How do you balance the drive for $ with providing value?

Keep worrying about value, and the money will come with it. All of the methods that you mention are just short sighted solutions that keep getting shut down with each algorithm update. Focusing on the end user will not only bring you more money in the long run; but companies like Google are actually going to start rewarding you for doing so. It's a double win.

I posted a comment on another thread, which you can find here: http://www.warriorforum.com/mind-war...ml#post5925162

Basically people who only seek to get rich get depressed. So, it may be better to focus almost exclusively on providing value and being richly rewarded as a result.

In any business, I believe the main thing is to provide value and you get paid for that. And to do that you need to understand the market and give them what they need

Even for autoblogs/article spinner, you still need to have seed buying keywords - you most likely still need to do some basic niche research, know the market/users' need, find high paying keywords, cpa offers etc. And for this case, think about it you still get paid by providing value - though small - and the very reason why Google "shoots" these down. 'Cause the value add is small compared to a human created/updated blog, or someone with lots of passion for a certain niche

Of course many ramp it up when they see some successes and create tons of autoblogs - creating thousands of small value sites. You still do provide value and you'll get paid.

Have you wondered why some marketers are able to make ten of thousands of dollars from a small list while others make the same from a huge list?

I am reading this book called the Millionaire Fastlane and in there there's this formula,
Amt of Money = Scale x Magnitude

You can become a billionaire if you have are big in both scale (market size) and magnitude (value products/services).

I appreciate and support your focus on providing great customer service. In the long run, you have to live with yourself and creating value for others is the best way to feel that you have been a contributor. As others have suggested here, if you can combine high quality products that are in demand along with attention to the needs and interests of your targeted prospects, you will win on many levels.

GT

I think its not about choosing one or the other, especially when it comes to drive, you can be motivated by multiple things for the same goal. Providing value AND making money. Motivation often has multiple causes. I am motivated by both of above, and I have other motivations like my family, making a change, the excitement of business, lifestyle/freedom, contribution. Just to name a few personal things. Some are higher than others in terms of drive but they all contribute to my overal drive.

"You can get everything you want, if you help enough people get what they want."~Zig Ziglar

Start with value. What do people want? How can I make it?

I would rather devote my time and energy to things that I am passionate about, and that are legal and ethical, than just hustle and earn lots of money doing boring tasks that I consider unethical.

Just remember this, whatever you do, you do to yourself. That's the street version of the Golden Rule. But I don't think you need to be reminded.

Just because you're switching from eBay to mainstream online marketing doesn't mean you have to throw your ethics and morals away. There are lots of people on this forum and elsewhere who strive to treat people as they want to be treated.

I don't know of anyone out there who WANTS to get screwed. So why do they do things like spam and spin and scrape and all the rest? Some truly don't know better. Some don't understand the first thing I wrote up above, whatever you do you do to yourself.

Whenever I'm creating something new it always takes much longer than I expect because I get almost obsessed with making it really great, the way I would want something. But guess what? I'm running a business.

I'm not some drive-by wiseguy in it for the quick hit. And if you're conserend with providing value, you're not either. Shortcuts are okay if you can keep the quality up but many shortcuts in IM just leave people on the other side of the shortcut feeling used and abused. Good luck.

Always go that extra mile, as Napoleon Hill says in his book. Put yourself in the customers position, can you see value for money? Don't focus on the rubbish sites. There are many, highly successful IM people on line. Follow their advice.

i agree with Michael55555

Great message thanks satisfy .

That sounds like a good idea. You can write and publish insightful original content and reviews on quality products you find. That's providing value to others, isn't it?

There are lots of website publishers who offer great value to their readers and they make money everyday.

I guess some people will make money through manipulative means, but the question remains as to how long these methods can last.

This is all fantastic advice guys.

Some of the most successful businesses out there were started by people just doing what they love and are passionate about.