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Two Years and still a Newbie

by dieverwandlung43
27 replies
Perhaps my lack of attention is to blame. But I've been trying to crack into IM for two years now. I usually spend 2-4 months working on implementing a certain technique. I notice that I get some traffic, but never any sales. Perhaps I'm just not meant to sell things myself.

How long did you fellow forum members wait before getting your first commission, and how did you find the technique that works for you? I imagine trial and error is a big part of this, but I feel like I've been trial and erroring myself for 2 years now, and have discovered lots of things that haven't worked for me. I'm looking at outsourcing.

I am convinced that I can eventually make a commission online, and that's probably why I'm still trying after 2 years of failing. Any advice/words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated!
#newbie #years
  • Profile picture of the author mikeroosa
    Sounds like you need to pick something you are passionate about and stick to it until you start making a profit. I would hope you would have sold something by now though if you've been at it 2 years.
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    • Profile picture of the author dieverwandlung43
      Well, it's not been 2 years straight. I do tend to take breaks when I get really discouraged. Finding things I care about and feel confident and passionate about promoting is something that I have started to do now that I've come back to it after probably a 4-5 month break. I started back up trying to generate content the beginning of March (so last month). I'm still waiting to see where the blog I created goes. It's recently started ranking pg 1 on google for my keyword, which is encouraging. I am going to continue to try to maintain this one, especially since its on a topic I enjoy working with. I guess at times I feel kinda like I'm stuck between the mindset that I haven't seen any results beyond getting visitors to a site and that that's the best I can achieve and thinking that generating income is possible and within my grasp.
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      • Profile picture of the author eapen john
        Originally Posted by dieverwandlung43 View Post

        Well, it's not been 2 years straight. I do tend to take breaks when I get really discouraged. Finding things I care about and feel confident and passionate about promoting is something that I have started to do now that I've come back to it after probably a 4-5 month break. I started back up trying to generate content the beginning of March (so last month). I'm still waiting to see where the blog I created goes. It's recently started ranking pg 1 on google for my keyword, which is encouraging. I am going to continue to try to maintain this one, especially since its on a topic I enjoy working with. I guess at times I feel kinda like I'm stuck between the mindset that I haven't seen any results beyond getting visitors to a site and that that's the best I can achieve and thinking that generating income is possible and within my grasp.

        There you go.. 4-5 months break.. that tells why were unable to make any commission. For succeeding in online business you need to be consistent, focused, provide content that solves a problem and of course networking with like minded bloggers and IMers.
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  • Profile picture of the author joelraitt
    You haven't sold anything in 2 years? What about an email submit or something? What niches are you choosing?

    Make sure it either gets people laid, paid or looking good and you should sell something.

    Maybe buy a couple copy writing books...learn how to sell.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Dybka
      Depends on what you mean by "some traffic" in order for sales to come in you need lots of traffic and targeted traffic on top of that,there are to many factors to why you are not making sales,it could be your site layout that's not converting,traffic is also very important,maybe your in a market that has no money in it.
      whatever you do just pick one idea and work at it,don't jump from idea to idea.
      Stay focused on one thing at a time and you will succeed.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author dieverwandlung43
    Also, I have always been a bit intimidated by email lists....For various reasons. Maybe it's not quite as daunting as it seems to me?
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  • Profile picture of the author cyong
    My advise is to concentrate on one thing at one time. The problem now for newbie is they are looking for "Push Button" Magic that never exists in IM. Find one niche that you really interested in, stick to it and don't give out until you get your first sale! Jumping from one program to another program will not help.

    CY
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  • Profile picture of the author Victoria Gates
    Been at this since 2004 and ive made thousands but I wont call myself an expert yet. I will call myself an expert when I hit a 7 figure year.. lol
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  • Profile picture of the author maxinez
    I have been lurking for a while and finally signed up.

    Former newbie speaking. I had a blog a year back, but I didn't focus enough. Even though I didn't know about traffic generation, keyword research, etc that I know now, I should've focused. Definitely focus and ramp up what you are doing. However if you don't make sales try advertising, it's worked for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author dieverwandlung43
    That's the biggest advice I've noticed since I've been browsing the forum. I am definitely working on keeping to this. Should I keep pushing the one blog I've made? Make new content for that blog? Promote the same thing from a slightly different angle with a new blog? I'm working in the gaming niche right now (as in like online games), specifically a product for Starcraft 2. I wrote my content based on the way I was feeling and the way some of my friends who also play the game were feeling. Something that I've always found important is trying to sell without it being obvious that you're selling. I've noticed a lot of sites that it's obvious that they're selling, and for certain niches I think this really doesn't work, and I believe the gaming niche is one of them. Especially when there is a lot of free content available. Perhaps I don't push what I'm promoting enough, and satisfy people instead of igniting a fire to purchase what I believe is a good product.
    One of the hardest parts about internet marketing for me is the fact that you can't see the reactions of your potential buyers, so sometimes I have a hard time deciding where/what exactly to change.
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    • Profile picture of the author genietoast
      You're not alone. I suffered the same internet marketing ADD for three years. However, if you're getting traffic but no sales, you may want to look at the copy of your landing page or tightly target your audience.

      I recommend you go over to Fiverr, and get Marcy to review it. She's good.

      Here's the link: I will give you 5 ideas to increase conversions
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      • Profile picture of the author dieverwandlung43
        Originally Posted by genietoast View Post

        You're not alone. I suffered the same internet marketing ADD for three years. However, if you're getting traffic but no sales, you may want to look at the copy of your landing page or tightly target your audience.

        I recommend you go over to Fiverr, and get Marcy to review it. She's good.
        Thanks for the link! I'm definitely going to check this out, and hopefully it'll help...
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    • Profile picture of the author AlexR
      Originally Posted by dieverwandlung43 View Post

      One of the hardest parts about internet marketing for me is the fact that you can't see the reactions of your potential buyers, so sometimes I have a hard time deciding where/what exactly to change.
      Why don't survey your visitors and get their reactions on what you provide and what they would like to see?

      It's hard to target and market to an audience if you don't know what they want from you.

      Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author dieverwandlung43
    Also, I've thought about trying advertising, but I don't really have a bunch of start up capital available.
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  • Profile picture of the author Papadopulos
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    • Profile picture of the author dieverwandlung43
      Originally Posted by Papadopulos View Post

      Basically, traffic=sales. It may only be 1 person who converts per 1,000 people, but you still need the people to make the sale. Have you considered ever buying traffic from a website? You should seriously consider using the company in my signature. They fit any budget and are very helpful.
      Thanks for this link as well, I'm going to check it out! I'm definitely going to keep trucking along with what I've created.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Maybe IM just isnt for you dude?
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    • Profile picture of the author morninjoi
      You're more like being an old newbie.
      You see where the problem is, you are trying to make a commission. Agreed you are a marketer and marketers earn a commission but there are some who own the product.
      IM is like any offline marketing job. The difference is that you use the internet as a tool or platform to transact your business. If being a commissioned salesman is not working for you, try another aspect of the business. Unless you are saying you are not business oriented at all.
      Your focus should be on selling value online. Look for where the market is and go there. For instance i want to sell web designed templates, where do i go? To those that own websites. I hope you are getting the the picture? Use the internet as a tool.
      Just my thoughts.
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      • Profile picture of the author xtrecoolx
        I definitely agree. Internet is a tool and can be used in various ways for different types of businesses. You could have probably made more money in 2 years in different type of business. I had the same problem so I decided to take a different position. You should seriously consider other options.

        Originally Posted by morninjoi View Post

        You're more like being an old newbie.
        You see where the problem is, you are trying to make a commission. Agreed you are a marketer and marketers earn a commission but there are some who own the product.
        IM is like any offline marketing job. The difference is that you use the internet as a tool or platform to transact your business. If being a commissioned salesman is not working for you, try another aspect of the business. Unless you are saying you are not business oriented at all.
        Your focus should be on selling value online. Look for where the market is and go there. For instance i want to sell web designed templates, where do i go? To those that own websites. I hope you are getting the the picture? Use the internet as a tool.
        Just my thoughts.
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  • Profile picture of the author alcymart
    I think your expectations may be too high quite simply.

    Bernard
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  • Profile picture of the author shireen
    Hi:

    In my case, my online business started to grow once I found a mentor to coach me.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Clay
      Success in internet marketing lies in "changing the variables". Are you spending money to try to make money? If so, how much money are you spending? Have you tried switching up your niches? Have you tried switching up your traffic sources? Have you take complete start to end action?
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  • Profile picture of the author johnllino
    Maybe you didn't focus much in creating traffic for your site. Learn some SEO techniques. Try also the paid one to have massive traffic. But If you think you did everything and nothing happens then maybe IM is not really for you., All the Best!
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    • Profile picture of the author panduari
      Originally Posted by johnllino View Post

      Maybe you didn't focus much in creating traffic for your site. Learn some SEO techniques. Try also the paid one to have massive traffic. But If you think you did everything and nothing happens then maybe IM is not really for you., All the Best!
      yea thats right, you must FOCUS in one things first, after you successful try to another method...
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeMorgan
    I think the problem is you are not focused .

    Here is how you should do it , if you really want to make change in your life .

    First identify a system , traffic source or channel that is proven to work and get focused and master it .

    Always focus 1 traffic source or channel at a time .
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      OP,

      I've been doing this for over 7 years now.

      I barely made anything at all for the first 2 years. There is a difference though. I didn't take any breaks and I didn't take my eye off the ball once. I couldn't even use word and I struggled to turn on a computer when I started and I had some quite severe life issues to deal with. There were times when I wondered if I had what it took to succeed in IM but at no point did I consider giving up.

      When you take those breaks you're effectively starting again.

      How much do you want to do this? How important is it?

      Those two questions should be your answer. You either can do it or you can't and if you can't stay focused and drift off for a few months, it's quite possible you can't.

      It's all well and good getting advice here but you already have the answer in your head.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Newman
    One of the most successful Internet marketers, Ewen Chia, floundered for years. Don't give up. The potential payoffs in terms of moolah and freedom are so...

    I'd suggest you explore other business models, and, or...get a mentor fast. It's better to have a guide, than to keep...I'd also recommend one of Bryan Kumar's WSOs (I'm no affiliate)...Forgot the exact title...but it's something like...''If you had to make money now, or lose evrything...'' Please use the search function in the WSO section.

    I wish you the best.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrea Wilson
    Outsourcing wont be the solution for you. There is nothing to outsource if you haven't even figured out the system that works and you will want to implement. I say, how blogging for a while? Blog walk and see the things that might interest you. Maybe you cant make money because you dont have the passion for it.

    Andrea
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