RE: [PHP] Re: [PHP-DB] E-commerce Marketing ideas??

Hi Dion, Nick, and Mark. Just take a look at the site below. Sound interesting. I'll study it today. Thank you for your information. One question Mark: did you post this message in general php list? I didn't. :) I don't know if Nick and Dion know Mark and follow the whole thread that we have been discussing. To all people on this list: I admit it is off topic. If anyone is interested to share your ideas, please reply all to the people on my included address, but take out the php list address. Thank you. Nam.

From: "Dion Vansevenant" <dion.vansevenant@rowecom.ca> To: "Nick" <nick@carrierworld.com>, "php general mailin list" <php-general@lists.php.net>, <markn@alverstone.com.au>, <namnguyenphp@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [PHP] Re: [PHP-DB] E-commerce Marketing ideas?? Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2000 10:27:30 -0400 Try this site: http://www.internetmarketingchallenge.com/ They seem to have some good information. I have yet to apply anything as I do not have a solid idea to market, but I'm learning stuff in the meantime! Dion *************************************************************************

*  Dion Vansevenant                                                     *
*  Systems & Technology Analyst            dion.vansevenant@rowecom.ca  *
*  RoweCom Canada                                  Tel: (519) 472-1005  *
*  P.O. Box 2382                                   Fax: (519) 472-1072  *
*  London, ON  N6A 5A7                                  www.rowecom.ca  *
*  Canada                                                               *

************************************************************************* -----Original Message----- From: Nick [mailto:nick@carrierworld.com] Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2000 06:24 To: php general mailin list; markn@alverstone.com.au; namnguyenphp@hotmail.com Subject: [PHP] Re: [PHP-DB] E-commerce Marketing ideas?? hmmmm.. some sound marketing ideas there ;p btw, what do you sell ???? seriously, i have also been thinking recently about internet marketing..... and haven't thought of a way to do it efficiently yet. I agree that spamming is definitely a v bad idea, be it by email mail or phone. probably one of the best way would be making sure the site is properly registered with the search engines, esp altavista and yahoo.... after that, if the site proposes truly great services, i would think that word of mouth would help it on to success, especially if you nudge that a little by targeted networking in other mediae (magazines etc...) in the sector you are focusing on.... I have yet to meet an e-millionaire [keep me posted, nam !] so i'm not quite sure what the successful methods are. I would be quite curious to find out whether any of the big name sites were indeed started by a single person i his bedroom with an idea (especially the recent ones). It seems to me all of the new sites coming up are supported by heavy marketing campaigns which sugests intstitutionnal/corporate backers, and as to how to get that backing, i have no idea... but i would think that too relies more on interpersonnal marketing as opposed to genuine talent/ideas.... ah, that's what you get with a hyperactive stockmarket, people get carried away in investment frenzies and forget how to distinguish good business propositions from bs.... mind you, do they ever ? if anyone has any comments/suggestions on this markeing model please let me know :p -nick ----- Original Message ----- From: Mark Nold <markn@alverstone.com.au> To: 'Nam Nguyen' <namnguyenphp@hotmail.com> Cc: <php-db@lists.php.net> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 5:09 PM Subject: RE: [PHP-DB] E-commerce Marketing ideas??

So you plan on mailing or phoning 1500 people? This will cost, and is regarded by a lot of people as intrusive no matter what a good deal

you are

offering. Mailing lists and calling return rates are less than 1% for profesionals.. again you will end up with <15 customers for a

lot of work.

Find some books on the subject and start reading, dont just take my

advise.

Somebody suggested offering content + service for free then charging

for

advertising and better service. I've willing handed over

company cash for

these sort of services and products because i get to use them

and evaluate

them and the company. If you run such a site that is good and

popular you

can even make money off advertising. This seems to be the current "e-business" model, time will tell how good it is. Personally i favour big products for big bucks to a few clients rather

than

small products to millions of clients for none to little dollars. They

both

work if you are customer focused but the former seems easier and less

of

nightmare. (Its easier to keep 3 clients very happy than

1000000 slightly

happy). Having said that the 'free-business' model above also fits

this.

Make a site that makes 1500 free users happy, guarenteed >1% will want more, and be willing to pay for it. Also consider your market, you dont want your potential customers to

be

people with few discretionary dollars. You want people with buying

power

who are willing to spend on your idea, you may find that poor colledge students may be unwilling to pay for the latest audio cd, but

may pay for a

site that allows fast and secure MP3 files out of Jamacia (hey

who knows).

My suggestion is to target other business in successful sectors for example; Mining, Oil (is on the rise again), Goverment.

(success? but they

have lots of money), Other dot.com successes (I know when i

make my first

$1M ill be buying those stereo monitor gogles to play Unreal T on)...

these

potentials have money. Always aim for the high end of these markets. Do a S.W.O.T (Strengths, Weaknesses, Oportunities, Strengths)

analysis and

business plan. Define your goals (making money isn't the hardest part, keeping happy is), and expect setbacks. You _must_ also seek advise

from

others on this. Write it all out then talk to a trusted and successful business person. Dont trust me, talk to someone you know will be

honest.

This is important because your idea may be worth $0 to everyone else.

If

you write it all down it'll only cost you time, but if you start

buying

lists, buying postage stamps or calling 1500 people you will be

spending

your $. The best example i have is a guy who i went to school with who wanted

to

grow hydroponic asparagus. Hydroponic because its the best plant technology, and asparagus because he loved asparagus. Now we live in a fairly remote city with a very small market for high-end

hydroponically

grown asparagus. At the end of the day he had all the asparagus he

could

eat, but was broke and in debt. I always wonder if he still likes asparagus. Just because you like something doesnt mean everyone else will.

Also just

because something is high tech and pretty niche doesnt mean you

can charge

a lot for it. These are two of the 100's of common marketing

mistakes i'm

sure you learn from a good book. (Now there's a product "Marketing for Geeks", "Dating and Mating for Geeks", "Fourwheel Driving for

Geeks"... i

better go patent that one ;) I would really think about the free-site model as it will only

cost you a

small amount set up plus your time, you get to test your idea, and you

will

learn heaps about marketing and business on the way. You will

also be able

to assess yourself. Get a 9-5 job (or dont quit yours yet) make your business work with late nights and lots of effort then the dollars

will

come your way. Most new business start with a lot of work by one

person (or

a lot of money). This is sooooo off topic, but hey if anyone else is interested chime

in off

list as ive about said all i know (wow my whole marketing experience

on one

page... i'll have to put a hold on that "Marketing for Geeks" book.) mn PS: Last piece of advice, never trust advice from a mailing list!!!! I could be a second year marketing drop out from Toongabbie

University. Also

never trust people who use too many exclamation marks or "quoted

words".

NB: I am currently looking for a co-author on the newly

announced " * for

Geeks " series.... any takers for "Corporate Backstabbing for Geeks"

or

maybe "Sales Technique for Geeks" (also titled "Lieing your Arse Off

for

Geeks") Mark Nold markn@alverstone.com.au Systems Consultant Change is inevitable, except from vending machines. On Wednesday, 12 July 2000 11:14, Nam Nguyen [SMTP:namnguyenphp@hotmail.com] wrote:

Hi Mark, Thanks for your information. But I think I will mail and

phone instead

because I have seen enough of spam and don't believe in spam either. I admit that I have no experience in marketing. If you have any

ideas to

share with me and the list, I would be very interested to know. Best regards, Nam.

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