Over the last 2 weeks I have had a handful of conversations that have absolutely blown my mind. I am nothing short of amazed at the hoops people jump through, the money people spend, or the messes people get into trying to make money online.
Newsflash: Internet Marketing is not that complicated!
There is no big secret to making money online. I have yet to figure out why people tend to over-complicate it, or treat it like some myth from a sci-fi movie. Or go at it like a treasure hunt... instead of a business model.
The crazy thing is that people keep coming out with these complicated systems and solutions - and everybody jumps on board like it's magic or something. Seriously - have we learned nothing?!
So many people are spending entirely too much time and energy, not to mention hard-earned money, trying to avoid working - or setting up a real business model. Investing everything into shortcuts or strategies, only to end up empty handed and discouraged.
It frustrates me to no end.
It's not entirely your fault. The experts told you it would work. The sales copy truly was hypnotic. That shortcut really did seem legit. You got sucked up into the Internet Marketing space, and lost your vision for the customer and the value.
You consume so much information at such a fast pace, that you're simply reacting to it all instead of putting careful consideration into how it applies to your business model.
Is any of this hitting home??
Take a step back from the programs, tricks, strategies, resources, etc, etc, etc. Analyze what you're doing, and try this: analyze it from the buyer's side. Instead of looking at your business model from your end of the monitor, get into your visitor's head and look at your entire system through their eyes. See if you can answer the question "what's in it for me?" from that perspective.
Another great reality check is to ask: "How would I market this website if search engines did not exist?" Here's an interesting tidbit for you: that is exactly what will ultimately gain you favor with the search engines!
Which do you think will take you longer: a) create hundreds of social properties, each with their own unique content, and link them all back to your "money site" - or b) create a really cool website/model and get legitimate inbound links from a mix of relevant sources.
The answer: they take about the same amount of time, give or take. No joke.
Which do you think will give you the best results?
(b) I'm hoping that was obvious
The bottom line is that you will spend a lot less time and money in the long run, and get far better (ie long term) results, doing things right the first time.
This is my 13th year in business. I've made a profit every single year, including my start-up year (and my start-over year). For many years I just quietly created my models and worked with my customers or merchants, and ran nice profitable businesses. Meanwhile people would hit the scene, run circles around me, and disappear, year after year. I've watched empires rise and fall, and I've seen hundreds of tricks work and then tank.
Odd as it may sound, I am still doing many of the things I did online 5 years ago, the very same today - with great success. It might shock you to learn that I own zero squidoo lenses and have never 'dugg' my own content. Crazy, huh? That's not to say that those things don't work, or that I advise you not to do them - just to say that you might be spending a lot of unnecessary time in the wrong place.
Seriously - it's not that complicated.
And just to be 100% clear, I didn't "get lucky" or "strike oil" anywhere along the way. I worked. And I still work.
You have to get off the IM roller coaster, and spend some real time on your business model. Create a business that serves a market, a system that benefits its buyers. Study working models, and study marketing, but don't just throw anything at it to see what sticks - use what makes sense.
Question: How many products have you bought? How many of them delivered the desired results? How many months or years have you been trying to make money online?
How much further along would you be right now if you had stuck to your original business plans, or followed your instincts along the way - instead of going down the "magic solution" rabbit hole?
I know you're hoping I'm going to give you a link here, a solution to all this madness that will fix everything for only $97. The solution is common sense (which is not sold anywhere online that I have found).
Best,
p.s. If you're frustrated with your online business or your marketing results, and you have a question or need some help, leave a comment below. I also have a discussion forum where I answer questions daily, so feel free to join us there. It's time to stop the madness, and I would love to help you get things going in the right direction.
About Lynn Terry
Wow! Well said Lynn! I think it's safe to say you hit the nail on the head. 🙂
I couldn't agree more about business models...
I look back when I first started and all the coarses and ebooks I have gone through, only to find another dead end. I heard recently, that if your business model can't fit on a back of a napkin, it's too complicated.
I know I have spend the last two months, restructuring my current business model, I was really surprised just how much I could cut away and the model work even better! Plus, I can spend less time working!
Just like you said in this post, I can honestly say that if I hadn't got so caught up in all the "make money easy" courses and focused on my business plan, I could have saved myself a LOT of work a long time ago!
Thanks Lynn for telling it like it is! 🙂
Ah, but Paul, that napkin's for sale ... only $2k. 😉
I love your straight forward approach to things. People add complication. And that is usually added by lack of thought.
Lynn,
You go girl! And thank you for "taking no prisoners".
It really is that simple, isn't it? Picking one thing and sticking to it till the end.
It's also so true, though, that it's easy to get caught up in all "that's out there" because there is so much out there. Every time you turn around.
The best part is you're here, and you're willing to give us a nudge now and then to slow down because we don't need it all.
So thank you again.
That's what I love about you Lynn; you tell it like it is - without trying to put a spin on it, hyping it up or building it up for a 'next big launch'.
You're just real and approachable, and people can sense your genuineness and integrity and that is sadly - along with common sense (apparently) - not all that common in the internet marketing world.
This is so timely for me! I have been feeling so bogged down with all this excess information and it is quite frustrating. Thanks for sharing your frustrations it will help me get started on my plan once again!
Hi Lynn,
I'm going to go both ways with this one; it's my way.
On the one hand, I stopped buying all these different things years ago and only concentrated on what I figured would help me with what I think I already know. That's saved me lots of money, and has helped at least a little bit.
On the other, maybe internet marketing is easy to you and a lot of other folks, but I still don't get it. After about six years of doing it, I'm about to have my best month ever; just over $200. That's it, my best month in six years, and it's a fluke of sorts; I'm not sure I can do it again next month.
That's why some people keep reaching; because they're not succeeding. It's really not as easy as all that; if it were, so many more people would be making good money at it, even though there's thousands who are trying. I haven't given up, but I have to say that I'm really lucky I have other ways of making money right now without relying on trying to do it all online.
But if I ever do figure it out, I'm going to be dangerous!
Mitch,
I totally understand your point. What worked to make that $200 though? Is it possible to rinse and repeat? Fluke? Then what out of that success can you apply to something that will work?
What Lynn is talking about I have been victim of and I think many of us have done the same thing ... it's not happening fast enough so we drop the small potatoes success and trade it in for the *promised* pie in the sky wishful thinking. Actually as non glamorous as tweaking and sticking with the $200 sounds you have a much higher probability of making that multiply, I would think.
Just a thought or two... and sticking with Lynn and learning for nearly (shhhh) free you really can't go wrong.
Hi Julie Anna,
In general, I average around $120 a month, most of it coming via Adsense. This month I got an extra bit because one of my web clients needed to move hosts, I sent him to Hostgator, and he bought from me. That's why I said it was a fluke; that won't happen all that often.
Trying to figure out how to entice other people to buy stuff from me, other than from my blog (which isn't really ever going to generate the cash) is the thing. I've created a few products and marketed them, even tried Adwords, but to no real avail. Doesn't mean I've given up, but haven't quite figured out the formula yet.
I must be a slow learner after six years. lol
I would LOVE to sit down and discuss this with you, Mitch - to see what you're doing, hear what you've tried, and look at possible solutions. It would really help me get a better understanding of the frustrations most people experience at this. Send me an email - let's see what we can coordinate 😉
Okay, be on the lookout for that email. 🙂
I SOOO relate to this! I see myself in many of the points you make. The thing is, until recently, I didn't know any better. Believe it or not, I don't think that ANY of the hundreds of free reports and free videos I ever saw mentioned this! I wonder why? I don't feel alone though, I think that many newbies to the internet marketing business fall pray to thinking that "this will be the last piece of the puzzle that I need". That's what it's felt like to me, a big puzzle, and it was up to me to figure out where all the pieces went. The problem being, the puzzle just keeps getting bigger and bigger and I will never have all the pieces. I need to work more with what I have and let the rest go for now. I think I am on every email list that ever existed for every email marketer in the world. I have been clicking the unsubscribe and delete buttons more often than ever! Thanks for speaking out on this issue Lynn. Your honesty and integrity continue to amaze me.
This is such an excellent post and something most of us can relate to. I was listening to your interview with Nicole Dean on her Successcast podcast where you said that people will be complacent until their back is against the wall (I am paraphrasing), and I think that goes right along with jumping from product to product, hoping for the easy way out. I was complacent, because I could be, but now that my husband is home with me for a few months to raise our baby, it is pressuring me to get things moving so that he doesn't have to go back to his j-o-b. Of course he is working at it too, it is a shared goal and has shaken us both to action. And I don't need another ebook or course or whatnot to tell me what to do, I KNOW how to do, it is finally time for action. Fabulously inspiring post Lynn, and I think tied with that podcast, you could sell it for ... LOL just kidding 🙂
THIS is why you are my favorite internet marketer Lynn. Never afraid to speak your mind, you bring us all back to reality time, and time again. It's so easy to get into the IM vortex. This month, I have been unfollowing any marketer not essential to my business so I can focus on just that.... my business.
Like the saying goes -- "Just the facts Jack, just the facts!"
Lyn,
How are you? My first time to visit your website. Actually, i agree with you because what your saying is true. Earning money online is not really hard. Well, all you need to do is research,study and apply it. There is no secret about it because all people earning money online have the same strategy with different explanation just to sell their system. right?
You hit the nail on the head!
My online businesses never really took off for me until I stopped trying to find the easy way and focused on creating real businesses (most people surfing the Internet can spot the phonies from the legitimate websites anyway.)
What has helped me the most?
Creating quality content that honestly helps people. It's only after I've proven to visitors that I a) have knowledge in the specific topic of my website, and b) have gone the extra mile to provide very useful information, that my visitors will purchase my product or take the action I want them to take.
You're right. It's not that hard: first give people what they want and then they will give you what you want. Give and take works VERY WELL!
-David
Hi Lynn,
This is the third time I've run across your post - from different sources. Each time I read it, I thought it was excellent, but after three time, I figured the Universe was trying to tell me something!
Like almost everyone else who commented, I fell for those "overnight success stories" which promised I could sit at the kitchen table, in my underwear (or P.J.s), raking in gobs of cash, earn money in my sleep while turning my computer into my own personal ATM machine and work 4 hours a week... or better yet, someone else would do all the work for me, and I could start taking exotic vacations and buy a new car and move into my own mansion... and blah blah blah. (To prove it, I've not only been there, done that, have a closet-full of T-shirts and Photo Album, but I've got a bunch of "stuff" collecting virtual dust on my hard drive that I refuse to throw out, cause I paid good money for it...)
But what worked for me was actually doing something you suggested. I started treating my internet business like a business. I created a plan and I followed it. And I haven't looked back since.
So if you're still struggling, may I humbly suggest that you stop the insanity (I've always wanted to find a way to say that! ;-0 ) and try something else Lynn suggests. If you took the internet out of your business... imagine you've just moved into that nice little building on Main Street... What would you need to do to be successful and profitable? The internet is a tool, it's not a business model.
Once you figure out what you have to do to market your products or services - then you can add the internet back in. Because the truth is, you can make a very good living if your business is only online -like mine. Since I live in France, I don't do a whole lot of jumping in the car - or even hopping on a plane and going over to meet with my clients (they actually usually prefer to come here if a meeting is necessary!) But the point is, don't depend on "the internet" to create your business, and, like Lynn said, don't make things more complicated than they need to be, to build success.
Great post Lynn - I'm looking forward to reading more!
Warmly,
Cheryl
To clarify, I wasn't ranting AT any of you - or anyone reading along here - but at the industry itself. It's obvious from your comments above that you took it exactly as intended, but reading back over it myself this morning I realized it could easily give the wrong impression.
It's also worth saying that there are a lot of products out there that I read and/or use myself that are great. I'm not knocking info products or software solutions in general. I'm constantly learning new things myself, and buy products sometimes just to study the model or to get fresh ideas.
But - I am highly annoyed (as usual) at the constant barrage of unnecessary CRAP that promises you the moon and does nothing more than distract you from your original objective. Or worse, tank your chances of long-term success with that project.
We can't stop all of the negative things that frustrate and annoy us about this industry. As long as they are making a profit, they will continue. But we can choose to stop allowing them to distract & derail us, and we can stop supporting or enabling them...
Cheryl made an excellent point above: the internet is a tool, not a business model. It's a medium by which to reach your target market, and sell your products & services.
I loved Leigha's analogy about the puzzle, and finding the missing pieces. And the leading marketers would have you to believe that it IS some big secret jigsaw puzzle and that they have that missing piece that you need to find success online.
That's simply not true.
The irony of it is, most of the people that want to sell you a solution, have never sold anything online themselves - outside of a solution to sell something online.
The people who ARE successfully selling real products & services online, for the most part are very quietly enjoying that success and not necessarily teaching it anywhere. You'd be wise to study successful models in *your* niche and take note on how they operate, which should prove as a much better "course" for your personally.
Internet Marketing is not a puzzle, or a scavenger hunt. It is simply business and marketing online. And once everyone starts seeing it for what it is, they can relax more - and focus on building their own unique business model.
No matter what anyone tells you, it takes WORK. And the sooner you stop believing in shortcuts and "the easy way out", the sooner that work will bring you the success you're looking for.
Funny you should mention a puzzle... I had not read Leigha's comment here, but just last night was talking with my husband about how *my* brain and thought process works and it involved a puzzle! 🙂
For me, I need to understand and be able to grasp the whole picture or process on something in order for me to effectively be able to move forward; and I actually used the word puzzle, to describe it to him.
Once I can see the entire puzzle, which for me is the goal, plan or where I'm going, then I can work on inserting the puzzle pieces (action steps, next steps or what I need to do next!) and start working on completing the puzzle or goal.
It's because of my need to understand or see the big picture or 'puzzle' and the way my brain works that I do step-by-step tutorials for others. I know there are others like me that need that same step-by-step type of learning.
Some people just jump in and do, learning as they go, figuring it out along the way - call it intuition, spirit of adventure or instinct; others of us are wired different and function better with a road map. It's not that we might not read the map wrong and get lost or fail; or choose the wrong map to read (i.e. wrong niche, business model, etc...) and we could still not succeed in every road we take along the way, but we still have our map to guide us back to the main highway to keep us grounded.
Some need to see the puzzle box picture before they can start, others need to hold the map to refer to it as they travel: but these are the people who keep buying systems and methodologies, not because they're afraid of work, but because their learning style is driving them to find some structure and guidance.
Sadly, most products out there don't do that. They are vague in their instructions, I assume because the author doesn't want to give away their trade secrets or something. They're more interested in hyping and selling 'their' system, than helping their customer.
What would be really helpful is if there was a step-by-step internet marketing instruction guide that covered the most common monetization, site setup and marketing methods, etc... - everything from A-Z - to help people get started. All in one book. (yep, that was a huge hint. 😉 )
Loved your comments Traci! I too work best when I know what the picture on the box looks like. I love something that shows me step by step how to do something. That is how I learn best. Show me once (well maybe sometimes twice) and I've got it. Great, another piece of the big picture what's next? What I am hearing here is something I had begun to suspect several months ago, and more recently over the last few weeks have been weaning myself from. No more hype, just real down to business work. Plan, test, take action, satisfy the audience by giving them what they came for, and repeat. It's not really that complicated. I think I may actually BE getting it! Whew!
Hi Lynn, this is Gary from TN. (GanderCo).
This comment is to tell you that I want to make a really powerful comment! I am somewhat like "Mitch"but sadly to say with two kids to boot. I used to be a Big-Truck driver (that's the lingo, not "18 wheeler", Truckers just say BIG-truck, although it means the same...get it?). When I was driving OTR (over the road), and my wife was a full time R.N. delivering babies 12 hrs a day, we made more money than our lifestyle knew how to spend! FFWD→→
Now years later, I have became too sick to keep a J.O.B. and my wife lost her (full time) job about 1.5 yrs ago (how can an R.N. NOT have a good job?) In a NuShell: Well, hmm, um, There is no "Nutshell" way to explain that except to say, my wife (Tessa btw) is NOW either "Over" or "Under" qualified. (Google it! lol).
Ok, I'm taking too long trying to say that I'm going to keep this short. (I'm so funny! lol!) 😛
Let me get my thoughts together, fire up my Bean (text editor) and craft a GOOD comment. But b4 I do, please give me the benefit of the doubt that I think I know EXACTLY what you meant in this blog-post, ok?
I've got a little sumpin sumpin up my sleave...trying to decide to run with it.
Bottom line:______________________________ ←there it is! (just kidding. I'm still cracking me up, lol) 😛
The real bottom line:
I believe I know exactly what you are saying in this blog post, and I want to Commend you and thank you in a big way!
P.S. I agree whole heartily with Traci Knoppe. She wrote..."That’s what I love about you Lynn; you tell it like it is - without trying to put a spin on it, hyping it up or building it up for a ‘next big launch’...."
It's like she was reading my mind! Well, like I often say: "I'm gonna shut-up shutting-up now!"
BYE!
Gary Anderson
aka- @GanderCo
aka- one of the [StayBoosted] guys from StayBoosted.com
Bravo, Lynn ... on all counts, as usual.
Same Markets ... dealing with the same prospects ... just a different medium. Requires the same research, game plan, systems, goals, and follow up as an Offline Business.
Will definitely be linking to this rant at JVNP ... they must be tired of hearing mine by now. 😉
Cheers,
Mike "#1 Lynn Terry Fan in Central NJ" Merz
Great points Traci! Just to clarify, courses and how-to information are necessary. I buy and use them myself on a regular basis, as this industry requires continued learning to stay on your game. Not to mention learning the various technical skills and codes.
I realize now that my post was about as clear as MUD 🙂 Still, I think most of you got my point (incredible!) but I'll clear this up by saying:
I'm not against how-to information or courses that help you learn what you need to know, to do what you need to do.
What I really dislike are tricks and tactics that do nothing more than take you down a rabbit hole and/or get you banned or delisted from certain places. One of them starts with a "G" 😉
I'm referring to those things that your gut tells you are wrong. Things you simply would not do for any other reason - they make absolutely zero sense in the real world. Or anything that has you using a site or service any other way than originally intended. Example: search engines, social bookmarking, social networking, etc.
Or how about putting Google Adsense on your ecommerce website, just because you heard someone out there makes $50k a month in click-through's on their own site. All you're doing is promoting your competitors and inviting your visitors away from your own shopping cart!
It's just like losing weight, or getting in shape. There are no real shortcuts, at least none that don't affect your health in the long run. It takes consistent action, WORK, dedication & commitment. Period.
Your common sense and gut instinct should override everything else. Always. This is YOUR business, and nobody knows it better than YOU.
Hi Lynn - I think your point was clear, I think the furthering discussions were just bringing out more on this topic and we were 'venting' some too. LOL
For example, you see it all the time, folks struggling to really make a living in internet marketing. Why? They've been buying what they *thought* were step-by-step courses, only to find out they've been sold a bunch of hyped up 'fluff', or it might have some valuable info; but didn't really and truly deliver what a newbie needs - in the format they need it in - so they can take it and apply it.
I agree, it takes instinct and your gut; that's part of it and I think taking a step of faith that internet marketing is the right way for someone is that gut instinct step for many people; but unlike some who perhaps have a more natural business sense, or are more fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants in their approach to life/business: there are others who are like 'deer in the headlights' when they are looking for and seeking a true 'internet marketing step-by-step instruction manual' and all they keep finding (and buying) is someone else's hyped up crap that isn't really delivering to them what they're looking for and needing.
Most internet marketing '101' sites I've seen like this, the people selling marketing are just marketing the marketing. Like you've said, they've never actually been successful themselves in internet marketing in general - in any niche, selling any other product or service - other than selling the idea of selling. So it's like a thin affiliate site concept: their information is shallow, because their knowledge is shallow.
They are big on hype, upsell offers and bonuses, because there's not a lot of 'meat' in the product they're offering. It's quite possible that many of them don't do step-by-step guides because they don't know enough information themselves to be able to provide one.
So there's that overall lack of information. It leaves you wanting/needing more - yet they don't really have it. They may be great salesmen: promising you more, but they never quite deliver. But somehow many keep buying tickets to their 'show' and keep watching - because, well... they put on a great show. 😉
However, I can see the circus clown sitting in the room and I'm not buying tickets to that show any longer. Once you come to realize who is genuine in this business and who isn't - you can get off the circus train and get down to business.
Good points. And truth be told, you'd be hard pressed to find a "one size fits all" internet marketing course, simply because every business model is unique to the person who created it. There are similar models, but nothing will work exactly the same in any two niches - or even for any two keyword phrases. That is where common sense and gut instinct come in handy...
Lynn,
Great post! Thanks for reminding us to keep it simple (K.I.S.S.). Sometimes, out of desperation, we tend to jump on the next best thing in hopes of making something happen -- only to find ourselves more confused and more overwhelmed and bewildered. I think a BIG problem for most beginners is impatience. We don't wait long enough for something to work before we move on to "the next best thing"! Then, we find ourselves suffering from information overload. (By the way, I wrote my first post for my new blog on "information overload that will be up and going by the end of week . . . Y-A-H-O-O!!!!!!!)
Traci's post about having to have a step-by-step roadmap or a "paint by numbers" blueprint is my style of learning, too. However, I am able to inject my own creativity and apply creative thinking to the process to make it my own. Even though there are a few programs out there that give the meat, the vast majority only give you the trimmings and "a little bit of this ... and a little bit of that" -- never all you need to really get you going.
One thing I can say, your posts are SO helpful because they get us to think about our predicament and TAKE ACTION to make some positive changes. You lay it out there for us but you don't leave us hanging. You offer guidance and solutions to help us get on the right track AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT YOU!
Thank you Iris - and another great point! But again, it's like weight loss or fitness: you have 3 choices. You can quit because you dont see results quickly enough, you can keep changing what you're doing (ie start over every week), or you can stick it out until you SEE RESULTS 😀
Stick to it? That's just too hard. I think where the "you're different Lynn and we need hand holding" comments apply is that indeed, your work ethic is different than what is out there today. Of course, many of us are going to run after the easy method. I'm not saying that all of us are lazy or intend to be BUT when we get stuck the natural tendency is to quit or find a quick way to fix it. Well, what internet marketer worth his salt is not going to sell you a solution? Agreed, though, where the industry fails us is in the over promise and under deliver or just plain lying to take advantage of folks who really are in need of some real answers in how to make money online.
So yes, I agree that the market is saturated with folks who aren't driving the stick to it and hard work point home while most definitely taking advantage of desperate people BUT we as business owners (or wannabes) have to eventually own up to our inconsistencies and willingness to take the paths of least resistance (aka chasing the shiny objects).
I think "treating it like a business" helps. And I know I'm preaching to the choir with you personally JA - your success story is awesome! The point though, is that being self-employed means being self-disciplined and self-motivated. It IS a business.
What blows my mind is that it seems to me the very people that gripe about scams and schemes... are the ones trying ANYthing to get out of actually working and searching for a way to "get rich quick"...
Awesome post Lynn. Point well taken!
Lynn,
i havent met you, but listen to you on IMTW.
this post is so good -
like really!
People ask me all the time about this or that program or course etc..
and (having been burned a few times), i just alway think "oh dear".
They are going to buy a course to learn about a particular business model that is dominated by super smart people working 19hour days.. :p
Im going to send them here from now on...
many thanks.
When my main focus was as a start up consultant (1999-2003), one of the first scenarios I tried to paint those new to the idea of starting an Online business was to write down the steps they felt would be necessary to start a business in the 'real world' ... did they feel the process they had laid out consistent with what the steps necessary to make it Online? If not, why? Were there Online equivalents (website=storefront, email list=mailing list, etc.) or did they even cross paths (newspaper ads, PPC advertising, etc.)
Once they started to realize that ... despite Marketing via a different medium, they where still Marketing to the same people ... and many of the same techniques and practices applied, they also began the understand that the demands were a lot more intricate (yet ... when accomplished, much more reliable and sound) then the latest get rich quick course (remember, the latter exists ... and has wasted a lot of time and money, in the Offline world as well as Online for longer than all of us have been around).
Long rambling short ... Marketing Online is a business the same as any you would undertake Offline ... and demands the same learning, research, discipline, structure, focus, follow through, trial and error, self and product branding, credibility, exposure, networking, and staying on top of things that an Offline Business would.
There are products and services offering honest value that are no doubt going to show you something new, provide something that may help you, or deliver enhancements over free alternatives, but at the center of it is you and your business ... everything else must revolve around it.
Cheers,
Mike
Beautiful, Mike! Very well said 😉
Hi Lynn, I have enjoyed this post. I have been a real estate agent for about two years, after building houses and working for IBM. I worked a little over a year for a real estate company that supplied leads to its agents. All of their leads came from the internet, and, needless to say, the price of those leads was high. I left that company and went with another company that had a more generous commission split with their agents, but they did not provide leads nor did they have many good marketing ideas. I realized later that what I needed was to be associated with a real estate company that provided a generous split, had a lot of successful agents that I could learn from and provided great support. I have found such a company. Now, I am focusing on my marketing plan. My goal is to gen erate enough leads so I will have enough to refer to other agents and earn referral fees. This will be accomplished via the internet and offline marketing. This is my business model. The challenge for me is finding the right combination that will provide the optimum results. I am attending the NAMS workshop in Atlanta next month, hoping to come away with a solid plan to take my business to the next level.
Hi Charles,
I look forward to seeing you at the NAMS Workshop in Atlanta and discussing this further. 🙂
Amen Lynn Terry! This post speaks right to my heart. I just brought my biz online in December. The amount of "stuff" out there was (is) overwhelming. I kept looking at this thing and that thing trying to find the "best" way to grow my business. I'm learning it's all in the content, not to get involved with the circus that goes on the perimeter, and take things step by step. There is no quick fix, nothing happens overnight. In addition find great people you can trust to work with. My two happen to be people who are involved with you, Charly Leetham and Paul Cooley. they have both been a godsend to me and great friends. Bless you for this straight-shooting no BS post!
You are truly fortunate to have hooked up with 2 smart fellows and figured out the "truth" so early on! You obviously have good business sense and I'm assuming prior offline experience. Good for you!
Darn, I was hoping you'd have a $97 answer to all my online business marketing challenges. I agree that succeeding online is just like any other business in that it takes time and effort. Thanks for the bit of reality.
LOL
No instant money-making scheme will work out in the long run. If one really wants to succeed, it's about hard work, effort, patience, dedication, and of course a little bit of luck would always help.
Congratulations on your 13th year, others would really find a good role model in you 🙂
Thank you - it's amazing how time flies. 12 years and counting, wow! Here's to another great decade! *cheers*
Thanks Julia for a great poet. and thank you Lynn for helping us start out wiser.
You hitting this one out of the park.
Many of us are victim of new penny syndrome which we buy the system after system in hope that it will help us soar. But, in the end it left us empty-handed. We must be careful in how we are leveraging ourselves and the business. It is ok to purchase new stuff as long it is adding asset and is benefical.
Yes, you told the truth. It take hard work and no shortcut is the way to profit.
It's unfortunate really. To be fair, there is a lot of great information in many products & courses, and used correctly they are worth the investment. The problem is the expectation - that they will do the work FOR you - or the lack of follow through with the information purchased.
It's all about mindset. Once you get your head wrapped around what it takes to succeed - work, and investing in your future - everything gets easier! 😉
Great post! I also like what Traci said.Will be following you on twitter from now on.
WOW this hit home big time. I started in this business a few years back and have tried so many of the so called solutions or systems that supposedly would drive in the money by the truckloads but I still have an empty truck sitting here. Not to say I have not made a dime but not like I expected. Well Thanks for the reality check it makes so much sense and now it is time to go to work for real!
Here it is the secret to internet success - TRAFFIC and monetizing that traffic - thats it. Your right it isnt complicated but it isnt exactly easy either.
I WANT OFF THE ROLLERCOASTER!
Hi Lynn, thanks for the great post. I think my biggest problem is my sense of urgency. I'm not afraid to work, I'm afraid of the learning curve, and so I'm trying to shorten it, and thus I've bought into the "this step-by-step plan will work!" I want to hang up my 'working (out of the home) mom' shoes and get me some work FROM home mom shoes before my son is a college graduate.
I have so many interests and great ideas of where I'd like to go too, and that makes it really hard to focus and be organized. You are the FIRST that I've read about to talk consistently about a Business MODEL. I've heard the term, have no idea what it is, or how to create one. I think that would help me a lot.
I am a creative person, but I don't think I have a 'mind' for business. I didn't really know I had the 'entrepreneurial spirit' until I started selling on eBay. Is there hope for me???
Thanks Lynn for what you do.
Tammie
Yes, there is hope for you Tammie 😀
You're not alone. Most of us had to learn the business/entrepreneur part the hard way. It's the desire & ideas that got us ALL started.
Figure out what you're going to sell, where that's going to come from (and how), and who you're going to sell it to (and how). That's your business model.
The #1 problem - and we all suffer from it - is overcomplicating the process. It's not as difficult as the snake oil salesmen will have you believe. Keep in mind they're out to sell you a solution 😉
The best way to shorten the learning curve is to jump in and start DOing. You'll learn fastest by getting your hands dirty, and figuring out firsthand what works and what doesn't...
If you have questions, stop by my forum:
http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/members/
We'll help you out!
I think that I am the queen of complication. Great post!
This is one of the best posts I have read anywhere! I am just building my first website, after 6 months of reading,watching videos, and at times spending as much as 16 hours a day trying to make sense of the whole Internet marketing scene. It has been an interesting and frustrating ride as I also have wasted much money on promises and systems that JUST DON'T GIVE YOU A STEP BY STEP PROCESS.
The issue of FOCUS seems to be the #1 problem of many that I have conversed with, mainly because EVERYDAY there is a "BETTER" how to system which grabs your attention. I am considering unsubscribing from every list I am on except maybe 2 or 3 that I trust. Any suggestions? All feedback would be appreciated!
Let me just say that the issue of trust an honesty is something that is hard to find in the Internet marketing niche. I want to trust everyone but it has taken me several months to realize that there is more hype out here than helpful content.
I realize after looking around this site, reading your posts here and listening to Lynn that all of you are participating because this is a place with honesty and integrity. It took me awhile to recognize such sites and I am truly thankful to have found this one. Thanks Lynn and keep up the good work!!
Thank you Scott & Welcome 😀
The truth is, there isn't really a step by step process that is going to work in every market. Different markets respond to different models, and different marketing methods. Every element affects the model, right down to the intent of the search with a keyword phrase.
It requires a lot of trial & error, testing & tracking - and being both objective and creative. When something doesn't work, we try something else, until we find what does. That's what being an entrepreneur is all about.
It's best to choose a market or a model, and stick with that - all the way from start to profit. Learn only what you need to learn to accomplish what you're working on right now. Everything else is just unnecessary noise. You're right - focus is definitely key.
If you have any questions, I have a discussion forum and you'll find many of the same people actively participating there: http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/members/
I'll keep an eye out for you 😉
-Lynn
Hi Lynn
I think this is the most valuable information to be found on the internet! I've only been on-line for a month now, but it has seemed like a year, trawling for ideas on 'how to set up a business on-line'. It's been a headache sifting through all the 'get rich quick' stuff, a lot of hours wasted everyday! I'm glad that I have discovered your site sooner rather than later, to think how much more wasted time and brain cells there could have been!
Many thanks for saving me from all the 'pit-falls' that could have been.
Rik
I have been to your site a few times now, and this time I am adding it to my bookmarks 🙂 Your posts are always relevant, unlike the same-old stuff on other sites (which are coming off my bookmarks!) Two thumbs up!
I have been marketing online (off and on) for five years. I really became serious about it about 2 years ago. I spend a couple hours a day blogging an hour writing new content on my sites, some time submitting articles to ezine etc. etc. it all adds up and it really isn't hard to do "once you get the hang of it". lol What started driving me more was my first day I made over $1,000 then I thought, man this internet thing can really work out for me.
But Lynn...hard work is not sexy or fun! LOL
Personally, I have a hard drive full of free downloads and products I've bought. But the only thing that actually helped me make money online is actual WORK.
There is no real short cut to making money online and your post spells that out very clear. As Earl Nightingale said, success comes from doing certain things a certain way all the time.
Thank you for your blog and all your posts. I'm a student of yours and I'm truly thankful for what you've done.
Peace,
Shane
I really enjoyed your post. As someone who started a traditional business (commercial cleaning)about ten years ago, I agree that only hard work pays off.
You can read all day and night on how to take shortcuts on the way to wealth, but like you said, it's a dead end. Doing it right the first time is much faster and cheaper.
Thank-you Lynn for posting al of this information, I'm just now trying to figure out how to promote my website / products and this helps SO much !!!
You mad some very good points! People don´t really focus on their marketing. The fish should like the worm, not the fisherman.
Lynn
Looks like I get to be the first one for 2011!
Business Model. Maybe I speak for many others when I say, "What the heck is a business model for Internet Marketing?"
I am a creator and not a detail oriented person. Business plans are something I have tried to avoid at all costs and the Internet seemed like just the place for a creative guy like me.
In 2004 I created a really great info website about recumbent bikes, and it was the same time that Google gave birth to AdSense! In just 6 months I was earning $250 in ad revenue and it was rising. Then I did a really dumb thing. I sold it!!!
I used a host called SBI and followed their plan for setting everything up. I really wasn't expecting to make money because I didn't like sales. Affiliate income perhaps where there are no customers to deal with, but just some nice, steady income with no intent to get rich.
I dare say this is a typical mindset of most who are where I am. After 7 years of searching, buying and trying, and being the really big “risk-taker” paying more money than I want to admit, I have reached the point where I am more determined than ever to find the answer.
I love Henry Ford because he helped me understand that having all the answers was NOT what was important. It was KNOWING WHERE to FIND THEM! That’s why I’m here.
I’m great at many things, good at a multitude more, and there are scores of things I’m not good at no matter how intelligent I may be. KNOWING what I’m not good at, and finding the resource to compensate for that, is, I believe, another reason why I am here. You were directly recommended by one of the support members of the last program I am working with, as I have asked more questions than they are comfortable answering. I finally asked for a source that could put all their components into a working model and here I am.
Perhaps you would consider discussing this with me. I’ll leave it in your hands.
Alan
Lynn,
I couldn't have said it much better myself. How true it is. You always tell it like it is, Lynn. Keep up the good work. So glad someone told me about your website, your forum, and your webinars. Thanks for being you.
Janis
Oh, I forgot to say how much I like the "brain explosion" graphic. Great touch. 😀
Wow Lynn, GREAT post! I could not agree more with you!
I am building my online businesses without spending money on (unnecessary) products to spin articles or mass posting to generate back links. I guess for some people it's hard to accept that also online you can only build businesses step by step and it does take time and effort!
I really like to way how you always make everyone realise that it is still all common sense and nothing magical!