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While many entrepreneurs can start a business at the drop of a hat, it seems a mystery to them much of the time in how to promote or market it. They just stop cold at the idea. But really it only takes a bit of planning to start.

Here are some steps to help you simplify your Internet marketing and get your business off to a good start:

Marketing analysis:

1. Do your market analysis. Before you even develop your product or join any affiliate programs be sure to know exactly to whom you are marketing, and what products and services they need to solve their problems.

2. Secondly, do a prospect analysis. Work out who you most want to come to your site as far as prospects or visitors.

a. What are the ages, demographics, etc. In other words, who are they?

b. What sort of things interest them?

c. What are this public's needs and wants, or what problems are they trying to solve and how can your services or products help them solve these problems?

d. Where can they be found? What websites and publications they will use.

Make a thumbnail sketch of your findings and note it down.

Your basic business plan:

Prepare a business plan to set your goals and keep you focused on the direction your business will take:

1. Set your goals: For 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. 2. Decide on what you are going to do to achieve them.

Educate yourself:

3. Educate yourself more and then list out the marketing techniques your know how to do. Don't forget to include free newsletters and ebooks, etc.

4. Once you have listed and noted all the marketing techniques figure out which ones will fit into your budget and can be applied to your business.

Then using your marketing analysis information and your list of marketing methods, you can make your marketing action plan.

Marketing action plan:

1. Decide which methods apply to your business

2. Decide which ones will fit your business

3. Knowing where your visitors are, seek them out and use direct marketing to reach them

4. Get keywords for your website and optimize your website content for the search engines. For a review of my favorite keyword research, go to: http://www.at-home-business-opportunity.com/keywords

5. There are 3 common categories of marketing: a. When your customer comes to you it is called Passive. b. When you seek customers and advertise to them when you find them, that is called direct marketing. Ezines are an example. c. Social marketing, Myspace, forums and discussion boards etc.

You can put everything into action right away as soon as you have made the decision on which method you will use. Work on 1-2 methods at first, track and test them to ensure they will fit your budget, bring visitors and make you money. Budget carefully, by starting small and working up. Always try promotions for at least 1-3 months. Watch and track all results so you can build on the successes and avoid the failures.

Make a success of yourself with these methods of marketing, and build your business like you have always dreamed.