If Only It Were Paint-by-Numbers

Earlier today, I posted about the trouble Internet marketers get into by NOT being able to apply solutions to their own business and paralyzing themselves in desiring a paint-by-numbers solution to everything. I’ve just been hit with another example of this crazy phenomenon.

(Ahem, if online business was paint by numbers, we could all be dot-com millionaires )

I often have people tell me that they feel a bit overwhelmed by the information I provide because:

“I’m a physical product seller and I feel like your information is more targeted to intangible products.”

…and then recently, I had someone else tell me the opposite. They felt my information is more relevant to the product seller and were having trouble seeing how my stuff applied to affiliate marketers.

Aye, aye, aye. I can’t win, can I?

Personally, I think I’m pretty even-handed when I create my reports, audios, courses, etc. I give examples from the physical product world, for affiliate marketers and for information marketers. But you know what? If someone doesn’t want to see that and use a little of the imagination that Chele astutely proclaimed people are lacking, I don’t know what else I can do.

But please don’t think I’m just sitting here trying to defend myself. THAT is not the point of this rant.

If my information really isn’t relevant to someone, then that is just fine. But I believe these people come lamenting to me because they want me to COMPLETE every little piece of the puzzle for them, instead of them making their own decisions. If they found my information totally valueless, they would just move on.

But something makes them stay.

They just can’t or won’t complete the puzzle for themselves. I’m sorry, but no one can hold your hand the whole way through your unique business.

In the end, I’d like people to keep two important things in mind:

If you want to maximize your online income, never put yourself into one type of seller.

Every physical product seller can be using affiliate marketing techniques to generate traffic and gather new customers (think content-marketing, blogging, offering additional products to your customers, etc). They can get more customers by putting on an information product marketer hat (whether they sell the information, offer it as bonuses with products or give it away as a lead-generator). Allowing yourself to be pigeon-holed limits your options.

This is marketing, folks…and much of it applies, no matter what you’re doing.

Copywriting is copywriting. Article marketing is article marketing. Outsourcing is outsourcing. Sure, there are different things to consider when it comes to your own unique target market and product line — but that is something YOU need to understand about your own market and apply accordingly, no matter what techniques you are using to market your business.

Could This Be the Problem?

One of my Twitter friends, Chele Neisler recently used 140 alloted characters to post a very poignant observation. For the record, I don’t know precisely what made her post this.

But in working with online entrepreneurs and really trying to give them the PUSH to actually do stuff - her comment illustrated perfectly what holds a lot of people back:

It seems like a lot of people want everything laid out for them when it comes to this online marketing stuff. If they receive general step-by-step instructions, they get tied up on one detail and can’t just come up with a solution for themselves.

Here’s just a couple of the things I see people get bogged down with, but I see similar brain farts like this all the time.

“I have written an ebook and want to sell it, but not sure if I should use ClickBank, PayPal or something else.” - Ummm…your ebook is written, pick a processor and get on with it. Sure, you can get opinions from people, but people use questions like this as a crutch to do nothing.

“I am not sure if I should post other people’s articles on my site because I hear conflicting things about duplicate content.” - If you like the article, post it. It’s that simple…and seriously, since when is a search engine allowed to dictate how you run your website? Besides, who cares what other people argue endlessly about?

Sure, it’s good to get advice from other online entrepreneurs, pick up some how-to information, but taking action and getting results is YOUR responsibility. If you run into something you don’t understand search Google. It’s really easy and you can find information to help YOU answer your questions there IMMEDIATELY, instead of waiting for someone to come to your rescue.

Making decisions and deciding what will work for you and your business is up to YOU only. Sure, some decisions will result in some errors, but correct them and move on.

Ed Dale’s Shocking Confession (No This Isn’t a Cleverly Disguised Promo)

Let’s Reverse It Again: Ask Me Tough Questions on Email Marketing

If you’ve been a long-time reader of this blog, you know that Tuesday’s are reserved for a tough question that I ask you about running an online business.

Every once in a while, we turn it around into a Reverse Tough Question Tuesday, where you get to ask me the questions. It’s been a while since we’ve done that, so let’s do it today.

Ask me anything you want about email marketing. Whether it’s a question regarding autoresponders, building your list or improving your conversions.

But just a quick rule, so I can get you the best answers possible: Make your questions as specific as possible, so that I can give you detailed answers.

With that out of the way, let me have it! Post your questions below and I’ll be back very soon. IMPORTANT: Please stay on the subject of EMAIL MARKETING for today, okay?
(Before You Go: Don’t forget to download your free Sell Confidently to Your List audio and transcripts)

New Business Ideas: Funerals, Travel, Ad Copy, Antiques & B&B

Yes, we’re back with more business ideas added to the Business Idea Library. A couple of these are traditionally more brick and mortar type businesses, but every single one of them can be run from home if you prefer. Because we all know, working at home provides that extra flexibility and lifestyle choices. It doesn’t get better than this.

Funeral Business: It may sound morbid, but it’s a job that means a lot to a whole lot of people.

Travel Agency: Whether you start your own out of home agency or work from home, this business has a lot of perks.

Ad Copywriter: Copywriting isn’t just for the Internet marketer. There are so many opportunities in ad copywriting.

Antiques Dealer: It doesn’t matter if you sell on eBay or from your own shop, there are a lot of possibilities with this one.

Bed & Breakfast: Meet people from around the world and get paid to entertain in your own home.

That’s it for now. We’ll post again soon.

XXXXX Doesn’t Work, So Don’t Bother

If there’s one thing that Internet marketers are good at doing (even if it’s not always changing light bulbs ), it’s shelling out advice and plenty of it.

Sometimes it’s good advice, sometimes it’s terrible advice and sometimes it’s purely fictional advice based on opinion. But most of the time, I’d venture to say it’s well-intentioned.

But even the most “well-intentioned, based on experience” advice you need to be careful with.

Some people will tell you that various marketing methods are “dead”. We’ve all heard that “Adsense is Dead”, “Article Marketing is Dead”, etc…etc…etc. Still, there are plenty of people making a killing using these tools.

You’ve probably been told by some people that trying to optimize your site for search engines is too difficult and the results don’t last, so it’s not worth it. Even so, many savvy website owners are raking in the cash and traffic with these methods.

People have probably warned you against safelists, traffic exchanges and other similar free types of exchanges. Heck, you’ve probably heard me say not to bother. Yet, others swear by the methods.

So, who’s right? I guess the answer is simple - nobody and everybody.

The answer to what is right for you, depends on:

How you use each method. When you hear people say a certain method doesn’t work, it’s often because they just haven’t applied to their businesses in ways that are effective.

Your market. Let’s face it, your home-baked dog biscuits probably aren’t going to fly on a safelist, while your twelve-tier affiliate program might have some appeal (sorry, I can’t help be a little bit cheeky).

Your own preferences. After all, just because something WORKS, doesn’t mean we have to do it if it doesn’t suit our business style or interests.

In the end, it’s you who needs to make the decisions on what is right for your online business. Look for people who have had success with certain methods and seek out information on HOW they used the methods and for which type of business. Just don’t take “XXXXX doesn’t work” as gospel from anyone.

How Many Internet Marketers Does It Take To…

…change a light bulb?

A: A lot.

One Internet marketer will prefer to wait for the latest guru launch of “Light Bulb Changing Secrets” before getting started.

Another will be busy seeing if there is a way to automate the process and mass insert light bulbs instead.

Yet another will be too busy posting on light bulb forums to get any of the work done.

In fact, I’m not exactly sure if anyone will be able to get light bulb screwed in. Maybe we could outsource this?

Sell More to Your List: Free Recording + Transcripts

Recently, Lynette Chandler interviewed me on the topic of Confidently Selling to Your List. She asked me all kinds of questions including:

Can I make money even if I don’t have a large list?

How do I know the people on my list are qualified/quality leads?

How do I track my email offers?

How soon should I start selling to my list?

I’m afraid to sell too much because my subscribers might unsubscribe.

How do I sell without seeming too pushy?

My last offer bombed. What did I do wrong?

…and a bunch more. The recording plus the full transcripts are available to you, absolutely free.

Just Use the Download Links Below:

Download the audio (mp3)

Download the transcripts (PDF)

Like What You Hear & Need Some More Help with Your Email Marketing?

I’ve got good news for you. The Email Marketing Reform School will be enrolling new students soon. Sign up to be the first to know when registration opens.

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