Where to start? Tips and Hints? Point in the right direction!

[AlohaSoldier89]

Hello!

So Im looking for something I can do in Internet Marketing. My goal is to eventually get out of the Army. While I love it here, I would like the freedom that so many have and not have to rely on the military. Ive looked into SEO/affiliate marketing? It seems really hard? With google aiming to swat down everything. Also seems like there is a lot of competition and start up costs. Then I just get overwhelmed when i try to do research. Also seems like it has a lot start up costs? Any advice??

Thanks

[fenixpro]

Hello ~ Aloha

New and inexperienced people post questions here everyday. Today I have read (and replied) to at least 2 threads on the subject. So my first answer would be to read and read some more. You'll learn a lot here.

Second, as you see, reading and learning only take you so far. There is no "right" answer or method, you simply need to jump in. I would do so if I were you after I did a bit of research and found something that peaked my interest and that I could afford in terms of time and money.

Third, Do it. Take action. Fall on your face and fail. Get back up. Do it again. Commit to completing your project. Come back to the Warrior Forum when you are stuck or ask those who you have purchased from or talk to online. One key to action is consistency - which means blocking out distractions and staying focused, period.

Fourth, if I was entering IM right now, I would probably look towards list building/email marketing as the fastest and easiest way to build a base of success. There are tons and tons of methods that work. List building would be my choice in your situation. It involves the least amount of know how with the most amount of streamlined success potential.

Finally, Good for you. Stick with it.

Aloha ~

[AlohaSoldier89]

Thanks! I have no idea what list building is, but its something to research!

[Michael Franklin]

Hi AlohaSoldier89!

Welcome to the forum!

If you click on the ratings tab in the main forum, you will see all of the 5 star posts come up. As you go through them, you will find some great posts on list building....as well as other subjects!

[HelpingYouBeAnExpert]

The key is to get something done every day! I use a mindmap to figure out what I will attack next and make a simple plan to implement it (often implement means outsource) but I need to visualize what I will do. If you go simple one thing then next then next you will get there, if you need to know every thing in advance and every detail you will end up with most who don't get started. it's hard so take the first step.

Good luck to you.

Dan

[Larkrise]

Hi there Aloha...

Start up costs need only involve a few things - I recommend finding as many free tutorials, IM blogs and signing up for newsletters as possible.

For a start you need to become more familiar with the lingo of IM. A lot of words get bandied about that don't make any sense when you get started so reading and watching videos is a good place to start.

You will need to find a niche and do some keyword research but again, a lot of this can be done for free. I do a video on some simple keyword research you can do and post it on my blog (link in signature) - I was going to do this anyway but you've given me a boost.

Once you've chosen a keyword/product to build your first site around, you need some decent but cheap hosting. There are some recommended and some to avoid - I've got a free membership that's nearly ready which will give you some help on that.

Aside from hosting, you need a domain which will set you back about $10 but less if you pick up a coupon.

There are tonnes of really good quality free themes for starting out so I'd use those first.

Then plugins, again plenty of free ones to optimize your site. My free membership will also feature the free plugins I recommend and why.

Then you add the content. The content can be written by you which is easier than you think. I use templates to help me stick to a similar theme for product promotions.

Now getting traffic to your site is the thing that everyone worries about but provided you've chosen a keyword that is not too competitive and you write for quality not for keywords - you've probably heard that over optimizing a website is bad, so that's made life easier for most newbies. Again, posts on my blog cover some of this and how to use images safely and a few more helpful bits of info.

I also have a free Web 2.0 & Social Media Guide with a spreadsheet to keep a record of your account opening and activities. So that will probably be very useful to you right now. Web 2.0 & Social Media are FREE methods for getting your site ranked plus offer the opportunity for others to pick up your comments/thread.

You will definately get used to this. Martin Crumlish is a very successful marketer with a load of WSO of the Day's that he's delivered over the past year and a bit. He is also in the army and his goal was to only spend what he earned from his internet marketing ventures. I think that's a good place to start.

Work on one site until you get to grips with all the on site stuff, the off site stuff and then think about creating another one.

Hope that helps

Best,
Leah

[AlohaSoldier89]

Thanks! Sometimes its hard taking steps without knowing the whole mission ya know. Least from a military/infantry standpoint. However I will do what I can to persevere. All I can do is try, and time is what i have plenty of!

[nicholasb]

I would recommend from my own personal experience getting started with affiliate marketing (mainly informational based products) using direct response copy writing and driving traffic with paid advertising.

You can start with free traffic but I would highly suggest against SEO and would focus more on content syndication only until you have a budget to start with paid advertising.

This is exactly how I started I made almost $300 my very first week and close to $3,000 my very first month and now make much, much more than that per month.

SEO is a wobbly foundation to start a business on and is always changing, in the last 5 years my business model hasn't changed much if at all. It's hard to be successful when you have to change your approach every 3 months.

[AlohaSoldier89]

Thanks Leah! I will most certainly do a lot of reading! I will also look into that guy as well! Specially how he does it being in the army also!

[AlohaSoldier89]

Originally Posted by nicholasb

I would recommend from my own personal experience getting started with affiliate marketing (mainly informational based products) using direct response copy writing and driving traffic with paid advertising.

You can start with free traffic but I would highly suggest against SEO and would focus more on content syndication only until you have a budget to start with paid advertising.

This is exactly how I started I made almost $300 my very first week and close to $3,000 my very first month and now make much, much more than that per month.

SEO is a wobbly foundation to start a business on and is always changing, in the last 5 years my business model hasn't changed much if at all. It's hard to be successful when you have to change your approach every 3 months.

That is what is so confusing. Always reading about how the game is constantly changing so fast. It just seems like it can be frustrating to keep up specially if you brand new!

[nicholasb]

that's why it's important to base your business on proven principles. Direct response marketing will never change.

Yes you may need to find different sites to advertise on from time to time but unlike SEO paid adverting will never change. You simply advertise to the market that is related to your offer.

that may be a magazine or a related website, facebook, google yahoo. The site may change but the principle always remains the same.

In SEO there are no principles that can withstand the test of time.

Even if the internet were to vanish I would still be able to use my skills almost the exact same way as before. (a product or service, a targeted audience and a way to reach them that's it that's all you ever need to know)

SO for example lets say it 1904 and I am a circus promoter. I would design a flyer (banner ad in todays times) and I would put one in every candy store, every toy store, on posts near schools and anywhere else children were (targeting your market)

Now on the other hand if I was promoting a brothel, I would post a flyer in every bar, on a post near every factory and hard labor job, and anywhere else men predominantly hung out.

Send me back to 1694 and I would still be able to use these same principles to turn a profit.

[Larkrise]

Originally Posted by AlohaSoldier89

That is what is so confusing. Always reading about how the game is constantly changing so fast. It just seems like it can be frustrating to keep up specially if you brand new!

Yes it is every changing and that in itself can be very confusing. This place is great for getting advice but - you can become overloaded as there are many business 'models' in Internet Marketing.

SEO or search engine optimization was (still is for many) a way to get visitors to your website for free. But, Google is always changing and has upset a lot of businesses who relied heavily on their sites being ranked on page one.

Others are skilled in using paid advertising to attract visitors but they also need to be skilled in getting 'conversions'

A guide to expected 'conversions' is roughly 1% - so for every 100 visitors you can expect 1 person to buy a product through your link

Affiliate marketing is the model also mentioned here where you sell something that someone else has created. They will give you anything from 40% - 100% for the sale. 100% is for product creators who just want to build a list of emails to market to and sometimes they offer an upsell which they get more share of.

Email marketing is another model - where the focus is on building a big list of people to market to. You need to be good at building relationships with people without overselling and obviously you will need to target a specific niche. Martin Crumlish did this very skillfully after offering his services as a graphic expert.

So there are quite a lot of examples just there and as for the number of networks you can join and promote for, that list is huge too.

Think about what your skills or interests are and do a bit of brainstorming on ideas.

Building a website or at least learning how to (wordpress is the best!) is a good place to begin too as this is usually the basis for many IM models one way or another.

As you say, you have time which is great. I recommend setting up a spreadsheet to record the sites you find that interest you. Some might ask you to log in (like here)so you'll want to keep a record of your details.

I learned a lot from doing research, hopping from one site to another, signing up for newsletters, watching videos and hanging out in forums.

ask and ask and ask again, most people are really happy to help

[jonmay]

Hey Aloha,
I created a free report that goes over list building. If you would like a copy, just head over to my blog that is below (jonmaymarketing) and you can download it! Good luck!!

[nicholasb]

1% would be considered on todays times a very horrible conversion rate, I strictly focus on paid advertising and convert anywhere from 10-30%

They way we can target things today is amazing and better than it's ever been. If I am selling a product on weight loss I can advertise on weight loss sites and blogs.

I can target specific facebook groups of people who like shows like the biggest loser or for people who like jenny craig or L.A Fitness people who are over weight and have shown that they do in fact want to lose weight by already taking an action.

If I am selling a dating product I can advertise right on a dating site, with a little research you can know exactly what these peoples problems are then effectively create a solution write effective ads the appeal to what they need now.

The days of 3% being considered a good conversion rate are long over, and even my $1000 offer convert way better than 3%.

It is a sill that will take time to learn but is one that will reward you far more than anything else out there in my opinion.

[AlohaSoldier89]

Well besides reading and research asking questions is what I can do!

[Patrick Batty]

Hey Aloha,
Welcome aboard.
I hope you'll have a great, and rewarding ride. And thank you for your service.

There's just tons of info here, be careful to not get overwhelmed.

I suggest you grab a few plans.. pick one you are comfortable with, then follow it.

Don't try to go down too many paths at the same time.. or nothing will ever work.

All the best.. If you ever are stuck, feel free to pm a question or two over.
Cheers
Patrick

[Mark Singletary]

Originally Posted by AlohaSoldier89

Well besides reading and research asking questions is what I can do!

One suggestion I would offer is to put a hard time limit (such as 2 weeks) on your reading and research before you make a decision and get started doing something.

It's only after you get started that you'll learn what actually works.

Good luck and thank you for your service.

Mark

[nicholasb]

Originally Posted by AlohaSoldier89

Well besides reading and research asking questions is what I can do!

you can also start taking action and start start failing forward.

Ready, Fire, Aim is a good quote to live by if you want to make it in this business.

You'll never get it right the first time no matter what, you'll always need to adapt and improve as you go along.

[AlohaSoldier89]

Originally Posted by nicholasb

you can also start taking action and start start failing forward.

Ready, Fire, Aim is a good quote to live by if you want to make it in this business.

You'll never get it right the first time no matter what, you'll always need to adapt and improve as you go along.

So what is it exactly that you do?

[AlohaSoldier89]

Originally Posted by nicholasb

you can also start taking action and start start failing forward.

Ready, Fire, Aim is a good quote to live by if you want to make it in this business.

You'll never get it right the first time no matter what, you'll always need to adapt and improve as you go along.

So what is it exactly that you do?

[nicholasb]

a little bit of everything really but online I focus on affiliate marketing and product creation which are basically the same thing.

So here's an example of how I do my a campaigns.

1. pick a product to promote from clickbank as an affilaite, I look for one with a good sales message, then I buy it and make sure the content inside is good and if I feel it can help people I move forward to step 2.

2. Use the content inside the product to create a 7 day email follow up series or a free video that will help people get some results prior to buying the product. Also encouraging them to buy the product for a more in depth approach and to help them get better results.

3. Create a one page website that makes the offer to exchange their email address for the free information I have created. Which is designed to help the subscriber and encourage the sale.

4. I send traffic, I look for targeted forums and blogs, basically sites that are related to the product I am promoting then I buy advertising slots on them in the form of banners and text links, I also run Pay Per Click advertising through Yahoo, and will also buy banner ads on targeted forums.

5. While that is producing profits I begin to survey the list and then create my own product instantly doubling my profits. I also aim to create a product I can sell for more than $97 and many of my offers sell for $197-$1,000 consistently

I begin surveying the list asking what types of things are getting them results, what they have tried, their biggest fears and concerns stuff like that and then I tailor the product to their needs in a way that gets results the fastest. They will always tell you exactly what they want and need to hear to help encourage the sale.

I spend about 3 months on each one and then I'm on to the next one. After it's all setup you really never have to do anything with it again, it just continues to make you money. Sometimes an income stream will dry up but that's why it's good to have many running at a time.

The life expectancy for one of these income streams is a few years from my experience, I have only been doing this 5 years but many of my first campaigns are still running profitably today.

[savyeman]

What you need must my friend is the right mind set. This is what kills people online. It will take a lot of hard work to get it to work. Just know that upfront, decide in advance no matter I going to make it.

Then, expect that it will work, no matter what outcome you get from your efforts....

Just believe no matter, if it's not working, there's a missing piece to the puzzle and be resolve and say to yourself you will make it.

If you believe you will make it, even if you fail and you keep taking action you will make it.

You need the following things to make it online

hungry market
product to sell
away to reach that hungry market - TRAFFIC

you get those things right you can start making money fast....

You can start with the weight loss market...

go to this site he tells you what to do just listen to him

Fitness Blog Training: A Full-Time Living from 1 Blog?

Remember, the only way you will make money is if you take action, if you don't take action you will not see any results...

If you want hand holding you can PM

claude

[esjweb]

I'm also a newbie. Thanks for your advice an example.

[stevefairburn]

Originally Posted by AlohaSoldier89

Hello!

So Im looking for something I can do in Internet Marketing. My goal is to eventually get out of the Army. While I love it here, I would like the freedom that so many have and not have to rely on the military. Ive looked into SEO/affiliate marketing? It seems really hard? With google aiming to swat down everything. Also seems like there is a lot of competition and start up costs. Then I just get overwhelmed when i try to do research. Also seems like it has a lot start up costs? Any advice??

Thanks

Hi Aloha, I too am ex-Forces and totally new to this game. I made a couple of false starts because I became overwhelmed by the amount of products and methods out there. For me, the answer has been to get hold of a coaching course. There's plenty out there to choose from. I've opted for John Thornhill's 'Partnership to Success'. I've followed John for sometime are really like his style and what he's about. I've just started my first Blog. Please take look, I've started posting some of my thoughts and experiences. If you follow the coaching route, my advice would be to find someone you can relate too. Whatever you do, once you've started, DON'T STOP. Fail your way to the top! Enjoy!

Cheers,

Steve

[AndreasJacobsen]

here is my advice:

forget about it being "easy". i am sure you have what it takes to succeed in this business, you are an army guy hard work and determination is needed.

As of SEO and affiliate marketing.. It is getting tougher! the competition in the profitable niches is fierce, and finding buying keywords with low competition can be exhausting.

Affiliate marketing is great though, it is the promotion that is the challenge. I would recommend you look into promotion via social media, as that seems a little easier. Especially youtube has ENDLESS possibilities

good luck mate

[AlohaSoldier89]

Thanks for the advice!!!! Lot of helpful tips and motivational words!!!

[AlohaSoldier89]

Im sure this is question is asked 100 times a day here, but what are some free methods?