POLL: What monthly income level are you *aiming* for in IM?

[Ken Preuss]

Hi everyone,

Based on recent conversations I've had with a few successful Warriors, I thought this would be an interesting question to ask. I'll come back and comment more after we start seeing some poll responses so as not to skew the results.

Simply answer this question with your poll response:

What monthly income level are you aiming to achieve through internet marketing?

IMPORTANT: This question is NOT asking how much you *currently* make. It's asking how much you are aiming for.

The more poll responses the more valuable this will be for everyone.

Thanks!
Ken

[Steven Wagenheim]

Ken, I'd answer your poll but my answer isn't on it. I'm currently making
more than your top amount so to say that much would be giving a false
answer.

You need to have way more cats as there are people here making 7 figures
or high 6 figures who would like to make more.

You're going to lose a lot of votes in your poll.

So to answer here manually, I'd like to make 20K per month. Once I hit that
figure, I'll worry about the next figure.

[Simon Nicholls]

I'd be happy with an extra $100 at the moment, I'm still waiting to make my first $ online. Well, I've had 1 affiliate sale - however I can't withdraw that yet through Clickbank!

Simon.

[Ken Preuss]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Ken, I'd answer your poll but my answer isn't on it. I'm currently making more than your top amount so to say that much would be giving a false
answer.

You need to have way more cats as there are people here making 7 figures
or high 6 figures who would like to make more.

You're going to lose a lot of votes in your poll.

So to answer here manually, I'd like to make 20K per month. Once I hit that
figure, I'll worry about the next figure.

Steven,

Point well taken. Although I would suggest that the average person here is not you nor those who are making high 6/+ figures. In fact the average person here is following you, not emulating you. I truly believe you and others like you are the exception. I could be wrong.

In any case, I suppose you could say this poll is targeting new, newer and intermediate marketers - what I would consider to be the majority.

Best regards,
Ken

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Ken Preuss

Steven,

Point well taken. Although I would suggest that the average person here is not you nor those who are making high 6/+ figures. In fact the average person here is following you, not emulating you. I truly believe you and others like you are the exception. I could be wrong.

In any case, I suppose you could say this poll is targeting new, newer and intermediate marketers - what I would consider to be the majority.

Best regards,
Ken

Ah, okay. That's what I should have figured. Duh!

But you know, us big shots have goals too.

(That was a joke in case anybody is wondering. I'm no big shot )

[Steven Carl Kelly]

My answer isn't on the list, I'm afraid.

[Bruce Wedding]

How'd you guys do in math?

The poll clearly lists $10,000 +

That's PLUS. It means "or more".

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wedding

The poll clearly lists $10,000 +

The plus sign is vague and doesn't accurately quantify my goal, which is very specific. One of the keys to lasting success is setting SPECIFIC goals and developing objectives designed at meeting those specific goals.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wedding

How'd you guys do in math?

The poll clearly lists $10,000 +

That's PLUS. It means "or more".

Bruce, it's not the math. It's the gap between the $10,000 and what some
of these guys here are making.

If you take a look at a standard census poll for income, you'll see that
the cats go up to $200,000 plus and even that is really not all that great
as there are many people making a million a year or more.

[Internet Stores]

I'd like to earn, $100 a month for now, since I am starting and slowly move up from there!

[lakshaybehl]

Hi Ken!

I did not vote. Not because I wouldn't. But because I couldn't. I am already doing much more than the top numbers therte, and I was hoping to press the 6 or 7 figure button myself.

And I am pretty sure this poll will not be suitable for a large majority of full time Internet Marketers on the WF.

but its OK.... Never mind... Move on...

Best
Lakshay

[Carol666]

Hi Ken,

I agree with Steven,

Your targets are too low, I am aiming for 20K per month next year.
5 year goal 100k per month

Carol

[Kyle Tully]

Originally Posted by Umberto Pucci

I'd like to earn, $100 a month for now, since I am starting and slowly move up from there!

Mate that's the wrong mindset -- and one of the reasons so many people never achieve what they really want.

How much do YOU really want? It's not $100 a month. So how much a month do you really want? $10,000? $30,000? $100,000? Be honest with yourself.

The only way to get to those figures is by thinking BIG and aiming for those numbers. You aim for $100 a month you'll get $100 a month. And guess what? The likelihood of your "$100 a month" plan being able to scale to your real dreams is zero.

So then you're back to the starting line.

You aim for $10,000 a month right out of the gate and you might not hit it right away... you might only get $1,000 a month... hell, you might get $0.

But because your system was built with a $10,000 vision it will scale to that amount -- and probably a lot faster than you ever thought possible.

$100 a month isn't what you really want so don't ask for it.

[Ken Preuss]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Two things in response:

1) Based on my interaction with folks here over the past couple years, my perception is the vast majority are not full-time marketers earning full-time incomes. Again, maybe I'm wrong.

Yet I will back up my belief by saying these aren't the folks selling WSO's, these are the folks buying them. And I would suggest they represent the majority of buyers.

I will also point to the 80/20 rule which I have yet to see not operating in any industry I've had experience with - meaning 80% of the folks here aren't even earning $1000 per month. Not even close.

2) In light of the fact that people are reaching big I'm open to editing the poll options - anyone know a way to do that? I tried the edit button but that seems to only allow me to edit the original post itself and not the poll.

Thanks,
Ken

[Rod Cortez]

Originally Posted by Kyle Tully

Mate that's the wrong mindset -- and one of the reasons so many people never achieve what they really want.

How much do YOU really want? It's not $100 a month. So how much a month do you really want? $10,000? $30,000? $100,000? Be honest with yourself.

The only way to get to those figures is by thinking BIG and aiming for those numbers. You aim for $100 a month you'll get $100 a month. And guess what? The likelihood of your "$100 a month" plan being able to scale to your real dreams is zero.

So then you're back to the starting line.

You aim for $10,000 a month right out of the gate and you might not hit it right away... you might only get $1,000 a month... hell, you might get $0.

But because your system was built with a $10,000 vision it will scale to that amount -- and probably a lot faster than you ever thought possible.

$100 a month isn't what you really want so don't ask for it.

I couldn't disagree more with your approach on this. The guy said he was going to move up from there, not stay there. People are motivated differently and by different things. In fact, for some people it's far more important to their subconscious mind to make that first $1, $10 or $100 to begin building those neural strands that it IS possible.

I'm a huge believer in thinking BIG, but making the assumption that someone is NOT a big thinker because they are happy starting out with $100 is a false assumption. I've given quite a few motivational and sales presentations at seminars and would have never shot down someone like that like the way you just did.

RoD

[Kyle Tully]

Originally Posted by Rod Cortez

I couldn't disagree more with your approach on this. The guy said he was going to move up from there, not stay there. People are motivated differently and by different things. In fact, for some people it's far more important to their subconscious mind to make that first $1, $10 or $100 to begin building those neural strands that it IS possible.

I'm a huge believer in thinking BIG, but making the assumption that someone is NOT a big thinker because they are happy starting out with $100 is a false assumption. I've given quite a few motivational and sales presentations at seminars and would have never shot down someone like that like the way you just did.

RoD

Hey Rod

I didn't mean to shoot him down, picture me saying the post in an Anthony Robins motivational voice

Cheers
Kyle

[Andyhenry]

Originally Posted by Ken Preuss

Steven,

Point well taken. Although I would suggest that the average person here is not you nor those who are making high 6/+ figures. In fact the average person here is following you, not emulating you. I truly believe you and others like you are the exception. I could be wrong.

In any case, I suppose you could say this poll is targeting new, newer and intermediate marketers - what I would consider to be the majority.

Best regards,
Ken

I didn't realise you only wanted newbies - I ticked the $10k and above one for the same reason Steven mentioned.

Andy

[Kelly Verge]

Originally Posted by Kyle Tully

The only way to get to those figures is by thinking BIG and aiming for those numbers. You aim for $100 a month you'll get $100 a month. And guess what? The likelihood of your "$100 a month" plan being able to scale to your real dreams is zero.

Most people will never truly believe that, Kyle.

I've been working very, very hard to get myself out of the "I need $X per month to pay my bills" mindset - after nearly 12 months of making almost exactly $X per month and no more.

[Andyhenry]

Originally Posted by Rod Cortez

I couldn't disagree more with your approach on this. The guy said he was going to move up from there, not stay there. People are motivated differently and by different things. In fact, for some people it's far more important to their subconscious mind to make that first $1, $10 or $100 to begin building those neural strands that it IS possible.

I'm a huge believer in thinking BIG, but making the assumption that someone is NOT a big thinker because they are happy starting out with $100 is a false assumption. I've given quite a few motivational and sales presentations at seminars and would have never shot down someone like that like the way you just did.

RoD

Rod,

You just did the same thing to Kyle - His motivation was to open the guys mind to the fact that you don't HAVE to have small targets just because you're starting out.

He was trying to motivate bigger goals not shoot him down for a small goal.

Why would you want to stop that?

Andy

[Darth Executor]

my first 'benchmark' is 3k a month. This is enough money to leave reasonably well on my own. My ultimate goal is to become a billionaire, use my immense wealth to set up a secret organization and covertly take over every government on the planet, but that's in the far future.

[Ryan Dodson]

I'd like to make $100,000/month and beyond.

...Seriously, the sky's the limit. Even when I'm "secured" financially, I'm still gonna continue to bring my very best to the IM field because it's what I do.

Chilling in South Beach with an exotic drink in one hand and an exotic girl in the other...there will still be a laptop in my lap with my latest project in the works.

[Ken Preuss]

Very interesting debate going here. I can see both sides - it's really a matter of perceptions and beliefs.

For me personally I'm with Kyle on this.

My first time out of the gates I made over $12K within a couple months, and I ain't Superman. The ONLY reason I was able to do it was I didn't set the bar low.

Truth is, I didn't set the bar at all. I simply made a plan to quickly build and sell my first product for far more than just $7 or $19.

In fact my first product was sold for $395 with a higher version offered at $795. I sold 23 or 24 of them - most at the lower level and a few at the higher level. So I didn't need hundreds of sales to make money.

The point is I gave myself no ceiling and I played big. This to me is one of the keys to serious success, and it doesn't have to take long to get there.

Ken

[Rod Cortez]

Originally Posted by Kyle Tully

Hey Rod

I didn't mean to shoot him down, picture me saying the post in an Anthony Robins motivational voice

Cheers
Kyle

Okay Kyle, I pictured it and you're right, it came out much better. That's something you lose with words. I can't hear your voice or see your face. I misread the tone of your post. I can see now what you were trying to do.

You can hit me with a wet noodle if you want to.

RoD

[Ken Preuss]

Rod,

In re-reading what you wrote, the one thing I'll definitely agree on is that people are motivated by different things and in different ways.

Some people seem to only be able to move forward if they are focused on the step right in front of them rather than the big picture.

Being someone who mainly focuses on the big picture - and sometimes to my own detriment - I have to remember that others approach things differently.

"What do you mean that everyone doesn't think the same way I do???"

Ken

[timpears]

Right now just making anything would suite me. My first few attempts are not going too well. But in my mind I keep thinking that $1K to $3K range will get me to a point where I can live, if it was steady.

The point I think is missing from the responses I see in this thread on the goal is unless the goal has a time frame, it really isn't a goal at all. I have been taught that you make short time goals which might be daily, weekly or this month or what ever. But you must tell yourself that I am going to make $10K per month and to do that I plan to make $100 by the end of the week, $1,000 next month, etc.

Hi Ken, how is the real estate going? I finally did go BK promoting that program I bought from you. Just couldn't get it to work in my area.

[Ken Preuss]

Originally Posted by timpears

The point I think is missing from the responses I see in this thread on the goal is unless the goal has a time frame, it really isn't a goal at all. I have been taught that you make short time goals which might be daily, weekly or this month or what ever. But you must tell yourself that I am going to make $10K per month and to do that I plan to make $100 by the end of the week, $1,000 next month, etc.

Hey Tim, nice to connect with you.

Gotta say I personally don't agree with the fact that it needs a specific time frame to be effective. All the goal setting books say that and I think it's complete bunk.

In my experience all that is needed is focused and massive action in a specific direction without disruption. Sure, having a time frame in mind can help. But it is by no means a requirement for serious financial success.

My view is that it's yet another limitation that the books encourage people to place on themselves. Why would I say I plan to earn $50K over the next year when I can do so within the next month?

The problem is most people don't believe that's possible - again, it comes down to limitations. ALL self-imposed.

Ken

[Andyhenry]

Originally Posted by timpears

The point I think is missing from the responses I see in this thread on the goal is unless the goal has a time frame, it really isn't a goal at all. I have been taught that you make short time goals which might be daily, weekly or this month or what ever. But you must tell yourself that I am going to make $10K per month and to do that I plan to make $100 by the end of the week, $1,000 next month, etc.

You're right - but I don't think the point was missed, just that the question didn't ask for it as part of the answer.

I think most people understand the definition of a goal.

[nicholasb]

I am currently working on a plan that will help me earn 30,000 a month in residual income with internet marketing, Then I plan to start many offline business and employ over 1,000 people

[Carol666]

Hi Tim,

You must have missed my earlier post (it was a short one)
I put a time frame in my post - 20k per month next year and 100k per month in 5 years time.

I agree with you we do need a to set goals with a target in mind and with a time frame. My goal is 1,000,000 per year. When I set this goal a little over 2 years ago (knowing nothing about IM) it was unrealistic to expect to be able to do it quickly so I set a seven year plan.

For the first year I floundered about learning to build websites and blogs and buying programs and Plr that I found later I did not need. I made a small amount but nowhere near my target.

In my second year I had discovered what was working, and how many websites and blogs I needed to reach my target and how many articles and blog posts I needed to write every week. I re-do my goals list ever week and if I am behind target I plan more work. My income for my second year in internet marketing was just under $200 short of that years target.

I am now two months into my third year and know that providing I keep up to my plan (and have no major disasters) I will be reaching my target income of 20k per month by next August. I will then have to scale up, outsourse more and put more detail into my year 4 plan.

I have every confidence that I will achieve my goal of 1,000,000 per year or 100,000 per month by 2013.

Carol

PS Sorry for my rambling I've gone a bit off topic in this post

[lissie]

I'm surprised at so people aiming so high. My aim isn't $10k + a month, because quite simply I don't need it! I have no intention of working 18 hour days just to acquire $ for the sake of it. What 's far more important is a predominantly passive income which pays the bills plus some. Then I have my time back and I can do whatever I want. I see no point in making millions and dying from a heart-attack or being divorced because your partner never sees you. The whole point of internet marketing for me is building a life-style not another way to work long days - even though working for myself is much better than working for anyone else LOL.

[Kyle Tully]

Originally Posted by lissie

I'm surprised at so people aiming so high. My aim isn't $10k + a month, because quite simply I don't need it! I have no intention of working 18 hour days just to acquire $ for the sake of it.

Who says you have to work 18 hour days to make $10,000 a month?

That's a mindset issue, not one of reality.

$10,000 a month isn't a huge amount, and can be done passively.

[lissie]

Originally Posted by Kyle Tully

Who says you have to work 18 hour days to make $10,000 a month?

That's a mindset issue, not one of reality.

$10,000 a month isn't a huge amount, and can be done passively.

I am assuming US$ not A$ - even though we are both Australian - at current exchange ratees that around A$14,000/month - say A$160k / year - that would be well in the top 5% of Australian income earners.

From what I've seen is that people make a lot more than that but most are working at leasrt 12 hour days. I am quite happy to do that for a year or 2 - and am doing at the moment - but its not a sustainable model long-term for me.

[Sheryl Polomka]

Wouldn't everyone want to be in the $10,000 plus range

I'll be conservative though for now and select the $5,000 to $10,000 range as my next short term goal at least!!

[lakshaybehl]

Originally Posted by lissie

I am assuming US$ not A$ - even though we are both Australian - at current exchange ratees that around A$14,000/month - say A$160k / year - that would be well in the top 5% of Australian income earners.

From what I've seen is that people make a lot more than that but most are working at leasrt 12 hour days. I am quite happy to do that for a year or 2 - and am doing at the moment - but its not a sustainable model long-term for me.

Lis!

If you know how to do 5K a month with 5 hours a day, you'll be overflowing with ideas to make $10K a month with 4 hours a day as you learn mroe and more things, and implement them.

Don't sell yourself short.

All the best
-Lakshay

[MeTellYou]

I have a goal of 100 a day now. When I reach that , I will have a higher goal.

The ultimate goal is not having to worry about money anymore and just treat it as points

Sebastian

[Kyle Tully]

Originally Posted by lissie

I am assuming US$ not A$ - even though we are both Australian - at current exchange ratees that around A$14,000/month - say A$160k / year - that would be well in the top 5% of Australian income earners.

Yup I do all my business in $US.

And if you're not aiming for the top 5% (or higher) then you're probably aiming too low.

Originally Posted by lissie

From what I've seen is that people make a lot more than that but most are working at leasrt 12 hour days. I am quite happy to do that for a year or 2 - and am doing at the moment - but its not a sustainable model long-term for me.

But just because "most people" do something a certain way doesn't mean that's how you have to do it. "Most people" are broke

Look at it this way, if I were to jettison off all my Internet businesses and close down all my sites and only work as a copywriter, I could do $10k a month working just 3 hours a day, max. I literally can't write for much longer than that or I go insane anyway. Is that sustainable? You bet!

Or what if you create a high ticket info product and market it only using JV's? Yeah there's some hard work up-front, but then you just send a few emails and let the magic Internet faries take care of the rest

Or you can simply outsource all the "hard stuff" and just oversee your operation, check out the 4 hour work week if you haven't already.

Anyway, my point is that business is as hard or easy as you want to make it. It takes up as much time as you give it.

As much as possible!

[Frank Ayres]

My plan is to be earning at least $6k a month next year

[Ken Preuss]

The results here are very interesting as this poll progresses. Keep the responses coming!

Ken

[BIG Mike]

While setting goals are great, I always think it's a bad idea to toss out an arbitrary number as a revenue goal. I prefer to focus on percentages of growth, i.e.; 10% per month and so on. There are a number of factors involved, but by the same token, reducing the cost of producing that growth is also a percentage.

It's for this reason that I think Umberto has got the most realistic goal of everyone who has posted so far. Setting an achievable goal, reaching it and then replicating it, is ideal. Over the long term, smaller, but consistent, sustainable growth will no doubt take Umberto much further than the average newbie IM'er.

[Barbara Eyre]

I'm sort of the odd-ball here.

I selected $1000-$3000/month for how much I want to earn in IM.

I do other things online that make the bulk of my income.

Unlike many of you, I do not need to make 10,000K a month or more. Hubby and I don't have a need to make such a large sum of money. We have lived too long on $1000/month or less and we don't need a lot of "things" and such - so we have no need for that level of income. That is not to say we don't want to live comfortably, not worry about bills, have a new car, a new house, and have a nice savings nest-egg, etc ... we do. It's the money beyond that is what we don't need - personally. If we did have that kind of money, most of it would go to charity.

Again, this is just our opinion where it comes to money. Our goal in life isn't to be rich, but to live comfortably and not be stressed by money (or lack thereof) ... there is more to life than money.

Back on topic - the poll asks for income earn from Internet Marketing - many of us have other businesses than just IM .... so if we have a lower than norm goal, it may not be an issue of lack of motivation, etc etc, but because we have other forms of income.

[Ken Preuss]

Originally Posted by Barbara Eyre

I'm sort of the odd-ball here.
Back on topic - the poll asks for income earn from Internet Marketing - many of us have other businesses than just IM .... so if we have a lower than norm goal, it may not be an issue of lack of motivation, etc etc, but because we have other forms of income.

Excellent point Barbara and I'm glad you highlighted it.

As you point out the poll question, while quite simple, was worded specifically to find out what people want to earn in IM. This says nothing about what people earn/want to earn outside of IM.

Thanks for clarifying this and for sharing your thoughts. It helps paint a fuller picture in relation to the results.

Ken