Start to Profit? Eek...

[PpcJen]

Just a quick note....

Lynn is always telling us to follow something through from "Start to Profit", right?

I have so much trouble with this!
I get sidetracked, and excited about new projects almost every day! I bought another new domain name today and I am building a site that is going to be an add on to one of my sites.

YIKES!

There must be a way to keep people like me focused on one project at a time.
Anyone know how to do it?

[StephenT]

Blinders? Electric shock?

Seriously, I get sidetracked too, which is why my site is nowhere near what ti should be. I hate doing the detail work, not saying that's you. It is easy to get sidetracked.

I can't wait to see what others have to say about this. I know Traci is good about this!

[Ellen C Braun]

Oh boy, Jen, I'm like this when I clean the house! I start with a kitchen, find something that belongs in the laundry room, do some laundry, etc... at the end of the hour a tiny bit of each room is cleaner and the house is still a mess!

Then I read about doing one surface at a time, which really helps me- when I remember about it, LOL!

clear and clean the stovetop.

Clear and vacuum the steps.

clear off junk and then scrub the right counter.

Try dealing with one idea at a time from start to finish before you allow yourself to start the next one. UNLESS you're sitting and waiting for an outsourcer to get stuff back to you- then dip into your 2nd idea!

I hope that helps!

P.S. I'm wondering about learning PPC or outsourcing my whole campaign...

[Cosminsky]

I have the same problem too. I think I get bored easily. I do make myself work for at least 45 minutes before I take an email/Twitter break but I get so many ideas.

That's probably why I'm starting on my 4th website before my 1st is 100%. (Luckily the 2 in the middle were pretty easy.)

I try to stay productive all the time but it really helps knowing that someone is waiting for the finished product- whether it's a coach or an accountability partner. Other than that, I'm hoping you get some good answers (because I'd benefit from them too.)

[Cosminsky]

Try dealing with one idea at a time from start to finish before you allow yourself to start the next one. UNLESS you're sitting and waiting for an outsourcer to get stuff back to you- then dip into your 2nd idea!

I hope that helps!

P.S. I'm wondering about learning PPC or outsourcing my whole campaign...

That's part of my issue. My clients have such interesting projects going on that sometimes I find myself more devoted to their projects and goals than my own.

[BoK]

Hi Jen,

>> I have so much trouble with this!
>> I get sidetracked

Different people handle things differently. But one thing that is helping myself tremendously in whatever projects I am engaging in is to apply what I call a "testing" mentality. This means that, in effect, I am engaging in some sort of play or competition with myself to make things go forward, and stay focused.

One fundamental part of the "testing" mentality is to have very good track of everything. In order to measure one's sales and ROI one must develop spreadsheets with data in and data out so that one can EVALUATE how effective a certain campaign is. For if one doesn't know exactly how effective it is, why should one repeat it?

In your own case, for instance, you have a background in PPC advertising. And there are so many measurements one can develop: time of ad, geographical location of ad, ad version, ad groups, etc. And when one knows which one is the best one, then one tries to test another one, to try to beat the last one. But if one doesn't know exactly how profitable the first ad is, why develop another?

Similarly with keywords. I, for example, develop a strategy for my keyword phrases. I then write articles that target those keywords. Then I list all my keyword phrases in Excel, and I go through ALL of them each week (that is, I search for them in Google, to see which position they have), to see which ones work and which ones do not. So I know that I was on SERP position #42 with my homepage LAST week for keyword 1, but THIS week I am on position #21. So I do that with all keywords. They key is, I think, KNOWING that things proceed, that things are working according to plan.

This is important for so many reasons. One reason is simply that there are so many parameters to keep track of in internet marketing, that if one doesn't commit things to paper (or an electronic document at least), then it is easy to just start watering the flowers instead. (if you get my drift)

So clear focus, and a "documentation" and "testing" mentality helps, I believe. I know it sound like even MORE work, and it is true. But it gives direction. And, after all, it is, at least for some, a business. So there must be discipline, accounting, and overview.

Hoping that you are well!

Bo
www.ebookbrothers.com (http://www.ebookbrothers.com)
Ebook Marketing, Ebook Business & Ebook Writing! (http://ebookbrothers.com)

[Sheakay]

Jen,
I'm struggling with the same thing. And knowing this, I'm really trying to focus harder and smarter on having a "Plan" for 2010.

I have a goal of going from 2 figures/month to 5 figures/month with my sites (not including services) and finally realized that the only way I"m going to do that is if I make a plan and work that plan. I *finally* realized that more ideas (my biggest problem - too many ideas) is hurting me not helping.

So I made a list of all the projects I have going and all the ideas I'd like to pursue and have narrowed down what I'm taking from "Start to Profit" first, what techniques (article marketing, autoreponder series, Susanne's 30 day technique, etc) that I want to take from book learning to action with, and what blogs/sites I had to maintain.

Anything that doesn't fit in with that is just being put on a list, for when I'm ready to update the plan (though I do write down all the thoughts I have about it and soemtimes mindmap it out, just so I have that out of my head). I'm also making a list of affiliate programs that I want to promote, so that later I can use that for future ideas, cuz again too many ideas, not enough time.

For my blogs, I chose the ones to maintain, and then am using the Elite challenge to help create an editorial calendar. But the other thing I realized that my ideas for content are too much for the time I have available for maintenance. (ugh!) so I'm having to take a serious look at how much time I really have and what is the best way to spend my time to give my readers the most value, but still find that profit (time and money) balance.

I've finally(!) decided that my shotgun approach is not getting the job done and I really needed to laser focus and have it all mapped out to just checklist through, otherwise I'm still going to be here five more years from now "playing" IM instead of having a profitable business. (in other words I'm finally getting what Lynn and Napoleon Hill say!)

But like you said...so many ideas, so many possibilities...ah, I swear I have to slap my hands sometimes - tell myself to just STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER :) Ask me this time next year if any of this works, but so far (a month into it) it is.

Can't wait to hear how you conquer this.

...Shannon

[jkgourmet]

Isn't this exactly why it's such an advantage to be in a niche that actually interests you? Even better if it's one that you are passionate about. If it's something Ipm personally excited about, it makes it easier to blog about or look for products or find pretty pictures or write an article. . .

Of course, I'm also the one who got distracted by my wine club review site. . . maybe that was because I needed to "review" all those wines after getting ticked off at WP again. . . :)

[David Jackson]

There must be a way to keep people like me focused on one project at a time. Anyone know how to do it?

Jen, for me, it's a matter of survival. I'm self-employed, and if I don't stay focused, I don't eat. It's that simple. Twenty years ago, when I had the safety net of a job and an income to fall back on, I was very unfocused.

But now that I'm the boss, somehow focus just isn't a problem.

It's simple, if I screw up, I lose everything that I've worked so hard to achieve. That gives me plenty of incentive to stay focused.

Remove your safety net, and I guarantee, your focus will improve overnight.

David Jackson

[christianwins]

It's easier for me to keep focused on something when it is producing results. If you have a site that is profiting, it's a lot easier to keep working on it. Same thing for getting in shape, if you don't see results it's hard to stick with it.

So my advice for this is...uh have all your sites profit...or something like that.

[lisamariemary]

I try to stay productive all the time but it really helps knowing that someone is waiting for the finished product- whether it's a coach or an accountability partner.

That totally makes me WORSE!! Really - if I tell you I'll have it by Friday, just forget it - it's gonna be next Wednesday or worse.... Because as soon as I start being late, then I feel bad that I'm late, and procrastinate more! So it's this huge snowball effect. But telling someone WHEN it will happen screws me up EVERY SINGLE TIME - whether it's work or just 'life stuff'.

Now if I hadn't said ANYTHING to you, I will more than likely get it to you BEFORE Friday.

Gawd, I'm a mess. LOL

[wade_watson]

I doubt anybody here has gone through more diversions and project evolutions than I have. But Lynn's "start to profit" mantra is arguably the best advise she gives. I think if you really intend to pursue IM as a serious business, you must develop some strict business methods and always adhere to them. It's so easy to wander when you don't have anyone looking over your shoulder expecting results. Still, you're probably not running a real business until you can work that way. I think Lynn is driven greatly by motivation to support her beloved family and, nowdays, the desire to be a good example to us. I try to think about how hard I used to have to work for the benefit of "the company" and try to put that same amount of focus into my own business-- because if I don't, that's my other choice.

Wade Watson

[Danielle]

I am so there with you! I get distracted with all my ideas! I think that is why Lynn has an idea journal!!