Following The I.M Crowd Can Get You Trampled

11 replies
Everyone is looking for guaranteed plans, fool proof systems and proven techniques.

The knee jerk reaction of many people in Internet marketing is to follow the crowd. But following the crowd can sometimes get you trampled.

That's why it's important to find what your individual strengths, interest and passions are, step 1.

"Then" seek those opportunities that play to your strengths, interest or passion. Most people never bother to do that, or they save it for later.

The result?

Like most internet marketers you're forced to wander from crowd to crowd ... and risk getting walked on ... or even trampled.

Something to think about.
#crowd #trampled
  • Profile picture of the author anthonyb
    Good advice, but it is an inherent human nature to follow the crowd. This is especially the case when you are just starting out. It is something to do with comfort in number, a survival mechanism, we developed as humans.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bentley74
      Great advice!

      Ideally we should focus on our core strengths (and interests etc), partner with those who have complimentary strengths, and/or outsource the rest. Right?

      I agree that it can be tough to resist the herd mentality, though. "Social Proof" can certainly be very convincing.

      One of the challenges when you're "promoting stuff online" is that there are many different elements involved, so it's easy to feel like you "need" to solidify your knowlege/understanding of a certain aspect of online promotion. Easier to filter out a lot of the useless stuff if you have a really solid game plan though!
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      • Profile picture of the author jvjoe
        Nice post... this is the problem most newbies faces and even those of us that have been long on the internet, sometime early this year I went through this situation following what the masses are doing, not until I decided to work on my strength and weakness (applying the SWOT Analysis), and be one step above the crowd.
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        • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
          Originally Posted by jvjoe View Post

          Nice post... this is the problem most newbies faces and even those of us that have been long on the internet, sometime early this year I went through this situation following what the masses are doing, not until I decided to work on my strength and weakness (applying the SWOT Analysis), and be one step above the crowd.
          Thanks for sharing that, by the way what is a SWOT Analysis?
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      • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
        Originally Posted by Bentley74 View Post

        Great advice!

        Ideally we should focus on our core strengths (and interests etc), partner with those who have complimentary strengths, and/or outsource the rest. Right?

        I agree that it can be tough to resist the herd mentality, though. "Social Proof" can certainly be very convincing.

        One of the challenges when you're "promoting stuff online" is that there are many different elements involved, so it's easy to feel like you "need" to solidify your knowlege/understanding of a certain aspect of online promotion. Easier to filter out a lot of the useless stuff if you have a really solid game plan though!
        Good points, following the herd can be hard to resist. But most people would end up a whole lot better if they learn to watch the crowd instead of following it blindly.
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  • Profile picture of the author TravellingMissie
    So true! When I first started in the IM world a few years ago, I jumped from one hot thing to the next without even realising what I enjoyed doing and what my strengths were.

    Now I am back and actually earning money because I have taken a side step away from following the crowd (although I do keep one eye on it)!
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Originally Posted by TravellingMissie View Post

      So true! When I first started in the IM world a few years ago, I jumped from one hot thing to the next without even realising what I enjoyed doing and what my strengths were.

      Now I am back and actually earning money because I have taken a side step away from following the crowd (although I do keep one eye on it)!
      Exactly, I followed a similar path.

      Thousands of dollars later (Ouch!), I learned to watch, even analyze the crowd "before" I even think about following it - if at all.

      And I only do that after I determine that the crowd is going in the direction I want to go in (based on my strengths and passions).

      Otherwise they could get me trampled.
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  • Profile picture of the author erob
    You're so right focusing on your strengths is a key part to success and setting a firm foundation. Once you have set that foundation then you have to build on it one piece at a time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve McBride
    Great advice. I'm also curious what SWOT is supposed to mean.
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  • Profile picture of the author huester
    I think I am following the crowd to much aswell. Instead of actually doing what I enjoy. I find an oppotunity then I create a salespage(forum only). I can't get any sales but what I found is that people actually tell me my sales page is awesome. Well Well Well I know where to start now. Thanks for the info OP.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jon Patrick
    I find that a balanced approach is best. You can't just ignore what everyone else is doing, but you also can't limit yourself to being just a face in the crowd mimicking everyone else. You have to be aware of the trends and opportunities that are out there - then you have to use your creativity to set yourself apart from the crowd and carve out your place in the market.
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