Embarrased about MMO niche

Why not find ones that you believe in? Products or services that pretty much sell themselves, they are so good. You don't have to sell anything that's scammy. How about writing an ebook about what to look for and avoid, based on your honest experiences in IM?

If you establish a following then you could be their eyes and ears, protecting them from the junk and passing on the worthwhile opportunities. They'd appreciate your honesty and that you're helping them.

Personally, I won't sell anything that I don't use or haven't tried myself. There's a lot of change going on these days, with Google and other sites. Change brings opportunity. Search for and develop new (valuable) opportunities and help others succeed.

I think you got some things twisted here.

What is generally referred to as 'IM' or 'Internet Marketing' here is the niche of selling 'make money online' products to newbies and ome of that is the niche of selling others on how to sell others on selling 'make money online' to newbies

However, the skills and diciplines are not scammy at all. I think you shouldn't focus on 'internet markting' but on real world skills like:

Affiliate marketing - from both the publisher and advertiser side
SEO
Conversion Optimization
Copywriting (and writing good ads)
Design
Social Media Marketing
PPC/SEM
Viral Marketing/Link Bait
Video Marketing
Blogging

Those are diciplines which every major company use and are totally legit. Just because scammers use the same skills does not make the skills themselves useless.

Get out of the 'make money online' niche and start selling known brands and useful services. Make a passionate niche site and make reviews of products. Run paid caimpaigns on Facebook to your CPA offers.

There is a very big world in online marketing outside 'make money online'.

I agree. There are plenty of good, completely legit things to do, in which to become an expert.

I actually see 'internet marketing' as a broader topic than perhaps many of the people here. It's about getting the word out about something. Many small businesses and newbies in general don't know where to turn when marketing their stuff. Many of us here could be considered experts, which is a great opportunity for us. Sell your skills and knowledge by helping others. I bet you could find plenty of local businesses that would love to have your advice.

I don't spend time worrying about what other people do.

It is important to "give value" to people in the niche you are in. Find out what your target audience wants to know, and offer them solutions. Don't try and sell anything straight away, but build up a relationship and give help through an opt-in email list.


When people know, like and trust you they will buy from you. And of course only offer products you 100% believe in and stand behind. So much better if you use the product yourself. Or perhaps you are ready to create and market your own product.


Be selective. Don't promote "iffy" products just because they give a good commission. Chances are people will ask for a refund or consider you are spamming them.


This will help you stand out and be part of the ethical online marketing community.


Hope this helps
Kind regards

Very true. It disgusts and embarrasses me too! The thing you have to remember is that you and your business (presumably) are not into selling dreams.

You separate yourself by not getting involved with the circle jerk of peddling IM/MMO products. Don't tell people you're an internet marketer....tell them you're either an advertiser, or publisher. That's the truth.

You know what you can do to avoid calling yourself an IM'er?

Just start a company, take a paycheck and give yourself a title. That way you're all like 'I'm the CEO of BrainFart Entrerprises' and they're all like 'Oh wow, an executive.'

Why take responsibility for the actions of others that you have no control over?

They don't feel bad about what they do, why should you?

Someone has to learn from someplace. It's all one vicious chain.
Don't put so much thought into it. Always aim to contribute to the industry while generating revenue, everything else is secondary.

If you create a book on LPO - how to optimize your landing page from 2% to 5% and increase your commissions. Well, you get a lot of one stars from lazy people who do not have any web pages. They do not want to work, but instead dream of making millions by being given a secret recipe. Most of these clowns are poor. I do not suggest giving books away any more. Sadly, you get no extra sales and a lot of one stars from lazy people who suspect a scam.

When opportunity knocks they complain about the noise. Hard work is the secret to success. Sadly, these clowns do not know what hard work is.

There is definitely a lot of stuff in the IM niche to be embarrassed about but then, I see a LOT of generous people providing tons of help for free - which I haven't found in many niches so far.
So I feel - as long as I can look in the mirror in the morning and feel I do not cheat anyone I am proud to be a marketer in the niche and provide value to many people.
Still, you are right about many things you've said

THANK YOU for saying this. I totally agree.

However, I knew that, just like making money in any other type of business, making money online is just as legitimate and is no different. However, much of the IM world is very incestuous, IMers selling to other (wannabe) IMers. (Yuck!) So, years ago, I got off the WF and went in search of "real" MMO info.

I found Ali Brown of AliBrown.com who was teaching online marketing to "real" business owners -- that is, people NOT in the IM field at all: nutritionists, coaches and consultants, etc. These were people with offline businesses. I bought her Online Success Blueprint (no longer available) and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

I LOVE online marketing and EVERY type of business needs to have a web presence, both a website and a social media presence. They need online marketing. That is totally legitimate. So I went after the "offline" niche -- that is, I wanted to help offline businesses with their online marketing.

It was critically important to me to go after other "real" businesses, and NOT be another dreamer making money by selling to other dreamers. So I went the "offline" route and put my own twist on it.

So now I have something I LOVE, a "real" business that's genuinely helpful to other businesses (NOT in the IM niche -- or ANY business niche -- at all). It was tremendously helpful to look at other people who were doing it before me, treating it as a "real" business and doing it in a classy way.

Take a look at what Ali Brown (AliBrown.com) and Jeff Walker (ProductLaunchFormula.com) do. They're in the IM niche, but serving "real" businesses and do it in a classy way. Sometimes, the best way to learn is by example and I can't recommend any better examples than Ali and Jeff!

Hope that helps!

Michelle

It's true there are a lot of spammy products and downright scams around.
However many people don't want to try things and are quick to turn around and call them scams. People want quick fixes, they want to make money instantly and it does not always work like that. Take the long road.

I study IT stuff.

In one of my books; it says that the majority of spam mail is related to "get rich quick schemes".

(It's a very respected source who said that).

Take that however you want.



One thing I hate, is that you're absolutely right.

Income claims are something that are really, really shady, and people play on them too often.

That's why in my advertisements, product promotions, email marketing, and blogging, I NEVER make any income claims. Nor do I talk about my own income. Ever.

But just because selling "get rich quick" stuff DOES work... It doesn't mean that's what you have to do right?

Take me for example.

I never even talk about money.

I think it's the shadiest thing on the planet to do that.

Not just in product promotions. I'm talking about in real life. It's just NOT PROFESSIONAL to talk about how much money you make.

If you brag about "millions of dollars"; you're a jackass. (You've seen the movie "the great outdoors" right? Don't be Dan Akroid).

I had a friend once who ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE SURE that everyone knew his dad was filthy rich.

He'd always bring it up.

People in real life who say "Oh I have this much money, I'm rich, I make this much" are tuned out and ignored instantly.

It's even worse when you promise that SOMEONE ELSE can make tons and tons of money.

Unless you're offering someone a legit 9-5 job, you should NOT indicate that they can make money.

I'll try my best to avoid any income claims period.

Instead of "How to make a million dollars buying media ads" I say "I'll show you where to get traffic".

Instead of saying "I'll show you how to make a million dollars email marketing" I say "I'll show you how to setup your email list".

Instead of "I'll show you how to make a million dollars blogging" I say "I'll show you how to setup your blog".

Am I at a disadvantage competing against every snake oil salesmen on the planet?

Well yeah, but ethics are more important.

There are scammers and spammers in very aspect of life, just build your reputation by doing right and providing great value. When people see your name they'll tell others you always provide top notch products and information.