Seth's thoughts on I.M...can you make && at it???

[jdk]

I've been researching the possibility of doing internet marketing as a viable way to make a living. I'd like to - if realistically possible - to make a full time living at it.....

.....As I've researched the possibility, have run into many disheartening advice that's making me doubt in the realistic possibilty of internet marketing as a viable entrepreneurial opportunity. (1) the ftc regulation changes (2) THE MUCH discussed squidoo policy changes and (3) EZA's "war on affiliate marketers".

These three bits of information give me the impression that there are those who feel (1) making money online isn't a very highly respected goal and/or (2) making money online is a silly get rich quick scheme...

AT ANY RATE, WANTED TO KNOW SETH GODIN'S THOUGHTS ON THIS AND HERE' WHAT HE SAID IN RESPONSE TO MY QUESTIONS:

SETH SEZ IN RESPONSE: it's not clear to me that one can make a great living writing online, or selling information products


hanging out with affiliate whiners is certainly not the answer


my sense is that if you generously build the right tribe, the money will follow. And that the FTC isn't an issue at all for people who doing this the right way.


not sure if that helps, but mostly I think you need to do it


ps copyblogger . com might be a good place to read some stuff...

so my QUESTION for you warrior forum folks. Are you in agreement with seth that "it's unclear as to whether one can make a great living writing online, or selling information products"?

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO CAN GIVE ME A GLIMMER OF HOPE TO THE CONTRARY???? OR IS SETH GODIN RIGHT ABOUT AFFILIATE MARKETIN????

[Adam Carn]

As long as there is internet, making money online will always be possible. Whether it's by writing, affiliate marketing, internet marketing, designing, trading, brokering or arbitrage. If you have a computer with an internet connection, you can make money online. Simple.

How much you make depends on you. If you want $10,000 a month, you can. If you want $100,000, you can too. There's no limit in how much you can earn, even with the FTC ruling. It just depends on how much you want and how hard/smart you're willing to work.

Thanks,
Adam

[GarrieWilson]

Seth is right.

Look at John Reese, Mike Filsaime, etc. as examples.

I guess it depends on what you consider "great".

[jdk]

What do you folks make of Seth's comment that he's "Unclear" as to whether you can make a great living online or selling information products???

...How on the money is he here? With these new changes with FTC/EZA/Squid, am I wasting my time???

Mind you, on one hand, I would enjoy leading a tribe. I also enjoy writing so I could see myself doing article marketing. On the other hand, I don't want to take time doing this if in fact the chances of me making a decent living at this are "unknown"....

Are those who say you can make a good living at this "blowing smoke up my ass"???? WOULD LIKE SOME REACTION FROM THOSE ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF I.M. AS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY I CAN MAKE A FULL TIME LIVING AT....

[Kay King]

Excuse me - but that's ridiculous. What is the point of analyzing what Seth or anyone else has posted?

You will always be able to find reasons why IM "might not" work. How do you explain the people on this forum that are earning a living working online and have been for years?

As for the 3 problems you listed....they aren't big problems at all. The FTC isn't something you need to worry about when you are starting out and the regulations will be explained. They aren't much more than cleaning up some of the mess online.

EZA is a site you can use but don't have to. I use it with no problems and so do most decent writers.

Squidoo isn't an end-all. It's not as good as it was for marketers - but so what? It's a platform (free) to use but you'll do better focusing on creating your own site(s) and blogs. Many marketers never used squidoo much in the first place.

Can YOU make a full time living online? Don't know. Depends on how well you learn and apply, how hard and smart you work, etc. It's not rocket science but if you look only for what "might" be wrong, you'll never get started.

kay

[jdk]

Thank's Kay for setting me straight.....

.....I'm just getting many negative complainers, and doubting thomas's filling my ears with shyte that's only causing me to doubt my hard work and dreams.....

....I have a passionate desire for this and a willingness to apply what I learn....

At any rate, thank's for your comments....

[eholmlund]

Originally Posted by jdk

.....I'm just getting many negative complainers, and doubting thomas's filling my ears with shyte that's only causing me to doubt my hard work and dreams.....

My advice is to stop hanging around those people. The internet is a great place to build a business.

[MattSteel]

If you say you "can't" do something, you're probably right!

To be honest, I don't know who Seth is, but he sounds like one of those people in the office cubicle next to yours who continuously and slowly suck the life right out of you day-by-day, draining everyone around them of their energy and joy.

Avoid Seth.

[pcpupil]

OK,ill bite and i want to know,who is Seth Godin?
Why have i heard that name before?
Isnt it a plugin for WP or something?
Matt

[nicholasb]

as long as there are businesses there is room for a profitable marketing business.

Especially if you focus on internet marketing. there are millions of businesses out there.

Opportunity is not monpolized

[Fun to Write]

Originally Posted by jdk

What do you folks make of Seth's comment that he's "Unclear" as to whether you can make a great living online or selling information products???

...How on the money is he here? With these new changes with FTC/EZA/Squid, am I wasting my time???

Mind you, on one hand, I would enjoy leading a tribe. I also enjoy writing so I could see myself doing article marketing. On the other hand, I don't want to take time doing this if in fact the chances of me making a decent living at this are "unknown"....

Are those who say you can make a good living at this "blowing smoke up my ass"???? WOULD LIKE SOME REACTION FROM THOSE ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF I.M. AS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY I CAN MAKE A FULL TIME LIVING AT....

The fact that you are writing this on a well-respected Internet Marketing blog that is filled to the brim with bright people who are making money online successfully . . . answers your question.

The short answer is - YES, you can make a decent part time or full time income by marketing online, and using the written word to do it.

HOW you do it, and what you choose to focus on as a profitable niche, now that's the really big question.

[rondo]

Do what Seth is doing: Create info products, create large content sites, create a popular blog.


Andrew

[Fun to Write]

Originally Posted by pcpupil

OK,ill bite and i want to know,who is Seth Godin?
Why have i heard that name before?
Isnt it a plugin for WP or something?
Matt

Seth Godin is a popular and very successful marketing whizz. Check Amazon for his books.
I've bought a couple of his books. He's very creative, but mostly focused on how offline traditional business can improve their marketing in creative ways.

I like Seth, but it appears he doesn't know squat about Internet Marketing as we here know it.

[Fun to Write]

Originally Posted by rondo

Do what Seth is doing: Create info products, create large content sites, create a popular blog.


Andrew

Okay, maybe he knows a little sumthin . . .

But not able to give a newbie much useful advice.

[pcpupil]

Thanks FTWrite,
Ill go look at amazon just to see who he is and what he does.
Just out of curiosity.Im still trying to clear my head from info overload for the last 2 years.Hard to believe that long.
Matt

[TheRichLife]

Seth Godin founded Squidoo.

[RentItNow]

IM is like any other business. You have to build it up over time (lots of work first and then less as time goes on). But once you have it built, it's their funneling money into your bank acct whether you are workin or not.

The biggest different I have learned working for a company and working for myself is that if I show up to work for a company I make money. I don't even really have to make much of an effort and they give me a set amount (very low for my skill set). This is much different then a business of my own where if I don't put 110% into it ALL THE TIME, all hours of the day, I will never see a paycheck. And when I do put in that 110% I see a much more residual response. I am still making money on stuff I did 15 years ago. I worked VERY hard at the time but don't have to do anything for that money now except go to the mailbox and bank.

So can you make a living at IM? Yes. But only if you understand it may be in pieces while building it and you may not see it for some time.

Btw, what I find VERY different about IM than other businesses is that there was WAY more of a learning curve. I think I made EVERY mistake possible while building it up. The only other subject that I had this hard a time at was analyzing businesses in order to automate. But for both, you sort of go along in the dark, go along and then one day it becomes clear. A few REALLY important lessons sink in and you go AHA!

Good luck (and stop listening to what other people this and listen more to your gut)!