Copyright 2006 Peter Tarrida del MarmolHindsight, we all know only too well, is a wonderful thing.
For example, if we had only known that the ceiling on
membership at a popular site was going to be subscribed so
quickly - we would have joined up the minute we heard about
it.
If we had only known that niche marketing was going to be
so wildly popular we would have focused on that instead of
MLM.
If we had only known that Google was going to change its
algorithm and the rules of AdWords were going to change we
would have...
Stop.
Stop, stop, stop.
In the world of Internet marketing, you can safely bet that
the only constant is the rate of change! There's always
news of the latest product dropping into your email inbox.
There's always another promise of quick and easy money.
Google will keep changing its algorithm, and new search
engines are quite likely to pop up to challenge Google.
What can you do about this? Four main things:
(1) Continue To Educate Yourself.
Understand that those who rise to the top of any field -
whether it's internet marketing or something else - are
good at what they do. This means that they never stop
learning. There are always new materials, new techniques
and probably new 'experts' showing the way.
Most of us learn in three main ways: (a) from experts who
specialize in a certain niche related to our field; (b)
from others who are following the same path as we are, and
(c) by trial and error, from our own results.
You will find that the more you immerse yourself in the
world of internet marketing, the more you will be able to
analyze which products, services and opportunities are
right for you.
(2) Focus. Pick One System And Give It A Fair Go.
Countless people who start out on the internet with high
hopes follow the same pattern. They get excited about a new
product or system. They throw themselves into it and invest
long hours (and potentially quite a bit of money) in
getting it up and running. It might be e-books sold from
mini-sites; it might be setting up an eBay business; it
might be directory-type sites with text manipulators; it
might be AdWords or content sites optimized for AdSense.
Then one day they get wind of another new system (probably
one created by someone who claims "the gurus are angry with
me for giving away all their secrets..."). Discouraged by
the lack of results with the first "opportunity", they
decide to let it rest for a while and try the new one. Back
they go into the cycle of try-the-new-product,
get-discouraged, discard-it-and-try-the-next-thing.
And so it goes on. Months pass. Perhaps years pass. They
struggle to pay the credit card bills mounting from buying
into every new system that comes along... with very little
money coming in to offset their 'investment'. As they look
back, they start muttering "If I had only known then what I
know now..."
If you can recognize yourself in this scenario, the good
news is this: Now you DO know better. You don't know what
the next new product will be that's going to set the
internet world abuzz, but you do know enough to choose a
system that's right for you and stick to it.
(3) Take The Time to Plan.
Give yourself from two to four weeks to regroup. Go through
all the products you have on your shelves or on your
computer. Make a list. Decide which products you now know
(so wise with hindsight!) to be worth keeping. Then analyze
the 'keepers' and pick on the best system for YOU to use at
this time. (This will depend upon your level of knowledge
and which one you would enjoy most. Work with your
strengths.)
Finally, devise a game plan. You are going to focus on this
ONE method and devise a practical time-line to achieve
results. Don't be in a rush. Make sure you give yourself
enough time to see it 'take hold' so the money starts
flowing in. That will give you the motivation to continue.
Clear the decks, physically as well as mentally. Put all
the products that don't fit in with your plan in boxes or
on disk for safekeeping. You may return to them one day,
but if you've chosen the system that's right for you, you
probably won't.
4. Don't Get Distracted by New Products.
Resolve to buy ONLY products or services that will save you
time or money in implementing the system you have chosen.
Never buy anything on impulse. Print out the sales letter,
read it through, then put it aside. Read it through again
the next day. Does it still seem so appealing? Check out a
few forums to listen to the buzz. If a product doesn't
deliver, you'll soon hear about it. If it is exceptional
value, you'll hear about that, too.
Some questions to ask: "Will this help me to streamline the
business I have chosen? Is it worth the money? Will it make
a significant difference?" And above all, "Do I need this,
or is it just another distraction?"
Resolve to make this the year you will succeed. No more
pocket change. No more "If I had only known..."
You DO know.
So make it work.
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Peter Tarrida del Mármol is a Spanish online and offline
marketer. Get a FREE e-book about making business online
EVERY WEEK by subscribing to his newsletter:
http://www.auctionearnings.com
