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The Number One Mistake Netpreneurs Make

by Joanne Reid
7 replies
While there are several ways of saying this, there really is only one mistake people make getting into the internet marketing business. They don't focus.

I've been a freelance writer most of my life. In the early years a friend of mine thought it was a great idea and decided that he too would freelance. I can still hear him say, it will be great to sleep in until 11. Freelancers have it made.

I didn't say anything because I did wonder if somehow I just didn't understand it properly - I worked hard every day and never slept in. Seeing IM wannabes reminds me of that. They get distracted by promises of easy ways to make thousands while they sleep and that kind of nonsense. The reality is that overnight success does not really happen overnight. I remember an interview with Tom Selleck where he mentioned his overnight success with Magnum PI and said that his "overnight" really was 12 years long.

The only way for real success to happen is to work at it. Sure, 2 or 3 hours a day might make it work, if you do it every day. And be patient while you are doing it. In spite of all the hype about how easy it is to get into whatever niche you want, niche selection is only part of the package...you need to be able to string together words that make sense and you have to have some idea of the technical part of the internet.

The sad reality is that if you are selling something online and your articles or sales pages are full of spelling mistakes and bad grammar you will lose credibility. However, if your content is weak attempts to sell and offers no concrete information, people will be annoyed. If I had a choice, I'd take great content with typos over dull old recycled crap PLR with flawless spelling.

But the crucial thing is to actually set out a goal, an action plan, and don't get distracted. Sure it might not work perfectly or even at all, but you will have learned a lot in the process and be able to tweak it to make it work.

Too many people believe the nonsense about making huge amounts of money in 10 days. Not gonna happen if you don't have a plan and a product.
#make #mistake #netpreneurs #number
  • Profile picture of the author InternetMarketingIQ
    Believing what they read in Forums. Am I close?
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    Internet Marketing IQâ„¢
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  • Profile picture of the author Joanne Reid
    Well yeah, that's kind of it but it's nothing negative about forums -- the problem is that the newbie doesn't understand that whatever system they choose calls for some serious work and dedication -- they read the headlines and think that the method will be magical and somehow the money will appear. They gloss over the part about writing the necessary articles or some similar task and then when they a couple of weeks have gone by, they throw up their hands and think, oh that was too hard. Unless they work at it and learn the skills, not one program will work for them.
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    Technical writing and nonfiction ebooks of any variety are my specialty.
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    • Profile picture of the author businessmatt
      I would say it's even the number one mistake normal entrepreneurs make. It's very important to know your target market and exactly what they want, and provide it to them. It's all well and good for Walmart to have everything, but us small business folk just can't do that. We CAN be better than Walmart at any one thing though, guaranteed. I see too many businesses that are trying to be everything to everybody, and that just doesn't work. You need to be something to somebody. Figure out what that is, and focus in on that.

      That's one thing that has drawn me to IM, is the potential to laser target a specific market. That's really hard to do with a B&M business.

      Matt
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      When life gives you lemons, at least you don't get scurvy.

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  • Profile picture of the author Profit-smart
    The point entrepreneurs in general miss, especially when they think *anything* is going to be easy; is that if it was everyone would do it.

    Now I dont mean try to do it, or think about doing it, or doing it wrong; I mean doing something and making money with it.

    It takes practice, planning, organization, and persistence; the true reward of building your own business is not financial-its the realization that you hold that power, and win or fail can always start over or build something new.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    Originally Posted by GeekGranny View Post

    While there are several ways of saying this, there really is only one mistake people make getting into the internet marketing business. They don't focus.
    With all due respect and just for conversation purposes (not debate) I disagree.

    Anytime people get into any business and especially the internet marketing business they must educate themselves in the business. That is why we have business college, business training, etc.

    Many of the people in this very forum are here to learn the business of internet marketing. Me, I am always learning something new in this industry and this forum is a big part of that continued education.

    Lack of business education is in my opinion the biggest issue, but certainly not a mistake. The mistake is when people do "not" pursue an education in internet marketing and any industry for that fact.

    Jeffery 100% :-)
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    • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
      Originally Posted by Jeffery View Post

      With all due respect and just for conversation purposes (not debate) I disagree.

      Anytime people get into any business and especially the internet marketing business they must educate themselves in the business. That is why we have business college, business training, etc.

      Many of the people in this very forum are here to learn the business of internet marketing. Me, I am always learning something new in this industry and this forum is a big part of that continued education.

      Lack of business education is in my opinion the biggest issue, but certainly not a mistake. The mistake is when people do "not" pursue an education in internet marketing and any industry for that fact.

      Jeffery 100% :-)
      I agree with Jeffrey and would like to also add. the learning is a much needed aspect couple with the Applying of said knowledge learned.

      The fact is one of the reasons it is so hard to focus is because of the amount of products services and sometimes down right crap offered to them. many refer to information overload . I would suggest that being focussed requires one to shut all that out find a niche that suits their passion and focus their learning around that.

      Just my 02 cents worth
      -WD
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      "As a man thinks in his heart so is he-Proverbs 23:7"

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  • Profile picture of the author Joanne Reid
    Jeffery and WD -- yes education is so important and I guess what frustrates me is the time and money people pour into trying to get around the need for education for running what is (as Matt points out) a small business. Some have a raw talent for grasping the notion and runnng with it but so many miss the essential pieces of the puzzle. They keep getting distracted by sparkling headlines promising instant success. But they don't want to take the time or brain power to put all the pieces together. Basically the pieces are Product + Writing + Target Audience + Marketing. Miss one of these and you'll get no where.
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