Internet Marketing School

[schemjo]

One of the biggest obstacles with learning Internet marketing, email marketing, affiliate marketing, or any other related topic is there is SO MUCH info to learn! I have a pretty good grasp of what's IM is all about but I want more! I've decided to go with an online university to get some training. In a few months I'm going to take the Internet Marketing training (http://www.usanfranonline.com/certificate-programs/internet-marketing-training.aspx) offered by the University of San Francisco online. Has anyone else gone this route and if so what did you think?

Thanks!
Joe

[angienewton]

I am pretty sure there was a discussion about this here a few months back. And it didn't come highly recommended. If I can find the post, I'll link here a bit later.

[David Jackson]

One of the biggest obstacles with learning Internet marketing, email marketing, affiliate marketing, or any other related topic is there is SO MUCH info to learn! I have a pretty good grasp of what's IM is all about but I want more! I've decided to go with an online university to get some training. In a few months I'm going to take the Internet Marketing training (http://www.usanfranonline.com/certificate-programs/internet-marketing-training.aspx) offered by the University of San Francisco online. Has anyone else gone this route and if so what did you think?

Joe, you should definitely read this thread. (http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/members/showthread.php?t=2572) And definitely read this article I wrote titled, The Truth About Internet Marketing Certificate Programs. (http://www.free-marketing-tips-blog.com/2010/06/truth-about-internet-marketing.html)

David Jackson

[David Jackson]

My guess is Joe had already made up his mind before he made his post. So it really doesn't matter how much we try to warn him about these types of programs. He's going to go ahead and do it anyway.

Oh, well. Some people have to learn the hard way.

David Jackson

[schemjo]

I've read the thread and the post and I completely understand your points. I truly appreciate the feedback.

While yes I 100% agree you can find this information online it's the fact that there's so much of information one can easily get lost or overwhelmed. Nowadays there's a lot of info that you can find online such as sales, IT, hell even golf lessons!

I'll admit I do like the structured type environment which is what attracts me the most. I'm also the type that will probably be a lifetime learner.

I haven't read bad reviews about this particular school but if I find any I'll let everyone know. Also, as the time gets closer I'll try and remember to post an update if I decide to dive in and go for it. If so I'll let everyone know my review.

Thanks everyone!

[David Jackson]

I'm also the type that will probably be a lifetime learner.

Every successful person I know is a lifetime learner. You should always be learning...ALWAYS!

David Jackson

[Engage]

Joe,

What do you want to do online? Do you have any kind of idea? If yes, you might get a lot better return on your time investment by focusing in a particular area.

Honestly, (apologies to regular readers) I'm a bit suspicious of the whole notion that there are a million things to learn.

In order to sell anything, the number one job is building an audience to sell things to. Just common sense, right?

Building an audience is pretty simple. (Not easy, simple.) Create tons of content, and get tons of links. Only two things to know and remember really.

The number one challenge for most people is not knowing, but doing. It's very very common for folks to use knowing as a way to put off doing.

I don't know if any of this applies to you or not obviously. Just trying to say, literally millions of people have walked this path before, and some lessons have been learned.

Just do it, is pretty good advice for many folks.

[David Jackson]

Just do it, is pretty good advice for many folks.

I disagree. I've heard for years you should "just take action," and I've never agreed with that advice. In my opinion, it's foolish to just blindly jump into anything. For example, if you got behind the wheel of a car without knowing how to drive, chances are, you'd crash. And if you got on a bicycle without knowing how to ride it, you're probably going to have a series of mishaps.

The point is no matter what is you want to do in life, you have to first learn the fundamentals. You have first learn the basics. Having a firm grasp of business and marketing fundamentals will actually expedite your learning curve, and significantly increase your earning potential.

Speaking of learning, I'd like to make one thing perfectly clear. I don't have a problem with Joe wanting to learn Internet Marketing. I actually applaud him for that. I just don't agree with the way he's choosing to do it. That being said, how he chooses to learn is his prerogotive.

David Jackson

[Satu]

I don't have anything to say about the program in question, but I do hate that the word "scam" is used so loosely.

I don't think you should call any form of training (college or ebook or video course or membership or any such thing) a scam just because after attending the training you do not have a business "handed" to you, regardless of whether you did anything with the training or not.

Are are BBA's or MBA's scams because after graduating you do not have a business?

Just to make it clear: I'm not after David (sorry David!), I just hate the way the term scam is used.

I have not stumbled upon real scams during my one year journey into internet marketing. My "training" so far consists of several eBooks, video courses and a couple of memberships (+ the training I have gotten for free from blogs).

I'm pretty happy about the stuff I have bought, and even though I agree you can in principle learn everything from free from blogs, I can't even imagine how long it would take to get "trained" that way!

I regret the months I spent following certain free blogs much more than I regret the ebooks and courses I have purchased. I have even put some of the stuff I have learned into practice and seen some results too!:D

I do agree with David that there is no reason to pay that much just to get a good training in im. I would rather use the money Joe is going to spend for some good training material and for acquiring resources like domains and tools like Aweber etc..

And you don't need expensive products from "gurus" (another stupid word!) like Frank Kern to get started etiher!

[David Jackson]

I don't have anything to say about the program in question, but I do hate that the word "scam" is used so loosely.

Just to make it clear: I'm not after David (sorry David!), I just hate the way the term scam is used.

Satu, you're absolutely right. Even though I didn't mean the program was a scam in the traditional sense. Calling the program a scam at all was unnecessary, so I retract my statement. Words matter, and you were right to call me on it.

David Jackson

[Engage]

The point is no matter what is you want to do in life, you have to first learn the fundamentals. You have first learn the basics.

Agreed, and for the majority of folks who come to newbie oriented webmaster forums like this, the basics are...

Content.

Links.

Persistence.

Most readers here will succeed or fail based on their ability to manage their motivation over time. The real action is on our side of the monitor, not on the Net.

As example, what service is Lynn selling on this site? All the technology and tactics information she has to share has already been published on the web a thousand times, for free.

Lynn's Elite Club is popular with members here because the setting she's created helps users manage their motivation levels.

Content, links and persistence. Master those three things and you'll have an audience, and an income.

Most readers here would be better off if they pulled the plug on their net connection for a couple months, and focused on writing lots of great articles.

Speaking of which, time to get back to work...

[David Jackson]

Most readers here would be better off if they pulled the plug on their net connection for a couple months, and focused on writing lots of great articles.

Now that's something we can agree on.

David Jackson

[schemjo]

Wow I missed a great conversation over the last few days!


What do you want to do online? Do you have any kind of idea? If yes, you might get a lot better return on your time investment by focusing in a particular area.

@Engage - While being a marketing consultant definitely interests me and maybe that will surface in the long run but for now I'd really like to work on an enterprise team or SEO firm. I think taking this course may give me an edge in getting there. Of course I'll still experiment with my own projects. Success is different to everyone.

So would most of you be hesitant with the course itself, the price, or both?

Thanks everyone!

[Engage]

Ok, I see. If your goal is getting a job, and you don't currently have any significant experience you can sell to employers, a school experience of some kind seems sensible place to start.

Having a job as a goal is a pretty good plan really. Many people will struggle with online self employment for years before being able to bring home the equivalent of a full time pay check.

If you can find an entry level position with a real (if modest) paycheck, and work your way up, that could be a faster track to making a living on the Net.

I'm sorry, I know nothing about the particular school you are referencing. Seeking out former grads could be a plan?

Best of luck!