Nothing and Everything!

Tucked discreetly away on my modest marketing website is a copy of a Vincent van Gogh portrait I created for a charity fund raiser some years back. A few of the people who have stumbled upon it have sent me puzzling emails -- van Gogh and Internet Marketing? What's the connection?

It all boils down to stubborn old learning habits that never die!

Let me explain -- I am trained as an artist -- one of the best ways to learn how to draw or paint is to copy the Masters. Spend a few hours copying a van Gogh, a Monet or a Durer and you will learn more in those few hours than months spent in the classroom pouring over color theories, composition charts, and paint mixtures.

Learn by seeing thru the eyes of the Masters!

They have been there, done that, and they have solved all the major problems for you. It works perfectly and artists have been learning this way for centuries.

When I first started internet marketing I applied the same method. (Did I mention I was Stubborn!) A few hours studying the Masters -- their techniques, their marketing tools, their mindsets -- saved me and they will save you from months (if not years) of trial and error.

Study the masters first-hand and you will gain a more complete and broader understanding of the different marketing techniques, methods, and systems that these marketers apply. Spending a few years studying the top marketers may pay big dividends down the road when you apply all this knowledge to lesser known marketing niches.

Many may cringe at this suggestion, spend two or three years studying top marketers, you're got to be joking! Not really, it's where that old artist training comes in -- artists spend a lifetime studying the masters. And never regret a minute of it!

But just how do you find these Marketing Masters?

Finding the Masters was the hardest part! With so many proclaimed and self-proclaimed 'gurus' on the web; finding the genuine article among all the 'bovine deposits' was extremely difficult.

However, it wasn't long before one name kept popping up, again and again.

Mark Joyner!

Like him or hate him -- no one can dispute that he is 'the' master of internet marketing. Many of today's marketing techniques such as ad tracking, pre-selling, email marketing, guerrilla tactics, etc. were invented or perfected by Joyner.

In or out of internet marketing, Joyner is still a major force that's worth some serious study. Many people try to discredit him but basically, 'he wrote the book' on internet marketing. A few hours studying him and his methods will save you from months of trial and error.

John Reese!

Another name that keeps popping up -- John Reese. This is another marketing expert that delivers the 'goods' -- and the key lies in one word 'traffic'. Traffic is the lifeblood, heartbeat, and main factor that will make or break any internet website. It's the basic reason for the success of any website.

Reese has figured out how to deliver traffic to any site on the web. But before you jump and buy some of his Traffic Secrets products -- think twice. Is there a better way to get the information!

Please don't get me wrong, if you have the money and are short press for time -- by all means, go buy his products!

However, if you're on a budget and have some time on your hands -- why not go first-hand and study his sites, newsletters, blog, etc. Pick them apart piece by piece and you will discover his real 'secrets'. But more importantly you will have a better understanding of them.

Study the structure and layout of his sites, and see what techniques he uses and simply apply them to your own websites and marketing methods.

Google to the Rescue!

If you're really new to internet marketing, you may be wondering, how do I find these masters, their sites, or their products even? Just use Google and you will find the links you need to get you started.

Perhaps, a simple illustration of my own marketing study system would be helpful. Artists love techniques and it's the technique or method of learning that's important here. Once you have figured out a way to study the marketing masters -- all the other pieces will fall into place.

Here's a simple system I use, as mentioned above, traffic is the key to any website's success. Therefore, it would be beneficial for me or anyone to seek out a top SEO (Search Engine Optimization) expert and study him or her.

I used Google to find out who has the top listing/ranking for SEO products and Internet Marketing products in general. One site and one name kept popping up in the number 1 position over and over again. Mike's Marketing Tools run by SEO expert Michael Wong.

I went in and started studying his site's layout, its linking structure, etc. -- this guy knows what he's doing and he has the rankings to prove it.

Then I just copied his linking structure and applied it to my own sites. Please note, I am not talking about 'copying per batum' of any source code or material -- that's against the law. But rather the overall design, layout, structure and then taking that information and applying it to my own sites.

Three or four days spent studying this master's sites have given me a wealth of information that I have applied to my own sites and it's information that I will be able to use for years to come.

This is just one example of how you can use this old artist training technique to help you learn more about internet marketing. There are many more masters out there, seek them out and study them. Your marketing results will thank you!

And by the way, the van Gogh is still neatly tucked away on my site. It's a matter of learning. He's my constant reminder -- if you want to succeed online -- copy the Masters.

Visit Free Marketing Guides & Resources for more simple solutions to your online marketing tasks.

Copyright ? 2005 Titus Hoskins of http://www.bizwaremagic.com

This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.