[Reposted due to database problem]

One of the most common mistakes I see marketers make -- including old pros at this marketing game who've made a killing for themselves or even large companies -- is thinking about their own likes and dislikes when they evaluate a new campaign.

It doesn't seem to matter if it's an Internet marketing website, a direct mailing or an expensive print ad.

If you "don't like" a marketing campaign, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Are you your target audience? 99.9% of the time, you arenot the person in need of your product or service and in fact, might not even come close to having the same needs and wants as the folks you're able to help out with your wares.

The only way to know if any marketing communication works is to test it. Again and again. Till it shines and outpulls all of your other options ... yep, even the ones you like more.

Forget about "like." If it doesn't sell, it isn't doing it's job. Marketing is ultimately communicating what you have to offer to your customers (sales copy) and prospects and listening to their responses (purchases) ... and if part of that discussion is giving the wrong impression to the people who need what you're sharing with them, the communication process breaks down.

I'm going to sound like a broken record after another few dozen posts in this blog, but again, TEST your marketing materials to see which one works best. If you're using Internet marketing, all the better because it's easier to test and faster to solve nasty problems along the way.