Which is the best approach?

10 replies
Can I ask for some unbiased input, please?

I have been with Niche Profit Classroom for a while. Essentially I'm ok with the fact that the methods taught there take a while to show results. I have learned a lot there and want to stick with that.

But I keep hearing lately that SEO and article marketing ... are outdated approaches. I'm wondering if I started too late to have significant results at all. Is it worthwhile putting effort into the "traditional" methods, in view of changes in google, saturation, similar things?

From some lists I'm subscribed to and reading reviews here, I've discovered some other methods, including those taught by Jamie Lewis and Tim Atkinson. Are those as sound and sustainable as the "old approach"? Which of the two is better and why? (Maybe a brief summary of the strategies?)

I'm quite attracted to the fact that some approaches can show faster results, simply to prove to myself that it's worth the effort. It would give me the peace of mind to continue doing the things that take longer, if there's still a point.

I'm not looking for money over night, let alone without working. But with a year of no results at all, I'd like to know if I should possibly rethink things. Not to mention the psychological boost results give.

I'm fine with the costs of domains and hosting, I already have aweber. But more expense is impossible for now. Ideally I'd like to do something that gives some results pretty quickly and makes it possible to upgrade the whole thing afterwards.
#approach #article marketing #jamie lewis #seo
  • Profile picture of the author Brendon Zahrndt
    Greyman,

    Don't be ashamed/let down/frustrated/etc. that you are one year in and not showing results. It is no reflection on your ability to learn or your propensity to make money.

    Here is some advice that really helped me. It may or may not help you:

    Unsubscribe from every list. I was pulled in so many directions when I first got started that it was becoming difficult to figure out where to begin or where I was headed. I stopped listening to 'experts' and started to figure it out for myself.

    Get rid of the I need to make money yesterday mentality. If it takes you another year to read, learn, test, retest, etc. and you have the time then so be it. You will be better in the long run. when people get desperate with their time and effort they start making rash, misguided decisions that adversely affect their businesses.

    Seo and article marketing will become outdated when hell freezes over. If that seed was planted from one of your lists, all the more reason to unsubscribe. That idea is so imbecilic I can't give it one more breath.

    GO AND CREATE SOMETHING. All the information you could possibly need is here on this forum FOR FREE. There isn't a question about the core fundamentals of this business that haven't been asked AND ANSWERED here twice over.

    Go do something. RIGHT NOW.

    Brendon
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveFinch
    Hi

    Dhigler has given some good advice there.
    Regarding SEO, it's always going to be something you have to do, it's just the methods that may change.

    I've also been where you are now, and understand that you may have some doubts creeping in as to whether you're on the right track. In the past I've worked hard for more than a year, more as a hobby than anything else, but had no monetary results. But I did learn a lot, just as you have done.

    And then....BANG... the money starts flowing in for no apparent reason. What appeared to be failing suddenly started to pay off.

    My advice would be to carry on your current path but continue to ask questions, and learn as much as you can from this forum and others. The day you quit could be the day before you start raking in the money.

    All the best
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    • Profile picture of the author DaveWildash
      SEO is the way the search engines work at the moment. To say that SEO is no longer relevant is to say that pistons are no longer relevant to cars. Yes there are some alternative engines out there but most still use pistons. Maybe Google will start incorporating Google plus ratings into their results. You'll just have to watch like the rest of us to see if they've finally found something that will challenge Facebook enough to be useful in a search algorithm. For now SEO is they way things work.

      Article marketing is about content, and again content is fundamental to the world wide web. So there's nothing outdated about articles. Again watch for developments and adapt, but the fundamental principle is here to stay.

      Don't worry about saturation. More and more people are getting online with each passing day. If marketing is about finding a starving crowd, there are more and more joining the throng every day.

      I second dhigler's advice re unsubscribing from distractions once you've found a path you want to follow. And he's right to suggest creating a product. Look at what the most successful internet marketers do.

      As for which methods work stop listening and start looking. Earlier this year I saw a sales page that said SEO was dead and article marketing was useless, yet when I looked at his backlinks many of them were from articles, including ones written by him!

      If you can't find independent proof that something works don't be tempted to go for it just because it appears to get results quicker. I've been tempted by things like that and now I often think of where I'd be if I'd spent that time staying with one provable course of action.
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    • Profile picture of the author GreyMan
      Thanks a lot for your answers! In the long run I do want to keep doing what I'm doing. So it's good to know that it's worth the effort. I will keep at it then.
      While I'm not fickle, there can come a point when you recognize a course to be wrong altogether. I'm relieved it's not the case

      Can ask what patterns you three follow?

      On the other hand, it can be hard to even concentrate with financial issues breathing down your neck. That's the reason I'd like to do something that shows results sooner; both for the psychology and for a little financial relief. That relief can free up the mind while worry blocks you up.

      I have already unsubscribed from a number of lists. I admit I was getting sidetracked and frantic. This week I decided to be calm and I can see a little more clearly already. I also discovered that I have one whole subscriber for one of my email courses!
      It's more that I had last week.

      PS: Interesting about creating a product. I dismissed that some time ago, but maybe I shouldn't.
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      • Profile picture of the author Gail_Curran
        Originally Posted by GreyMan View Post


        On the other hand, it can be hard to even concentrate with financial issues breathing down your neck. That's the reason I'd like to do something that shows results sooner; both for the psychology and for a little financial relief. That relief can free up the mind while worry blocks you up.
        I agree with other posters that it's best to focus on one thing and do it thoroughly, even though it may take time to see results. However, if you need results (money) now, the one sure way to get it is to find a service you can provide to others. Then you can split your time between building your website (a long-term asset) and providing the service (for immediate cash).
        .
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        • Profile picture of the author GreyMan
          Thanks folks. This is just what I needed.
          There's too much for me to comment on every contribution, but I'm taking it all in.

          NPC is definitely superb. The information and support are exceptional. I just needed to know that these methods are definitely still relevant, even for for someone just getting started.
          There are situations, in which it's a mistake NOT to quit. I wasted 3 years' worth of lifetime in one. I just had to be sure this wasn't another one.

          Other than that there's no danger of me quitting. I'm subscribed to John Mann's list, he has loads of valuable knowledge. One of his main points that stick in my mind is the one about people quitting just when they're about to experience success.

          Wiggy0618, what's the deal with the WSO forum? And which are the most worthwhile sections to follow anyway? I only found this place this week.

          Thanks again.
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          • Profile picture of the author GreyMan
            Thanks again. I think I'm heading in the right direction with more confidence now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Wiggy0618
    Now admittedly, I don't know anything about the Niche Profit Classroom. (Must be one of the only niche course I didn't look at...lol.) But if that's what you like and want to keep doing, then that is what you should do.

    What everybody else has said (and it looks like you've already done) is spot on - dump anything and everything that has nothing to do what your current strategy and process is. It doesn't matter if it's from the biggest names out there - you will get sidetracked, have doubts, and end up floundering, doing a lot of nothing instead of a lot of something.

    (And I don't know if you ever go there or not, but for the love of all that is holy, stay off the WSO forum.)

    I've been on that frustrated path that makes you feel like you're going nowhere and you just want to give up or start something else. We all have. So as demotivating as it can be, try to calm yourself. Take a few days break if you need to. Just do whatever you need to do to come back with a clear head and some motivation.

    Try to look at what you're doing with almost a fresh pair of eyes. Do you know what is working and what isn't working? Can you identify the weak points in your strategy?

    If you're doing niche stuff, is it possible that you're too spread out? I know MANY niche marketer noobs jump in with both feet and buy up a ton of sites, and realize that resources spread very thin, very fast.

    That's something else - how are you resources (time, effort, $$ you can/do spend, tools you have, etc) allocated? If you have several things/sites/projects going on at once, could you put some or most on hold and focus on one thing for a bit? When you see that being successful and/or coming up, implement another part of the process - or integrate working on a new site. (Depends on what you're doing...I'm sure you understand.)

    All the while, take a look at what other that you know for a fact that are successful doing *exactly* what you want to do. Identify and analyze what they're doing and how it differs from what you're doing. Emulate (copy?) what they do.

    You're obviously motivated and dedicated...you're just hitting a demotivational low. Keep your chin up - you can do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brendon Zahrndt
    I learned to just keep pushing and keep working. I makes TONS of mistakes, if that's what you call them.

    It's through those mistakes though that I learn how to succeed, even if the successes are small.

    The only pattern I use is 'try'. It isn't sexy, instant, or breakthrough. It works every time though.

    You can't work clear with finances breathing down your neck. Use this forum. The answers you have to your questions are all answered here for free.
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  • Profile picture of the author vlvaralakshmi
    MLM SYSTEM is the best approach
    Well let’s take a look at a few flaws in this approach.
    1. Not a lot of your family and friends are looking to start in an MLM business.
    2. Many of them have done this themselves, or know somebody currently in the industry, and think that only few people make a lot of money! These people blame our great industry and the opportunities for their failure. Instead of the fact that they introduced their opportunity to little or no people!
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