Information Overload - What do you do?

You pick one that appeals to you and has a proven track record of success (very important). You focus on it to the exclusion of all else until you see it through. Then you evaluate the results. There will be hits and misses, just like everything else in life. When you get a hit, you scale it up by putting more time/money/effort into it, and by outsourcing anything tedious that can be done with minimal direction and pay.

And all of the above is incredibly easy to say, while being quite difficult to actually do (for a lot of us). But that's how it's done.

John

I know what you mean about being swept up -- it can happen so easily because so many people have great ideas that worked for them. But to try to follow all the great ideas can paralyse you.

I think successful IMers find a way that fits their skills and budget and pursue that until it works (or not).

One word: FOCUS. It's all about focus.

Choose one business model you'd like to learn, master it, and ONLY THEN move on to another business model.

It is amazing how almost every day a New Breakthrough has been discovered in the IM world.
I get so many Amazing New Breakthrough announcements that I am certain that soon everything will be discovered. But they just keep coming.
It's also amazing to see all of the products that are going to revolutionize the IM game. I swear that the IM field is revolutionized on a daily basis.

I agree with focusing on focus. Like a kid in a toy store you find yourself wanting everything if you don't.

Your best bet is to figure out how it all works and then find a way to fit it into your own method. I was hit with information overload when I first started and I ended up quitting.

I got back into it a month and half ago, found a way to fit everything into my own way of doing it, and I've found success already. So it's all about learning it and applying it in your own way. The best program that I used to get me going was The Affiliate Code by Michael Jones.

You can check it out in my signature.

Only study 1 IM product at a time. Commit yourself to not starting any others until you've profited from what you have.

For the one you're focused on, break it down into notes and action steps. Your notes shouldn't take more than a few pages at most. Best if it fits in less than 1 page.

Then do them.

Pick one method that you like and start working it... as you do this you will learn what works and what doesn't... even if at the end the method you picked is a loser you will have gained a lot of knowledge about other IM processes along the way. As you are working this "one thing" with focus, cut your losses when you sense you are not gaining anything from it anymore, either monetarily or knowlege wise.. FWIW. Best to you in your efforts.

We've all been there before, trust me! This is nothing new, but has become even more so in todays IM world as more and more people are making a living working online. I would try to look at it as a positive thing that you DO have the information that you need at your figure tips to build your knowledge and then decide what aspect of IM you find the most interesting and exciting.

Just remember to not stop educating yourself as things are always changing, but to not jump around as you will never move forward in your online career.

Good luck to you!

You guys are all giving some amazing advice and tips. I know alot of people get paralyzed from all the options and information out there. Im the opposite, I end up doing almost everything all at once to see what sticks. But it wears me out following this model with IM. With all the picking a profitable niche, micro niche, keyword research, sales pages, copywriting, auto responders, web video, bitrates, forum posting, banners, affiliate recruiting and marketing, payment processors and shopping carts, testing, html, wordpress, blogging, article marketing, adsense, squidoos, monkey balls. jk on the monkey balls thing. I wanted to see if you were paying attention ;-)

It is so much to do in the beginning.

There are some great answers here.

I wrote an article about that not too long ago -- you can see it here:

Why Most Marketing Stuff Is Crap (For You)

Jay Jennings

Okay this is how Information Overload appears to me when I compare it to real life.

As you walk through a strip mall, you see shoe store to the left, a clothing store to the right, a cell phone accessory store yet to the further right and a movie theatre to the further left. And yet I haven't mentioned that I just passed a fast food joint on my back right and a computer store to my back left.

All these ARE business models, which are making money in totally different ways. If all these business owners come to you and tell you that their business models are the best in the market, would you take all of them and start implementing them?

Def not. Yet that is what most newbies do when it comes to Internet Marketing. Take a jump from one thing to the other because it is affordable. What facilitates this is the fact that all these business models can be accessible all at the same time with the click of a button. Yet this ease is also its own paralysis.

So while we are clicking ourselves away to information overload, do not forget that some principles in doing BUSINESS remains the same. Yep, look it as a business if you really want to rake more than average.

And I'll throw in one of my favorite quotes:

"If you deny yourself COMMITMENT, what can you do with your life?"

So is it not obvious by now, that one should just pick ONE business model and rip it to pieces?

Find a business model - if you are passionate about it and it works stick to it and delete your desktop icons that you find irrelevant.

You asked what do I do?

Here: step by step.

First I create a website, then autoresponder (squeeze page)

Give away a free product to get people to sign up for my autoresponder.

Advertise my product.

To gain traffic I use article marketing, then I branch into video, then I branch into all sorts of free ways.

When I am making a good profit I expand into paid advertising.

Hope that helps some.

Again more great advice and tips. Thanks guys and gals.

One of my challenges when it came to IM is that I am passionate about everything! So I still have to pick 1 to start. I did choose the self development niche since that is what I am most passionate about. Teaching others how to better their lives. Which I teach to be a RockStar in their lives and to make the world their stage! But for IM I have learned that the keyword rockstar doesnt do me any good for the self development niche.

Since I have written another book on the subject of dating, attraction, and relationships, I have been told constantly to go that route first and then introduce them into the be a RockStar in your life way of being. Any ideas? Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Not sure if I should open a new thread for this though?

Thanks again guys and let me know if I can honestly do anything to help you all in the future. You guys are all amazing mentors.

These are the links to my books with previews:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperbac...lume-i/3438492

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperbac...p-them/3558534

Alright, so you have your product.

But do you have an audience? If so, go for it!

If not, rethink what you are selling.

Easiest way to see if you have an audience? Try to find the people who would want to buy your product, you can do this by deciding on keywords they might use in google, use the keyword tool and see if people are searching.

Also look for forums that contain our market.

Then just follow the outlined steps.

We start make money when we create our own way base on all information available.

Another important aspect is follow through. If you start a site, keep at it as far as driving traffic etc. I missed this point early on and am learning it now. I thought I just needed to throw up a few articles to the services and I was done. I finally learned it's an ongoing process. Hopefully one I can outsource soon.

I'm new to the marketing scene, and I'm experiencing information overload. I've noticed that it helps me to prioritize tasks as to what is to what isn't dependant upon other things. The things that aren't as dependent on other things such as money or needing to set up a tousand things before you can actually work on the main thing, concentrate on those less dependent things first. Then as time goes by and you accomplish and set up more things, you'll be able to try some of the other options that are becoming available to you.

Focus, that's what I say to myself if I feel like I'm becoming a little scatter brained. You can only focus on so much at one time, but your motivation level and your excitement makes you want to take everything in in one sitting. Focus.

Thanks for all the kick ass advice guys.

Picking just one niche has been the hardest challenge for me. Being that I cover so many topics it seems that I must choose 1 or 2 to market to them like overcoming depression, setting goals, self confidence, etc.

I was trying at first to cover self development which is way too big and not targeted.

I already have 2 books published, 7 day audio cd program with 4 bonus cds, a few interviews on cd etc. I also just launched my first micro continuity weekly video coaching program using Russell Brunsons program.

I can't take it, this thread is information overload for me.......

RoD

Stop doing that.

Quick, simple, and easy: do not buy a single "make money online" product with your own money ever again. If you see a $37 product you want, you have to earn that money online to buy it. Can't earn that online? Can't buy it.

While you've gotten great advice above, I'll like to mention a peculiar state I was in not too long ago that I think will pertain to you to. If not, just ignore me.

The advice about focus and "pick a model" is right on. However, that being said even within any model focusing can be difficult - if you're like me. Here's what I mean. There will always be overwhelm for someone like me. I'm interested in learning everything interesting (if it's taught or reads well) AND I procrastinate - a dangerous combination.

I can always find excuses to get and learn more. The bookstore, oh man that's a danger. The only reason I don't stay until close is that my daughter (now 15 months God bless the little angel) won't allow it. She....politely insists we leave (by screaming and throwing animal crackers at those unfortunate enough to come within fifteen feet - I see an athlete in the making, that little dickens).

So recently, after staring at my pile of books everywhere that I intend to either read the first time or take notes after reading them again, I realized that I'll "never" have enough info. I'll always think there are more things I need to learn so I can apply them in my life (business or pleasure).

So having finally realized my problem (thank God I only have one, otherwise I'd be like everyone else.....kidding) it came upon me almost suddenly.

It truly did.

The solution was born of just not having enough time. I can't waste it anymore. So what I guess I'm trying to say is that when you realize there are only a few activities that will purposely move you towards any goal, you either do or you don't.

For most people, that's easy (I think, based on what I read above). But not for me, and maybe not for you. I just got tired of being that way.

I kind of adapted the "only touch the paper once" rule. The rule where if you're cleaning your desk you have to deal with a sheet of paper once you touch it - no putting it aside to deal with later. This works for anything that does NOT directly move me towards my goals must be put away regardless of my feelings.

And by the way, I can now clean my downstairs in about 30 minutes that way...and that's with two kids in the house.

(I hope in my ramble you got my main point, and if you did maybe you can tell me, I confused myself)

Thanks for the well thought out advice. I am reading everyone of your posts and will be printing these out to remind myself daily. You guys are awesome!

Just stick to one method. I guarntee in a few weeks you will start seeing success. Everybody try's to juggle a number of methods which always end in a mess. It's best to stick to one method, master that method then move on to the next.

- Sean

The key is patience, and the ability to ride it out.

Stick with one thing. Just master one skill. Article writing. Getting links. PPC. Whatever. that way, you have enough time to make things work. And delete all email subscriptions that you don't need. Narrow it down to a couple that really help.

Forget tactics, select a business model and do something each day towards growing it.

You can spend time on tactics and testing once you have something rolling down the road. Until you have something rolling and generating you some income, all the tactics in the world arent going to help you, as you will keep pulling off the road to investigate them.

I know people who are "information junkies" and spend all of their waking hours buying and learning all the latest, "greatest" IM products...but at the end of the day, they are not making sales. Stick with what you know right now, and go all-out to utilize those tactics to make money. It is too easy to get sidetracked by all the offers and new programs that come out every day. Find one or two that work for you, and stay on that track. Don't get distracted every time you discover some new "guru" who has the "ultimate system." (Besides, if that guru had uncovered the ultimate way to make fast money on the internet, why is he so concerned with trying to give it to you?)

I think you have to find something that you enjoy doing. Whether it be writing articles, making videos, PPC, etc. Instead of trying to master all of them really be great at one. Once you master one and develop a system for yourself then you can move on.

Too many people try something for a week and if they do not get great results they quit. You must keep working at it and not give up so easily.

Hi,

the big guys have structure, so they can play all they want and have the income coming in anyway.

here is a thread where we talked about the levels of the game (my own take on it):

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post1485561

following that level system (or another) helps you make choices, as you know if that is for you or not.

what I do is twofold:

1. follow a business plan.
2. mindmap everything.

so when a new offer comes my way, I see if it fits in my plan or not. If it does i take action; if not, i mindmap it for later.

Put it in the proper place in the map, so I know when I have to get there. And if it is not available any more... oh well, some other product with the same info will.

Laura

Thanks again everyone for the amazing advice. Its funny because originally I opened this thread just to see what others are doing and I wanted to help others out there struggling with the information overload. But I got so much more out of this thread myself.

Like everyone else said, find something--one thing--that you might be interested in and then stick to it.

You have to learn to filter the information that passes through this forum for a couple of things.

1. Relevancy. In other words, will the information help you move your project forward? Does it directly apply to a problem you have now, or one that you see yourself having in the near future. If not, then just skip to the next thread or better yet, go work on your project.

2. BS. There is a certain level of misinformation that flows through the forum and there is also a good quantity of partial information. Both of these are usually caused by honest mistakes. Sometimes people think they are seeing something and attribute that event to a cause, but fail to realize a hidden cause is actually the issue. Sometimes it is just the perpetuation of a myth. Sometimes is it simply a business choice that has become ingrained into a rule that doesn't necessarily apply to everyone. Learning to sort this information out is tricky and it will take time. You will eventually learn which voices to trust.

same here! I have a huge hard drive full of about 250 gigs of IM products. Now you know why I am in info overload.

Also I am reading everyones comments and tips and loving them. Thanks guys....

Thanks and I agree. I will never give up but I know many do. I even stayed on a MLM sinking ship until it sunk while everyone jumped off... lol...

I find that it also helps, at the beginning of the day, to write things down on paper. Somehow it helps you crystallize things better in your mind, and you're not wandering aimlessly (at least not as much anyway) anymore. I also find that Brad Gosse's free focus/concentration WSO works wonders in keeping me focused on the task at hand.

Organize,
I assume you dowload information almost daily.
Create seperate folders on each subject,
maybe even another folder with Resell Rights, giveaway rights etc.
Then follow the vital information provided by the warriors above!

Everyone... thanks for this great ideas and input.

This place really has a lot to offer and way beyond WIKIPedia. Inspiring, Informative and Sharpening. WOW... I love it.

Hey,

I feel your pain. We're maybe 10 months in and have really felt that there was more we could do, but you only have so much time.

I think the best thing you can do starting off is find a mentor. One to start.

They will keep you on track with the most important things to start with to get the ball rolling.

Decide how much time you want to spend on IM and devide the 5 most important tasks into that time.

There's a lot of things that need to be done that don't directly drive traffic, like making the site look good and such. Spend 80% of your time working on the 20% of tasks that bring you the best results. This may take time to figure out which are which, so a mentor will really help here.

Also, get a team. I'm one of 3 people who joined moneyblogger1 and since then, all his results have multiplied. Recruit some friends or hire people to help you reach your goals faster. Just make it worth their time.

Best of luck

The best thing to do is to seek out information that you need for your current stage of business. Don't let info seek you as we know we are bombarded with tons of "insider secrets." You will be drowned if you do. Do one thing until it is complete before jumping to the next one.

Hi

I think it's all about mentality if you are in the "get rich quick" mentality you will quickly jump from one idea to the next which equals information overload. You need to believe wholeheartedly in the guru you follow and the ideas he / she presents follow the steps measrue the success and then only then move on to the next great idea

Hey Rockstar,

What helped me focus was being honest to myself about what it is I actually was prepared to do. There are plenty of great plans, and pretty much all of them work, with the exception of those ridiculous paid survey and "Google is Hiring people to work at home scams".

You just gotta accept one method, and master it, as others have said. You seem to have chosen product creation, thats a fantastic model to choose. Arguably the most lucrative, and in certain respects, comparatively little work considering the amount of money you can make.

As far as dealing with overload goes, I find that even through 250gb of material, the fundamentals of IM don't change. We've all been there, and having read dozens of products myself you start to see themes, and commonalities between methods.

The techniques may change somewhat, but the principles remain..

Create an offer, drive targeted leads to it.

Once you've done that, its really just a matter of perfecting part A and B

The Most Important Factor is "Focus". Pick a Business Model and Stick to it. Don't just jump from one system to another- You'll only get confused.

However, it all boils down to how fast you are at learning new things and your Overall Commitment.

Hope That Helps,
Emmanuel.

PS: Don't Forget to "Take Action". Don't just buy an eBook or course, go through it and close it.Try to invest a percentage of your time and implement the methods you've learned.