Marketing, as we know it, primarily concentrates on consumers . As Internet marketer, your responsibility is to determine your consumers` - or potential customers` - needs and desires. You then develop strategies - both online and offline - about your product`s important features, persuade your potential customers to purchase your product, and make sure your customers are satisfied with their purchase.

In the olden times marketers stopped with the sale of products and services. Today, successful marketers make it their strategy to sell to existing customers more than finding new buyers. Why? Because it is more profitable to sell to existing consumers than to new ones!

Why do I belabor this definition? Because in essence, that is what marketing is all about. If you understand the above definition, and I have highlighted the important keywords, your duties as Internet marketer is placed in correct perspective. With this at the back of your mind, there is no doubt you will become a profitable entrepreneur.

With marketing as defined above, you now understand why almost all the successful Internet marketers today flood your server with opt-in emails. Or fire you up with their newsletters` latest edition. Because they consider you as within their loop of customer base (even if you have not bought from them before; your only participation to their business is to sign up for their newsletters` subscription forms).

Be that as it may, we now go back to the definition of marketing given above and list down the important keywords. Internet marketers tweak the keywords inside and out. Million of pages have been launched on the Internet out these keywords.

The shady marketers target all and sundry potential customers, prying on the innocents specifically. They offer all kinds of products and programs, rather than educating the unsuspecting readers. If you were one of those who is a beginning Internet surfer to scout for an online business, in all probability you have been victimized by these shady characters. Beware therefore.

(c) 2005 Rick Tanzo. Reprint rights granted so long as article, by-line and active links are reproduced intact.