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tell me what to do THIS WEEKEND

by FakeTaRTS
11 replies
I'm tired of all the dabbling and mediocrity. I'm just gonna lay it out on the line and hope that someone more experienced than me reads this and can relate to where I'm at.

I'm a weekend warrior. I work in finance and can only give 2 hours a week night to IM. I've accepted that the only way I'm going to achieve success is through deep focus, experimentation, and sustained effort.

I'll detail my current situation and experiences and you tell me what I need to do THIS WEEKEND to be successful. What skill should I focus on, what should I try to get operational, what book should I read... you get it. K-I-S-S. If someone is successful and experienced tell me a small thing to focus on this weekend I'll do it. Then I'll report back and ask again next week;




Heres my current skillset/stuff:

-I have a hostgator reseller account with maybe 5 sites on it.

-I'm really comfortable in wordpress and have done a few sites for local contractors

-I'm good on photoshop now, worked though a couple dozen tutorials and can usually achieve my desired output given enough time.

-I'm not clueless with code, I can change little stuff in the .php/.css of my sites for borders and margins etc.

-I've written text based programs in Java and C++, im familiar with object oriented programming/classes/ and the basics such as loops etc.

-I've never used any analytics or webmaster tools. I am clueless when it comes to SEO. I know aWeber is good for managing lists. I have a clickbank account but no idea what to do with it and peerfly rejected my application for affiliate marketing.

-I can write decently well. What spurred me into IM was I wrote an article for a small forum and a webmaster I didn't know asked if he could post it on his site. I said sure, and now that article has over 1000 facebook likes and tweets and 100'000 views. Once I realized he was making adsense money from my writing I was like :O I need to figure this shit out.

Sooo, please share your experiences with me and I will take your advice to heart.
#weekend
  • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
    You should build a squeeze page and drive some traffic to it and start building a list. That's something you can easily do in a weekend.
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    Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
    All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
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  • Profile picture of the author Confined To Life
    I think you need to figure out a plan for your eBusiness. What blueprint or business model are you going to implement. Sit down on the weekend and start working through your options. Everyone here will tell you email marketing, so I'd recommend learning the basics of that.

    Once you believe you know how it works, get started on Sunday.
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    • Profile picture of the author JeffMitchell
      We all have the same amount of time every single day. I have 4 kids, 5-6-9-and 4 months and I am a salary engineer at a manufacturing facility and I can still find 2 hours a day at a minimum to build my business.


      If you are good at writing you NEED TO MAKE THE TIME to be writing every single day. Whether that is on a blog or writing for the article sites.

      Consistency is the only way that you are going to find exactly what you need. You can either be consistent or figure out how to use paid advertising....

      If you have a skill...use it EVERY SINGLE DAY.

      I don't use CAPS regular... The only reason that poeple fail in this business is that they don't work daily....because of excuses like you have or they just flat out quit..



      Don't mean to be mean....but im honest...

      Hope that helps.

      Jeff Mitchell
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      HELP NEEDED! My Mother And Her Brother have been taking care of the mother with the help of Hospice. He just had a Massive Heart Attack while taking a short vacation. My mother had to go to Florida from Indiana to be with her brother and is not financially stable from being off work to be with grandma. Any Help Would Be Appreciated. http://www.gofundme.com/vg5kt4c

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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Originally Posted by FakeTaRTS View Post

    I've accepted that the only way I'm going to achieve success is through deep focus, experimentation, and sustained effort.
    You're right. Focus, testing, and action.

    I'll detail my current situation and experiences and you tell me what I need to do THIS WEEKEND to be successful.
    It's not quite like that - to be successful. It's more like what you should do to lay the foundation for success.

    My impression is you are not sure what to do in terms of pursuing business. You need to decide on a business model.

    Affiliate marketing, product creation, or providing a service. That would be a good place to start. Once you've decided, then that points you in a certain direction. When you have that, then you proceed with what's needed.

    Choosing a product/service as an affiliate.
    Deciding on a product to create or a service to offer.

    Then you decide how you intend to promote it. Usually, that means building a site.

    What skill should I focus on, what should I try to get operational, what book should I read... you get it. K-I-S-S. If someone is successful and experienced tell me a small thing to focus on this weekend I'll do it. Then I'll report back and ask again next week;
    Once you have decided on a business model, then that should make clear what skills you need to acquire or outsource.

    Heres my current skillset/stuff:

    -I'm really comfortable in wordpress and have done a few sites for local contractors
    You can build on this. Offline marketing. Create a site and showcase the sites you've built. This is a service oriented model.

    -I'm good on photoshop now, worked though a couple dozen tutorials and can usually achieve my desired output given enough time.

    -I'm not clueless with code, I can change little stuff in the .php/.css of my sites for borders and margins etc.

    -I've written text based programs in Java and C++, im familiar with object oriented programming/classes/ and the basics such as loops etc.
    Good knowledge you can use.

    -I've never used any analytics or webmaster tools. I am clueless when it comes to SEO. I know aWeber is good for managing lists. I have a clickbank account but no idea what to do with it and peerfly rejected my application for affiliate marketing.

    -I can write decently well. What spurred me into IM was I wrote an article for a small forum and a webmaster I didn't know asked if he could post it on his site. I said sure, and now that article has over 1000 facebook likes and tweets and 100'000 views. Once I realized he was making adsense money from my writing I was like :O I need to figure this shit out.

    Sooo, please share your experiences with me and I will take your advice to heart.
    Really seems you need to choose an area within IM and run with it, as explained above.

    It's difficult to advise you on what book to read, etc. You can find information here, for free, about traffic generation, affiliate marketing, SEO, paid-for advertising, etc.

    TIP - Hit the search button, top right >> Select Advanced Search >> keywords and thread titles. Searching on posts will return less targeted information.

    So, maybe this weekend, focus on the business model you want to pursue.
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  • Profile picture of the author cpwebsite
    I would recommend building a blog about what you enjoy or are experienced in (set it up on friday night in your two hours)... and begin writing daily articles, while focusing hard on marketing it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    Edit: Well, I see Ken Thompson stole my thunder while I was writing. <shaking fist at screen> Damn you, Ken Thompson. Damn You!

    Nobody will really be able to help you until you decide what business you want to be in. IM isn't a business. It's a medium through which you do business.

    Do you want to be a content provider? Maybe sell a service? Run membership sites? Flip websites?

    My suggestion, and that's all it is, is that you pick something - anything - and do it. It sounds like one thing you have is resolve. Attack whatever business you choose with that resolve. Be willing to fail.

    Mediocrity is the space between success and failure. It's safe, but it's torture at the same time. At least when you fail, you've found the end. With mediocrity, you never truly know where you are. You haven't succeeded and you haven't failed. You're stuck. Pick one thing. Do it. If you fail, find another avenue.

    Come back here when you've made a decision and ask your question again. You'll get all the help you need and it will be specifically targeted.

    Good luck. Although, I don't think you'll need it. You just need focus.
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    Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Money
    Focus on one thing and break it into small, manageable tasks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    My advice is a little different. I am not an IM expert, but I do run a successful business that is primarily online. I applaud you for thinking incrementally. You are not ready to jump into the deep end.

    What you need to do is figure out what you need to do, right? I have a few suggestions.

    1) What are you passionate about? Make that list first. Whatever you end up doing should capitalize on a passion, or you will never find the motivation to push it as hard as you need to. Once you have that list, put it aside.

    2) Now, you need to work on your skills. It sounds like you are pretty capable at a number of things. Formalize that list, flesh it out, then set it aside.

    3) Go to the warrior classifieds section, and look for jobs. Go to your local craigslist, and look for jobs. Go to fiverr and look for jobs. Find jobs that you are qualified for from step #2, and that will help get you closer to realizing the dream in step #1. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to look for perfect fits, just get more experience doing things that move you closer.

    4) Now this part might be difficult, but it will probably be the most valuable piece of advice you could get. Find someone who is making it, right now, and offer your services free of charge. You are going for an apprenticeship. Tell them you will work for knowledge and experience. Nothing will train you for success better than learning by working on successful projects. If you can find someone like that, you will gain the experience and confidence to try building your own business while avoiding (or at least minimizing) many of the rookie mistakes.

    5) When you are ready to launch your business, whatever it is, set realistic goals and expectations. Most likely, it will not replace your day job for quite a while. Plan for that.

    Good luck! It is possible, but if it was easy, everyone would be making it.
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    Fifteen Lessons I have learned over 15 years and six businesses (or, My 1000th-Post Manifesto)
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  • Profile picture of the author ezekielseo
    Figure out a business model/marketing plan. You can never have a successful business without planning ahead.
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  • Profile picture of the author PinkOwl
    Originally Posted by FakeTaRTS View Post

    I'm tired of all the dabbling and mediocrity. I'm just gonna lay it out on the line and hope that someone more experienced than me reads this and can relate to where I'm at.

    I'm a weekend warrior. I work in finance and can only give 2 hours a week night to IM. I've accepted that the only way I'm going to achieve success is through deep focus, experimentation, and sustained effort.

    I'll detail my current situation and experiences and you tell me what I need to do THIS WEEKEND to be successful. What skill should I focus on, what should I try to get operational, what book should I read... you get it. K-I-S-S. If someone is successful and experienced tell me a small thing to focus on this weekend I'll do it. Then I'll report back and ask again next week;




    Heres my current skillset/stuff:

    -I have a hostgator reseller account with maybe 5 sites on it.

    -I'm really comfortable in wordpress and have done a few sites for local contractors

    -I'm good on photoshop now, worked though a couple dozen tutorials and can usually achieve my desired output given enough time.

    -I'm not clueless with code, I can change little stuff in the .php/.css of my sites for borders and margins etc.

    -I've written text based programs in Java and C++, im familiar with object oriented programming/classes/ and the basics such as loops etc.

    -I've never used any analytics or webmaster tools. I am clueless when it comes to SEO. I know aWeber is good for managing lists. I have a clickbank account but no idea what to do with it and peerfly rejected my application for affiliate marketing.

    -I can write decently well. What spurred me into IM was I wrote an article for a small forum and a webmaster I didn't know asked if he could post it on his site. I said sure, and now that article has over 1000 facebook likes and tweets and 100'000 views. Once I realized he was making adsense money from my writing I was like :O I need to figure this shit out.

    Sooo, please share your experiences with me and I will take your advice to heart.

    Wow....it truly sounds like you have a lot of skills at your disposal. I know how you feel. I work long hours through the week and like to get to the gym, so focusing on my business and sites through the week is very difficult for me. But whatever time I have I spend it either researching, writing, or trying to promote my products.

    I agree that you need to build a list. They always say, "The money is in your list." So, definitely work on getting more traffic and if 1000 people liked your article, that is pretty darned good.
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