- Can you explain how you market your products (or affiliate programs) on the Internet?

My basic strategy offline and online is very simple. I have two principles:

1) to be seen as much as possible

2) to try hard and render reliable, honest services to the full satisfaction of the clients, even if it is 'only' a FREE service or consultation to Subscribers. Prospects, Clients and Subscribers must know that when I say, recommend or promise something, they can rely on it, and when I make a mistake, I admit and make up for it.

Note: I am talking about my products and services only. I never did much for any Affiliate programme because I believe in true co-operation and business relationships, and only a few Affiliate programmes are about co-operation, and I am very unwilling to build someone else's business at my expense. I only test them for customers, subscribers, and check the information.

- Why do you think so many online businesses fail?

As I mentioned above, there is more than one reason but the main two I'd say are

1) the lack of working system that is vital for every business if it should be successful, and

2) the lack of willingness to give up the useless chase after a secret formula or a magic overnight-riches programme, and start to work hard, get organized.

- Are you using Ezine advertising? How effective is this form of advertising today?

As I watch it, everything on the Net loses efficiency once masses start to use it and misuse it. And the same is about to happen, or even happening with Ezine advertising. More and more people advertise, and fewer and fewer people read it.

- What is your opinion about web promotion software and "traffic generating tools?"

One of my many services I render to my clients is software and programme recommendations and testing (also because I know what to do when a computer crashes :-)), so I try and test most of these, and many of them fit exactly into my 'Be Seen' Strategy, I regularly use one for the purpose ie http://www.worldsubmitter.com

However, I would NEVER use any of them for vital targeted traffic and promotion, within my so called 'Selling Strategy'.

- What is your most effective marketing technique, and why?

I have two, both the same effective:

1) long-term, constant: 'Be Seen' Strategy

2) short-term: 'Selling' Strategy - individual, strictly targeted, short-term, repeated advertising campaigns.

I talk about my system in detail in my new Book '7 Stars of Online Success' http://www.thecassiopeia.com/ePublishing/7Stars.html

- What are some of your daily marketing tactics that build your on line presence?

I have an overall strategy of my online presence and every day, on finishing my daily jobs, I always check what I did and set up new tasks for the next day, and I do it every day.

Part of these tasks are always pieces of my short-term and long-term strategies, complementing each other.

- If you had $100 to spend to improve/promote your business, how and where would you spend it?

Oh, this one is tough for me. I'll explain: It's not a matter of amount. I consider $1, $100, $1,000, $10,000,

$100,000 ... all the same. The crucial is - cost or expenditure and investment. I am very unwilling to spend money and avoid it as much as I can. I always try to invest, and this is not an investment and what more: I have mechanisms working pretty well for FREE. So,

I myself wouldn't. But if I really have to, I would spend it to promote my Ezine 'Pathway To Success':

http://www.thecassiopeia.com/Portal/Newsletter.html

- What's the most effective tool/resource that you use to get new prospects to your Opt In list or Ezine?

I try and test opportunities I come across but the most efficient bringing the best results are two main:

1) I constantly publish and update special Subscription pages on all big FREE servers and have Subscription boxes or links all over my site

2) I always use headers and footers in my email messages, and my default header is:

Subscribe to our FREE Ezine 'Pathway To Success'

mailto:ibc3000-subscribe@thecassiopeia.com?subject=Subscribe

On a usual day I receive some 1,100 emails and I respond to quite a lot (not every day, however), and when people receive the information or service they wanted, they usually subscribe.

- What would you like to recommend to people who want to start up an online business? And what not?