Top 10 Internet Advertising Mistakes

Millions of people use the Internet everyday, so it would seem like the ideal location to simply place ads and generate great results. But that is not necessarily the case. Many novice and veteran online

advertisers make the same mistakes, which undercut the effectiveness of their Web ads. Here are 10 of the most common mistakes with some tips on how to avoid them.

1. Wasting money. No business owner wants to throw their money away on ineffective ads, but many still do. Business owners routinely spend money to advertise on Web sites that generate lots of unique hits but do not draw paying customers to their businesses. Track the effectiveness of your advertising campaigns, and discontinue advertising on any site that does not deliver quality leads that convert into sales.
2. Paying for pop-ups. Pop-up ads generally are not effective. In fact, they may turn away rather than attract your prospects. The growing popularity and effectiveness of pop-up blocking utilities make buying pop-ups a losing proposition.
3. Spamming. If you are sending unwanted emails, you may be sending SPAM, which can ultimately hurt your business. Email marketing is possibly the most effective tool in your arsenal, but it must be used properly. You should generally market only to people who have opted in to your mailings.
4. Overspending on copywriters. Web copywriting is not rocket science. A smart, creative young copywriter with fresh ideas can often do a comparable or better job than a veteran writer. There is no shortage of young writers looking to build a portfolio of their work If you are working with a copywriter and not getting the results you want, try another writer.
5. Favoring style over substance. Most advertising puts style ahead of substance, but Internet advertising is an extreme case. Flash animation and other high-tech ?glitter? is no substitute for saying something significant about your product or service.