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Information Overload!

by TracyA
30 replies
Hi All.. A little introduction, I'm Tracy and I'm from the Toronto area of Ontario Canada... I'm new to this forum and very impressed with all the knowledge and expertise I see here! So I'm definitely sticking around!

But I'm just sooooo overloaded with information.. my brain is so full of advice and information it's just spewin' out of my ears by now!!


Yes, there is definitely money out there to be made, and I also know that I have to choose a path and stick to it. (I saw a line in another thread here that said something like "if you chase 2 rabbits one will get away" .. I like that, very true) But first I need some help choosing that path, and then I'd like to be taken down that path step by step until I feel like I'm on my way.
So. I'll tell you a bit about myself; my interests, skills, and stuff like that, and then maybe I could get some advice as to choosing a path. I kind of half-know already, but it's in bits and pieces and I need help pulling it all together and getting rolling. ..

Ok so, at heart, I'm a computer nerd from the days of mainframes and dinosaurs. .. (In the olden days when there was no such thing as a gigabyte.. and half the amount of data you can store on your cellphone would be in a disk drive the size of your freezer.) So therefore, being the old-school hardcore programmer that I am, I'm completely lost when I have tried blogging software, and website templates etc, and all the things that are supposed to make it "easy" for me. .. Sheesh even Dreamweaver I work in code view and hard-code everything. .. occasionally peeking at the split-view for guidance..

I want to do simple websites from home, but still just getting that off the ground and only recently got up enough confidence to (verbally) start marketing myself. I'm still a little skeerd though.. that I'm not "good enough" .. but then I see so many garbage websites on the net, that's enough to get my confidence back up a little.
(sorry, this forum won't let me post links till I've posted 15x .. so I'll just write them out..)
My web-design website is "cobwebz dot ca" (dot ca, NOT dot com) .. I've done one live website for a close friend of mine (pro bono) which is "greenrabbits dot com" and I have another website still in the wings, just waiting for content to fill it up..

I recently bought the Niche Blitzkrieg system and although it might work well for others, it just was not "for me" .. as it is heavily geared toward Wordpress and I was just getting frustrated trying to get Wordpress to cooperate with me, so I never got past the design stage. They had a 60-day guarantee, so I asked for a refund and was given promptly with no questions asked. It generally is niche marketing, covers keyword research, wordpress site building, and SEO. .. So anyway I dropped that and decided to just go back and choose a niche and then apply the standard SEO techniques. (very new to me!)

This is right now where I'm sitting at. I have created a little niche site, it's still a little bit, under construction, but I've got the home page, an article with keywords, and Adsense, and a page that goes into Ebay listings. There are a few pages I still have to do but wanted to get the SEO techniques in there just to get the traffic flowing and then I'll go back and finish the other pages. It's "Ledzeppelinstuff dot com". I would like to earn some money off affiliates with this.. and then if it works I'll make more sites that are similar.. different bands and artists... As I said I've just got the home page and the Records listings pointing to Ebay, and still have to return to the Compilations, Books, and Clothing sections.. I've got it #9 or so on google, last time I checked.. and really haven't done any SEO techniques like directory/article submissions (need to learn this), using only the keyword phrases right now for google ranking.

So, that's my computer stuff.. On the other side, you have no idea how many people have told me I should write a book. (about what? .. a book about "nothing" ? .. like Seinfeld?) I'm told my emails are amusing.. and get people laughing out loud, ... and I do know for a fact that I can turn a 1 sentence email into 4 paragraphs no problem. ..(Ha, See? do you see how long this post is??? LOL) I am really not interested in doing 'research writing' .. but I often will read the newspaper and see humourous columns, written by a regular writer, that talk about just normal current events, or family stuff, or just whatever.. I enjoy these columns and always think "hey I could write like that" .
So you see I have 3 paths I could go here.. Ideally I'd like to merge those paths into one somehow. but I'm kind of stuck now. just losing steam. .. need a plan.

Ok so listen, it's 1am and my eyes are starting to roll back into my head.
Lucky for you, or you'd be reading all day!

So goodnight for now.. =) Tracy
#information #overload
  • Profile picture of the author torozo
    So do I, I think that I am information overload right now and also "affiliate program" overload (joined too much affiliate program in several topics). I hope you find the solution soon.
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    • Profile picture of the author TOCExpert
      I had the same problem - information overload. There is so much one could do with internet marketing, which one should I do?

      Buying more internet marketing products is NOT the answer!

      I downloaded all the free reports, purchased several internet marketing products and found myself a little overwhelmed on which one to act on and where to actually start.

      I could not decide which first step was the best step for me. So I ended up with a VERY long list of projects and "to dos".

      As I went through each product I was inspired and thought "that's what I should do" and then "well, maybe I should start there".

      Each product was so big by itself I found myself overloaded with just one of them ... but I purchased several.

      I found that the more I learned, the more I needed to learn. If a product mentioned using a WordPress blog and I did not know how to build a WordPress blog - then I would purchase a product for that.

      And, I'm NOT knocking the products. All the ones I purchased were very good - well at least the ones I have actually gone through.

      The problem was NOT the products, it was me and my approach.

      I'm a Theory of Constraints (TOC) Expert (but definetly not an IM expert) so I decided I should apply the TOC tools and thinking. I developed a process for deciding the 1 thing I should be focused on and working on.

      Since then I started coaching some IM gurus on Theory of Constraints and I now use this process as one of the first exercises we do and it works great.

      I have documented the process because the IM gurus I was coaching said that it was very important to write it down. So if you would like to read about it I now have a free special report (and a download page to go with it!).

      I'm still NOT an IM expert and I still get a little overwhelmed from time to time, but this process has really helped me and the people I coach to stay focused.

      Let me know if you want a copy of the report. I'm happy to share it with the warrior forum community. (I think I can reply w/ an attachment?)

      Sincerely,
      Dr Lisa
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  • Profile picture of the author redfc
    Tracy,

    Information overload are common among Internet marketers. Relax and calm the mind, you'll see your way out.

    Since your are good at writing some path you may follow, copywriter, web designing.

    cheers

    former PICK,AIX administrator.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rafael Karimov
    Tracy, all of us are commonly under impact of information overload. I would recommend you:
    1. To check your email only at the end of the day, when you've already finished all your important work
    2. Concentrate only on 2-3 affiliate products at a time.
    3. FOCUS, FOCUS and FOCUS on the work you are doing at the moment.

    The BIG secret of all gurus is ACTION + FOCUS. That's all!

    I believe you will succeed at last!
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  • Profile picture of the author nizhama2
    Focus, focus and focus. You're not alone. I spent all my golden time this morning for information... again and again. I 'lost' in information. Back to action now. Focus.
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  • Profile picture of the author mywebwork
    Aloha Tracy, and welcome to the forum!

    Information Overload has to be the most common problem for all marketers, especially newbies. It's hard to ignore all of the advice and all of the money making strategies, but you have to do it and just pick one aspect of marketing and focus on it until you have it mastered.

    We have a similar background, I am also a Canadian (although I've escaped the cold weather for the last 8 years) and my background includes servicing IBM 3270 equipment and working with 5 MB (not GB) hard disk platters the size of bicycle wheels. I'm also a Led Zeppelin fan from way back, I remember camping out all night in front of the Montreal Forum during a snow storm in 1976 to get tickets to see them!

    Perhaps a good niche for you would be doing web sites for bands, with Toronto's diverse music scene I'm sure you could find some local talent who could use a web presence - perhaps you could cut them a deal which let you promote your affiliate products on their site. Once you have a few sites you could cross-promote them. Music sites are excellent to promote on YouTube and can also get local press.

    Above all don't give up!

    All the best...

    Bill
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    • Profile picture of the author scole954387
      Hi Tracy,

      Yeah, I know what you mean. There's more than enough information online. The biggest thing is to find something your interested in doing, picking a technique or strategy, and then just DO IT. The last part is where most people fail. They have all the information they need, but fail to take the action needed to succeed.

      Shannon
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      100% of ALL NET REVENUE from the sale of my WSO above will be used on Kiva.org!!!

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    • Profile picture of the author Ron.
      Darn good response. I was thinking of something similar but you've made it so clear, I needed to reread it twice. Especially the part in red.

      That was my conclusion about affiliate marketing.

      thanks
      Ron




      Originally Posted by mywebwork View Post

      Aloha Tracy, and welcome to the forum!

      Information Overload has to be the most common problem for all marketers, especially newbies. It's hard to ignore all of the advice and all of the money making strategies, but you have to do it and just pick one aspect of marketing and focus on it until you have it mastered.

      We have a similar background, I am also a Canadian (although I've escaped the cold weather for the last 8 years) and my background includes servicing IBM 3270 equipment and working with 5 MB (not GB) hard disk platters the size of bicycle wheels. I'm also a Led Zeppelin fan from way back, I remember camping out all night in front of the Montreal Forum during a snow storm in 1976 to get tickets to see them!

      Perhaps a good niche for you would be doing web sites for bands, with Toronto's diverse music scene I'm sure you could find some local talent who could use a web presence - perhaps you could cut them a deal which let you promote your affiliate products on their site. Once you have a few sites you could cross-promote them. Music sites are excellent to promote on YouTube and can also get local press.

      Above all don't give up!

      All the best...

      Bill
      Signature
      "Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody"
      -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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      • Profile picture of the author KarenKramer
        I love information... I'm one of those people that needs new input constantly but you are right... it leads to information overload.

        Recently I got some great advice from Marlon Sanders about overload. His recommendations have helped me sort through all that data and start moving forward again.

        Here's a brief overview of the Marlon Sanders Cure..

        1. List all your options, To Do Lists and dreams

        2. Group them by type... i.e Traffic Sources, Products, Marketing strategies,

        3. Now decide which is the most important to YOU.... and just do that for the next two weeks... everything else can wait.

        If you are just starting, the first step is to find a Niche and some keywords, then you'll need to decide how you want to Market to that Niche, Don't forget about building a List and getting traffic..... (Can you see how easy it is to become overwhelmed?)

        Just pick ONE thing... do it with all your heart, master it and then move on to the next thing..

        And by all means.... Get on Marlon Sander's List.:p
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        Karen Kramer
        Slightly Quirky Writer
        and Social Media Butterfly

        Don't Be Caught UnPrepared -Free Survival Emergency Checklists
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Lots of people can avoid info-overload by simply researching and selecting an online business model and then getting the knowledge and tools necessary for conduct the model.

    Successful online business is about making choices and then taking action and then monitoring the results of your choices and actions.

    Here's a thread that should clear the air for any newbie that's confused and has info-overload.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...hese-days.html

    Hope This Helps!!

    TL
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    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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    • Profile picture of the author TracyA
      Thanks All for some great advice!
      Yeah I know you're absolutely right, I need to FOCUS.. and that's the reason it's so hard to focus is because of that Information Overload.

      I see right now I'm trying to do 3 things at once.. first trying to make money doing what I mainly want to do, which has nothing at all to do with IM, building/hosting websites... but since my business is starting off slowly (I've only recently finally got up enough confidence to start marketing myself... I've got a bad case of "Maybe-I-Suck-And-Nobody-is-Telling-Me-Itis") ... so I would like (um, need) to make a little money in the meantime while I'm waiting for my other business to take off. (Yes the cash is a great incentive but if I can get my husband to stop busting my a$$ to make some money, that's worth way more to me than the cash. LOL) ... So that's where the IM comes in... where I want to try some niche sites. And then, to confuse myself even more, I still have in the back of my head the fact that so many people have told me I should write, so then I start wondering how I could make money from that. And THEN, when I'm looking around for information about, say niche sites, or SEO to promote my niche site, I end up falling across even MORE information.. "sign up for this newsletter", or "click here for this ebook", .. then the information starts filling up my inbox.. and all this is great information but it's "well I want to read this later.. looks like great info.." And in no time at all I've filled up my folders/desktop/OneNote with ebooks, links, and articles.. and I'm now soooo behind on stuff I want to 'read later' .. and then, Gah! I'm drowning!! blub-blu-blub-blub.. and that's when I write an incredibly long post resembling a novellette on the Warrior Forum to whine about it!

      So. good advice from all of you.. I've got to just stick to one thing and block out everything else. Put those blinders on. I of course am keeping my main business objective going, and will prioritize that over everything else. .. And I've started the niche site; That will be the model I will focus on with the IM. I gotta get an SEO strategy going to bring that site closer to the top of google.. and put on the blinders while I'm doing that. (No more following links!!!) And the writing thing, ah just forget about that for now and stick to writing incredibly long emails.

      Thanks TL for the link to that "newbie" post. It was VERY helpful to open my eyes to learn what I need to do in order to focus. I needed to see that breakdown of the different models.. Excellent post.. thanks again=)
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  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    Drugs. I recommend getting on ADD drugs right away. Best thing I ever did for my own IM business venture. Hang around school yards and you can score some Ritalin pretty cheap.

    Seriously, though, IMADD is what I call it. It takes incredible will power to focus and ignore all the shiny red candy-like buttons (that's for all you Ren & Stimpy fans). Don't fight it. Accept it, indulge it occasionally, and go back to whatever you choose to do once your Jones has been satisfied.

    John
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    • Profile picture of the author TracyA
      LOL John.. yep, I do believe you are right. I need to be medicated. .. IMADD. Love it.

      (... oh and btw, I think the one line above is the shortest post I've ever written.. I must be tired. :p)
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  • Profile picture of the author Shaun706
    I agree there's so much info here you can become paralyzed and wind up doing nothing. You should decide exacly what it is you want to do regarding im and then go after it like your life depended on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author TOCExpert
    BTW, I would agree with what many people have suggested. Focusing on one thing is really key. In addition, I would add that you need a process to determine what that one thing should be.

    Any of the books on getting things done are also very good. But again, they miss how to choose what to focus on.

    I hope that helps.
    Dr Lisa
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  • Profile picture of the author EquestrianGal
    Focus on one thing...... have a good filing system set up for the rest so that you have something to refer to... this place is like a huge reference book with tons of networking opportunities!
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnnyPhunk
    One thing I learned from Eben Pagan to help with focus...

    Eliminate distraction and interruption.
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  • Profile picture of the author robinincarolina
    Check your email at the end of the day, that is the best tip I have gotten in a long time, because I do get distracted by that very much.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marc Jager
    Hi TracyA,
    Being new myself, i can relate to the overload bit.
    What I do is go as hard as I want but when I start feeling overloaded, i just don't do any IM-related study for a day or two. I'll just play computer games or go out of the house.
    While I agree with TLTheLiberator about "...researching and selecting an online business model and then getting the knowledge and tools necessary to conduct the model", I don't agree it's 'simple'.
    What we (Novices) have a problem with is knowing which model to follow. (Mind you, I haven't checked the 'Newbies Are Darn Lucky These Days!!' thread yet - but thanks in advance for the link!)

    I'm basically forcing myself to stick to 2-3 methods/angle of attacks but I agree with people who say you should stick with just ONE.

    Another thing I recommend is listening to posts by successful warriors who say things like "it's this simple", and then outline about 6 bullet points to succeed in IM. They are saying it isn't as complicated as this forum makes it seem.
    I'll try to dig one up for you.
    Here's what one guy said: It's this simple:
    Find a niche - check
    Make a site - check
    Make a product - check
    Accept payments - check
    Get traffic - check
    Get affiliates - check

    Another similar one:
    • Buy a domain name/website address - I bought mine from 123 Reg.
    • Build a squeeze page using a Web Editor. I used Kompozer which is free.
    • Set up an account with aweber/Get Response. I use aweber and find them great (I'm not an affiliate!). I think Get Response might be a bit less user friendly.
    • Create an opt-in form with aweber and add it to your squeeze page.
    • Compose autoresponder messages with aweber which go out to your list on a regular basis so you can build up a relationship with them
    Good luck Tracy!
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  • Profile picture of the author Leads4Builders
    I'm new to, and you're right..there's a ton of info. Just stay on focused on niche and go for it 100%
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  • Profile picture of the author Cassie18
    Hi Tracy

    I'm in the same boat as you.:confused: A bit confused by all the information out there. Very happy it is out there but at the same time don't quite know what to do with it. Doing a lot of research and am very thankful for this forum and the helpful people that post here!
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  • Profile picture of the author TOCExpert
    Not only do I not open my email, but I also have to keep Twitter and Facebook updates from grabbing my attention.

    The more followers you have the worse it gets.

    So I check email once an hour -- looking for clients and I leave the rest for once a day. If you don't have the client issue, then I would just deal with it once a day.
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    • Profile picture of the author uncle randy 71
      one more suggestion: based on your background in programming, have you considered selling your services on this board as an outsource? There is a specific section that will allow you to sell your services. This would do a few things for you (1) get you some money really quick (2) give you more experience that you could discuss in a blog to other programmers (3) allow you to see what other people are selling/interested in (your clients). Just my 2 cents.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kneb Knebaih
    Mindmapping is the ONLY solution...

    Nothing else works better.

    Period.
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    • Profile picture of the author EmmaJames
      Originally Posted by Kneb Knebaih View Post

      Mindmapping is the ONLY solution...

      Nothing else works better.

      Period.
      Kneb is right, once I learned about mindmapping and started
      using it, I could really see what I was doing with my time as
      plan for the best use of my day.

      I like bubbl.us which is a free web app that works well especially
      if you are using a mindmap for the first time.
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      • Profile picture of the author ijohnson
        This thread has been SUCH a welcomed relief!!! I came over to Warrior last night to search for "mindmapping" because I was so overwhelmed by all the information and felt a mind map may help me. I am going nowhere fast with my thoughts scattered all over the place. I'm in need of a process or tool to help me corral my thoughts, set some goals, and take the necessary steps to build a successful blog and niche sites! I came across "freemind" (a mindmapping tool by Chuck Frye), downloaded it, but thought a tutorial on how to effectively use the software and conquer the process would be helpful. So I came over here in search of a helping hand to point me in the right direction.

        Thanks, for all the tips and helpful links you fellow Warriors have provided. I will jump right on them so I can jump back on doing the things that will make it all happen.
        Signature
        Make every day count!
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        • Profile picture of the author TOCExpert
          The key to once and for all stopping information overload is to start a new pattern. Patterns are what we typically do and include the things we shouldn't be doing. And becuase it's a pattern we often don't even realize that were doing stuff we shouldn't.

          So, identify what you should not be doing. And stop doing those things.
          With the time you have now recovered, start doing what needs to be done.

          These 2 actions will create a new pattern by disrupting the old pattern.

          Much of our time is taken up doing what should not have been done but was. This is called ineffectiveness.

          Due to ineffectiveness we don't do or it takes longer to do what we were supposed to have done -- this is called unreliable.

          Ineffectiveness causes unreliability.

          Distrupt your old patterns and you can become both effective and reliable!
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  • Profile picture of the author nailzer01
    I know how it happens. Like every second counts and the small portion that you miss becomes a big gap in the overall outcome. Tiny tiny moves of ignorance causes me to waste a lot of time. My one hour work takes 1.2 hour. But I feel relaxed thinking that I wasted few minutes on relaxation but in the end I am delayed with my dead line.

    Don't know what to do? No mater how much I try.
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    • Profile picture of the author ijohnson
      TLTheLiberator,

      Thanks for the link you provided -- excellent information and interesting follow-up comments, too.

      It really did help me re-focus and gave me a starting point from which to begin putting the pieces to the puzzle together. When you think about it, it is relatively simple. I already have some step-by-step programs I've purchased that I need to go back and revisit. Instead, I've gone off on a wild-goose-chase in search of more information or "the next best thing"! Information overload, a dwindling bank account, and stress headaches are a result of my inability to stay focused and use what I have.

      I love a comment you made over on that thread:

      "All I'm trying to do at this forum is to help newbies get off the sickening, bitchin and moaning info-overload-research to death -everything-must be perfect before I do anything boat they're riding straight to never ever make any real money land...

      ... at the beginning of a golden age for conducting online business."

      That statement made me laugh because "that's me"! That's been my mantra because I'm living in a constant state of confusion (online and off). :confused: Moaning and groaning is so much easier to do when you're confused and don't know how to see your way out. Action is the key . . . that I know. However, the hardest part is "just doing it" -- overcoming fear and procrastination to take the necessary steps to make it all happen!

      Thanks, again, for caring enough to help clarify things for those of us who can't quite wrap our head around all the information out there and pick out only what we need to move forward.
      Signature
      Make every day count!
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