Advice for someone serious about learning online marketing

by chrjen
11 replies
Hi All,

I will be graduating soon with a degree in advertising and after wading through the different career paths, I have settled firmly on learning and specializing in internet marketing. However, my situation is a little unconventional. I was self-employed for 15 years before deciding to go back to school. For the past several years, I've had to develop my own sources of business and I've realized I loved generating online leads for my business way more than making sales from the leads. Despite some success online, I am still a total newb and I want to learn how to do this stuff the right way. I feel driven to learn SEO, PPC, social media, etc.

I live in a tech-centric state but most of the online marketing companies here are chop shops that hire tons of interns and focus on running high volumes of clients through an assembly line. Yuck. I consider myself a professional and can think strategically for clients but I don't yet have the technical knowledge of how to do all of this stuff. I'm at the point of looking for an opportunity where I can learn and get paid (even if it's not a substantial income). Also, I have a home office and am disciplined enough to work from home.

If you were me, where would you start or what would you do to break through? Thanks!
#advice #learning #marketing #online #serious
  • Profile picture of the author kk075
    Originally Posted by chrjen View Post


    If you were me, where would you start or what would you do to break through? Thanks!
    First off, we basically have the same story....I owned a business for years, sold it and moved into Internet Marketing around 2001. My story went a little different though, I dropped out of college when I bought the business, but those are minor details. I was on the Dean's List though. =)

    I live in a low tech state and despite being 100% convinced that I have more skill with SEO and internet marketing than anyone else living here, the job market is not the way to go. I am also unemployable because companies have absolutely no clue how many zeroes the right campaign manager can add to their bottom line. They'd rather hire a kid straight out of college for $9 an hour...so get used to that. It's definitely not only your state. The problem is that people can't hire quality because they don't know marketing either, so freelance is the only way to go. If you need some more skills though, then find a legitimate affiliate marketing company and apply there.

    I have three suggestions for you-

    1) You are going to run your own marketing firm from home, or you're going to build your own sites. Either way though, getting traffic is 80% of the battle and you can already do that.

    2) On the other hand, study local SEO and focus on the local niche. It is absolutely massive right now since it's Google's #1 priority, yet nobody seems to know about this. For example, I took a dentist's office on the verge of closing two months ago, optimized him for local in about 10 hours time and he's done $140k in sales since then...and I can literally name my own prices in any local industry with him on my resume.

    3) Start looking for a great web designer now. While you probably don't want to be a "full service" agency, locals think web design and SEO go hand in hand. In fact, they know nothing of SEO/online marketing and they won't think to ever contact you UNLESS you do websites...so find a local designer that you can trust and be prepared to bury him with work.

    Other than that, practice your writing skills (or contract a great writer) and hit sites like the Search Engine Journal and ReelSEO to keep up with the latest trends in online marketing. It sounds like you're almost there anyway, just keep learning and you'll get there.
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  • Profile picture of the author simeon13
    i'm suggesting you that you start with the basics of the online business if you want make money online learn how to hot to get good offer to promote, how to create landing page thats convert to capture leads and than how and where to get good and quality traffic if you want you can get your self a coach or mentor that will help you
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  • Profile picture of the author slammer81
    The ability to talk sense is strong in you, follow kks advice, he's laid out a gold plan for you there.

    Spend on your own site to get it looking and working well... Thumbs up for your professional approach, its just what's needed.
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  • It depends on what you want to do.
    Do you want to start a company or do you want to throw websites up and make money from them?
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  • Profile picture of the author ACandi
    Originally Posted by chrjen View Post

    Hi All,

    I will be graduating soon with a degree in advertising and after wading through the different career paths, I have settled firmly on learning and specializing in internet marketing.

    I live in a tech-centric state but most of the online marketing companies here are chop shops that hire tons of interns and focus on running high volumes of clients through an assembly line. Yuck. I consider myself a professional and can think strategically for clients but I don't yet have the technical knowledge of how to do all of this stuff. I'm at the point of looking for an opportunity where I can learn and get paid (even if it's not a substantial income). Also, I have a home office and am disciplined enough to work from home.

    If you were me, where would you start or what would you do to break through? Thanks!
    Hi chrjen;

    I think you need to learn the basics of internet marketing first, that can then be applied to any niche market.

    Focus on getting the following information:

    1. Sales funnels, opt in forms, squeeze pages.

    2. Automated follow up systems including: emails, webinars, phone calls, technical support, social media support.

    3. Traffic generation for profits on sales.

    4. Product creation: tangible products, digital products, training and knowledge based products, consultancy and similar services.

    I do not know if your studies in marketing covered those areas, but there's always the challenge of converting knowledge into action to be able to earn income and achieve financial goals.

    For a specific answer to your question about where I would start to make a breakthrough? Click Here

    Wishing you the best in your journey.

    LB.
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  • Profile picture of the author chrjen
    Thank you all for your advice and encouragement. This forum is awesome! My goal is to eventually run my own business or become a partner with another firm. I would like to have a combination of servicing clients and having my own projects at the same time. That said, clearly there is a ton more I need to learn. Where would be the best place to a job or contract work that 1) would use the online marketing skills I already have, 2) pays better than intern pay and 3) will provide training on the other aspects of online marketing I don't have experience with? I know PPC pretty well, I have a decent understanding of local search and I consider myself a strong writer.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnben1444
    The only way you can learn and get paid is by running your own business program.

    All the web resources will only teach you and not pay you.

    You have to decide what you really want to do with your life.

    The only possible option is to look for internet marketing
    firms that will be willing to recruit and train you to work
    for them. I'm sure there will be a number of them
    depending on your local environs.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joe Lumbergh
    There are some GREAT affiliate marketing schools out there. If you are serious about this, and ready to invest a little money in education, then I suggest you join a membersite where you get all ressources needed to learn everything about Internet Marketing. This way you will make sure what you read is quality advice, and not some rambled BS from somebody trying to sell his product.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    I've realized I loved generating online leads for my business way more than making sales from the leads.
    You should check out CPA ( cost per action) platforms.

    They offer a lot of lead-gen programs. Some are simple email submit while others require more, very specific information. You get paid for qualified leads whether they go on to buy anything or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author BusinessAce
    Hello chrjen,

    I've trained & coached entrepreneurs, small business owners, and senior managers for many years.

    I'm not cheap, but I guarantee results, based on a set of goals & milestones that we would develop together.

    I offer a free one-on-one, no-time-limit initial consultation during which we would discuss in detail what your goals are, what I can do for you, and during which you'll get a very good sense of whether or not something like this, and someone like me would help you achieve your goals.

    Feel free to message me if you'd like to discuss further.

    Sincerely,
    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author borsaronero
    Hi Chrjen,
    If I were you, I will try to find a partner where I can drive some clients and work together on websites, so the partner will be a good support since you don't feel comfortable working for yourself and at the same time, for the partner there is an income.

    You should find clients

    If you start working as employee, althoug you don't find a very serious company to work for, most of the time, you are not learning, but just doing mechanical things.
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