What happened?

Well, there have been many theories floated over the years,
as to why New Coke fizzled out. Like everyone else, I have
my own theory. A very simple theory...

People didn't like New Coke.

It's as simple as that.

Despite all the research that was done, and despite the
thousands of taste tests conducted; the buying public just
didn't like the taste of New Coke. And absolutely nothing
Coca-Cola said or did could change that one simple fact.

Unfortunately, that turned out to be a very costly lesson
for Coca-Cola. They lost millions of customers to their
bitter rival and number two soft drink giant, Pepsi.

They also took a bath financially.

Yes, Coca-Cola is still the number one soft drink. But the
gap has been narrowed significantly. Coca-Cola was able to
survive a near catastrophic miscalculation, because they had
billions of dollars behind them. Other companies who badly
miscalculate and who don't have those kind of financial
resources, generally end up going out of business.

That's basically why so many dot-com companies are dropping
like flies. And will continue to do so. To be sure, there
have been many, many great success stories throughout
history, regarding new and groundbreaking products.
The "love drug," Viagra is a perfect example of one such
current product. However, generally speaking, you'll incur
fewer risks and make a lot more money if you just sell
what's HOT!

So, what's the hottest product in the world? Information, my
friend, information. And while it's true sex sells,
information has always been king! And probably always will
be.

The best thing about information is that it comes in a
variety of forms. Be it ebooks, software, ezines,
newsletters, reports, whatever. Just select a form of
information that interests you, learn everything you can
about the product and then sell it!

If you would like to start selling information, the fastest,
easiest and least expensive way to get started is with
affiliate or associate programs. If you're not familiar with
the term, it basically means that you sign on to sell
someone else's product or service for a percentage of the
profits -- usually around 20 percent.

Most affiliate programs are free to join. What's great about
affiliate, or associate programs (as they're sometimes
called), is that they're completely hands-off.

You don't have to concern yourself with inventory, shipping,
collections, customer complaints, follow-up or anything
else. Everything is taken care of for you by the company (or
companies) with whom you choose to affiliate yourself. All
you have to do is advertise and promote their product or
service. You can check out thousands of affiliate programs
at the following websites:

http://www.associateprograms.com

http://www.affiliatesdirectory.com

http://www.clickbank.com


You'll find it a great way to make an online income without
the financial dangers of being an Internet pioneer.


Dave Turner is a writer and entrepreneur with over twenty
years of marketing experience. Questions? Comments? Dave can
be reached at dave@internet-marketing-xpert.com Website:
http://www.internet-marketing-xpert.com/ Internet  marketing
expert will teach you how to kiss your job goodbye forever!