VALUABLE NEWBIE INFORMATION - The Fundamentals of Internet Marketing

37 replies
Hi Warriors,

As I look back to where I am now, relative to where I was when I first started my journey into Internet Marketing, I realize there are a lot of fundamentals that I take for granted. There's also some things I wish I knew then that I know now.

What are some of the fundamentals of Internet Marketing that you would recommend to newbies?

Without going into too much detail on each one, here is what I have identified as the "basics" for newbies to learn. Please add to the list and/or expand on what I've come up with.
  • Different Money Making Opportunities: Affiliate Marketing, CPA Marketing, Adsense, Offline Marketing, Product Creation. Understanding what these all are and the difference between them will really help you get on the right track in terms of what you want to pursue.
  • Creating a Website: Whether it be a free site or having your own domain, it is important to learn the different options for creating a website. Personally I am a big fan of WordPress because of how easy it can be set up (literally 4 clicks of the mouse!) and how easily it can be customized and updated.
  • Driving Traffic to Your Site: Driving traffic to your site is absolutely necessary to make money. Learn the basics of SEO-- keyword research, on-page optimization, backlinking, and link bait among other things. Once you unlock the code to getting a site ranked #1 in Google, the sky is the limit. Learn the other ways to drive visitors as well: Pay-Per-Click, Facebook, Twitter, etc...
  • Turning Visitors into Cash: Once you have people coming to your website, it is important to understand how to optimize your page to turn your visitors into buyers or action takers. Getting signed up with an e-mail client like AWeber is extremely important. It's been said before, but I'll say it again-- The money is in the list. Start building your list so you can market to people over and over, not just once when they visit your site.
  • Manage Expectations: You have probably already been inundated with offers promising overnight riches and push-button results. It is important to know that having a successful internet marketing business is a marathon, not a sprint. Once you've figured out something that works, expand on it and grow that area. Over time you will grow your business, but have no illusions that you are going to be a millionaire overnight.
These are just a few things that I've identified, but I'm sure other Warriors have a lot of knowledge to add to this list. So I ask all of you, what are the basics that you wish you would have identified when you first started in Internet Marketing?

For newbies, are there any specific questions you'd like to ask? The Warrior Forum is such a valuable place to learn, so feel free to ask for specifics on anything I've mentioned above.

-Ben
#fundamentals #information #internet #marketing #newbie #valuable
  • Profile picture of the author Seth Bias
    Spreading yourself to thin: In the beginning it can be vary easy learning tons of new methods for things then having 10-20 projects open at a time. Take one method and use it for at least 6 months. Do not keep hoping to one project to the next because you don't see profits in a few months. Takes hard work to see good $$
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  • Profile picture of the author Larry Zinamon
    As a person new to the Warrior Forum and to Internet Marketing, I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I've found there is a wealth of information you can learn from others. I like the point you made about managing your expectations. It takes time to buildup a business whether it be online or off-line. One of the things I learned a long time ago, is that it's not important where you start, but where you finish. I believe in setting small goals and building on them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mauricio Lopez
    I totally agree with everything you're saying and it's definately a great start but may I also add - one of the hardest things a newbie must deal with is I-N-F-O-R-M-A-T-I-O-N -- O-V-E-R-L-O-A-D!

    I think it's important to start off with a game plan of sorts. You dont' necessarily need to know where your going but a plan never the less keeps you laser beam focused and on track.

    A whole lot of time can be wasted jumping from one opportunity to the next.

    In my opinion the best way to conquer the monster is with the following steps:

    1.) create a list of the top 10 goals you wish to achieve with IM
    2.) circle the one the you feel would have an immediate impact on your life
    3.) List all the things you must do on order to accomplish that one goal
    4.) create your plan
    5.) Master the skill set
    6.) Implement - Start NOW
    7.) Do something every day to move you closer to your goal even if it's only for an hour...
    8.) Repeat the process again and again...
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  • Profile picture of the author gushy0202
    Whatever you do be consistent.. Do it continuously at least for a month and track it down...

    Check out What Matt Cutts has to say: Trying new things for 30 days: Matt Cutts’ TED2011 presentation – Boing Boing
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  • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
    I think newbies should

    1) Realize this is a business and treat it as such.

    2) Pick one method to start and stick with it.

    3) Do market research and keyword research because without that, you're pretty much done before you really start.

    4) Then, get the domain name and set up the site. I think it is so easy to learn how to slap up a blog or website only to get disappointed because you aren't making any sales.

    5) I also recommend that whether you have your own product, your are doing PLR or are an affiliate, you should always build a list in your niche.

    6) Join the War Room in this forum as soon as possible.

    7) And remember, when it is all done, it boils down to traffic generation and traffic monetization.

    :-)
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    44 days in and we broke the $10K a month recurring bench mark.

    Guaranteed 60% Opt In Rate Traffic-Real People-Fresh Today-High Quality Biz Opp traffic![/URL]
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  • Profile picture of the author jahangir87
    So these are some good tips for the newbies.In internet marketing some issues are always important and are considered to be the base of success like perfect niche selection,choosing best keywords with less competition and building a list.
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  • Profile picture of the author dm101
    Great list, Warrior Ben, and some really good additional insight in the replies.

    Here's my 2 cents.

    Most newbies I've worked with think that "building relationships"... be it with their blog, on social media sites, and Especially with the subscription list that they email too... that "building relationships" means spamming and annoying everybody they talk to online INCESSANTLY with their affiliate links, their MLM opportunity or whatever.

    I did it too. You've really got to always, always GIVE value and SOLVE problems for people. Only try to sell them stuff if it's really good, if you've used it yourself, if it's relevant to what you know they are looking for, and if you've already given them so much valuable information that they're virtually on the verge of asking you if they can make a contribution for all you've done for them! A bit over the top, I know, but that really should be how you operate your business, in my opinion and experience.
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    Co-Founder of the Whirlwind Success "VIP Club"... personal coaching for IMers and bloggers.

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  • Profile picture of the author louie6925
    I'd add to your list the impotence of understanding SEO is only a small part of generating traffic! Ad a noob I spent far too long on it and never realised targeted traffic is abundant in other methods! SEO is a vital skill to use but don't forget other ways! Wish I'd realised that sooner!!!
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    • Profile picture of the author homeworker13
      Originally Posted by louie6925 View Post

      I'd add to your list the impotence of understanding SEO is only a small part of generating traffic! Ad a noob I spent far too long on it and never realised targeted traffic is abundant in other methods! SEO is a vital skill to use but don't forget other ways! Wish I'd realised that sooner!!!
      Could you suggest some methods other than SEO to get targeted traffic? I am a noob, so it would help to know.

      Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author IM Iggy
    For complete newbies, the most important thing to realize is that this is not an easy business. A lot of new guys who enter this business fresh usually get hyped up by some one-click-success BS product created by a 7-figure IM mastermind. They get a feeling that IM is so easy, you practically don't have to do anything. Just look at an average sales pitch for any IM product and there's a good chance you'll get hit by a huge flashing bullet list saying: you don't need a website, you don't need to build links, you don't need experience, you don't need content, you don't need brains... No wonder so many people five up after realizing this business is extremely tough and competitive.

    Another thing someone mentioned - don't spread too thin. Newbies usually pile up dozens of reports and guides about all kinds of marketing strategies and techniques. And they all seem to work just fine and a lot of money can be made with each one. And in most cases, that's the truth, but only if you pick one method and stick with it until you get really good at it.

    Outsourcing isn't that important for people that are just starting out, I always say it's good to get your hands dirty. But after a while, when you get a good grasp of basics, it is very important to outsource at least some portion of work.
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  • Profile picture of the author seliviajames
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author barbling
      Great topic!

      My core criteria that I wish I had done 'way back when:

      1.) Buy an autoresponder.

      It's *the* basis of online business. The uses are so many (and not solely for list-building too):
      • eClass distribution
      • Polling
      • Problem solving
      • Reminder giving
      • Followup marketing
      • etc.
      But that's not the most important thing, the *most* important is:

      2.) Build your list from the get-go!

      I had an autoresponder 'way back in the late 1990s, but never really did embrace list-building until years afterwards. The amount of money I left on the table could easily finance my kids' education at Princeton. WAH!!!!

      Always always ALWAYS....build your list whenever possible. Always keep that in mind. Always remember:

      3.) Network with others!

      Sure, if you're in the right place at the right time with the right product (I was back in 1998), you can build a 250K biz by yourself.

      But networking with

      • mentors
      • colleagues
      • customers
      • vendors

      makes life far far easier!

      Don't get into the mindset of zooming to the big leagues by yourself.

      Take advantage of networking opportunities whenever possible.

      Eek, must take kids to school, will share more later.
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      • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
        Originally Posted by barbling View Post

        Great topic!

        My core criteria that I wish I had done 'way back when:

        1.) Buy an autoresponder.

        It's *the* basis of online business. The uses are so many (and not solely for list-building too):
        • eClass distribution
        • Polling
        • Problem solving
        • Reminder giving
        • Followup marketing
        • etc.
        But that's not the most important thing, the *most* important is:

        2.) Build your list from the get-go!

        I had an autoresponder 'way back in the late 1990s, but never really did embrace list-building until years afterwards. The amount of money I left on the table could easily finance my kids' education at Princeton. WAH!!!!

        Always always ALWAYS....build your list whenever possible. Always keep that in mind. Always remember:

        3.) Network with others!

        Sure, if you're in the right place at the right time with the right product (I was back in 1998), you can build a 250K biz by yourself.

        But networking with

        • mentors
        • colleagues
        • customers
        • vendors
        makes life far far easier!

        Don't get into the mindset of zooming to the big leagues by yourself.

        Take advantage of networking opportunities whenever possible.

        Eek, must take kids to school, will share more later.

        Good data. Lots of good data on here for newbies.

        I also would like to emphasize the part about getting overwhlemed. That is why I think it is best to find one method/system and stick with that for a while. It really does make all the difference to your success if you focus.

        :-)
        Signature
        44 days in and we broke the $10K a month recurring bench mark.

        Guaranteed 60% Opt In Rate Traffic-Real People-Fresh Today-High Quality Biz Opp traffic![/URL]
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  • Profile picture of the author nadal619
    thanks for sharing with us , every time I am here at the WF I learn a lot and new things .
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  • Profile picture of the author keepgoin
    Some awesome advice here!

    I'm gonna' get aWeber right away, as it seems that the whole list-building thing should be a high priority for IMers.

    And focussing on the one idea, and mastering it - I like that!

    Andy
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    Learning Fast Right Here :)

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  • Profile picture of the author jrlsolutions
    Super great post and very helpful comments in this thread. Thanks guys n gals!
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    Joy Lynskey
    #joylynskey
    Website
    Blog

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    • Profile picture of the author andy moore
      Choose one skill and learn it. Not 2 or 3 or 4 skills...just one.
      When you've learned it, then move on to the next one. Just the next one. Not the next 3 or 4 or 5 but just the next one. One skill at a time. Once learned, you've made a great achievement and you won't have to learn it again.

      Information Overload is the result of trying to do too much at one time. Just do one thing only! Don't be pulled each way and that by BS as there is plenty of that out there.

      Remember, One Step at a Time!

      And one more thing. It is a Marathon...not a Sprint. You need stamina and staying power. I know few successful marketers both online and offline who have been successful in a very short period of time. They all took some years before becoming successful. Read up about them. They all went through the grind....

      Just my thoughts.

      Best Wishes
      Andy Moore
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      http://videotubestation.com How To Get Top Ranking Videos In Google and YouTube - In Days!
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  • Profile picture of the author Warrior Ben
    Great additions to this thread!! Definitely one of the things I left out originally was to pick a project and see it through to completion. I could be described as having ADD, so it's very easy for me to get excited about something new and let something that is half finished fall by the wayside. Getting in the habit of finishing a project completely is absolutely essential for success in this business.

    If anybody has anything else to add to the list, there are lots of folks who could benefit from your knowledge!

    -Ben
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    • Profile picture of the author adamadair85
      Making money online is a very good source of generating income. But, some persons are not working according to the standards which create problems for them so, it will be very much helpful to keep in mind your desired objective for that job, in that way choose relevant keywords, niche etc. whcih will be helpful in getting your goals. These are most important issues to be considered in online business.
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  • Profile picture of the author katnyc
    I am still new myself but can add:

    Fulfill your offer and over deliver.

    I have learned this by checking out the competition. If you have a free report that I will get INSTANT access to for signing up, do not let me get your autoresponder without a link to the free report.

    If you claim to have a free ebook, do not send out a 2 page bullet point report calling it your ebook. It's bait & switch.

    Do not try to sell, sell, sell. Give something away or provide information before trying to sell and recognize that not everyone likes a hard sell. I have unsubscribed from lists this week that immediately hit me with hard sells.
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  • Profile picture of the author bellringer09
    You must manage your time so that most is spent building the nuts and bolts of your business but leave some time allocated to research and creative thinking.
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    • Profile picture of the author mounds
      I think it's worthwhile to learn how to manage a business. You can study the successful businesses around you.

      Ramit Sethi suggests taking people out for lunch and picking their brains. Unless you've got a successful IM'er in your area, that's probably not going to work. However, there is still a lot of value in taking out a successful business owner.

      MMO still fits in the framework of business. I had a very difficult time understanding IM until I looked at it as a business. After that, the whole process made a lot more sense, and it seemed much more grounded in reality.

      -Tim
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  • Profile picture of the author aduttonater
    Great info. I remember when making money was everything to me. Those days I made no money. Now I care less about money (in a way of less desperation) and am making more then ever before. I guess it took a shift of my focus until change for the better happened for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author adamadair85
    Starting a home based business is not a very difficult proposition but what matters most is marketing your business if you want to succeed in a competitive environment. Marketing is an o*ngoing process and you should ensure that your home based business and your image is in the limelight all the time. No business can succeed unless you create sufficient awareness and get people talking about your product and services. The strategies given below will help you in your endeavor to succeed.


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  • Profile picture of the author george1987b
    Very good list! thank you
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    • Profile picture of the author adamadair85
      I wanna share that earning money from google is not a difficult thing you just need to post some unique articles on your site in regular bases that will attract more traffic to your site which will help your site to get ranked up quickly...
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  • Profile picture of the author homeworker13
    Warrior Ben,

    Thank you very much for this thread. Being new to IM, i really appreciate the information you have presented.
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    • Profile picture of the author adamadair85
      Yes SEO is a small part of online marketing but it is very much effective. Otherwise you can add unique articles in your website to increase rankings.
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  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    Yes, this is a very nice general list, but there are many details that must be studied. Internet marketing is quite complicated.

    I could add to this list the following advice: Remember that your customers must trust you and your products. Trust is very important if you want to see anyone giving you their money for some reason. Without showing to your prospects that they are safe when they trust you, you won’t make money.

    First of all, you have to be extremely professional. If you look like an amateur, you have no chances to be trusted.

    You should be very honest and very helpful, so that you may have returning customers. Regular customers are the basis of any successful business. This means that you have to build a relationship with your customers.

    These details are very important.




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    • Profile picture of the author adamadair85
      Yes you should be very much professional for internet marketing because it all depends upon your experience.
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  • Profile picture of the author mstewart
    Also, for newbies, do not get discouraged easily.
    Try and find a kind of opportunity where you can make some money on the very first day of using it... that will go a long way to boost your morale.
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  • Profile picture of the author profitmaster7
    If your a total newbie and are struggling to get to grips with even the basics of internet marketing it might be a good idea to find a mentor or coach to keep you on track so that you don't waste time learning the wrong things.
    Some great posts and info here on what newbies should be doing.
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    • Profile picture of the author adamadair85
      For newbies it is very much important to work regularly and provide your best in the job you are working on. Consistency is your plus point which gives you experience.
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    • Profile picture of the author mstewart
      Originally Posted by profitmaster7 View Post

      If your a total newbie and are struggling to get to grips with even the basics of internet marketing it might be a good idea to find a mentor or coach to keep you on track so that you don't waste time learning the wrong things.
      Some great posts and info here on what newbies should be doing.
      how do you go about finding a mentor? ( I mean here at warrior?)
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  • Profile picture of the author zul repin
    It's pretty good info from all Warrior, thank you.

    I'm still in process of learning, bought a couples of WSO for "addon" to my knowledge.

    For Newbies (like me), don't overwhelming our self.
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