Open Letter To New Warriors

[Good News Now]

Kevin,
Great post. Thank you....I personally enjoy IM very much but I have wasted so much time in trying to understand IM. It was hard for me. I almost gave up.
I was so overwhelmed with this info overload. As soon as I found real focus and steps to follow then things got easier, successful and more enjoyable.
Thank you, again for your insightfulness and honesty in sharing this...
Vadimus

[centextkt]

Originally Posted by Doug McIsaac

I agree that taking action is important. I would also add FOCUS. Too often people waste time chasing one "hot" thing after another. Focus on thing that you are good at doing and do that.

Just curious, if you are a newbie, how do you know exactly WHAT you are "good" at?

[braver55b]

Kevin, Thanks for the great post. Focus,Persistence,learning from this forum and Taking Action really works.

I notice with your previous jobs, that you've been there and done it all. Deep sea dragger huh? That sounds brutal.

[Kevin Riley]

Originally Posted by braver55b

Kevin, Thanks for the great post. Focus,Persistence,learning from this forum and Taking Action really works.

I notice with your previous jobs, that you've been there and done it all. Deep sea dragger huh? That sounds brutal.

LOL. That made every other job since seem quite safe and easy.

[Rod Cortez]

Second, it's easy to be led astray by all the “latest & greatest” programs and “secret tactics” that you'll see being discussed. Sure, many are great programs and tactics, but only if you consistently apply them. If you merely jump from one idea to another – giving this one a try and then jumping to that one, without ever giving one a chance to bear fruit – you'll never make money with any of them. You need to select one and stick to it, without being distracted by the next “latest & greatest”.

This paragraph is GREAT advice. It also hit home because when I first got started a decade ago I was that guy. I jumped from program to program. I merely "tried" different things instead of educating myself first, then focusing on one thing at a time, mastering it enough to where it produced income, and then moved onto the next thing (though later I went back and merely scaled everything up).

This is very timely and sound advice and I speak from experience.

RoD

[Shane Hale]

Kevin very motivating and very true best advice a newbie could have!

[Jeremy Morgan]

I'm a newbie here, but I must say this is great advice. I've been on IM boards all over the place for years, and have seen exactly what you're talking about. The rules of internet business are different than brick in mortar in many ways, but hard work, dedication and honesty are things they have in common.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work"

[rparikh]

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

Note: Of late, we've had a large number of new members joining the Warrior Forum. With the economy in the state it's in and many losing jobs right now, it's easy to see why many want to start making money online. But, there are numerous pitfalls - so this letter.

Dear New Warrior

If you've come here to become an Internet marketer, you've found the right place. This forum is frequented by a number of very successful Internet marketers, many of whom started right here. The Warrior Forum can be an incubator for new marketers, with access to and help from senior Warriors who can provide a large wealth of Internet marketing knowledge.

However, coming into the Warrior Forum without any guidance can be as dangerous as heading off on a trek through the mountains without a trail map. It's far too easy to be dazzled and led astray.

Don't Be Dazzled & Led Astray

First, there's all the talk of big money being made in a very short time. Seeing senior Warriors talk about making over $10,000 a month – and seemingly while doing very little – can give you the false impression that Internet marketing is a route to quick & lazy riches. A deadly misconception that leaves many new Warriors frustrated and broke. What you need to understand is that senior Warriors who are generating large incomes from the Internet did not attain such a level overnight – they worked hard to build a good, solid business. It still takes work!

Second, it's easy to be led astray by all the “latest & greatest” programs and “secret tactics” that you'll see being discussed. Sure, many are great programs and tactics, but only if you consistently apply them. If you merely jump from one idea to another – giving this one a try and then jumping to that one, without ever giving one a chance to bear fruit – you'll never make money with any of them. You need to select one and stick to it, without being distracted by the next “latest & greatest”.

Most important is to use common sense here at the Warrior Forum. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Internet marketing is just another vehicle for marketing goods and services, it's not a magic bullet to fill your bank account while you lounge around in your bathrobe.

Don't Be Discouraged

You'll also see a lot of threads started by frustrated Warriors who haven't been able to make much money online. They have come to the conclusion that the Internet dream is not for them, and they are ready to quit. Some are convinced that “gurus” have lied to them and they can't make any money with all the e-books, courses, and programs they have bought – just lots of their hard-earned cash down the drain.

The real problem is that they ran afoul of one or both of the things I discussed above. They were dazzled by all the “easy money” and thought they would soon be rich, without investing some sweat equity into building a business. They ran around gobbling up programs and WSOs, convinced that each one was the one that would “really make money”. Unfortunately, they never gave any of these enough consistent effort to ever see a profit.

You Can Create A Fantastic Income

The truth is, there are many Warriors making a very impressive income from the Internet, and living life the way they want. But none of us successful marketers did this without some work. So, don't come here expecting instant riches, apply yourself consistently to building a real online business, and you will create a very good online income for yourself.

To your success,

Kevin Riley

thx a lots .its a nice and very helpful advise for me becoz i m newbie

[jameswatson2002]

well i m very new here and its the best advise i read in my life thanks buddy !!

[JAIDEEP2959]

Very good points there.

Research is also very important before you apply any money making method or buying any info product.

[falcon_warrior]

Hey

Really motivational letter. Newbies, please do not think that IM is a get rich quick scheme. While people do claim it is easy, NEVER let this statement make you cut back on your efforts. You should still put in your effort in earning before you see your first paycheck. Also, never be discouraged and always keep learning. Hope this helps

Nicholas Chen

[txr7]

I come from the Real Estate Investing niche, and the biggest sales pitch "gurus" give is that you can quit your J.O.B. and become your own boss. What people don't understand is that when having a job, there is a boss who tells you what to do and makes hard decisions. When you're own boss, you have to make those decisions. Unlike having a job, there is no guaranteed paycheck end of the week, you need to earn it.

Like they say, during the gold rush, those who sold the shovels made all the money. In Real Estate Investing, those who sold the "how-to" courses made the money. The same concept rubbed on the Info Marketing industry.

I've seen people who talk about how easy it is to throw a forum together and make easy money. They leave out the time and effort it needs to bring it to a point where members make it run on its own. If they make it sound hard, people won't buy the "how-to" books.

I am somewhat fine with that since there is the assumption that people are adults and should know better and should treat it as a business anyway.

But when people fabricate facts, twist things around with the intention of tricking people, then they are crossing the fine line.

[Apartments]

So all the copy produced by IM's stating how easy it is to make €10K per month is rubbish?

Are the IM's prosecuted for misleading advertising?

[tommygadget]

Originally Posted by Apartments

So all the copy produced by IM's stating how easy it is to make €10K per month is rubbish?

Easy in concept does NOT mean you don't have to work for it.

Originally Posted by Apartments

Are the IM's prosecuted for misleading advertising?

Those who lie outright will be.

TomG.

[tommygadget]

Hi Kevin, good to see you taking a break from playing with the hamsters. If I may, I would like to add a paragraph to your post.

Follow the main threads on the WF for a week or two and get a feel for the most popular approaches to getting started. This forum has a strong article "Bum" marketing following as an example. Once you see an approach that looks good for you, use the SEARCH function and pull up all the old threads that discuss all the details. Then create a plan of action and follow it. Do not jump ship until you see results. If you have questions along the way, we'll be here to help. Senior warriors always help people who have proven that they are willing to help themselves.

That's my addition. Thanks for the post Kevin.

TomG.

[ShawnC]

Great post Kevin. I'm a new warrior but not new to the web (I've been developing websites since 1998).

I AM new to 'internet marketing' in the way it's being done currently. I used to HATE HATE HATE the long sales letters, they just drove me batty. After plenty of split-testing and watching others and whatnot - i've come to see the light.

And there's plenty more 'light' where that came from. It's a fun ride, but like you said Kevin, it's also WORK and it takes TIME.

This should be stickied

[bar2k]

Kevin, your point is well taken. Lots of folks are attracted to the get rich quick mentality. Seems like getting up early, putting in sweat equity and being consistent is the keys to making money anywhere. Did I mention having a mentor to walk you through your first few launches?

[Rully]

wow, thanks for this great post Kevin. This is a "burning desire" post for me

[crissanteiro]

Hi Kevin:
I appreciate your article. I really feel at this point that the Warrior Forum is the best source of knowledge on the internet for internet marketers.

I also have spent a lot of money, and some of it has been well spent, but at the moment I feel I get more out of learning from you guys at the WF than signing up for more courses.

I also think the discussions here are real and substantive.

I recently started working on creating backlinks, and have received valuable information at the WF. For some amazing reason, I had not really understood the importance of backlinks until I read some threads here.

Anyway, I am pretty new to IM and am still looking for guidance from people who know how to do it. So I keep coming back.

[k8spy8]

Agreed in all aspect . It is the better place for the newbies. And for marketing discussion it is the great, simply great. I have learned a lot of things from here

[Shana_Adam]

Also there is a huge learning curve. It goes alot more deeper than making fast cash online.

You have to have the capacity to really learn about marketing. There is a difference between marketing, selling and making cash. Once the ingredients are right the success will follow.

The internet is not a trusted place - it takes a lot more work to turn a prospect into a customer.

The formula is consistency and hard work initially.

[rhj12345]

Great letter.

My advice.

Just learn to help other first, when you decide to market your products or affiliate products. The money will follow.

Rob

[BrashImpact]

Kevin,
an outstanding post, one that will really steer warriors in the
right direction. The frustrated are frustrated because of being
led astray by many newbies. This forum is an incredible resource
to say the least for those who know how to use it and apply what
they learned.

THanks for taking the time to write this post, as i know it will
save many a newbie warrior a lot of grief.
Regards,
Robert nelson

[C A Perez]

Kevin,
Thank you for the OP. I'm a Newbie (4 months). Posts like yours in this Forum help me stay the course. Luckily, I'm not one to jump from one thing to another. So I've avoided that trap. But it sure has been tempting. The sales pitches are so good and because you haven't made any money in the first week, you begin to think that you're missing out on that one piece of information that will make money.

Again, thanks for the post.
C.A. Perez

[SageSound]

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Internet marketing is just another vehicle for marketing goods and services, it's not a magic bullet to fill your bank account while you lounge around in your bathrobe.

Is it just me, or do virtually all of the sales page written by IMers have an aura of "too good to be true" about them?

Even most copywriting courses seem to focus on "how to sell the unbelievable".

Perhaps if folks would start to tune their antennas to stuff that actually seems "realistic", many of them wouldn't be so broke.

[robvegas626]

There is no question that anyone telling you that you will get rich with IM, by sitting around and doing nothing while the money rolls in, is selling you a bunch of bull.

This stuff takes a LOT of hard work. And there are always new things to try. When I started my business, I figured as soon as I reached $100 a day in profits every day, I would just sit back and collect money. Well, I reached that point a long time ago...and I could sit back and do very little, if I wanted to...

But this stuff gets in your blood! You WANT to keep experimenting, and building, and tweaking. So now, having reached my financial "goal" that I set for myself, I find myself putting in more hours than ever! But I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't love it...

[robvegas626]

By the way, I read a post in this forum recently that pretty much sums up the "bull" I was talking about.

A woman wrote, "My website has been up for a few weeks and I still haven't made a single sale. Can someone critique my website and tell me how to make money?"

What product was she trying to sell? An IM product, naturally. And her site was all about how she became rich because of IM! "I sit around all day and do nothing and make $10,000 a week!" or whatever...

...when in reality, she is hanging out on these message boards trying to get advice on how to make HER FIRST SALE.

[KDStyle]

Thank you for this great advise! I believe i can "extract" good ideas and turn it in BIG gold bars, but this is not so easy! Every who can work harder will be rewarded!

[SMP]

Great idea to write this open letter for newbies, Kevin.

The sheer volume of information and 'how to' guides available for IMs today is bewildering and it's easy to understand why newbies wonder where to start. Each promotion they receive is the 'best product yet' to make you money so where do they start?

The best piece of advice from many of the posts here, though, is to do SOMETHING. Don't sit on mountains of information and convince yourself that you will be ready one day to make money online. Choose a niche, research that niche, choose one or two traffic generation techniques and JUST DO IT.

Even if you only make a little money to start with, what you learn along the way will enable you to make a good living in time.

Steve.

[jesa8406]

Great post Kevin

I noticing more and more that it's really a simple process.

Find something that works, then work work work!

The level of action you take will determine the level of results you achieve.

[Hesaidblissfully]

That letter should definitely be stickied, if not printed out by every newbie to the forum and taped above their workspace.

I really do think there should be a "newbie guide" or special report that people get when they register with the forum that gives them a brief overview of internet marketing. Like what the common business models are, methods for finding products to sell, generating traffic, etc. along with tips for the right mindset to have. Obviously it couldn't cover each of those topics in depth, but just something that can point newbies in the right direction from day 1.

[mbrown]

Kevin,

Great post man. In the years of doing this I've seen so many people join even my programs and then not apply the knowledge. A few weeks after not doing anything - simply wonder where the money is and why they aren't making any.

It takes time and practice to make money online. Once you know how to make even a $1 it all get easier. $1 turns into $500 and then $500 to $5000 and so on with time and practice. I always tell my students to focus on the fundamentals, build from a solid foundation and stay focused on one thing at a time.

[Mark-Dickenson]

Originally Posted by Shana_Adam

The internet is not a trusted place - it takes a lot more work to turn a prospect into a customer.

The formula is consistency and hard work initially.

Unless you actually put the product(ie product name keywords) they are looking for right in front of their face

[GautamSaha]

This is a must read for anyone venturing in IM world... I wish I found this months ago.
I think going through this "IM Learning Curve" of your own is priceless!
... I am talking about:
Search in google about IM>Opt-in in those Long Sales latter>Start getting the
daily dosage of "Guru" advise/pitch>then start getting those product launch
email>Opt-in some more> Watch more teaser video tips from more Gurus>
Buy some products but before you act on it move on to the next product>
...You know how this vicious cycle goes... I can bet 90% of the marketers
went through this in some form or other.
I surely enjoyed it and it strengthened my resolve to build an online business.
So, Newbies no fear...take your time, do research, be within your budget, and take
some consistent actions... result with success and failure will follow...
Now, the question is how quickly can you learn and leverage from your failure ..

To everyone's success!

[Dawn Martin]

Originally Posted by SMP

Great idea to write this open letter for newbies, Kevin.

The sheer volume of information and 'how to' guides available for IMs today is bewildering and it's easy to understand why newbies wonder where to start. Each promotion they receive is the 'best product yet' to make you money so where do they start?

The best piece of advice from many of the posts here, though, is to do SOMETHING. Don't sit on mountains of information and convince yourself that you will be ready one day to make money online. Choose a niche, research that niche, choose one or two traffic generation techniques and JUST DO IT.

Even if you only make a little money to start with, what you learn along the way will enable you to make a good living in time.

Steve.

Thank you Kevin, for posting this, it certainly helps us newbies, well it did me! It does seem that at times, there are some that are willing to lead others astray, but it also shows that people should stop and think whether they will use this "latest & greatest" program.

Steve, what you've written makes sense, I've chosen my niche, I'm researching it and will have to wait and see whether it will work out in the long run.

For now, I'm going to go lurk in the background, will stop asking silly questions and wait for someone else to ask them for me!

Dawn

[paul_simister]

Very sound advice.

The Internet can be a combination of massive frustrations and big rewards and even those who are reasonably well established can bomb out at times.

[Jade0607]

Newbie here. Glad I came here first. I'm sure this advice will prove useful for my new ventures into IM.

[kennethtang]

Ah, Kevin, that was a breath of fresh air for a stale room full of incestuous smoke. Thank you.

Kenneth

Ps. Never thought you had a serious bone in your body

[keysartist]

Hi All,
As Yoda said, "There is no try...there is only DO!"

[maggie2]

Kevin,

As a newbie this post really hit home. Since coming here to the forum a few weeks ago I have bought several (probably 10 or 15) WSOs looking for information on how to make money online. You are right...I was going in all directions...thinking oh, maybe I should try this, then oh, maybe I should try that. But I wasn't doing anything.

I bought stuff about offline marketing, affiliate marketing, and a few other things. None of them really appealed to me totally. Then I bought some information on using the public domain and marketing items from that. THAT was it for me. I realized that I didn't need any further ideas...but that I wanted to work in this area. Why? Because I love books and reading and writing. What a perfect fit. And I love wonderful vintage stuff. What a perfect fit. And I love wonderful graphics...what a perfect fit. Now my only challenge is focusing on one project at a time and getting it up and running. But I'm working on that.

Man, I guess I got a bit long winded when all I really wanted to say is that I can attest to the validity of your post...been there, bought the t-shirt, but now feel I'm focused enough to get moving.

Thanks for the post.

[Mr Money Maker]

Great post, you'll get people excited for sure......eveyone wants to make money online. Times are hard, but together we can pull together and help each other.

[steveblum]

Thanks for laying it out like it is. Myself being a Warrior Forum newbie appreciate a site that takes Internet Marketing seriously. I can't wait to dig in and become a valuable member of the community.

[Profit-smart]

This is a great introductory post Kevin. I look forward to being part of a community that does such a stand up job of looking out for its members (Especially those, lucky enough, to end up here first)

I've spent the last 2 years active in other forums; and when I say seeing something like this speaks volumes about a community I'm not just being flattering.

Most online "community's", consist of ten thousand cut throats out to hustle each other. At least, those in the marketing niche.

-Jordan

[Yahara]

"You need to know where are you going in order to get there"

[worcaz]

Very good advice for newbies...if you only think about money when you join in Internet Marketing world, it's easily for you to give up when you face of failure...

[AM Faisal]

excellent advice kevin
how about making this sticky for all the newbies out there?

[Kevin Riley]

Jason

I don't believe that IM is hard. It is the easiest business I have ever built, and I've built a few. What makes it difficult for many is that they don't treat it like a business. They do a little of this and try a little of that. Never really have a solid action plan.

In the offline world that would bury you very quickly, and put you in serious debt. Online it just stops you from ever succeeding.

As for technical difficulties, if your hosting tech support doesn't help you, move to a better hosting company. Don't ever let tech stuff get in your way. You can always find someone who can help you out. That's what I do!

Originally Posted by JMueller129

Kevin, that was enlightening.

As a new member of the forum, I believe I fit right into the audience you intended for that letter. I'd like to first thank you for your wisdom and secondly, I'd like to pose a question for you. If internet marketing is hard, then why is it so often touted as "easy"? I've seen that no element in marketing is truly DIFFICULT. Repetitive, yes. Complex, maybe. However, we're not dealing with Rocket Science, here. That's a large draw to the industry for me.

However, there are a lot of hidden "hitches" that've been catching me. For instance, I have three domains right now. Two of them are having some problems, and I believe it's my hosting but I'm not sure. Now I have to figure out what in the world is going wrong with the technical aspect of my business. Things that you figure are as simple as "point and click" usually aren't - you'll wind up moving mountains to make it work though if you're serious about it.



Jason Mueller

[beerich]

Hi Kevin. thank you for this one. Truly it hits me. I am a newbie.I've read a few internet money making programs, freebies and paid. But at the end of the day, I always get caught with new programs that I could came across, leaving the other products untouched. Every time I read gurus claiming how they earned hundreds or thousands in a day, it motivates me ,tried following their program, one guru from another and that led me to none. I always start and not finishing.

Thank you again . You are right in every sense. I am your fan.

[Rachel Zaouche]

This post should be a sticky. Thanks Kevin excellent advice for those who have just joined and those that have been here a while but are still suffering from magpie (shiny things online) syndrome.

All the best

Rach

[jpwilliams]

Thanks for the post.

After working as a marketer for startup companies, I would like to apply my general knowledge to my own ideas and business.

As with any new hobby, job, or interest, it is a natural human tendency to become very interested at first, and then lose interest and quit. Several books have been written about this very idea. The Dip by Seth Godin. Mastery by George Leonard, which I personally recommend.

In Mastery, Leonard says the key to getting past the plateaus is to look forward to and enjoy the plateau. He states that in most learning, the majority of time will be spent in a plateau. Therefore, you must enjoy those times to stick with the pursuit.

Thanks again.