Finding you place in internet marketing…..
When we began our odesey with Alex a few weeks ago in many ways we were a bunch of wide eyed neophytes. The group contained persons with a widely varying range of internet marketing experience, but as Alex put it we all were standing on the leading edge of the next level of success in the field. Alex encouraged us to “fail forward” there have been several who have done this. The Profit Pulling Project and the many ebooks and other student projects are examples of this. Others have not been so bold.
Recently, there have been posts on several blogs attempting to encourage those who are still grasping the side of the pool to let go and to begin to swim or at least splash around. I echo those sentiments. Learn to apply what is being so freely given then find a way to make it work for you before it is to late. Do you have to be the next Alex Jeffreys to be successful? Not at all…. be the next you. But understand you will not be able to do that if you fail to learn to use the tools of your trade. I offer the following as food for thought.
Using the concept of building relationships and providing value as the foundation for online success will replace the hype of quick results with little or no work as the model for success in internet marketing. The constant searching by the masses for the “grail” which will lead to their success can be considered evidence that what is being done now is not working except for a select few. Will this occur quickly? No, but in time those who have unsuccessfully chased the quick return will tire of running from launch to launch and having only a hand full of feathers to show for their efforts.
My next words could be considered heresy, but in my opinion success lies not in marketing how to be successful in “internet marketing” as such. There will always be a finite number of “marketers” who will be successful on the merry-go-round of selling marketing techniques to those who want to build a successful “internet marketing” business. I feel success lies in applying the techniques we are learning to the vast number of areas or niches that exist in which people are seeking information. In other words apply the things we are learning to the areas of weight loss, golf, fishing etc. Marketing is only one such area. Once obtained our education is easily transferred into these areas. The tools will be the same only the crop will be different. Alex has indicated in one of our last sessions that he is planning on making a huge impact in a non marketing niche during the next year. We should do the same. It is after successfully applying the things I learn from Alex in other areas that I can come back and promote their success to other marketers with any degree of credibility.
Before long the mentoring will conclude. Will you have benefited from your participation or will you still be grasping the side of the pool wondering where everyone has gone? There is still time…….go ahead and get your face wet!
January 4th, 2009 at 1:45 am
Hello Ken,
Since you invited me over to this specific thread Kenny I can only conclude that you wanted me to endorse what you have said. Obviously I do - VERY MUCH. Those who have been following my threads of late will be getting the same message from me - over and over again.
Soon, the hired guns will leave Dodge City and start gun-slinging all over the wide plains of the web. That will leave a bunch of “unprotected” people here wondering why the big boys and girls don’t wanna play with them much any more.
But the gun slingers have been warning all of you to arm yourselves NOW coz the day of reckoning is rapidly approaching and there will be a time when you have to “leave the side of the pool” as Ken so eloquently put it. Or as I say… hit the praries yourself.
Kenny, I’m so glad I came here coz I saw this from you:
Heh… heh… brilliant! I really LIKE that.
OK dude, I have hammered THREE posts down while I have been here, stuck a can on top of each, walked back and shot ‘em all off. BANG. BANG. BANG. Wyatt Earp Simpson is about to leave town, pardner.
Gary Simpson
January 5th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Hey Ken,
Most wonderful blog, wish I saw it earlier and yes I couldn’t agree with you more about making a an impact in the non-marketing niche and I certainly won’t be grasping by the side of the pool - instead I shall be hoisting sails on my new current canoe soon to be turned into a super blingy catarmeran and set sail around the world instead.
All the best
Nigel
January 6th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Hey Ken,
You have summed up our journey with Alex in a remarkable way!! This is the exact path we need to be following and I know with those of us willing to cross over to the other side, we can achieve our goals.
The greatest difference in this coaching course is that Alex is creating such a support group in us all. You would be crazy not to jump on board.
Thanks for visiting my website..did you get a message that I had to approve your comment? I went to the discussion area and had that choice removed. If you did get that message, do you know what I can do to have that option removed?
Look forward to hearing from you..
Talk soon
Lea
http://leaburkeonline.com
January 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Lea,
I did not get that message.. But when you are in admin mode the should be an area in the comment section which will let you toggle moderation of comments on or off.
Ken
January 6th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hi Ken
Well I did as you so eloquently phrased it in your comment on Gary Simpson’s blog:
“In my own situation, rather than throw in the towel, when I have noticed these feelings creeping in I have gone blog hopping more than usual making comments with the hope that with greater exposure I may post something that will make some one want to visit my blog(without blatently pimping my site).”
I so agree with you. I love posting on Gary’s site (and I thank him for mentioning me as a good writer)because there is always good value, great comments, interaction, humour and great feedback.
I don’t have that on my blog yet - but then there is no reason why I can’t later. We are each working to or own timetable and there wouldn’t really be the room within this community or the time for us to visit all the blogs and interact fully if we all had a Gazz-man site. I think we can have that type later when we spread our wings more to bring in others who are currently outside our community.
I agree with you entirely about there being so many different niches we can work in.
When I tell people what I am doing they always seem to ask me what I am selling and I try to explain that although I am following Alex’s mentoring at the moment (which I always tell them is brilliant!) and that I am offering his ebook and videos (or will be when I finally sort out my sidebar sign up form) that each of us will probably move in a different direction to suit us.
I have spoken about the need to tailor what we are doing to suit ourselves (and not anyone else) on both my own blog and Gary Simpson’s because I believe that is so important. But if we don’t let go of the edge then we will never learn to swim in our own waters. I feel that I have moved into the shallows, but am getting ready to launch off into slightly deeper waters as soon as I can.
But one thing I can safely say to anyone who asks me (and I said this to someone today at the college where I work part time)I have learnt so much in the month or so since I started this course and am really enjoying it.
I will of course take it much further, but the kick start that it has given me to start learning about blogs, widgets, RSS feeds, squeeze pages, Twitter etc has already made my investment in this course worthwhile to me.
And that’s what is important.
As you say there will always been a finite number of “marketers” selling techniques, but if we each find the right place for us to be there is plenty of room for us all to make a difference not only to our own life, but potentially to the lives of so many other people too.
That’s what will make all the hard work and huge learning curve now worthwhile.
Now that I have found your site, I have added it to my blogroll so that I can come back and visit you again soon.
Hilary
January 6th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Ken,
I was over on Gary Simpson’s blog and pick up a line from Hilary Dickinson. I wanted to stop over and take a look.
I to agree with your post today. The time is fast coming when Alex will be off doing his thing and we will be off doing ours. I am spending more and more time learning from everyone I can and continuing to fail forward. I know I am getting somewhere I just don’t know if I am getting there fast enough.
I have also been thinking about what you stated in your post. We do all have to find our way. It is a large part of my goals for 2009. I am learning alot about Internet Marketing although there are other areas I already know a lot more about. I have two passions in my life (aside from my wife and family who are my first passion). One is the Martial Arts and the second is Motivation and Selling. I will have two site up soon that will being dealing with each one of these. I am also working on a Self-defense project that should be ready to unveil very soon.
I bring this up to show that everyone out there has something they are good at or they love. Take that, whatever it is, and make it your niche, cultivate it, grow it, provide valuable information and people will be clammering to learn from you.
The important thing is action. I have been reading a lot of blogs and some of the best ones I find are talking about how out of 500 people that signed up and paid good money to Alex to learn are not even in the game. Garry Parkes is one and Gary Simpson is another. I have been following there work for a while now and I respect them both for their insites and their willingness to help those who are will to work.
I am very glad I caught this link today because you are one of the good one. You strive to give valuable information and are willing to help those who are willing to help themselves.
I will stop by often to collect those great bits of wisdom and will continue my learning curve so I can also be someone who is there to help others.
Relationship building is what is all about and finding the passion and commitment to move forward no matter what will make you a success. I am learning very quickly this is what we are learning above all else.
Remember, even a gunslinger can be brought down by someone who has the passion and commitment to do what it takes. Also remember many a gunslinger put on the white hat and decided to be a part of the solution instead of the chaos. Lets learn what we can as fast as we can and make a difference in our prespective areas of expertise. Let us all become the gunslinger in the white hat helping all in our charge to be healty, happy and prosperous.
Have a great day
Thom
http://www.thomswartwood.com
January 6th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Hi Ken,
Gee looks like “Martial Arts World” around here - LOL!
With regards to what you and Hilary and Thom have all said the “marketing” side of it is the important bit. You can have the best product in the whole world but if you don’t market it or tell anybody about it then what good is it?
Not everyone wants to sell internet marketing. There are so many products that everybody will eventually end up selling. I think the fact that Alex has got us promoting HIS product has blinkered a lot of people. Even Alex said he wants to diversify into boxing and leather jackets. Hmm, maybe even he can join MAW over here - LOL!
The selling of IM courses etc is a tough gig. There are so many of the big boys in it and they HAMMER people. I think I read somewhere that Jean wants to get into something to do with autistic kids. That will undoubtedly be a niche that will be a popular one with parents seeking answers to this affliction.
I, personally, have an interest in many other areas and I already have products that I can sell. But I am waiting to see what develops in this course and giving it my full attention. I am just setting up the foundations of good structure.
Thanks to all you good folks for referencing me above. I appreciate it and I am also pleased to be able to give some good info to anyone who wants to take it.
Regards
Gary SIMPSON
PS: Ken, I REALLY like the theme of this blog but I don’t like the way it defaults the paragraphs. It’s the only thing putting me off installing it myself.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:05 am
Hilary…. I have found that with each step I take the next one is easier. I think it is a matter of gaining confidence in myself that makes me more willing to extend myself. Personally, I don’t like the term “selling”. To me it sounds like I am convinceing someone to do something they might not want to do. If I am providing a good value then they will want to have it. Thanks for visiting
Thom…. Speed of movement is not as important than the movement itself one of Newtons laws of physics(I have been away from school too long to remember which one..lol) “A body in motion tends to stay in motion…”
So far as finding niches, everything I read says to pick a niche for which you have a passion. It may not be the most profitable but by developing your skills in this area you will view it liss as “work ” and will be willing to try more things and thus gain experience and knowledge which you will be able to apply to more profitable areas where you may have less knowledge. So far as your gunslinger comment…..I just watched THE MAGNIFICENT 7 as I was working on my blog this weekend….a perfect example of your analogy.
Gary… Gazz-man…Leonardo or whatever name you are using today, I will spread some mats around and we will all feel at home. MAW can be an inter-discliplinary location.I agree with your assesment about IM being a tough gig. There are so many big names and the network between them seems very tough to join. Like you I have a few areas which I plan to explore after we complete things with Alex but doing so now would seem to require too much energy to do so now and still devote the proper focus on what Alex is teaching us. Regarding the Theme… it has become easier to work with after I learned a bit of HTML to be able to get the sidebars to work with things. The paragraph default has not been an issue for me but perhaps that is because I haven’t worked with anything else. Thanks for swinging by.
Ken