Jag

IMO, this is the best possible thing that you could do. Gaining popularity, THEN throwing your product at customers is a good thing.

SeeMe

I agree - creating credibility in your knowledge of a specific area is always a sound marketing strategy if you have the time to build up a base before you launch your product. I guess that's why celebrities get paid so much for being spokespeople - although I do find it strange that actors/singers/whatever are able to launch perfume or makeup lines when it is not their area of expertise. Although I suppose you get experience just by using the best and using so much of it to do your job.

paperclip

SeeMe, they are able to do that because someone else pays them to be the "name" of their product. They have no voice nor input on the day to day of the product, just the big ol' paycheck when they sign the contract. Must be nice...

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If it ain't broke, fix it until it is

SeeMe

Yep - I know that's why they get paid.... however, my point is that it amazes that people will actually buy things that celebrities endorse - I'm not talking about things that already exist that they actually use, I'm talking about things that are branded as their OWN line, makeup, perfume, fashion, etc. Gwen Stefani actually designs her own line of clothing, and wears them to promote the line. But... do you really think Jessica Simpson sits in the perfume laboratory and approves the fragrances that come out in her name? I know this is the way of the world, but personally, I'm more practical and would rather buy something created by someone who is an expert with experience I can find out about.

cerumen

I wish I had started my site on a free site in the beginning. I have wasted a great deal of costly time learning things and that money could have been directed elsewhere. I do however believe image plays into things it is critical to pay for services as your business grows.

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SEO this!

aquariancore

Myspace and other popular blogs are great for driving business to where you want. By entering just one I increased my hits on my sites 300%. I also write web content that is paid per view and those jumped again 300% the first view weeks and settle back down to more than half of that daily viewing.

Melos

Well, there are tons of ways of getting free traffic and to make money by not having your own site, but I do think that having your own site means you have to shell out some money. Even if you are dirt poor, you can sell one thing a month on ebay and pay for cheap hosting.

aquariancore

I use free blogs and paying blogs like Mylot and paid to post to drive traffic to my sites and web content. I get great results

Melos

Well, there is a big difference between using free blogs and other company websites to get free traffic and actually doing your business on a free blog or website host.

I get most of my traffic from free sources myself, but pay for hosting for my sites.

aquariancore

Absolutely, I have recently been in several free blogs that have banned people trying to business directly through their site.