Succeed or Die, The Story of How I Got Started.

[FriendlyRob]

I’ll never forget the moment when I discovered internet marketing. Well, to be more accurate, I should say that the moment I discovered internet marketing was in 1995 when I got my first computer.

The first thing I did was build a website with a free service, Geocities, and put a link to Amazon.com on my page. Somehow I just idly hoped that this venture alone would bring in money, and lot of it.

It was about 10 years later when I bought my first product, Ewen Chia’s Secret Affiliate Weapon, I don’t remember how I found it but this was a pivotal first step for me in understanding what I should be doing. The problem was that I felt it left out a lot of information. In other words, it wasn’t a complete beginner’s guide.

I didn’t know how to build a website, except a free one, and most importantly, I didn’t know how to drive traffic to it. I’m not going to discuss every step along the way because that would be long and boring.

I will share with you though, what two websites I did discover that “opened the door” to success for me. The first was Squidoo. Here was a free website, (I was still afraid to spend any money) that was easy to use and did not look cheap. It had advertising just like the other free hosts, but in this case, I got a piece of the action.

In addition, I could select, within reason, what kinds of products were displayed on my site. I set up about 20 lenses in a week, and of course, nothing happened.

I spent a lot of time writing and creating lenses, to the point that my wife finally said, “I really hate Squidoo!” And then she stormed out of the room. I’ll never forget that moment. I had been spending a lot of time trying to make money using Squidoo and it hadn’t worked. I was really neglecting her and my family for no reward.

Then I discovered another website, Ezinearticles.com. Suddenly, I have a mechanism for sending traffic to my Squidoo sites without just hoping Google would find it. Sometimes Google does find them, but most times they don’t find them without help.

This was important; I could write articles, direct them to my Squidoo page and people could either buy from my EBay modules, Amazon modules, or my Clickbank products that I had on almost all of my lenses.

Then I finally decided to purchase some domain names, redirect them to my clickbank links and FINALLY some checks started to come in. Now my wife wants to know what I need help with, because she likes the checks and she wants more.

What is the point of the story? I’m not giving you a blueprint here for your own success. At least those are not my intentions, but if it works for you, then go for it. What I am trying to do is to tell you that if you try something and refuse to quit, you will succeed.

Even if something doesn’t work then you can try something else, as long as you decide that you will not quit. Soon after she told me what she thought of Squidoo, my wife asked me how long I was going to do this “Internet Marketing thing”, I told her in my most earnest and serious way,

“I will do this until I succeed or I die, whichever comes first.”

I have added very many more income streams since then of course, but the big turning point for me was learning to write articles and perfecting the craft. That way I knew that I would have an unlimited traffic source. It didn’t even matter what the website was, I knew that I could drive traffic to it.

What was your turning point?
What will be your turning point if you tough it out long enough?

There is no reason on earth why anyone on this forum cannot earn at least a few hundred dollars a month. That is success! A few hundred dollars a month is a lot of money for almost everyone.

If this little history of me has been boring for you then hopefully you stopped reading many paragraphs ago, otherwise I would say that you have way too much time on your hands. However, if you are at the bottom now because you want to be here then thank you.

[winebuddy]

My turning point was when I discovered Adwords, or more accurately PPC. I started driving traffic buying traffic exchanges in 1997 and the rest was history. Perfecting just ne thing can usually get you over the hump.

[FriendlyRob]

Originally Posted by winebuddy

Perfecting just one thing can usually get you over the hump.

Isn't that the challenge though, in the beginning we try everything because we don't know what is going to work. We lose focus, and some just give up.

[Zeus66]

Nice thread, Rob. My story is pretty much the reverse of yours. I got extremely lucky with my very first attempt back in the middle 90s. It grew well into six-figures within a few years. Then it all came crashing down. I wallowed for awhile, then I resolved to pick up the pieces and start over again.

The turning point for me was reading about some of the most famously successful people and how they'd all suffered many devastating failures along the way. The difference between those people and most of the rest of us is that they never quit. Setbacks were just learning experiences for them. They never took their eyes off the ball and never doubted their own abilities to ultimately succeed.

I'll probably never be a Thomas Edison, but I also know that I'll never stop trying. In that way, I'm just like him. Sounds like you are too. ^5

John

[Jackbgd]

Yep. It's hard, but if you're capable of persisting after a lot pain... at the end of pain, there's usually pleasure.

[FriendlyRob]

Originally Posted by Zeus66

I got extremely lucky with my very first attempt back in the middle 90s. It grew well into six-figures within a few years. Then it all came crashing down. I wallowed for awhile, then I resolved to pick up the pieces and start over again.

That's an awesome story, hopefully I've learned enough over my long, slow ride up the hill that there won't be a crash. But if there is, I know I'll be equipped to handle it.

[Lisa Gergets]

Excellent thread. I'm trying to figure out when to make the leap of faith myself. Thing is...I have three other people and a dog relying on my income, and only my income, to survive. I figure I need to make $8K a month to be able to survive after taxes, health insurance, rent payment and the rest of the small bills. Right now, I'm making around $1K a month doing this very part-time. I have so many ideas my head's about to split! LOL

I don't know if there's ever a right time to take that leap, just like having kids. But I know, like having kids, if I don't do it I'll live with that regret until the day I die. I don't want that.

[FriendlyRob]

Originally Posted by TinkerAndPo

I have so many ideas my head's about to split! LOL

That was my problem, too many ideas and not enough time to implement them all and see what would work.

I feel sympathy for your position though, It is possible to make more money doing this than any job, but we can't take the risk.

I know how you feel.