1. Editor's Musings
2. Article: What do they Search For? By June Campbell
3. Internet Sites Reviewed
4. Recommended
5. Freebies and Other Good Deals
6. Joke of the Week

1. Editor's Musings

September 11 is fast approaching, and we're thinking back to last year's tragedies. The September 11 Digital Archive is well worth a visit. You'll find articles, videos, interviews, special editions. Check out the link where you can add your recollections of Sept. 11 to a digital archive being prepared by the Smithsonian. There's also an excellent video tribute filmed by a Seattle 20-year old. www.911digitalarchive.org/

And now for a public service announcement. As you probably know, the US and the UK have experienced a recent rash of child abductions. BigHits.com has developed a free ticker for your web site-- the Code Amber Alert Ticker. Code Amber shows current information about missing children. It is updated every time the Amber Alert receives notification of a missing child anywhere in the world. If there are no updates, it shows information about getting your own ticker.

When used offline, the Amber Alert has helped to locate a substantial number of missing children. Please consider adding the code on your web site. There's no charge and no advertising.

See it here on my site: nightcats.com

Get your own ticker: http://codeamber.org/about.html

Law enforcement people, please visit the site to see how you can help.

2. Article: What do they Seach For? by June Campbell

Do you know what and how people search when online? If you're operating an online business, this is important information. Understanding search habits and online behaviors helps you strategize your marketing campaigns.

Pew Internet Project has released a new study (summer, 2002) describing what people do online. (http://www.pewinternet.org/)

The researchers found that searching for information is big -- second only to using email. Fully eighty percent of Americans who are on the Internet have used a search engine to find information. Twenty-five percent (that's thirty-three million) use a search engine on a daily basis.

Men are more likely than women to use a search engine on a given day. 33% of men and 25% of women reported using a search engine on a specified day.

College grads are more likely to use a search engine than high school grads. 39% of Internet users with three or more years under their belts use a search engine on a given day, while only 14% of those online for less than six months use the searches on a given day.

Google is the most used search engine in terms of minutes searched. It's currently at 25.9 minutes and gaining. However, MSN has the most number of users. It recorded 43 million unique users in May of 2002, compared to Google's 36 million. Yahoo had 38 million unique visitors during that month.

Information searches fell into four main categories: information about people, health, government and religion.

People searches leaned towards the personal (66.6%), more than the professional (33.3%). College grads were more likely to do people searches than high school grads, and younger people (18-29) were more likely to do people searches than older people (50-64).

Seventy-three million Americans looked for health information… up from 52 million in fall of 2000. Women are more likely than men to look for heath information, but are likely to be turned off by sites that are selling something, or by sites that do not provide the date and source of their information. 81% started their search at a search engine or at a web portal like Yahoo, AOL or MSN. The others started at a health information site.

45% started at the top of the search list and worked their way down. The rest clicked through according to recognized names or relevant content descriptions.

82% reported satisfaction with the health information they found. One in three say they know someone who has been helped by Internet health information. Two out of 100 know someone who has been harmed.

Most searched for health information pertains to specific diseases, weight control, and prescription drug information. Inquiries are increasing for mental health information and for sensitive medical topics.

Sixty-eight million Americans reported using government agency web sites -- a dramatic increase from 40 million in the March of 2000. 40% started their search at a major search engine or web site such as AOL or MSN. Most scanned the search link for names that seemed to fit. Only 21% visited sites according to rank.

28 million Americans (up from 19 million in late 2000) use the search engines to find religious or spiritual information or contacts. Only 4% started their search at religious portals.

Other statistics of interest to marketers:
95% of Internet-using Americans go online to use email.
80% do searches
80% look for hobby-related information
37% play games online
75% go online to research a product or service before making a purchase
63% look for information about movies, books and entertainment
44% look for financial information
20% participate in auctions
9% visit dating web sites
5% go online to gamble

Only 21% of Americans (twenty-four million people) have broadband Internet access in their homes. However, this number is four times greater than in 2000. The broadband users are more likely to be wealthy, educated males. Not surprisingly, persons with high speed access make fuller use of the Internet's resources than those with dial up connections.

There you have it. Lots of numbers to help you develop your marketing plans or to incorporate in your business plan.

3. Service Recommendation

At least twice a week, maybe more, I receive an email from somebody asking a question about Internet sales or Internet business. If I can answer it in a paragraph or so, I do. But many of the questions require an in-depth answer, if not a complete training program. In those cases, I usually recommend that the person subscribe to Netbreakthroughs.

My recommendation is this: If you're interested in generating an income online, this site is the single-most important investment you can make. You need it if you're new and just starting out. You need it if you're a seasoned marketer. Perhaps you don't need it if your name is Cory Rudl or Mark Joyner.

If you're new to online sales, you'll find articles and information that take you step-by-step through the entire process. And even better, there's an active forum where members ask questions and receive answers... not only from Terry, but from other experienced marketers who are subscribers. Just ask, and they'll give you feedback on your web site, your sales letters, your headlines, and on your products and services. But, be prepared for the truth and not something that you want to hear.

If you're a seasoned marketer, you can benefit as well. Every month, Terry posts specific, detailed results of his web advertising. He shows you the ad or banner he used, who he advertised with, and the number of unique hits, signups and sales that happened because of it. You know which ezines and web sites are going to be worth your advertising dollars, and which ones to avoid. You can also ask for member's opinions on various services and products that you are considering purchasing. Many a dollar has been saved by a timely warning.

There's lots more on the site (like weekly chats with Terry Dean, for example, and free ebooks, and discounts on various products and services). And oh yeah, one last thing. There is a reason why Terry's subscribers are evangelists. The guy reeks of integrity. I've even seen him recommend a competitor's product when he thought it suited a member's needs better than his own.

Do yourself a favor and sign up.
Netbreakthroughs

Internet Sites -- reviewed by June Campbell

*** Color Matters
Research and other information about colors and how they affect us.

*** Marcomwise
Calls itself your source for marketing communication knowledge. There's an interesting, searchable database of marketing terms. Handy to know if you're communicating with an advertising or marketing guru

*** Dice
A job search site for the IP crowd. Check out the results of the salary surveys for various IP workers, both employed and contractors.

*** How're you doing if your're over 40?
I Village has five new tests to help you gauge whether you're young at heart or over the hill. Exercise, fitness, attitude, health, beauty.It's a woman's site, but much of these tests apply to men as well.

4. Freebies and Good Deals

a.Learn how to get a free UDDI search engine listing. Learn where to get free software that rivals commercial software so you can cut marketing and operating cost. For more info subscribe to my free newsletter called Free Software and Web Site Marketing by sending an email to mscwery@socket.net.

b. PROTECT YOURSELF!
Tired of getting burned on the Internet? Get full details on ALL complaints sent to iCop about online businesses! "The iCop Rap Sheet!" may be the MOST important publication you'll ever read! Subscribe NOW!

c. WHERE WRITERS, PUBLISHERS & ONLINE ENTREPRENEURS CONNECT
Looking for the best ezines to subscribe to? Searching for great articles? Need some awesome content for your web site? Marketing-Seek.com has got it for you! We'll also update you monthly on the latest submissions into the article database - plus, we'll give you two versions to choose from! Just highlight or save the print copy and paste it into any ezine, magazine, or web page. Nothing could be easier! What'cha waiting for? Signup today.
M A R K E T I N G ~ S E E K.C O M
http://www.marketing-seek.com/newsletter/index.shtml

d. Sentience-- the ezine for coaches, counselors and people interested in self growth. Published weekly. Subscribe

e. Get the latest tips & tricks on Web Design & Development, Internet Marketing and Promotion. Experienced professionals share their expertise on creating a successful web presence. Plus tips on search engine rankings and much more! All of this valuable information is inside The Webcast D-zines Insighter. Subscribe Today!!! or visit us on-line at www.webcastdzines.com

6. Joke: Green Side Up

A builder was going through a house with the new owner. In the first room, she said "I want this room to be painted a light blue."

The builder went to the front door and yelled "GREEN SIDE UP!"

The builder returned to the house, where the woman told him that the next room was to be bright red. He went to the front door and yelled "GREEN SIDE UP!"

Next, the owner told the builder that the adjoining room was to be tan. The builder went to the front door and yelled "GREEN SIDE UP!"

When he came back, the woman asked him "When I tell you colors, you go out the front and yell green side up. What's that for?

The builder said, "Oh don't worry about that, I got a couple of new workers laying the turf out front."

To subscribe to this newsletter, send email to roundup.

"How to Booklets"-- topics include business proposal writing, business plan writing, brochure writing,an independant contractor's agreement, a sample joint venture agreement and more. Click www.nightcats.com