Whenever I sit down to write a book or prepare a talk, I always have one goal in mind.
I want to make it easier for other people to achieve success.
That's easier... not easy.
I know my limitations. And I know Internet marketing.
And I know that there's no such thing as a successful Internet business that was built easily.
I really hope that comes across clearly in all my books and talks.
I spend a lot of time testing strategies. I talk to lots of people about the strategies that they've used and found successful. I look for ways to sell online faster and more profitably, and I pass on what I discover to other rising entrepreneurs.
All of that will provide the knowledge that other Internet marketers need to succeed relatively quickly. They won't have to waste time experimenting with methods that don't lead anywhere, and they'll be able to get to work right away with strategies that have already proven themselves.
Someone who reads The AdSense Code will know where to put their ads, how to read their stats and how to optimize their units to increase clickthroughs.
Readers of Twitter Power should be able to build a large following quickly and encourage their followers to take the actions that they want them to take.
And anyone who uses the software products that we produce at Infomedia will have many of the tools they need to monetize their users.
But while I can supply the strategies and the tools, I can't supply the work. Employing any strategy online takes effort and it takes time.
That effort isn't always fun. It might involve writing emails to other publishers to swap links or discuss affiliate relationships. It might involve looking for a pesky bug in a Web page that means the graphics don't turn out right. And it could involve reading lots of dull tweets before you find the twitterers who are worth following and the conversations you want to join.
I can't tell you that every aspect of Internet marketing is a thrill-a-minute. I don't know of any job like that. What I can tell you is that overall, it's a fantastic way to make a living. It's creative, it's entrepreneurial and it's very, very rewarding.
But those rewards don't just come from knowing how to do it. They come from putting in the effort to do it. If you have to break a sweat sometimes in your Internet marketing business, you're doing it right.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
March 10, 2009 10:43 AM
I think far too often, people want the easy, instant gratification success. Which really is shallow success and crumbles far to easily. On the flip side, far too many, let's call them "water's edge" marketers are keen on this desire of people. Thus, they push them into shallow success with various tools, techniques and ideas.
Many times these ideas are paid for - thus making the "water's edge" marketer money, while leaving the shallow success person hanging from a very old, worn and tattered string. This string is packaged in shiny silvery deception and when it breaks, the success fails and instant gratification is gone. They are then off to the "next big thing" because that one had its time.
The problem is, they don't stop and think about working for the success. Even if I have to pay for ideas, techniques and tips I still expect to have to work to attain any lasting success. This, in and of itself, is proven day after day by people around the world. Truly, lasting success is not instant gratification, nor does it come from water's edge tactics that build shallow success. Rather it comes from hard work, dedication to what you do and perseverance when things aren't enthralling, fun, glamorous or as you say, "thrill-a-minute".
March 10, 2009 10:47 AM
Joel - There is a ton of wisdom here and I hope your readers really take the time to soak it all in. Often people look at online marketing and social media marketing and think "hmmm, looks so easy even a cave-marketer could do it." They are easy to spot because they don't invest in relationships, they are looking for the best way to mass-add friends on social media sites, don't bother to connect once they have connected, and spam with every post or comment. Creating success in this space is simple but not easy. It is work, but man what a blast it can be and you can accomplish things in a few minutes that might take you months to accomplish without the social connection. I can't tell you how many players I have created a relationship with through Twitter as an example.
Invest the time, be smart and do the work - it's worth it!
You always deliver the goods - thank you.
James
http://Twitter.com/AskJamesHolmes
March 10, 2009 11:00 AM
It's also worth mentioning that what results from "doing the work" is a strategy of one's own.
I read "AdSense Secrets 4.0" specifically because my own results with Adsense were dismal. I needed another direction that I did not find on my own. As I read through the text, I began applying what I learned. I did the work.
I'll qualify this for other readers who might think I'm just a shill. I'm certain if I took some time, I could have unearthed an AdSense guru or two willing to outline their AdSense tactics in a coherent manner. Maybe my results would have been better, worse or neither. As it happens, I found what I needed, when I needed it with "AdSense Secrets." And I'm finding the same holds true with "Twitter Power."
There is no perfect guru out there. And even if such a person did exist, the responsibility for "doing the work" falls on our individual shoulders.
The result is we begin to develop our own strategies for business success.
March 10, 2009 11:03 AM
Thank you Joel, I appreciate the value rich information you share day in and day out with your fellow entrepreneurs. I'm proud of you buddy, your future is oh so bright! :-)
Expect Success,
Shannon Denniston
http://shannondenniston.com/twitter
March 10, 2009 11:08 AM
True, Joel. I know many people who get lost along the way simply because they stop believing in the result that will come.
Most of them think "Internet is easy. I set up a website, put a buy now button and next month I am rich." And when this does not happen they say "This does not work!"...
Well, it's hard work like all work is. But in the end comes the paycheck ;).
March 10, 2009 11:11 AM
Joel - you're SPOT ON with this post.
Too many people out there still have the "magic button" syndrome and think we have Internet Marketing Fairy Dust that we can sprinkle on them and BAM overnight success... not so.
Yes, it's EASIER with a proven plan. So the entrepreneurs don't have to spend 2, 4, or 5 or more years "getting it right" anymore because they can follow one or a combination of the proven blueprints now available. But it ain't easy. And it ain't magic. It takes WORK.
You, like us, probably have had customers say "your stuff didn't work for me". That may be so, but 9 times out of 10 it's THEM who didn't work the plan. It only takes a few questions to reveal the truth.
On our website we boldly and openly state: "Please do not buy anything here (or request any of our information) if you think it'll automatically make you money just because you bought it or asked for it. It doesn't work that way. Like it or not, you have to work to succeed. None of what we do or teach is "get rich quick". Our results aren't typical. You may not make any money at all. You might lose money. Anyone who tells you anything else is lying to you."
Bottom line, Joel is right. You can't take $1 actions toward $1000 goals. You've got to do the work to get the rewards. Always.
There is no other way.
Rock on,
Lee Collins
March 11, 2009 01:49 PM
Well stated! The get rich quick schemes don't work- you have to put in the work, because if success came easily, wouldn't we all be rich and successful? There would be no financial crisis, no credit crunch, and we'd all support the economy on a regular basis. While that would be great, it's not how the world works. Put in the effort and success will follow!
March 12, 2009 05:22 PM
Working on the Internet is not easy and sometimes you get stuck with some problems. You need to keep up and in the end it succeeds!!
You should always look on the bright side and love what you do..
March 16, 2009 06:02 PM
Well put Joel. Most people in this business don't understand that it takes "hard" work and it's not easy. It takes dedication and desire and you "must" follow through.
Great post!
Joshua
March 24, 2009 04:41 AM
You get out of a business what you put into it.
No business is that easy that the term "runs on auto pilot" can be taken literally.
I found, for me, that the hardest part is the initial push to get started.
But once I stopped just talking and started acting on my goals, it seemed a lot easier that I expected.
Thanks, Joel!
Best,
-K
March 25, 2009 01:55 PM
Hi there Joel
Nothing will do the work for you - its as simple as that as you suggest.
Its like our brains. If we put good thoughts in them a positive mood happens.
Stay negative and the uglier moods pop up - anger, sarcastic comments etc.
What we choose to do is the hard part - having definitive goals and reasons for setting up your websites is important.
That's one of my own hardest points so far - picking a starting point. Then being specific about the product/reason for the website, developing it in the first place.
Internet marketing has been like a mass jigsaw for me - now the pieces are coming together and pieces are making more sense.
All the best and thanks for a great blog,
Susan Connors
Australia
March 29, 2009 11:52 AM
I agree
March 31, 2009 04:05 PM
It seems that people give up too easily.
If they even have to initiative to start a website they usually close it down in a few months, after not making much money.
Give it time, work hard, and stick with it!
April 8, 2009 04:44 PM
Yes, so many people are looking for the instant gratification but the work must be done first. Link building is so simple that the repition is the real work. My ultimate favorite online income opportunities are affiliate marketing programs which tend to have a high faliure rate but the old saying comes to mind "People don't plan to fail, they just fail to plan."
September 1, 2009 08:38 PM
It's kind of like a teacher, who teaches you all the concepts, formulas, facts and figures etc. but can't take the final exams for you. Maybe along the way, we kinda forget that point in life.