conquering_internet_successful.htm

Conquering Internet Marketing From Thailand -

An Interview With Sean Wu

by Gobala Krishnan,

staff writer for the International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs

Recently, Sean Wu created ripples in the Internet marketing industry that turned into full-fledged tsunami waves within a couple of weeks. His latest product, "Tag And Ping" reveals a little-know tactic to get a flood of traffic and grab top spots in search engines using tagging and social bookmarking.

I witnessed and was part of this launch. From first-hand experience, I know that Sean Wu is a top-notch Internet marketer. What intrigued me more was that he was from Thailand and the fact that he’s only 24 years old. I caught up with Sean to dig deeper into his thoughts and find out exactly how his marketing mind works.

GK: Hi Sean, it’s great to finally get a chance to interview you. I purchased your product recently and I must say it contains tons of mind-stretching information. Congratulations on a successful launch.

SW: Thanks Gobala! I am really lost for words when I look back at my Tag And Ping launch on June 02—it really was an amazing experience. But I have to remind myself that it was my launch partners and friends that I have to thank most. Without their help, Tag And Ping wouldn’t have taken off this strongly and quickly.

GK: Could you give us a brief account on how you got started and what drove your decision to build your own Internet-based home business?

SW: I started dabbling with "Internet marketing" in February 2002, if I remember correctly. I was studying in my 2nd year of university… and it was then that I heard people talk about "making money online." So like most people, I searched the Internet and found out about affiliate programs, e-mail marketing, building Websites and much more. It was then that I realized that there was *real* money to be made using the Internet.

Since then, I tried various things—like promoting products as an affiliate, building e-mail lists and marketing to them, and promoting online network marketing programs like SFI Marketing. However, I really didn’t succeed much and was often discouraged. But, I knew that I wanted to have my own business instead of working for others when I graduated, so I kept pushing on. It’s not that I think working for others is a bad idea, but it’s just that I’m the type of person that likes to "create" things, and having my own business would allow me to do that without any restrictions.

It was not until I learned about Google Adsense and building content sites that I really had a lot of success. I started building Websites and monetizing them with Adsense in December of 2004, and have turned my 1-man operation into a small company with 6 employees currently. So that’s how I got started.

GK: Now, you told me that you were originally from Singapore. So what’s your motivating factor when you decided to relocate to Thailand?

SW: Actually I moved here since I was 6 years old because my dad, who is a banker, was transferred here. Since then, I’ve lived in Thailand and really like it.

GK: In your opinion, what is your greatest accomplishment so far?

SW: No doubt, I feel that the Tag And Ping Launch is my greatest accomplishment so far, mainly because of the opportunities it has opened up for me and many others. It is my first project that’s been launched on a large scale, and it has opened up a new marketing channel that hasn’t really received the attention that it deserves previously. Again, I have to thank my launch partners and friends, because this project wouldn’t have been successful without them.

GK: What type of Internet business model do you prefer and why? (e.g e-book/ direct marketing / affiliate Websites / newsletter publishing etc.)

SW: Personally, I prefer building content Websites and monetizing them with programs like Google Adsense (some call this building your "Virtual Real Estate" empire—a term coined by John Reese). This is because it is one of the most lucrative and less-stressful online business models out there; there are no customer support, no order issues, and no product fulfillment…it truly is a hands-free business. With new, more sophisticated tools being released specifically for this business model, it is also one of the easiest models that anyone can get started and making money very quickly.

GK: Would you mind sharing your preferred Internet marketing methods, and how well they have worked for you?

SW: Article marketing is probably one of the most powerful Internet marketing methods I’ve used. It is a powerful and cheap method to get free publicity and links to your sites very quickly. Most of my Websites are driven by the traffic and links from article marketing, and I’ve always had good results with this method.

Another marketing method that I’ve used recently is tagging and pinging, which I’ve also had good results with. Like article marketing, it is a powerful and cheap method to get free publicity and links to your sites, and anyone can do it. I’ve had really great results with getting my network of Websites indexed and making money with Tag And Ping.

GK: What are your favorite software applications to save time, boost productivity and achieve better marketing results? (i.e., auto responders / CMS etc.)

SW: One of the most powerful applications I’ve used in my company is "Basecamp" (http://www.basecamphq.com/), which is an online project management solution. It allows my employees to keep track of their projects and pass on work from one another very seamlessly. I surely can’t live without it.

Another powerful application I use a lot of Pegasus Mail (http://www.pmail.com/). It is a really powerful e-mail client with several powerful functions makes sorting your e-mails very easy. I use it everyday and it makes handling e-mail very easy—I surely can’t live without this tool either.

GK: In your opinion, what is the current situation of e-commerce and online shopping in Thailand? Does it bode well for the e-commerce industry?

SW: I think ecommerce and online shopping is quickly catching on in Thailand. There are more and more local sites that accept credit card purchases, and locals are more willing to purchase online than before (I think mainly because they’ve got used to ordering from big, trustworthy companies like Amazon). There are now local seminars and classes teaching people about services like Google Adwords and Paypal, so Thais are definitely interested in ecommerce a lot. Although Thailand isn’t as advanced in ecommerce when compared to countries like Singapore, Japan and Malaysia, I believe that it is only a matter of time before Thai ecommerce catches up.

GK: What do you think is the number disadvantage of operating a home-based business from Thailand, and what is the No. 1 advantage?

SW: The greatest disadvantage is probably the fact that there are very little home-based, specifically Internet-based, business owners in Thailand. Unlike neighbor countries like Singapore and Malaysia, where Internet marketers are pretty common, you can rarely find any Internet marketers here in Thailand. So far, I only know of 4-5 other Internet marketers in Thailand, and some of them aren’t even Thai.

The greatest advantage is probably business costs…which can be very cheap when compared to other countries. Wages and business expenses here are pretty low when compared to countries like Singapore, so it is much easier to start a company and hire a lot of employees.

GK: Since you’re also from Singapore, what do you think about the home based business revolution in Singapore?

SW: To be honest, I’ve left Singapore since I was small and haven’t really been following the progress of the home based business revolution there. However, I have friends there who’ve told me that more and more Singaporeans are looking towards starting their own Internet businesses and are following the footsteps of the U.S. Also, there are several famous marketers from Singapore, like Ewen Chia and Jo Han Mok, so I really think the home based business climate in Singapore is only going to get stronger in the near future.

GK: What do you like most about being your own boss, and what do you dislike?

SW: I probably like the freedom I have most—being able to do whatever I want, pursuing any projects I think are interesting, and being able to live the "Internet lifestyle." Now that I’ve been "spoiled" by my Internet business, I can’t imagine working for anyone else as an employee anymore or I will certainly be kicked out (laughs).

GK: What are your plans for the near future?

SW: Apart from continuing to grow my network of content sites and taking care of my Tag And Ping customers & subscribers, I am conducting a teleseminar series called "Content And Linking Secrets," which will feature interviews with every top content and linking expert I can find. Currently I’ve already started the interview series and have received great feedback from my listeners.

GK: Do you mind sharing titles of books, publications and Websites that have helped you gain the knowledge you have now, as well as provide inspiration for your overall personal growth?

SW: Sure, in no particular order:

Traffic Secrets (http://www.trafficsecrets.com/)

Think And Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill

Mark Joyner’s Farewell Package (Sold Out)

Multiple Streams of Income, by Robert Allen

Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki
Other than the above, I believe that I learned most and acquired most of my knowledge by studying the marketing behind other Websites, and then applying what I’ve learned to my own business.

GK: What advice can you give to new home-based entrepreneurs, especially those from Thailand (or Singapore) who aspire to follow in your tracks?

SW: I highly suggest choosing and focusing on a particular online business model and following through until the desired results are achieved. Too often I see people (myself included) grasping any new opportunity that comes by their way and trying so many things but never really achieving great results. From experience, I know that it was not until I chose a particular business model and focused all my efforts on it (and continued to learn everything I could about it) that I really achieved great results.

So if you’re new and just starting out, buy a course or join a membership site about a particular online business model, whether it is the Underachiever Formula, Google Adsense, or anything else. Then, focus on that particular business model until you get the results you desire…keep on learning and keep on trying. Only move on when you are 100% certain you’ve chosen the wrong model or that the model doesn’t work.

GK: Thank you so much Sean. I hope to see more entrepreneurs from Thailand follow in your footsteps. Good luck with your future projects.

SW: Thanks Gobala. I wish the best of success for you too!

CONTACT INFORMATION

Sean Wu
179/65 Sukhumvit Soi 39, Sukhumvit Road
Bangkok, Thailand 10110
+66 01-694-0475
http://www.TagAndPing.com/

By Gobala Krishnan, staff writer for the International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs and home based entrepreneur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

E-mail: gobala@gmail.com
Tel: +60379877424 / +60122387424
Website: http://www.gobalakrishnan.com/