I really hate it when I sit down here to write, and nothing comes out. As a blogger or content developer yourself, you know this feeling all too well I'm sure.
I have so much that I want to share with you, but the blank screen just mocks me. It has become a staring contest, which I am determined to win...
What I want to say is so blunt, and the reason I'm having a hard time saying it... is because I would like to find more appropriate words, or a nicer way of saying it.
But that may not happen.
I don't like the Internet Marketing space anymore.
There, I said it.
I've been working online for more than a dozen years. I'm not some "overnight internet marketing consultant" that got online one day and immediately decided to teach everyone else something I couldn't even do myself.
I held weekly training classes at my shop, I offered on-site training to local merchants that wanted to integrate the internet into their business plan, I helped people start and succeed at home-based businesses.
I have made my living online. With NO other source of income, and raising two children as a single mother. I put in long hours, learned by trial & error, did not give up until I achieved my goals - and then set new goals. I single-handedly created a dream life that most people would absolutely love to have.
I did not do any of that overnight. I did not accomplish it by following a blueprint, or paying someone $97 or even $1997. In fact, I didn't buy my first "ebook" until more than five years into my business. Up to that point the only things I had paid for were hosting and other necessary services.
I have never spun content, bookmarked or "dugg" or "stumbled" my own articles, created millions of pages of crap that make no sense at all with some crap software that was sold by the latest traveling e-salesman.
I worked. I created cool websites and valuable online businesses.
Margaritas on the Beach
I was having lunch with a really nice group of people at the last event I attended. They were kind enough to invite me to join them, and I ended up really enjoying both the company and the conversation.
One of the ladies mentioned a product or a software program that I wasn't personally familiar with, and then said (I'm paraphrasing) "The sales copy made it sound so easy - you know, like I'd be sipping margaritas on the beach by now."
I smiled and said... "You do realize that the person who wrote that sales copy was not sitting on the beach sipping margaritas, right? They were sitting in a room alone somewhere, probably unbathed and unshaven and in their pajamas, slaving over creating that product for months on end - and then on writing the copy itself. Of course, they may have been drinking a margarita while doing it, who knows..."
My point is (and was) - that all is not as it seems.
(but then, I don't suppose anyone wants to buy reality...)
I'm not knocking great software. Or great sales copy - which is an awesome skill to have, by the way. I'm just deeply bothered by the lack of reality, and the overall state of Internet Marketing as we know it.
The Awesome Opportunity of WORK
Working from home and running an online business is an awesome opportunity. Just ask my two kids, who are now teenagers - and have had a full-time mother all of their lives. They'll tell you I worked hard. They'll tell you I spent many long hours for many years at my computer, even. But they'll also tell you they have it made. Our lifestyle would not have been possible without the internet - my gateway to an awesome and rewarding career, from a home where I was needed.
I have never made light of the amount of work that goes into starting a business. Ever. I do think that anyone can do it, but I know that not everyone will succeed. It takes a serious dose of personal motivation, and if you have that... you can achieve anything. Not overnight, mind you. It might take you 10 weeks, 10 months or even 10 years. Accept that, and work hard anyway, and you are well on your way to creating the successful online business that you want.
It's not in scamming people, spinning content, spamming the internet with useless crap, owning every ebook or premium wordpress theme or software program created. It's in creating a business that adds value to people - to a specific group of people. Period.
Take a look at that last hyperlink on adding value.
I wrote that 4 1/2 years ago.
My message has never changed - starting a business takes work. There is no easy overnight route or "magic button". Believe me, if there was I would have used it and saved myself many long days - and years - of work.
What makes people believe it's going to be easy, anyway?
I challenge you to go out today and start an offline business. Go start a flower shop or a bakery. Go for it! Do you think it's going to be easy? Do you think you'll earn $10,000 in 10 days? Hell no! You'll likely spend that just getting started and work your ass off trying to get out of debt and into profit.
Starting an online business IS easier, of course. It is. And the profit potential is much greater even. But you are still starting a business.
I'm rambling. You already know all these things. I've been blogging my heart out for years on this very topic... but hey, no more blank screen so I win! 😉
My real point is that the Internet Marketing space itself has become disgusting and dirty and ridiculous. There are days it makes me sick. There are moments I feel like walking away from it all and breaking any association with it.
I miss the days when the web was clean, and when people saw the opportunity there for what it really was. Oh who am I kidding really... there have been scam artists and creeps from day one. But still... now they no longer seem like the minority and they're actually harder to spot. The lines between have become so blurred.
Here's one for you...
A guy has an infomercial for a $19.95 product that promises to help you become wildly successful working from home. People buy and they are immediately offered more help for more money and even more help for even more money.
The next thing you know this guy is at an Internet Marketing seminar proudly touting his numbers and dollar figures and conversion rates from the stage. And he wows everyone in the audience (or 33.7% of them at least, which he will boast about later in an online webinar) enough to cause a rush to the back of the room to spend $2k buying his system that promises to show them how to do the same.
*puke*
Never, in all the numbers he shared, did he share the success rate of his buyers.
And never, in everything he did personally, did he sell a real product to a real person. And he in fact has absolutely no experience (or success) doing so - the very thing his "awesome product" teaches them that they should do.
All of his success is in selling the idea of success, while he sends his customers off to try to duplicate that success with a totally different system - like promoting banner ads via pay-per-click advertising or some such thing. Seriously.
This might be comical if it wasn't so sickening.
It blows my mind that there is even a market to keep some of these "entrepreneurs" in business. But there is - which is another problem altogether.
Guy above ^ is just a fictional character, by the way. An example to make a point. So don't ask me who I was referring to. I don't actually know all of their names. 😛
But enough about complete strangers. What about the over-the-top claims made by someone you know and like? What if someone you've come to trust for their honesty and integrity sends you one of those dirty emails promising to show you how they made $78,000 in 42 minutes...
Yeah right. Only because that person had *years* invested in getting to that moment, and having everything in place already to achieve those results.
You cannot duplicate those results without investing the same. And maybe not even if you do invest the exact same time, money, effort and duplicate every single little task in exactly the same way. For any number of reasons.
Look - I'm all for sharing experiences with each other. For learning from those who have figured out systems or strategies that work. The online business & new media space has evolved because of it, no doubt.
But there's a difference between sharing (and even selling) proven methods & strategies that others can apply to their own business model... and spewing useless crap that is no benefit to anyone except the person making a profit from said crap.
Want to know what else makes me sick?
"Bar Talk" from so-called professionals. Paying thousands of dollars to attend a seminar only to have the f-bomb dropped from the stage while "experts" drink beer and spew useless information that ultimately turns into a bragging war and an ego trip. I got up and walked out of the room the last time I heard the word "butt head" from the stage. I find it personally offensive. And to think that I was considering bringing my son to that event now that he is also working online... Ugh.
There you have it. That's what has been on MY mind lately.
I've put a lot of thought into this over the last year. Specifically how this applies to me, and to my business model. In other words, how I intend to respond. And by respond I don't mean I'm going to hop up on a crate somewhere and shout at the crap and expect it to listen and react.
I've simply been deciding where my place is in this crowded, dirty market.
There are some great people in the Internet Marketing space. Don't get me wrong. I know them, or know of them, and have the greatest respect for the market leaders in the industry that have maintained their integrity. That are doing truly great things. It's not an easy space to work in, or an easy market to serve.
I considered stepping out altogether, and going to back to a place in time where I was happiest: working away on my fun niche affiliate sites. There's nothing like creating a new site on a topic you enjoy, and watching it grow into something fulfilling and profitable.
While I still have niche sites, somehow the scale tipped dramatically - my 80 became my 20, and my 20 became my 80. More in terms of time than revenue.
I take personal responsibility for that. I do.
But as much as I love niche affiliate marketing (niche meaning outside of IM), I have been helping others achieve life-changing success from the very start of my online career - and I know deep inside myself that I will always want to do that.
Not because it's a profitable business for me (do you see me selling anything right here??) - though it is - but because I CAN. Because I have the experience and the expertise as much as others (and more so than most), and I know that I can make a difference for you as you work on your online business.
And so, for my own sanity, here is what I've decided...
I am going back to a heavy focus on the one thing I absolutely love - my niche affiliate sites. And I am also going to invest myself in a greater reach, with a stronger voice, in the Online Business market.
Not necessarily in the inbred space of regurgitated crap that is "Internet Marketing" as we know it today. But in the space where real people are looking for real solutions to start a home business or work online.
And yes, there is a big difference.
I'm going to put my blinders on. Ignore the thieves and scammers. And I am going to make it my life's work to be exactly where people are looking for the help & inspiration they need to get started online.
I am not here for those who want to "play" the Internet Marketing game. I am not available to waste time with people who are using the internet as a means to ignore other priorities in their life with no intention of ever running a business with pride.
My goal is to publish content in a variety of text, audio & video formats. To have a presence in Google, in iTunes, on Twitter & Facebook, and at YouTube. I'll share resources, tutorials, candid reviews, helpful tips - everything I discover and use in my own business and at my own sites.
Personal interaction and one-on-one help will be reserved for my Private Brainstorming Group, a small group of dedicated action-takers.
We're starting our 5th year together as of this month. This is the only place I will do site reviews, brainstorm domain names & creative ideas, help with marketing strategies and technical issues. It is not an open "membership site" and not something I have actively promoted in the 4 years since I started this group.
In fact, the doors are closed to new members more often than not. It is the most expensive (currently costing me ~$15,000/year to manage) and most time-consuming thing that I do, and definitely not one of my primary sources of revenue. It's a "labor of love", and it's my space to actually do good work with people that appreciate it.
All that to make the point that I have never offered coaching or consulting, and don't intend to go that route. In my opinion, if all you do is coaching then all you are qualified to teach is... coaching.
You may be scratching your head, wondering how in the world anything I just said is any different than what I already do. But it is. And you'll see changes unfold over the next few weeks, and over the next 12-18 months.
An evolution is in progress here. And I'll share everything with you every step of the way - without ever putting you through a hell'ish funnel that ends at a $2,000 doorway where you are made to feel ignorant and that you deserve to be poor and miserable if you don't pay up - now or never. I promise.
Goodbye blank screen - 2500 words later! lol
Thank you for the coffee and the conversation. I look forward to continuing this discussion with you in the comments section below...
*cheers*
And now you know why I decline most speaking (ie stage pitching) requests and do not create high-ticket info products. 😉
About Lynn Terry
All I can say is ROCK ON! Honestly though, you are really a truly outstanding mentor (and friend obviously LOL) and have given so much of your time. I see people who play the Internet game and just spin their wheels over and over. I was even one of them until I finally GOT IT (thanks to you). Really appreciate all you have done for so many people, you have changed lives. Looking forward to everything coming in the next 12-18 months.
You are so cool, Angie. I appreciate your friendship so much. I often think back to that day we met in Chicago all those years ago, and how neither of us had any idea then how much our lives would ultimately intertwine.
You are a HUGE asset to my business, and I get great satisfaction out of your success in your own business as well. Every time you achieve a top ranking or make a sale... it makes me smile! I love that you never gave up, that you worked hard, and I really love your generous spirit. You rock 😉
You go, girl!
As a person who was sticking their toe in the IM waters (I met your at NAMS 4), I was thoroughly intimidated by the sheer number of hucksters hanging around online offering the moon and the stars. It seems that anyone with a computer is now doing the "how to make money online" thing.
In fact, as much as IM appeals to me, it seems that I can probably make as much money (maybe more) doing my offline thing if I just put my nose to the grindstone. I was just hoping there was a way out..... 🙂
In a way, I can understand why IM got so cluttered and so "dirty". We're in a terrible economic slump and a lot of the institutions we put our collective trust in (banks, political institutions, employers) have proven to be uncaring and corrupt. So, if the big boys can get away with being sleazeballs, why not us?
I could go. I'll just say that I understand where you're coming from and it would be nice if business were more ethical...offline and on.
Lynn, my mouth fell open and stayed there... though I don't know why. You've never been a one to white wash the truth and it's the number one reason that I have so much respect for you.
I need a pair of those blinders too... I get distracted by the nonsense and often waste time griping about them.
I think this post deserves a standing ovation. I'm so proud of you for being truly honest. I think we all are leery of the snack-oil salesman but some of these guys are good at hiding what they are doing. I've found here recently some people are getting bad names in the market but it's all hush-hush "don't tell anybody." If someone is selling crap, I say call them out on it. There has got to be points in the game for being an honest, good person.
Well said (as usual!) Lynn. I look forward to your future. 🙂
This was exactly what I wanted to hear... an honest description of what I am seeing out there from the self described "internet gurus".
I started looking around about 3 months ago for a way to create some extra passive income for my parents to put towards retirement. Initially I was excited and with the way the sales copy was written I was going to have an armed delivery truck arrive every week bringing me all the money I could ever want (after I bought there new wiz-bang fool-proof money machine of the hour). About 2 weeks into the process I started realizing this is real work and requires real time. I didn't give up because I am not afraid of work and have some time. Your comments summarized everything I was thinking. I was starting to think that it was required that I fill the internet up with crappy recycled articles and fluff built with only keywords and SEO Juice... just to attract someone to get my crappy free ebook... just so that I could send them spam until they bought something I dangled in front of them. That is not the internet I want to help create and it just didn't make sense that people are spending $79 for a secret e-course on how to do this.
Thanks for taking the time to share with us your opinion.
"I am going back to a heavy focus on the one thing I absolutely love-..." Probably the best advice I've seen in a blog.
First, let me say I wish you all the best. For my own personal sake, I hope you continue to contribute to IMTW - you gave me the one thing that I had been lacking - your "learn just what you need just when you need it" philosophy - because of that I am now able to keep focused on one project at a time and am finely making a real dent in one project instead of 20 scratches in 20 projects.
Second - let me tell you another story about doing what you love to do. Every Sunday at 6 am I go to this secluded little coffee shop in the Seattle area to happily work on my project and most of the time I will see one other person there getting ready to joyfully go off to work. That person is Steve Balmer. I have always wanted to ask him what the heck he is doing going to work at 6 am on a Sunday, but I already know just by his demeanor - it's not work to him - it's just being true to himself and doing what he loves to do.
My suspicion is he isn't successful because just because he works hard; my suspicion is he is successful and can work so hard because he focuses on the one thing he absolutely loves - just like your talking about.
Lynn, there is a ton of background noise in this biz, this is why out of every 8 hour day, I spend about 2 hours of it wandering around aimlessly not knowing where to look.
Everything that you said makes sense, and I applaud the fact that you aren't letting it get to you. I mean, I made the decision some time ago to put some focus on delivering info products and the such, however, I teach a skill rather than promise massive income, that's just how I roll, however, I am certainly not the kind of guy to deliver "silver bullets".
One of the best reads I have read in a while. Love it!
Well said girl! I admire your spirit.
To me there is an "honesty" about being an affiliate for physical products. It's where I feel comfortable and I enjoy your posts simply because I know that any advise you give has been gained/tested in the real world.
And next time you're stuck for a topic - how about the ethics of profiles and images for people in multiple niches. I feel I can't be "the real me" in them all and yet anything else feels sordid.
That's actually a great topic, Dawn. I will definitely put it in the queue! As for me, I *LOVE* being the "me" that I am on some of my other sites. Some say that means you need therapy, personally I find it to BE good therapy. Ha! 😉
I sat down to write that post for you this morning, Dawn... and realized it'd already been written! Here is the link: http://www.clicknewz.com/2165/affiliate-marketing-tips-using-pen-names/
😀
Awesome post Lynn. I needed that reality check even though I'm "starting in the internet marketing realm" (starting as in getting my first product out to the Warrior Forums). Its a struggle to maintain an honest and trustworthy base, online businesses work exactly the same way offline businesses do. It is just that much easier to start an online business though.
Remember this quote, "You can't sell success."
If run across a person who says they can, they are probably a scammer.
Keep up the awesome work Lynn! 😀
Lynn - I'm sure we all have stories about our entrance into the world of Internet Marketing. For some reason after I first heard you on IMTW, I knew I wanted to hear more. I wanted to feel good about what I was doing in my online business and you showed me that it was possible to succeed without doing things that made me feel uncomfortable. Thanks for staying true to your values and for allowing us to learn from your experience.
It's so easy when you work in this space to get painted with the same brush. Eventually the days of the scam, hype, and pitchfests will die down, and the people that have built their businesses with solid foundations, ethics and provide value will still be standing proud and tall.
You're not alone Lynn lets bring on the changes.
Jackie
It's soooo funny how I posted your rant on a well known IM forum and it was removed before I can blink. Seems like hit, hurt dogs are yelping these days. It's alright. I believe in karma and giving value.
Be blessed Lynn! You know what you're doing!
Great Rant!!
There are some good ones to listen too in the IM world. The problem is finding them.
I have taken the philosophy recently to unsubscribe from any list that promotes a product I think is a scam.
Things like
Limited to 250 copies on the sales page but bragging about thousands of sales in the affiliate letters (Join as an affiliate to see how the product is being presented and get an education in scam artistry)
Copy Paste Make Money - Or anything related to that.
I run an offline business and an online business. Both of them take work, investment, creativity, dedication and sacrifice.
The online IM world seems to be dominated by the "I Don't want to work just send me money" world.
Some people are new to the game and don't understand how tough it can be to make a living at it.
I wrote a guest post about this very subject recently. (Ignore the ads - he knows how to run a business 🙂
http://www.famousbloggers.net/business-mindset-law-success.html
Love that you keep it honest and upright. One of the reasons I keep coming back here to read more.. that and the fact you are a really cool TN girl 🙂
Lynn, a great post, describing exactly my reluctance to get full-time into IM. In the same blog post you also provided the solution:
"focus on the one thing you absolutely love"!
Thanks - awesome post!
Paul
Lynn, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the honesty and clarity in this post. As I have said before I first heard you on IMTW and your honesty and straight forwardness was what made your message stand out from the usual work 10 minutes a day and make a million bucks crap that is everywhere. Thank you so much.
I know what you mean about the cost of starting a brick and mortar business. My wife and I started a florist from scratch 9 years ago. We opened one month before 911. We had just started to actually have a few sales and when that awful day happened and the nation was in shock, it was like someone turned off the water spigot on sales. We didnt' quit. Things were really beginning to look pretty good and we were finally actually making a little money when the economy went in the tank because of greed in the mortgage industry. Bam I guess it was the equivalent of your first big affiliate site being hit by the company pulling the plug on their program. Last year our building was sold and the new land lord decided to take 1/3 of our space to rent to the county without lowering the rent (our lease was just up) but he was going to remodel and have it done by Halloween. He finished on Dec.15 and a lot of people thought we were closed or out of business because of the construction. We are still here because of hard work and the blessings of the Lord.
I wasn't looking to get rich quick when I heard you on the podcast I was looking for ways to help our website and then became intrigued by the idea of affiliate marketing and the idea that I might actually one day be able to quit my day job and do affiliate marketing and work with her in the florist. Yeah I was sucked in for a bit by the "need to make 50,000 a month or you are a nobody" crowd.But it just ain't so. I just need to make enough to replace my job and maybe one day be able to enjoy retirement and have enough passive income to travel a bit and enjoy life a little without working 70 to 80 hours every week.
At first I was trying to do it all and was really confused by all of the background noise in the IM space. But I keep being drawn back to Clicknewz and your sswt forum (have to resign up for the private forum please don't shut it down again before Monday because of your integrity and honesty about what it requires to be successful in the onine world.
Thanks for all you and the group on sswt do.
Sorry for the long rant.
Bob
I am not sure why my wifes pic keeps coming up when I post a comment. I How do I change it?
Thanks
Bob
It is likely linked to the email you use, if you go to gravatar and add your pic too with a different email and then use that email addy here, it will show. 🙂
Hope it helps?
Thanks Rob It does help and i will change it.
On the assumption that most of the world is asleep, Bob, I'll step in and answer your question.
Avatars are linked to the email address so to have your own avatar you would need to use a different address from your wife on comments and register that with gravatar. Hope that helps.
Thanks Dawn, That should fix it. lol I sure hope the rest of the world was asleep at that hour. I just woke up and couldn't sleep so I popped on.
This is why I love you, Lynn. I agree with you 100% that the internet marketing space is a ridiculous, dirty, disgusting creature in serious need of a bubble bath, some deodorant, and a lesson on manners.
What makes me sad is that there are people looking to get into some kind of internet income being led to believe they have to turn into one of these internet-werewolf-beasts themselves in order to make a living. Blah.
Thank goodness for marketers and bloggers like YOU who find this behavior repulsive and down right irritating.
Oh ~ on the "bar talk" you mentioned, I remember looking at a particular blogging event very excitedly and having my credit card in hand ready to pay up - then I looked at the venues and keynotes more closely to find that more than half of the four day event was to be spent 'bar-hopping' literally as a large group. Then there are things like you mentioned drinking from the stage and just general rudeness. What the heck is stuff like that about?
If I'm paying 1,000 to sit in an uncomfortable chair and then paying to stay at an overpriced hotel and fly to whatever location on top of that money I'd like to be treated with a little bit of respect and possibly some appreciation for the fact that I forked out my kid's orthodontist fund because I thought XYZ was going to put on a great educational event. *sigh* Darn, I was slipping into rant mode there, sorry about that.
Glad to see you back at the blog. I've had my head buried in a pile of busy lately and I've missed reading you while you've been away.
What makes me sad is that there are people looking to get into some kind of internet income being led to believe they have to turn into one of these internet-werewolf-beasts themselves in order to make a living. Blah.
Exactly!!! I second that!
Hi Lynn,
I was in all honesty waiting for you to post a rant about it, not in the sense of the way I see others "distancing" themselves from it, they are doing it because they know they are really connected to the shady sods out there...
But in the sense that you just did, you walk the walk so it matters, knew this would happen sometime and glad to see it. 🙂
I am glad that the whole scene is getting exposed for what it is, a mess!
Hope ya well, the kids too. 🙂
Take care Lynn.
Beautiful rant!! I, too, have been working online now since 1997 and the constant hype of the IM smoke and mirrors has been most frustrating to me. Even more frustrating...it appears to be what people WANT to see.
Sigh...
If only one consumer takes your words to heart, you've done a magnificent thing indeed. Sharing this with my network, thanks!
It's always a relief to hear the voice of authenticity. You have it Lynn. Thank you. (Now its time to do a bunch of unsubscribing and refocusing...again!)
A very well thought out and easy to read post. This seems to be a very popular point of view among many people in the market. People who are not afraid to use the word "work" when they offer advice or their own how-to information.
One of my latest twitter posts was: "then i get this email...I noticed you haven't grabbed my Brand new free training about how I made a million dollars in 21 days?"
So it seems I was right there with you about your thoughts on the Internet Marketing Space.
However, it really shouldn't be called the internet marketing space. Everyone that sells anything online is doing internet marketing...it should be called the "how to make money online" space because that is what is seeming to disgust many people.
I agree too on the lack of professionalism in many presentations. I've watched quite a bit and it amazes me that some presentations that take 30 minutes could have done in 5 minutes without all the useless information and beer drinking and bar talk that is included in the presentation.
Not everyone who speaks from the stage knows how to teach. Teaching and being able to convey information so other people get it is a learned skill in itself. Many people forget that. Remember, people go to college to learn how to teach.
Even if someone is successful in the "how to make money online" niche does not mean they know how to teach it to others - something that is never talked about.
"My real point is that the Internet Marketing space itself has become..."
Lynn, I agree - there has been substantial growth in 'unecessary information' online in the last years, along side the good.
"My goal is to publish content..."
I think this is paramount for an online venture to coincide with a person's higher interests, and thus to be successful. The same should be true with offline business, although as the free market wanes larger companies crowd out the passionate ones.
The Internet is unique in that for the first time in history, anyone can publish their significance for all the world to see, and benefit from.
This is why you've been so successful. Keep up the great work!
Nice rant Lynn. That had to be a multiple coffee rant 😉
I hear ya, and the IM niche is not the only one going through this. I'm sick to my stomach with some of the crap going on in the online fitness niche as well. Actually, I blame it on the spill over from the IM niche because many of the fitness marketers are doing the same crap the sleezy IM'er are doing.
I did a little rant myself on my fitness blog just the other day...
http://fatlossquickie.com/blog/cardio-bashing-has-sunk-to-an-all-new-low/
My rant was on just one component of the fitness niche and it was a result of fitness marketers totally exaggerating and misleading the public with false claims and lies. It's at the point where these fitness marketers are developing products for the great marketing angle rather than putting together a great product.
The sad thing is that there are less experienced fitness marketers that look up to these guys and they start doing the same kind of sleazy stuff and mislead their readers too.
The sad thing is that you don't need to exaggerate, mislead, and lie in order to be successful.
I ended up having a lot of fun with the rant and creating a silly video about it. I felt great afterward and proud of my business that is based on integrity.
My wife and I are very transparent with our business. We probably show and share more than we should 🙂 But, it's just the way we are hard wired. We can't be anything but honest. We love to show our readers that honest truth. Being REAL is a lot easier than being FAKE and putting on a front. I couldn't imagine living a lie and watching it spin out of control.
For the most part I put my blinders on and do what I do best... just be ME! I can sleep at night and I feel that my life is incredibly rewarding, because I've actually helped people and not just 'sold' to them.
Do what brings you the most joy and everyone wins. Keep up the great work and keep being YOU, because YOU ROCK!
Thank you Lynn! Your values based business has always been apparent even when you're not talking about it. It's one of the reasons I follow you, and will continue to follow you. (I'd been wondering where you'd been on Twitter. Now I know.)
You are so refreshing in a business environment full of extremes...everything from false promises to the cynicism that results after a few run ins with the "guru" crowd.
I don't consider myself an expert in internet marketing. I've learned what I needed to learn to market my book and have felt called to share what I've learned along the way with others who are running values based businesses.
The greatest damage of the current climate (and really ongoing climate) in internet marketing is the number of people with great products and services that add real value, who don't get them out there successfully because the business side of it all seems so sleazy to them. Some have become so jaded by the sleaze that even ethical business practices appear suspect.
I totally agree with you Lynn! It feels good to know I'm not alone thinking this way. And I can tell you that if it was not for TRUE dedicated IMarketers mentors like yourself and very few others, I would have already walked away from this arena and quit trying to make it happen.
Thanks for boosting even more my motivation and I look forward to hear about your upcoming projects. All the very best my friend. Merci encore et à bientôt!
You know, the sad truth is that this problem with the lack of quality, professionalism, and just plain old honesty is not restricted to online marketing alone... All the Internet fields are suffering from this issue. I have been a web builder (started in web design but gave that up to focus on web development) for over 15 years now working from home, it is much harder than having an office job, but I knew from a very young age that I was not going to do 9-5 with kids of my own at home.
I can tell you that it absolutely drives me nuts to see some of the crap people pass for websites. Especially when it comes to "what's under the hood" so to speak. I can't tell you the number of horror stories where people who don't know any better hire someone to build their website, pay them, and get trash in return... All because someone figured "hey! I can make easy money building websites after reading this basic html book!" I deal with this on a regular basis and it's the most frustrating part of what I do.
As a web developer, I a lot of my business earlier this year was with a designer I started working with who had a developer do many sites for him. the code was so horribly written it was as if who ever did this site just search the internet and books to then copy/paste features that when not put together properly bring about serious security risks and an 'application' that simply cannot be edited. I can't tell you how many times i had to completely re-write work from other so called developers. I don't pretend to be the best developer out there, I am not. But If there is one thing I don't do, is false advertising of my skills just to maximize my own profits from a client. For things i don't know, I bring in people who do.
At the end of the day, I just really wish more people understood and followed the code of "You client's success becomes your success" (not "make money ripping people off").
now.. if only I proof read my post BEFORE posting it.. where's the edit button when you need it? 😛
Here's a question that I've not been able to figure out. Why do the "scamsters" get to the new marketers first? Why can't newbies find people like you first? Or do they see you both and are so vulnerable that they are blinded to the truth? Just wondering.....
I was wondering the same thing, Chris. As I read Lynn's post and the comments, I kept thinking, "Why can't I steer some of those folks in the right direction. I've had a domain name for a couple of years now that's IM-related. I'm certainly no one to be telling people HOW to market online. However, I DO know where to send people for the best teaching, materials, etc. and that is to the small handful of marketers online from whom I've been learning for more than 5 years. (It's not their fault I'm not rolling in cash. One has to take action, and that has finally been happening for me. It's slow going, but hey, I'm in motion AT LAST!!)
I'm hoping someone has an answer, because there's a huge amount of "traffic" = hungry people looking to earn some money, and so we need to figure out how to get in front of it and not chase it.
I have to believe that the only thing we can really do is to be who we are and to maintain our integrity. Hopefully that's good enough to attract people away from all the hype. Maybe that shiny object syndrome is necessary for people in the beginning. It's a shame, but it happened to me, too. Now I'm finally "getting" how to build a business and those lessons learned have actually come in handy. So has Lynn's admonitions to know your purpose, then to put blinders on to anything that distracts. This means really good stuff, too.
Hard lesson I learned:
Don't "stockpile" training for later on. First, chances are you'll never get to it because new stuff will take it's place in your mind. Second, if you DO get to it, the information will probably be out-dated. Example - I bought Perry Marshall's "The Definitive Guide to Google Adwords" back in 2005, I think. No way was I going to dip my toes into those murky waters as a newbie, so I put it away. Last year Perry had to update it because Google is constantly evolving. So the copy I own is out-of-date.
And I saw a statistic that I assume is true because of who said it, that a number 9 listing on Google beats out the top Adwords links for number of click-throughs. Wow.
But I digress.
I wish there were a way to hold up a big sign that says, "Newbies, head over this way." Like the signs at airports for people arriving and being met by someone they don't know.
Anyone got any ideas? We need to get those people inoculated and otherwise immunized against the hucksters and snake oil salesmen.
We're with ya', Lynn!
If we don't Love what we're doing we shouldn't do it (for long) and if we do Love what we're doing then we should (for as long as we do). Changing direction can't usually be instantaneous but it always is an option!!
Thank you Lynn
As I said on our Skype chat today Lynn, I feel this same "discontent" too. I'm glad you couldn't figure out what to write for this post, because what DID get written, had to be written, and that is sometimes the best stuff we come up with.
Returning to what makes you happy is probably the best advice to give when these types of feelings surface (I will be doing that very same thing). I wish you well on your journey Lynn, you truly are a beacon of light in a stormy online marketing space.
Lynn, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel! LOL You just spoke a mouthful, but truthfully, you have just said what a LOT of people have been thinking. You keep encouraging me to keep on going with what I'm doing even when I feel like quitting. I enjoy reading your blog and I'm always bringing you up when my husband keeps saying "Real people don't get rich doing that stuff." Keep doing what you're doing, Lynn. You ARE making a difference.
Lynn, meeting you and adopting you as one of my primary mentors was a life changing event for me. The truth that you speak here with such honesty and clarity is a truth that I have seen in you from the very beginning of our association and that I greatly admire.
I have met some really wonderful people through niche affiliate marketing and Internet Marketing (a difference I didn’t understand until NAMS1). I’ve also been hugely turned off by “IM gurus” living launch to launch, pitch fests and over the top hype.
There are so many people (sadly some friends included) who keep chasing the next shiny thing in pursuit of an easy button. They help keep the spammers in business.
I make it a point to associate only with the wonderful, like minded people with whom I can have mutually nurturing relationships ~ like you 😉
I made up my mind to follow your advice and take one thing from start to profit…rinse and repeat. It is a slow process, there is a learning curve involved but it works and I believe it will for the long run.
Thank you Lynn for all you do for us, for being the “Ralph Nadar” of the Internet world and for being a friend. ♥
I know, it's so hard not to get upset by all the craziness online, especially when you care so much about others. But you just can't protect everyone from being sucked in by scammers, and if you try, you just end up burnt out, stressed, frustrated, angry, and ready to give up. And that's no good for your life or your business.
I think at one point or another, we've all been scammed - I know I was, more than once. But I'm not sure I would be where I am today without the lessons I learned from those experiences. Looking back, I'm glad I went through everything I did, because if I went through it all with rose colored glasses, I probably wouldn't have been so fired up and determined to be a success online.
Lynn, I think you and all the other people like you, who have built real, successful online businesses made it because of the fighting you did against all the odds to make it happen. If there was no negativity in this business, we wouldn't learn a darn thing because we can't learn from perfection.
All scammers will eventually get what's coming to them because every day, someone else will realize them for who they are, and they'll find their way from them to good people just like you.
And all you can really do is be here for them when they do 🙂
Don't even give those scammers the privilege of your time or thoughts, they don't deserve it.
Lynn:
I can appreciate where you're coming from. I have started B&M businesses and can testify how difficult it is to grow them & prosper.
But no matter where you travel, scam artists are there. It's up to the neophte to determine who's real or not.
I'm reminded of the adage that states "All it takes for evil to overcome the world is for a few good men and women to do nothing."
I first found you in the Copy Writing 101 seminar and had just decided to get back into copy writing and start affiliate marketing. You were one of my inspirations. Being a disabled guy, it made all the difference to hear truth about how hard it is to succeed and the effort that must be invested, instead of hype. I have a ways to go but I'm getting there, with my own online business and affiliate marketing niche.
You helped teach me to do that.
So I say that you have the right to define your niche and applaud what you're doing. I'm not hearing that you're going away, just frustration about the conditions of the marketplace. But you are one bright light in a cloudy night of the internet that I hope never goes out.
It is because of your honesty that I follow what you say and learn from your experience. I appreciate what you're going through, more than you know. Thank you for being there.
My first visit to your blog - and what a revelation. You've put so clearly a lot of the things that had been swirling around in my head, in a somewhat disconnected fashion, for two or three years. I'll be a regular visitor from now on - thank you for your insights.
Dear Lynn,
The hyper link you mentioned above - "adds value" emphasizes your point in another way. You know how I love your permalink structure because we can rely on the number to find the post without the entire URL, right? Well, that post you linked to has a number of "63." This post number is "2453." So, in the 4-1/2 years since you wrote that post, you have written almost 2,400 posts! That is a lot of content, growing, sharing, and WORK!
I hope people realize just how much work you have put in to achieving becoming a leader in your field. It wasn't handed to you on a silver platter, you earned it!
Known from the very start you are the one to consult when beginning a business please put some thing out there for learners such as myself can do.Always loved tour content will be wating please hurry
Great post, Lynn.
I think the Big Name Gurus in the Internet Marketing space, in the last six years or so, have always managed to stand out from the crowd of 'self-proclaimed IM experts' by adding REAL Value to the IM community by moving the freeline and ultimately selling out *really* awesome products.
Having said that, there are still some people in the community who have not yet made any progress in their online businesses even after purchasing the big ticket IM products from well-known gurus. And this is mainly because they don't take enough action and implement what they have already learned from the experts. Surprisingly, they keep on investing on *further* learning of 'how to do e-business' stuffs, instead of investing that money on paid advertisements to drive quality traffic (and sales) to their sites.
Recently, I read a great post on "You: The Best Guru EVER" by Frank Kern where he explains that all a Guru can give you is education (and that’s the only 25% of what you need). You still need to throw in 25% Effort, 25% Determination, and 25% 'StickToIt-iveness'. And that’s the 75% that ONLY YOU can provide! Here's the link to that post I'm talking about: http://frankkern.com/you-the-best-guru-ever/
Btw, Lynn, I haven't personally come across any *stranger* in the IM space who successfully ends up selling an internet marketing product for $2k. I really pity those people who fall on the trap of 'wannabe' gurus.
Regarding those dirty emails, that promise to show you how someone (whom you already know and trust) made $78,000 in 42 minutes, I think it's a part of COPYWRITING process where a marketer tries to get a higher open rate of their emails by stating the 'promise' (upfront) in the subject line of the emails they send to their lists.
But, of course, I agree that if that person can't show the proof that other people (from different niches) have achieved the same success by applying his techniques in 42 minutes, it's highly unlikely that the 'promise' is going to be fulfilled.
Lynn, I have been reading your stuff for years and maybe I have been on the internet too long.. This post kinda sounded like a pre-launch. 🙂 I know that's not the case but I had to chuckle when I started thinking what the product would be..
Good luck with your transition.
Steve Vox
Hey Lynn,
It's great to hear you aren't planning on leaving the IM niche as the absence of integrity will fail to solve the problem in internet marketing, and like Scott said, that may spill over into the other niches as well.
Persistence, patience, ambition, and risk are all key elements to building a successful business anywhere - and although the financial risk is probably lowest in the online world, the others are just as high.
Thanks for another amazing contribution to those willing to work 18 hours a day to make money while they sleep 🙂
Bob
Lynn, I could not agree more. I have lurked for a long time watching the IM world, and knowing that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You have been a refreshing voice in the wilderness in my opinion. There have been those moments when you simply said that you
thought a product was bad, and it reassured me that there are still some honest people out there. Thanks. Since I belong to your elite group, I am excited to contemplate what you have in mind. Since I am
a newbie in terms of affiliate marketing, I simply listen most of the time, and hopefully will jump in some time soon. Thanks for your sincerity and frankly your bluntness.
Chris Cobb asked: Why do the “scamsters” get to the new marketers first? >>> Sometimes people start out really needing a quick fix to their finances. They want to believe in a quick fix. It took me about three years to filter through the 'rat pack' and find the real deal folks like Lynn Terry and Mark Hendricks. When Lynn said to 'add value' in the NAMS 4 class last Aug, it reasonated deeply because that is what I have been successful at off line for 38 yrs. Hopefully all of us can be instrumental in getting to some of the newbies with good recommendations...passing it forward.
In my opinion, if all you do is coaching then all you are qualified to teach is… coaching. >>>>>>>> Whoo Hoooooooo
No offense to good coaches, but for heaven sakes TRUST YOURSELF~!
All that to make the point that I have never offered coaching or consulting, and don’t intend to go that route. >>> Be still my heart.
What a refreshing and wholesome promise. I can hardly wait.
The 'rat pack' guru's always reminded me of the wizard behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz.
Hi Lynn,
Well, well, well. There you said it! And I am so glad that you have. I seldom have anything to say but I am here a lot...reading and lurking. I, too, want to go back to the one thing that I love. I want to stop trying to keep up.
Go Lynn! Go Lynn!
If you would run for president, I would SO be your campaign manager. Slim would make a great First Dog. 😉
I feel like you wrote this just for me. I am so sick of so many things you mentioned... false stories, false idols, false numbers... outsourcing content generation to third-world countries or automating it so the results aren't even understandable...
I am so willing to work hard, but I tell you -- when I compared my results after five months of hard, hard work to what the "gurus" say they accomplish in just a few weeks, I felt like I was doing something way wrong, and that I was failing. It takes reality checks from people like you and Nicole Dean to keep me going. Otherwise I'd slump over in a huge puddle of self-despair, wondering why *I* can't make a million dollars in six months like everyone else seems to be doing!
I do want to buy reality. That's why I hang on your every word -- even the ranting ones (or maybe especially the ranting ones!).
THANK YOU. You are making a difference more than you'll ever know.
Hey Lynn,
Thank you so much for your honesty! 7 or 8 years ago was introduced to you online. I can't remember how or who, but when I first started following you, I knew there was something different. This post just confirms what I first thought back then.
After hours of researching and trying to cut through all the hype and lies I finally made the decision to get rid of it all and follow one mentor through this process. Two years ago after following you online for a long time, I made the decision that I liked what you stood for and felt that what you had to say was honest, sincere and worth listening to. Since that time I have followed no one else in my online marketing efforts. Yes I do read some of those you recommend, but when it comes down to it, your teaching regarding online marketing is what I listen too.
I don't say this just to brag on you, but to say thank you. Thank you for being a voice for the little guy. Thank you for helping us see reality, but also helping us to see that the dream of earning an income online is achievable. Thank you for teaching us at little to no cost. Thank you for helping us see that it does take hard work, but at the end of the day we know that we have something to look forward to if we just keep pressing forward, never losing site of the task at hand.
I know that I have spent many hours trying to make this work and I have seen some little successes, but nothing great yet. There have been days that I have wanted to throw in the towel and call it quits. Feeling like I will never achieve the goal I am after. But, after reading this post, I am reminded once again that if I continue to work hard and learn that one day I will find the success I strive for.
I pray that you are able to keep pressing on. You truly are an inspiration and I hope that one day I will be able to give back like you have given to me and so many others online. You do what you do for the right reasons and it shows.
I would like to finish by saying this; one of my favorite quotes is from Zig Ziglar and it says, "You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." I use to look at this quote and think it was talking about money, but I really don't think that any more. At the end of the day all the money in the world can't replace what one will get if they live by this quote. I feel from your post above and past posts that you realize this and are truly living this out in your life. And to that, I say THANK YOU!
Hi Lynn,
Wow! - You certainly did get over your writer's block!
Yes, there are less authentic, dedicated, ethical teachers of Internet Marketing than there are those who are scamming.
I guess once again it is the 80-20 rules, with 80% of the "gurus" being out for the money only and 20% being sincerely committed to helping people honestly.
We are so, so, so fortunate to have your guidance in the Elite forum and I feel privileged to be a member.
You have to look after your own well-being and peace of mind first and foremost, and I know whatever changes come up will be for the best, and certainly appreciate that you are still determined to stay in the game, and make a differene in people's lives.
Diana
Hi Lynn,
I know I don't comment much on this blog but I'm a regular reader. I enjoyed meeting you in Melbourne when you were last out and even then during the on stage site reviews I sensed some ambivalence toward some of the more hard core marketers.
Your blog has inspired me in the way I interact online and while I am no Lynn Terry at least if I can pass it on in the same manner, I'll give it a go.
Your success is proof that you don't have to screw people over to make a living in this game.
I wasn't sure how this blog post sat with your last about pulling back from the online space but I'm sure you will do what makes you happy.
Good luck and good on you for holding to your principles.
Cheers
Ed