Here's "A Stupidly Complex Cash Drain" and it's EXPENSIVE :-(

by Ron Douglas

Posted: 15 years ago 32 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hey Warriors,

I was recently asked in an email "How can I generate some quick cash? Is there an honest way of doing that?"

And surprisingly my immediate answer is 'Not really.' This is the not that post.

However, I can tell you how NOT to generate any cash just by watching what many people are doing. Maybe if you stop doing these things you'll finally make some money.

- If you spend many hours on a project and then stop without finishing because another exciting opportunity comes along.

- If you surf this forum everyday looking for shortcuts to generate some 'quick' cash.

- If you post on this forum anonymously and then wonder why you can't get people to JV with you.

- If you spend the time to create products and then do nothing to get traffic to them.

- If you don't believe enough in your product or system to spend a little money on traffic.

- If you're new to writing copy or creating webpages but insist on doing everything yourself.

- If you're not testing your copy to try to improve your conversions.

- If you just can't seem to get that site launched or idea started because it's still not 'perfect.'

- If you ask a few people to promote your product and then give up on your affiliate program after a few 'No' replies.

- If you run your business on an island, make no contacts, and then wonder why your revenue isn't growing.

- If you're selling products that nobody buys just because they have very little competition.

- If you're focused on blaming Clickbank, the Gurus, Google, or anyone else for why you're not making money.

- If you're generating traffic to someone else's site without building a list for yourself with the traffic.

- If you know what you need to do, but somehow just don't get around to doing it.

- If you're more focused on making money than you are on actually providing value to your customers.

If you're doing these things, you probably could make some quick cash if you just recognize the real problem and take action to correct it.

No knock on anyone with this post. Just having a little fun after a couple of glasses of Pinot :-).

#expensive

FrankRumbauskas

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Ron Douglas

- If you just can't seem to get that site launched or idea started because it's still not 'perfect.'

This is a biggie. I've seen a TON of people - both offline as well as online - go nowhere for this sole reason. So many potentially great businesses gone to waste!

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Stuart Stirling

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Ron Douglas

Hey Warriors,

- If you just can't seem to get that site launched or idea started because it's still not 'perfect.'

Originally Posted by FrankRumbauskas

This is a biggie. I've seen a TON of people - both offline as well as online - go nowhere for this sole reason. So many potentially great businesses gone to waste!

I was going to point this one out as well.

Great thread..there are so many reasons why we don't succeed,
but I think you got the top ones for internet marketers.

So I guess the way to succeed is to do the exact opposite of
all the mistakes listed here.

Cheers,
Stuart Stirling

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Tim Dixon 15 years ago

Ron, what a great post.

That sums up the most usual suspects for failing to get going in this business really well.

I'm sure most of can identify with one or more of those in our online business building at some time or other.

Tim
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- Shafiq Kamal 15 years ago
  
  Ron
  Really great post. Thanks
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Eric Lorence 15 years ago
  
  Ahh, and here I was looking to make some quick cash from this post...
  
  SNAP!
  
  Thanks
  
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TimRobinson

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Ron Douglas

- If you're more focused on making money than you are on actually providing value to your customers.

Ah the biggest and least obvious one of the lot, Think that one should be bolded! Even if you fail at everything else, if you focus on creating and delivering value you'll make a lot of money

Originally Posted by Ron Douglas

- If you're not testing your copy to try to improve your conversions.

I'm amazed at how many people don't like to test their site because they think its too hard/complicated/too much effort, when It's simply not the case. Improving your copy makes a HUGE difference in profits and I've even created software to do it all automatically (with a free 30 day trial in my sig).

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trafficwave

15 years ago

Originally Posted by TimRobinson

Improving your copy makes a HUGE difference in profits and I've even created software to do it all automatically (with a free 30 day trial in my sig).

Hi, Tim.

Tried to request your report (from your sig link) and got:

An Error Occurred

Notice:
Sorry, the account you tried to access was not found in our customer records. To notify the website owner of this message, push the "back" button on your web browser or check some of the selections below for more information.

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1 reply

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VegasVince

15 years ago

Good OP... Ron.

Fact is....I can combine your entire list into one question:

One premise that more people need to build their foudnation on--- before jerking around with the rest of it....like....reasearching rss feeds, autoresponders, computers with kick ass memory and speed etc.....you'se guilty parties know who you are.

Before you write one article, place one ad, buy another computer, or spend one moment of energy on some product you've fallen in love with..and probably love more then your own old lady..... STOP!

Look in the mirror and ask yourself honestly.....

DOES ANYONE BESIDES ME..... REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT IT IS I AM SELLING?

Cuz if you'se can't answer that question with a resounding and loud-- HELL YEAH....all the rest of the bells and whistles aint gonna matter. Cuz you aint gonna sell it!

You'll just end up another broke IM'er with a high priced computer...and a product that in reality....YOU COULDN'T GIVE AWAY FOR FREE. Believe me...a lot of products out there fall into that category.

Sell Stuff People Want. That should be the starting point...don't ya think? Sadly...the IM world often takes the ass backwards approach...and designs the medium before ever getting around to the product.

You still have to eventually sell something to make money...peeps. So sell stuff they want. Not what you want. Not what you love. Not what you'se think they need. Capiche.

Cuz if you do ...the so-called recession wont matter to you'se. You'll be too busy countin' the money...to care.

xxx Vegas Vince
Legend.

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Ron Douglas

15 years ago

Originally Posted by VegasVince

Yes sir. If you're not making money online, read that twice.

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Franck Silvestre 15 years ago

Awesome post Ron. I someone take the time to work on each of the points above, his business will start to take off.

Franck
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TheRichJerksNet

15 years ago

Ron,
Great post and I love how similar the title is to the "other" thread .... lol

If someone pays attention they would learn that is very smart marketing in itself.

James

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1 reply

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Ron Douglas

15 years ago

Originally Posted by TheRichJerksNet

Ron,
Great post and I love how similar the title is to the "other" thread .... lol

If someone pays attention they would learn that is very smart marketing in itself.

James

Yeah, I was having some fun with the title. I'm not holding my breath for 75,000 views though LOL.

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Slade556 15 years ago

Count this as one more view towards 75,000. Haha

In all seriousness though, great post. It took me months to realize these things. I wish I had this beaten into my head when I first started.
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- Alkody 15 years ago
  
  Hi Slade,
  Purchased your Affiliate Web, but forgot to click back to merchant link.
  Transaction ID: 7WH73732KT732060T
  As I am new, unable to send you a PM.
  Appreciate if you could PM me the link. Thanks.
  
  Thanks
  
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ofir Banned 15 years ago

I prefer to say what they should do than writing what NOT to do.
(A more positive way).
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- Ron Douglas 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by ofir
  
  I prefer to say what they should do than writing what NOT to do.
  (A more positive way).
  
  If that's your preference, please tell them - what should they do?
  
  Looking forward to your response.
  
  Thanks
  
  2 replies
  
  Signature
  
  Ron Douglas, MBA, CFA, NY Times Best Selling Author, Making Money Online Since 2001
  
  FREE Internet Marketing Tips | Secret Recipes | Nantucket | Buy Non-IM Solo Ads
  
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  Kneb Knebaih 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Ron Douglas
  
  If that's your preference, please tell them - what should they do?
  
  Looking forward to your response.
  
  Well ofir...
  
  The answer is brutally simple:
  
  Just do the OPPOSITE to each point Ron wrote above...
  
  And I can guarantee you success. Period.
  
  Thanks
  
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  Jonathan 2.0 Banned 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Ron Douglas
  
  If that's your preference, please tell them - what should they do?
  
  Looking forward to your response.
  
  Yeah let's write something which people should be doing. Instead of concentrating on how much money you can make start thinking in terms of how you can serve people, improve their lives, solve their problems, contribute something, while concentrating on doing something that you're passionate about. I always think it's good to contribute solutions to problems even if they're obvious.
  
  Thanks
  
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  "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
  
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gcintermed 15 years ago

Sometimes recognizing what you should NOT do (but have been doing) is the first step toward taking positive action.

I happen to think this is a great post. I'm going to hang this list on my wall and check it daily. And I think the last one is critical.... It's so easy to lose sight of... the cash isn't an end in itself, it is the reward for a job well done. Bill Gates didn't start out wanting to make billions of dollars; he wanted to make computer software.

To rephrase the last one in a positive way: In the long term, the money you earn will be in direct proportion to the value you provide to people.
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freudianslip27 15 years ago

So many times I find myself tempted to jump on "the next big thing". It amazes me how many people fail simply because they aren't focused enough. I have to remind myself every day to dig my feet in.

Matt
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- haridasz 15 years ago
  
  Hi
  
  It all boils down to not the conventional 'Can Do" attitute rather the "Will Do" attitude. Any body CAN DO.... but only a few WILL DO!
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Kay King 15 years ago
  
  I'd add two more to the list.
  
  - Reading every sales page and "checking out" every new make money program or ebook or video or WSO
  
  - Buying from many of those sales pages and calling it "investment"
  
  kay
  
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seye 15 years ago

this thread is not informative enough , just put some real information here for people to gain ...
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- lakeview 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by seye
  
  this thread is not informative enough , just put some real information here for people to gain ...
  
  seye,
  
  I have to disagree with you on your statement above. You may want to go back and read Ron's original post. You will find a lot of information there causing many people to not be successful. If people would quit doing the things Ron mentioned, they will have much to gain.
  
  Respectfully,
  Angela
  
  Thanks
  
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reliance77 15 years ago

really how can you generate cash, not quick cash...long term quality system cash.
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Ron Douglas 15 years ago

This thread is soooo "last year"
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JohnSpangler 15 years ago

Great point Ron,

Not until we take action do we see results, you know the old story where the
man sat in front of the fireplace and said give me heat, well not until chop the wood, then you put the wood in the fireplace then you need to light the fire and only then can you achieve the heat.

You get the point

Great post, thanks.

John
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roddaut 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Ron Douglas

- If you spend many hours on a project and then stop without finishing because another exciting opportunity comes along.

This is one of my biggies. I have to make a big effort to stay focused. So what I do is make a project plan and schedule everything. I also remind myself when something new and more exciting comes up "Ignore that opportunity, it's worthless if you have the habit of not following through." That helps me to keep going until I finish.
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oneempowered 15 years ago

Great OP, Ron (even if it is 2 months old).

It's "SOW and you will reap" not "WSO-hop and you will reap"
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Ron Douglas

15 years ago

For me personally, these were the top three problems I had before I could become successful:

- If you spend the time to create products and then do nothing to get traffic to them.

- If you run your business on an island, make no contacts, and then wonder why your revenue isn't growing.

- If you know what you need to do, but somehow just don't get around to doing it.

Thanks

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Ron Douglas, MBA, CFA, NY Times Best Selling Author, Making Money Online Since 2001

FREE Internet Marketing Tips | Secret Recipes | Nantucket | Buy Non-IM Solo Ads

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Jay Sullivan 15 years ago

Im a newbie.. and Im finding a way to be more successful
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MarkKennedy 15 years ago

I've been guilty of this. It isn't until you start following through with your own biz plan that you will make money.

Originally Posted by Ron Douglas

Hey Warriors,

- If you spend the time to create products and then do nothing to get traffic to them.
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Here's "A Stupidly Complex Cash Drain" and it's EXPENSIVE :-(

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