Kids, you may think us Internet veterans are old fashioned. But us “old timers” who’ve been doing business online since 1996, we’ve learned a thing or two about marketing.

And, as the year comes to close, and we look back on lessons learned, let’s take a look at some lessons, that still remain paramount to finding success in Internet marketing.

Lesson #1
A little list can be just as good as a big list… and any list is better than none at all. If you’re out to build a business, build as good a list as you can.

Lesson #2
Perfectly ugly sites sell. Perfectly plain sites sell. Perfectly slick sites sell. But if you still haven’t launched your site because it’s not totally “perfect,” you’re procrastinating.

Lesson #3
If you want to make a lot of money, make yourself a niche. Whether you’re filling a special need, or spinning a personal brand, dare to specialize, and dare to be different. Ten tiny “micro-niches” can make you more money than one “macro-niche.”

Lesson #4
We never met a search engine yet that wasn’t fickle and fussy as the weather in Chicago. So don’t just link off page, and don’t just optimize on page. Cover your bases, and CYA. SERPS may change, but a loyal following won’t (see Lesson #1).

Lesson #5
Know what you’re selling. Know the field, the topic, and the product. This philosophy helps you choose good merchants and good products, and makes for nice ROI. And if you can’t know your product, at least know – and serve – your customers faithfully.

Lesson #6
People are funny. Even when they’re shopping, they HATE to be sold. So instead of selling, help them buy things. Don’t’ fret about selling vs. pre-selling. Assist, inform, enlighten, unnerve, and even tempt. All are much more fun – for you and your potential customers – than ANY selling.

Lesson #7
Clone yourself through automation. Don’t stop at autoresponders or ad tracking tools. Invest in project management, site builders, keyword analyzers, bots and spiders…anything that automates tedious tasks. If you save 8 little minutes every hour, that adds up to over an hour you can use to make more money… relax and enjoy life… or both.

Lesson #8
The chronically disorganized end up chronically broke. So make a plan. Do things step by step. Finish what you start. Spend time up front on filters, folders, filing, and templates. Save log-in information and hyperlinks. Be neat. Be focused.

Lesson #9
You have to spend money to make money. All profitable marketers invest at LEAST $100 a month on their businesses. Hey, it’s still cheaper than bricks and mortar.

Lesson #10
Unethical shortcuts undermine your business… and your soul. So don’t spam. Don’t lie. Don’t under or over value your products. May your ego be healthy… but not bloated or bullying. May your opt-in list, your sales, and your tribe of happy customers increase… and may the JV partners line up at your door!

The best gifts are the ones that keep on giving.

And as we near the end of this holiday season, I can’t help but hope that I asked Santa for the right thing.

Perhaps, I should have asked Santa for a new computer? I sure would like a faster, more powerful machine to help me whip through website design and content writing.

Perhaps, I should have asked Santa for better pay-per-click rates? Certainly, if he could help tip the scales in my favor, this would give me a fantastic lead!

Perhaps, I should have asked Santa to identify the best niche market. If Santa could just tell me the niche on which I should most focus my efforts, this will give me what I need to succeed, right?

Well, to be honest, these all crossed my mind as I was making my Christmas list this year. If I could just have access to that “ONE” thing that would make me more proficient and more competitive, that would be all I need. I would then be on my way to affiliate marketing success before I know it.

However, the truth is, what I asked Santa for was the one thing I KNOW will help me succeed: continued knowledge.

I know that there is no ONE way to do anything. There is no ONE tip that will make or break my career.

The truth is, it takes practice, experience, a learning heart and a well thought out approach before one can find success at affiliate marketing.

So, as I get ready for Santa, and a new year, may I always be reminded that the best gift, and the gift that I should continue to ask Santa for every year, is the gift of continued knowledge.

Here is to a Merry Christmas!