Only in this case, the niche is people with “shiny object syndrome”.

The solution? Mad guru disease.
(I really like that term, so I may blog it myself!)

People that already have difficulty focusing in our ADHD world are innundated with the “latest, hottest, last chance” offer on a daily basis.

And as long as the gurus are raking in the cashs, they’ll keep serving the market.

It’s painful and shameful to admit, but I’m a recovering “shine-ob-ite” myself.

I think I was subscribed to something like 40 different mailing lists – probably more, but I lost count.

When I went away for 4 days and came home to over 1400 unread messages in my inbox, it hit me.

I got VERY selective. My time is more valuable to me now.

But more importantly, it taught me a lesson.

As I was culling my inbox I counted MAYBE 20 value added messages that weren’t blatant affiliate/jv promotions.

And NOW, with the BIG gurus doing these ultra pricey events, there’s even more of a push because HALF (or more) of the ticket price is being paid out in commissions to affiliates!

Ghastly, to say the least.

So I’ve actually pulled my subscriptions from just about every single internet marketing guru (somewhere along the line, because of a product purchase, I was subscribed to 5 different lists for one guy – and yeah, I got 5 emails almost every day!).

Call me nuts, but I’d feel guilty sending out that much email to my list.

Now, my list isn’t huge, only about 17oo people, but I’ve personally communicated to nearly every one of them. I’ve built relationships with my readers and am proud of the speed at which my list has grown in only 4 months.

The secret is no secret. Build relationships, be friendly, and stop selling everything that isn’t nailed down to your list.

One heavy hitter guru was complaining that conversions are down even though his list is massive – gee I can’t imagine, why!?!

Jeffrey Gitomer says that you need to be friendly in sales (and all of life is sales, folks). People want to do business with their friends.

But you’re NOT my friend just because (insert big name guru here) gave you a hot tip about his latest product launch and you’re going to get me a discount on it (and you’ll collect a tidy little sum to boot).

Ugh. Focus. Mark Joyner talks about that. See your target. Stay focused on your target without distraction, and hit it until you hit it.

If only those shiny little gurus would stop moving into my field of view….

I must have missed this post somewhere along the line, but I’m so glad that I found it.

I’ve been doing this in one fashion or another for over ten years and you managed to summarize some of my own frustrations with the industry in a way I never could.

This is one of the best posts on the “pulse” of the community that I’ve read. I think your predictions are right on.

I am looking forward to your next release in July and enjoyed your recent video & report!

~ Lynn

Excellent article! Certainly the “gurus” are using techniques focused on Mass Appeal which, by definition, will appeal directly to anyone looking to gain some “secret” knowledge or strategy which will give them a head start online or become a millionaire before the weekend. And this is where responsibilty and a healthy dose of skepticism are required.

To make things very clear, I have been marketing online since early 1994, spent tens of thousands of dollars, tested and reviewed hundreds of products, have had several “head to head” disagreements with some of the top names online and if I could share just one piece of knowledge I have gleaned from all this, it would be there is NO quick fix. Being successful online – as in any other area of life – requires time and effort.

My advice to anyone new to this game would be to immediately unsubscribe from every single newsletter that you do not USE regularly. Stop listening to others. Sit down with paper and pencil and write down PRECISELY what YOU want to do. Then, and only then, seek out the people in each area you need to develop (as you mentioned Perry Marshall – AdWords, Yaro Starak – blog traffic, etc.) who are genuinely trying to help people become successful.

The more time you focus on what’s NOT working, the less time available for building your business. As for what the “others” are doing – who cares? Be creative. Do your OWN thing. You are a unique child of the universe and have something to give which NO-ONE else can (think about that for a moment!). If you spend your time following another’s path – who will be walking yours?

I can feel a ramble coming on, so I’ll cut this short …

1. Stop reading (and buying!) rubbish.
2. Define your goal.
3. Research ONLY what you need.
4. Develop your skills.
5. Market your product.

Well, there goes that coffee break! I hope someone finds this useful.

May your quest be fruitful,
Chris

Unfortunately, the marketing method actually works.

While we are all tired of it, remember that every day new people join the Internet and they are looking for the same thing we all are: to make money online. All of us were there once. We’re managing to steer a route through it.

It’s the unfortunate survival of the fittest. Of course I feel sorry for them – I even set up a website and gave people information and free programs and free training so they could make money online without spending a bean – and you know what??? nobody did. They preferred to be seduced by the squeeze pages. They are all looking for the £1000/day for sending out 1 email. Now, that IS achievable, if you put in a lot of work first, build your list, create your product, then hey presto send your email out to your list promoting your product ….

Mad Guru Disease is here to stay I’m afraid.

S

It’s ravaging our industry and the death toll is rising. Thousands, dare I say millions, of would be affiliates and Internet marketing newbies drop off the face of the Internet each year, never to return. Why? They are sick.

……

You all three add excellent points, and have a common thread in your response: ignore distraction, define goals and maintain focus. That in itself is excellent advice for anyone building an online business.

The main problem that I am seeing is for the person that doesnt yet know what kind of online business to start, or how to even go about researching one or setting one up…