Im Starting All Over!!

by coreytucker

Posted: 10 years ago 16 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hi,

A few years ago I use to make about $1200-1500 a month online selling Clickbank products. This income stream lasted for about 2 years and was pretty steady but slowly dwindled down because I never built a list. It was mainly fueled from ezinearticles.com articles ranking high back in the "bum marketing" days.

Anyways today I don't make crap online really. I just feel like I need to start with a whole new approach. Hopefully this can help some other new marketers too because I feel like it's what will make a business successful long term. Right now I am spinning my wheels and just recently my facebook ads accounts got deleted because I stupidly thought it was ok to create a second ads account after reading accounts of it being ok from other threads. I figured I might as well not be a "p**sy* and give it a shot. Well they found out and froze my accounts. I feel stupid but also feel like its time to move on and Facebook is not the only game in town.

I have done a lot of thinking though. Here's the problem. I feel like I need to start over and take a whole new approach. After thinking and researching I realize these few keys:

1. Stop trying to make money

2. Give value and build an email list.

3. Research the hell out of my niche and know it inside out.

4. Become the customers who need information in this niche.

5. Just focus on helping my list and building a relationship with them. Find good quality products in the niche and recommend it to them. I do not want to sale it to them. I want them to know that if I recommend it then it must be good!

So in the end I just need to pick a good niche and build my list. I need to provide them value and really try to help these people. Its that simple I think. I need to just offer quality advice and guide them in the right direction towards what that need.

Now I have that part part clear and feel like I finally realize that's way more important that I ever realized. The next part is getting the traffic to build my list.

How do I do this? I am thinking about 7 search or lead impact? I am also thinking about going into the relationship niche, photography niche or self improvement.

What do you guys think? I am FINALLY getting what it takes to have a real long term business? I hope so

#starting

steve866

10 years ago

I think you have the most important ingredient for future success. And that is - your excellent attitude about customer service.

It seems to me that you are going through the same thing I experienced a few years ago. Namely spinning my wheels without focus.

The solution for me was to take a step back and focus on only one thing. I've discovered that almost any method works if you focus all of your energy into it. Sure there are some outdated systems out there, however the basic idea of taking care of your customers really does work.

I think the three niches you mentioned are excellent high traffic ones, but I would encourage you to pick only one and go all out on it.

Please let us know about your progress.

Steve

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745492].message }}

coreytucker

10 years ago

Originally Posted by steve866

Thanks Steve. I think we are always so focused on selling that we forget its about helping our email list. If you help them then they will buy. Nobody likes to feel like we are recommending products just to make a quick buck. But if we help them and recommend products that we only believe in then they will buy it because they know its quality.

The problem is for me is where do I find so many quality products in certain niches? Thats my main concern about doing this. A lot of Clickbank products are crap. What do you think about that issue?

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745525].message }}

awledd

10 years ago

I have been online for some 6 yrs now. Made some money 12k+ and never was able to make it big. Now I am determined to build list and go for the best ingredients like relationship building etc... We may be in the same boat. I think the road you choose is fine and will work for you. My suggestion would be to try peerfly and moreniche. Those will give you good products to promote. Best wishes.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

http://dess.me

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745529].message }}

steve866

10 years ago

I would forget about Clickbank for now and join amazon-associates. They sell EVERYTHING and amazon is the largest and most respected online retailer in the world.

Your job would be to review the product and to make sure that anything click-able ("read more here" links or photos) on your page would have your affiliate link embedded. As long as they buy something (even if it has nothing to do with what you are promoting) you will earn a commission.

I left Clickbank long ago and couldn't imagine returning.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745537].message }}

coreytucker

10 years ago

Originally Posted by steve866

Thanks but amazon has such low payouts. How in the world would you make enough money from this alone unless you had a list of say 100k people?

Thanks everyone. I am always stuck in picking the niche. Should I just pick photography?

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745750].message }}

Jarrett Banned 10 years ago

If you can't find quality products to promote that you'd feel good about selling.. the solution is simple.. make your own

Then you should have no problem endorsing it and telling people to buy it.

especially if you are really determined to start fresh, do things the right way, build a list, and develop a relationship with them.. Why not create your own product that you can sell to them and make ALOT more money?

For niches, I'd say relationship niche. It really depends on what sub niche you're talking about ( ex back, get a girlfriend, pua, find the guy of your dreams, parenting, fertility, etc)

But with all of those markets you're primarily dealing with people who have a disposable income and are willing to spend it.. You're also dealing with people who are emotional buyers.. they are very DESPERATE and looking for a solution to their problems NOW.. also, most of those sub niches are going to be evergreen...

Alot of guys I know have been selling the same ex back books, dating products etc for YEARS without having to change anything.

As for personal development..
There's definitely money in this industry.. just ask Tony Robbins or Brian Tracy. If it's a big passion of yours then go for it dude.
if you want to make money in it.. I'd recommend finding a really hot subniche
and owning that. (time management, law of attraction, wake up productive, learning public speaking, overcoming your fears, passing job interviews etc)

Personally.. when it comes to personal development niche.. I'd say tread with caution.

It really depends on what angle and subniche you're going after.. but you just have to ask yourself with the product you want to promote.. are people losing sleep at night because they don't have your solution?

Are people losing sleep at night because they are saying "I need a new mindset" or I need "successful habits".. not really. No. and that's exactly why Mindset courses are a hard sell. you've got to overcome alot in the sales page. You have to convince them on why they need it in the first place.

Whereas "I need to save my marriage!" or "I need to get my girlfriend back" those are real problems and real issues that people are losing sleep over.

"I need to improve my photography skills.." < not so much.
And that's why I'd tell you that photography is a rough niche.

Here is the problem for photography, the majority of your market are people who do it as a hobby.. People just aren't as 'desperate' for it as someone who'se got a health problem looking for a cure or someone who'se marriage is falling apart or raising a problem child.

And for the people who photography is more than just a hobby.. it's a passion..
Well.. MOST of them are going to be 'starving artists'.

Teenagers, college kids, and people who do photography on the side that are just barely scraping by..

Those are all people who have little to no money to begin with.. plus, you'd be dealing with very savvy people who shop around for a long time.. and aren't as impulse buyers. Think about it.. most people who go out and buy a camera have been thinking about it for a long time.. It's not something they just bought spur of the moment.

And money is tight for them... so it's just a harder market to sell to, to begin with. This is also why selling info products to this market is rough. There's a reason why most of the photography products on clickbank are priced so cheap. Cuz if it cost any more.. they wouldn't buy it.

If photography is a dream and a burning passion of yours.. go for it man.
If you *do* want to do the photography niche I would advise that you focus on higher end people who do photography professionally.. Think wedding photographers, portrait photographers, baby photographers, etc. They've got money.. they are willing to spend it.

Then find high end stuff on Amazon (camera lenses, cameras, lighting equipment, etc) that are hot and have rave reviews.. then you can simply recommend those products to them.

Otherwise, I'd just say pass and go for relationship
- [ 1 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745928].message }}

Victor Edson 10 years ago

It seems like you're on the right path now. Not building a list killed a lot of marketers this past year. Start over again, build a list and don't look back.

Create quality content, promote your list and build a good relationship as someone who really provides quality content and cares about their subs, you can't go wrong but if you do, you can always try again.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745532].message }}
Chris30K 10 years ago

I think you should scale back. And just look at how you can improve the world around you; without depending on Google.

This approach has worked wonders for me.

As it is very possible.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

Chic Fil A > McDonald's
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745583].message }}
- punkox 10 years ago
  
  I think you are wise for re-thinking something that wasn't working for you. What problems have you encountered on the product-creation front for your niche? For instance, my niche has been sold soooooo much crap in the past that they are on guard. I need to create tons of goodwill and it needs to be "non-automated" goodwill that seems to take the most amount of time. Because of this I'm about to raise the level of my product and with it the price tag. Been using total product blueprint and list control as an example. I want to create tons of content and I've set a timeline to do all of this as 3 months to get down as much content into video form as possible. I'm going all-out, balls to the wall on pretty much everything I know. I'm not holding a thing back from my niche. I'm pretty scared about doing this because I know it will mean tremendous competition for myself but I'm trusting that my creativity will take me to the next level after this product is exhausted. It may be a stupid idea to give away the golden goose but it's pretty much all I have to give considering the price point is going to be $5995 and I have a list of 4000 that I have fostered a good relationship with thus far... I keep watching core influence over and over trying to figure out how my niche is going to identify with something similar to what Kern did. Alas I have to will myself beyond my doubts and quit being a pussy... putting it all on the line is the only way to do this business and come out smelling rosy... best of luck mate! I hope your new venture brings you tons of success!
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745601].message }}
defeasible 10 years ago

Good for you man! I am new blogger as well and I'm trying to grow more by relationship building. I feel that in reality that is absolutely key to long term success. That doesn't mean you can't use other methods to make other money on the side, but I think that what you're planning will have all the necessary traits to succeed. Best of luck man!
- Thanks
Signature
Me on Social Media:

Twitter
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745628].message }}
John J M 10 years ago

I agree with the post above that, in general, niches in which people are more desperate are going to be easier for you right out of the gate. That doesn't mean other niches are impossible to earn from, but they'll take longer and you'll have to be more creative.

I agree that a list should almost always be an important consideration when you're looking at starting. That being said, there are all kinds of methods that you can use. In my experience, the idea of building up an audience with a website and a list is nice, and I'd do it if it was something I was really passionate about, but I wouldn't necessarily go that route just to make money. I would instead focus on something like Kindle or CPA that you can scale and make more and more over time. Then, when you have enough money, build a subscriber list and work on traffic for a site you can really get excited about. That's just my 2 cents.

Some of it comes down to how impatient you are. But in business, you have to be at least a little impatient.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8745959].message }}
brettb 10 years ago

Instead of looking for a NICHE, why not look for a CAUSE.

Two people I know are really PASSIONATE about a cause/trend and they've started sites about them. One started his in 2007 and he now makes $2000+ a month. He could make $5000+ if he put better ads on his site.

Another has just started a site/forum and I think he has real potential. Why? Because a lot of people will think "yeah, I agree with him", then register for his forum and help get it off the ground.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
ÖŽ FindABlog: Find blogs to comment on, guest posting opportunities and more ÖŽ
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8746062].message }}
- cfarmer 10 years ago
  
  Well starting over is a big task to undertake, It can be easier to stick with a niche if you are very passionate about it or would be doing it even if your not getting paid.
  
  Definitely think about building a personal blog that shows people who you are and then get leads to opt in to your list.
  
  Do you still have access to those articles?
  
  Think about if any of them can be changed so the links in your signature can be directed at your new site/blog or whatever you decide on.
  
  Maybe even put enough of them together to create a free ebook to give away and build your list with.
  
  One thing I would do also if you are going to offer people a product is buy it yourself so you can review the whole sales process and when you tell people about it you can explain the pros and cons better.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8746291].message }}
tretheraider 10 years ago

You nailed it. I got into the online world in June. Coming in so late, it is very sour to hear about the good ole days. I have multiple projects/websited but I always end up going back to the one I am the most passionate about. List building is key for any niche is fueled by the passion to help the consumer!
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8746305].message }}
Stefan Shields 10 years ago

That was a great post

I'm sorry you are facing the task of starting from square 1 but one thing I said yesterday applies here.

You're already a winner as long as you're still in the game.

Never, ever give up, keep your good attitude up and you'll be making money again in no time.
- Thanks
Signature

Please contribute to my university research into how generative AI is transforming digital marketing strategies

Survey Link
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8746422].message }}
rangersno1 10 years ago

Crazy how many of us made the same mistake, not building a list. Especially when we heard it so many times. The money is in the list, the most repeated saying in Internet Marketing but I still managed to avoid doing it.

A few months ago my thoughts were exactly the same as yours so hi ho it was of to build a list I go

Building a list was actually pretty simple using solo ads but I have found it hard to get a response. Open rates no better than 5% and sales few and far between I have realized there is a lot more to it than building a list.

My mistake, well one of my mistakes was not being targeted enough the freebie was/is too general. I am off back to the drawing board hopefully having learned a lesson or two, I truly believe building a list is the right way to go however it is a tad harder than I thought it would be.

Cheers
Alan
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8746448].message }}

Im Starting All Over!!

Trending Topics

Any thoughts on golf's latest phenom...Scottie Scheffler??

Infographic: How B2B marketers on LinkedIn can maximise their efforts for better audience reach

What's the Best IM-Related Skill to Learn Today That Can Help in the Future?

Some interesting stats about brand comms

best high quality crypto traffic.