Many Seekers...Few Jobs

26 replies
There was an article in my local newspaper about the recent Rutgers U
job fair. Many students turned out for the fair but compared to years past,
not many employers looking for new blood.

The cold hard truth is...there just aren't that many jobs available right now.

This is a perfect opportunity to shift your advertising focus if you are in
the IM make money niche.

Focus on targeting college graduates. Instead of having your sales letters
read like something out of PT Barnum's "There's a sucker born every minute",
show the real opportunity of how a college graduate can have his own
career online.

There are many slants you can take here.

Freelancing is a perfect one. Think of all the skills that college grads can
take online.

Programming
Graphic Design
Copywriting
Ghost Writing

And many more.

With a shift of focus and mindset, you can probably target a market that
will be responsive given the bleak outlook of today's job market.
#jobs #seekersfew
  • Profile picture of the author activetrader
    Great tips! thanks
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    Me

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    • Profile picture of the author Nightengale
      Interesting perspective.

      You'd have to price your information in the lower range (no $1,000 IM courses), but if you break your topic down into bite-sized pieces and sell a bunch of reports/CD's on each piece, you could very well make a fortune.

      As an aside, Joe Sabah (JoeSabah.com) wrote a book titled "How to Get the Job You Really Want and Get Employers to Call You." He's skilled at getting radio interviews for this book and has done well promoting it on radio in the past. I'll bet he's doing a land office business right now.

      Michelle
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  • Profile picture of the author AndyCamden
    That's a really great idea Steve. I think the job market really depends upon you social network, your drive and desire to search and aquire a job, and your geographic region. Oh, and also your profession and demand for that profession. Great post!
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  • Profile picture of the author Sarah Johnson
    It is very apparent that in todays market you have to be creative in the Internet Marketing industry. People are not going to spend their hard earned money without a very compelling reason...

    ...which is where we come in.

    But you are right Steve, we must shift our focus to what the public wants...and right now that seems to be jobs.

    ~Mrs. Johnson
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  • Profile picture of the author Ken Preuss
    Steven,

    You are dead on about the IM & MMO niches. I constantly see people give advice to stay away from these niches due to high competition. Big mistake.

    Everyone forgets how young and small these markets are. We are at the very beginning of an explosion that will bring swarms of new customers into the market.

    Whoever is standing in front of them with solid products and services will prosper if they position themselves properly.

    Ken
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    A Secret to Success: Making serious money online or offline is not complex unto itself - we're the ones who complicate it. Simply sell them what they are already buying.

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  • Profile picture of the author marcanthony
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    I am speaking as the father of a college student who has a boat load
    of college student friends who know what I do for a living and when
    seeing the type of sales pages most marketers put up, have the kind
    of laugh you usually only get out of watching a sitcom.
    It's actually very funny that you mentioned this...

    I've noticed the exact same thing... in fact many "intellectuals" that I know personally-consider some of the sales letters that we see all the time to be very cheesy.

    And, they do in fact have that sitcom-like laugh about it almost every time.
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  • Profile picture of the author ss442
    While we are on the subject, what would be a good product, service, or promotion for college kids?

    I know that it can really be discouraging to spend 4 years at an expensive school only to get out and find they'll have to go to work at Wal-Mart until something opens up.

    Any suggestions?
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    Ed Sunderland

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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by ss442 View Post

      While we are on the subject, what would be a good product, service, or promotion for college kids?

      I know that it can really be discouraging to spend 4 years at an expensive school only to get out and find they'll have to go to work at Wal-Mart until something opens up.

      Any suggestions?
      Ed, it depends on what kind of degree they graduated with. My personal
      opinion, based on experience and what I learned from my daughter, tells
      me freelancing.

      Many of my daughters friends are right now blogging for pay. They're not
      making much but it's just part time while they're studying. But the point
      is, they're not against writing and therefore I feel freelancing opportunities
      would be of interest to them.

      Somebody who graduates with a degree in marketing might make a good
      copywriter with the right additional training.

      Look, I don't have all the answers, but I see the opportunity based on
      my own little world through the life of my daughter. I am very involved
      with her and her friends.

      I'm just saying it's something to consider exploring.
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  • Profile picture of the author Eric Stanley
    This is a great idea... Finally a way to leverage my facebook ad credit

    On a more serious note, I think that packaging something elementary for the post grad crowd isn't a terrible idea at all -- at least something to just get their feet wet. Given the current economic climate, this would be rather attractive...
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  • Profile picture of the author ss442
    Yea, That's right!

    My wife is president of the North Texas Arabian Horse Club this year so she's got to savvy up on the club website and so on. We had last years president over for dinner last weekend so she could discuss the position change.

    The issue arose that since presidents change each year there is no consistent work done on the website. There is no SEO, no blog, few links and so on.

    I made some suggestions about affiliate links and so on but they really need someone to take charge of that to make the site generate revenue.

    I began to wonder how many non-profits might have the same issue. Changing management with no consistent website development. I bet there are a lot.

    Thanks,
    Ed
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    Ed Sunderland

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  • Profile picture of the author George Wright
    Addressing the point of the OP.


    Here is what is actually happening, not theory, not "what I've read," but, what I've witnessed.
    • I talked to a college graduate who writes papers for college students for $5 to $10 dollars each. His conscience was bothering him for helping students to cheat. I told him to look up bum marketing or article marketing.
    • My daughter works at a college. Students are returning to college to work there because they can't find jobs out in the "real world."
    • A group of students at her college bought a domain name and had me set up a site for them to sell clothes to the "geek generation" as they called it.
    • 3 college grads I personally know who are proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop because of the gaming and graphic arts education they opted for at college could clean up here doing WSOs but "this is not a real job." So they settle for low paying entry level jobs.
    • I have a close friend who just started a department for his corporation where he is in charge of hiring college level young people to set and write articles for the company website. "Internet marketing, we would never sink to do Internet Marketing." They are Internet marketing and don't even know it.
    I could go on but not right now. By the way as I finish this post they are announcing on TV that the Downtown Los Angeles Macys is going out of business. More people out of work. Plus this will stop a lot of downtown foot traffic that the surrounding businesses depend on. Even more people out of work. You better bet that a LOT of people College grads included are searching google for "work at home," as we speak.

    George Wright
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    • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
      Originally Posted by George Wright View Post

      Addressing the point of the OP.


      Here is what is actually happening, not theory, not "what I've read," but, what I've witnessed.
      • I talked to a college graduate who writes papers for college students for $5 to $10 dollars each. His conscience was bothering him for helping students to cheat. I told him to look up bum marketing or article marketing.
      • My daughter works at a college. Students are returning to college to work there because they can't find jobs out in the "real world."
      • A group of students at her college bought a domain name and had me set up a site for them to sell clothes to the "geek generation" as they called it.
      • 3 college grads I personally know who are proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop because of the gaming and graphic arts education they opted for at college could clean up here doing WSOs but "this is not a real job." So they settle for low paying entry level jobs.
      • I have a close friend who just started a department for his corporation where he is in charge of hiring college level young people to set and write articles for the company website. "Internet marketing, we would never sink to do Internet Marketing." They are Internet marketing and don't even know it.
      I could go on but not right now. By the way as I finish this post they are announcing on TV that the Downtown Los Angeles Macys is going out of business. More people out of work. Plus this will stop a lot of downtown foot traffic that the surrounding businesses depend on. Even more people out of work. You better bet that a LOT of people College grads included are searching google for "work at home," as we speak.

      George Wright
      Great insights George..

      I love that.. this is stuff that you have really witnessed happening, real life experience.. thanks for adding this...

      Peace

      Jay
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      Bare Murkage.........

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  • Profile picture of the author DBofBES
    Wow . . . I'm pretty new here and all these post are interesting. It seems to be a perfect reflection of what one will encounter in the everyday world. All the different points-of-view show there's many approaches to internet marketing and how to express those approaches.

    I've found the most challenging part of starting an internet based business is shifting through all of the "instant riches" promises and hype. One can easily get to the point of not believing any of them. I'd say the bottom line is - IM is a real business and requires real work and focus.

    I'm happy to have found the Warrior Forum and have a place to read all the comments. This is where the rubber hits the road.

    Thanks to all of you.
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  • Profile picture of the author thatgirlJ
    Steven,

    It's a great idea to target college grads. I am in my third year out of college and I STILL have friends who can't find work. These are people who graduated from one of the top liberal arts colleges in the US -- brilliant, hard working people.

    The jobs aren't there.

    Marketing to young people out of college who are desperately seeking solutions is a great thing to do. I really think the market for this will go UP UP UP!

    Also I completely agree with what you were saying about not making your sales letter target "suckers" but to present real opportunities to these young people in need of income. I think it's awesome that you take this higher road stance.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by winebuddy View Post

    our NEW man O'Bama has come out and said things are going to get worse - so what would you do if you were a CEO, hire more people? NOT!
    If I were a CEO, I would hire more people if business justified it!

    I would hope that any CEO worth his/her salt would base decisions based on the realities of the business, not on the words coming out of the mouths of politicians, which cannot be trusted the vast majority of the time anyway.

    As has been mentioned in other threads, even during the Great Depression, there were businesses that did well. If a company is doing well, and has a need to hire additional workers to keep up with demand, then they should probably hire additional workers!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    Thomas, there are a lot of kids out there with skills looking for work.
    Sadly, there are probably many more kids out there with skills that are looking for a paycheck but not to work.
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    • Profile picture of the author derrickp
      Steven,

      You bring up an excellent point. College age students are excellent to outsource work to. I get my programming for my sites done by local CIS students. They love the extra money and some even get credit for the programs through class. Best of both worlds for them.

      Derrick
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  • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    Instead of having your sales letters
    read like something out of PT Barnum's "There's a sucker born every minute"
    Steven,

    No researcher or historian has ever been able to verify
    that P. T. Barnum ever uttered or wrote those words.

    In fact if you take the time to read about him, you'll
    probably find, as I did, that he very much respected
    and valued his customers.



    John
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  • Profile picture of the author TheMagicShow
    The market is so bad for everyone, reaching out to those that want to start their own business will be the theme of this year, creating a good product with an affordable price can really skyrocket your income, offering coaching is also going to be another nice money maker this year....
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  • Profile picture of the author bobsstuff
    Online at cnn.com today it says 2.8 million lost their jobs in 2008. Those college grads have a lot of competing, experienced people to worry about.

    Scammers offer work at home schemes that take peoples money and never deliver and yet make millions from unsuspection people including those same college grads.

    The market is ripe for some powerful programs that offer actual value to those new job seekers. Creative IM packages delivered to those newly unemployed and new graduates could make an honest person a hero to many.
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    Bob Hale
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  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

      Brilliant thread
      Well it was, until half of it vanished.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ken Preuss
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

      Brilliant thread - target a demographic with no disposable income, no career prospects and expect them to be willing to fork over bucks on something completely foreign to them. Let's hope American Universities are facilitating a bit more intelligence than that.

      Gotta love those pearls of wisdom...not!
      Just for fun let's play devil's advocate.

      Look at the folks who currently buy IM or MMO online training. What do they use to pay for it? Credit cards.

      What does every college student get bombarded with once on campus? Credit card offers. "Fill out this form and get a free t-shirt" type credit card offers. Guess what? They fill 'em out. Like mad.

      Who of the world's population are among the most open to new ideas, new ways of looking at things and carry a "I'm gonna take on the world" attitude? College students.

      Who of the world's population are considered the best demographic for viral-based marketing, the spreading of new technologies, etc.? College students (MySpace, Facebook, etc.)

      Have I tested this demographic? No. Would I bank my entire business model on this demographic. Not on your life. But I think there's potential. How much potential is hard to say, I admit.

      One more thought. Why do so many companies spend millions and millions of dollars each year on awareness campaigns to this demographic? Because this demographic is defining a lot of what "new media" is. The companies targeting them are creating future buyers.

      Ken
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      • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
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          • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
            Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises View Post


            Anyway, what ties it into Steve's post is that one whole shelf on one of these 5 foot long carts was all books about employment related topics - killer resumes, finding the job you want, writing a cover letter, starting your own business, what's hot for careers now, etc. Do you really think that many of those people are also searching the internet for the same information? Oh, yeah!
            A couple of clues..

            1. People with little or no disposable income tend to borrow books rather than buy them.

            2. The books you saw will have been returned by a wide range of the population that may, or may not, include the post grad demographic.

            John
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            • Profile picture of the author ShayB
              Originally Posted by John Taylor View Post

              A couple of clues..

              1. People with little or no disposable income tend to borrow books rather than buy them.

              2. The books you saw will have been returned by a wide range of the population that may, or may not, include the post grad demographic.

              John
              Another thought:

              They might be borrowing books because they do not have Internet access - and are, therefore, not good IM prospects.
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              • Profile picture of the author Eric Lorence
                The problem with "job seekers"- is that they're looking for a "job".

                They're not usually looking to build a business.

                Many are young and lack the maturity and discipline to make good business decisions.

                It is precisely because of that, that this is a great market for Credit Card and financial companies.
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