If I Had Only Known Then What I Know Now!
Hindsight, 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.
