You Don't Have to be an Expert to Make Money

9 years ago

I agree as long as your first sales letter on your first site before your first dollar is made proclaims that you are an expert and have income screen shots to show it. I believe people can legitimately grow and improve into expertise because everyone starts at stage one but when faking it until they make it includes lying or near lying it's wrong.

Mark

Edit: I included lying claims above but also would include other lies to prove expertise when there is none. Find a way to not lie and start building expertise is my point. If you start out with a lie in your quest to become an expert you are starting off on the wrong foot.

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coluden

9 years ago

Steve,
As much as I'm in the 'mood' to disagree with you, perhaps just annoy you; sorry I cannot. You are so right. As we persist, it becomes easier. The important thing is to add technical knowledge as you go on, so that you are always making progress.

Thanks for sharing,
Anthony

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Roth

Banned 9 years ago

I disagree with you. Especially when it comes to information products/info businesses, I think more people should be more honest about what they're qualified and not qualified to do. There are enough fakers running around as it is...there really doesn't need to be more polluting the net.

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Steve B

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Roth

I disagree with you. Especially when it comes to information products/info businesses, I think more people should be more honest about what they're qualified and not qualified to do. There are enough fakers running around as it is...there really doesn't need to be more polluting the net.

Roth,

Thank you for commenting and it's certainly OK to disagree.

I believe there are ways to provide quality products and content without being dishonest and "faking it."

One thing I've done, quite successfully, is to license books, courses, etc that I didn't write and sell them. I've never claimed to be an expert when I wasn't. For licensed content I have always credited the experts that produced them and they still sell well.

You can also create products using public domain content. You'd be surprised at what you can find and it doesn't have to be vintage or outdated. The U.S. governments produces a lot of public domain reports and papers that are very current.

Another strategy is to interview experts and compile what you find.

If you get a little creative, you can provide quality content without having to claim you're an expert.

I would never advocate you lie about or fake what you claim for yourself or what you sell.

You just have to think outside the box a little.

Thanks,

Steve

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Christopher Fox

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Steve B

One thing I've done, quite successfully, is to license books, courses, etc that I didn't write and sell them. I've never claimed to be an expert when I wasn't. For licensed content I have always credited the experts that produced them and they still sell well.

You can also create products using public domain content. You'd be surprised at what you can find and it doesn't have to be vintage or outdated. The U.S. governments produces a lot of public domain reports and papers that are very current.

This is dependent upon the market, among other things. No offense to all ya'll, but if I go to Google to look up a Health issue, one of the top 3 results in the SERPS better be something like WebMD. I don't care if it is to research a life threatening illness, or an 'embarrassing' problem where an info product can be sold, like anal leakage.

And that is because I, like everyone else, SEEKS AND PREFERS information, regardless of subject, that comes from a LEGITIMATE EXPERT, not a Googler that thinks a few hours reading will replace years of hands on experience and research.

It is ultimately dependent upon the market for how important expertise actually is, but a problem with your 'method' I quoted is your inability to determine if it is actually expert, valid advice - 'cause ya don't really know what the hell you are talking about in an info product you assemble in such fashion. If you are not an expert, expert enough to be teaching, informing, etc., you certainly do not have the needed experience to filter out the garbage in all of the free/PD info you can gather up.

Think about some info product for the IM niche being created by ways you are suggesting. For all one has to do, according to you, is go catch up on the forums, some blogs, and PD stuff.

Think that product would be worth a crap? If it was assembled by a non-expert in IM from reading posts on this forum and a few 'make money' blogs?

And, if being an expert isn't important, why do SO MANY IMers/affliate marketers/product creators use FAKE IDENTITIES?

That question is worth asking yourself again ...

They call them, umm, pen names, like they are a literary author (versus a marketer creating a fake identity and generating content - what they actually are).

You better believe that customers usually EXPECT that they are buying from an expert. Not someone who is hiding behind a fake identity because they are anything but an expert in the field.

I am making generalizations for which exceptions can be found and real expertise is not necessary (or necessarily expected) to enter the market, but when it comes to the realm of IM that deals with info products being sold via blogs and email lists, MOST customers WOULD NOT BUY FROM YOU if they knew you had 5 other sites where you are everything from a successful business person to a personal trainer to a dog expert, etc. and run the spectrum from being a 60 year old married man to a single woman in her 20's, with each site having a fictitious and deceitful persona (bet yer arse most IMers are INTENTIONALLY deceiving when they create these fake personas - they do not want their customer to know their REAL identity and experiences, or lack thereof, for it would cost many sales).

Again, we can all come up with a list of exceptions where one does not have to be an actual expert in the niche with years of training and experience, but put yourself in the buyer's shoes. Do YOU really want to buy an info product claiming to 'solve your problems' from someone who's expertise comes from 4 hours spent surfing the net for that info?

Do you really want to buy an info product from a non-expert that is hiding behind a lie, a fake identity and persona?

I don't.

But, in the end, with the infancy of all of this still (yes, I believe the net to be in its infancy stage, still), all that matters is traffic, sales funnel, and copy. Further, certainly depending upon the niche, a low return rate is NOT an indication of people accepting you as an expert, or that even coming to mind.

People need to be careful thinking they can follow MUCH of the advice here regarding things like product creation and how to get the info to put them together, for TRUE experts can smell that stuff a mile away. There is one area where I am a 20 year expert and there is one serious info product out there for $57. I say serious meaning it is the only one with a legitimate affiliate program, sales page, etc. Done by an IMer who is NOT an expert in the field. And it is an info product with BAD information in it and OBVIOUSLY put together by someone with no real experience that got their info from the forums in the niche and other random places on the net, as you suggest is 'all ya gotta do if you aren't an expert, and everything will be fine.'

This particular case, many purchasers will not figure this out (what many experienced IMers gamble on, and win, unfortunately), certainly not before any 30/60 day money back guarantee expires, for various reasons. But, with a good sales page and copy, the actual quality of the info is second (or third, or fourth) in line for consideration factors. Copy and Sales Page Conversion Rates are King with much of this stuff, with other things being less important.

Although not my area right now, product creation/affiliate program setup (don't think clickbank, et al, will run a several hundred page ebook on this particular subject), I am making time and actually putting together my own product, for as a passionate expert in this particular field, it genuinely pisses me off that some schlep is LYING about his experience level in this field, a LIE he must tell to increase sales, while also handing out plenty of misinformation.

And the tough part will be competing with his Internet Marketing, NOT his expertise in the area. For s/he that wins that last battle is the one who makes sales, not the one who wins the expertise battle.

Tis a shame, ain't it? Someone lying about being an expert, putting out some bad information (for they lack the expertise to know the information is bad), and probably making a nice chunk 'o change from this one info product. Any idea of how many info products across many markets this describes? Probably a whole bunch. Not a game I want to play, but that is just me and I like to sleep well at night ...

I understand you clarified that you do not lie about being an expert, and I do not accuse you, in particular, of such. I also will not apply this post to every niche and market, but I think it a question more people need to ask themselves and as a general rule, I think one should be somewhat experienced in the field, certainly for product creation.

But, that is one of the LAST qualifications you will see required on this forum, for everyone thinks they can just spend a few hours surfing the web and become an 'Instant Expert' on whatever field they wish to pursue.

ROFLMAO on that silly notion ...

I'm with Roth, and as he indicated, I am talking mostly about info products and the affiliates that sell them, which is a mainstay of what many people consider Internet Marketing to be.

There are exceptions to everything, including info product creation, but don't kid yourself - if your potential customers knew your expertise on the subject was a result of the methods you suggest, they would NOT make a purchase from you, for people EXPECT to buy info from an expert. Again, plenty of exceptions - one could create an article, blog post, etc., from research and have it be accurate and expert like, but THERE ARE VERY REAL LIMITS on how far one can take it, and it is not as far as the general consensus of this forum makes it.

I am trying to provide a counter argument (a sincere one, not just playing Devil's Advocate), not attack anyone. In the end, the things I mention are not the end of the world, nor the most immoral business practices imaginable, but put yourself in your customers shoes and think about where YOU want your information to come from, ESPECIALLY if you are paying for it - from a legitimate expert or someone pretending, even if they are not claiming outright that they are, an expert.

Your customers assume and trust you are an expert in your field, not a proficient Googler. That ought to tell ya some things ...

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IvoryPearl

9 years ago

There are different levels of expertise and experience. We will all be forever learning new things and unlearning outdated things so today I am an expert but tomorrow I am a newbie...today I am a newbie but tomorrow I am an expert....

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The Niche Man

9 years ago

I think expert is another one of those words that's starting to step into a fuzzy gray area. It's especially true when it comes to online marketing. Because there is no "certification process" to go through that would deem a person expert like other industries.

So, it's often left to conjecture, opinion or unwritten rules.

To some an expert is someone who knows more about a subject than the general population.

To others I'm an expert if I know where to find specific information when needed (Google and YouTube has made millions of instant experts)

And to others you're only an expert if you've made a certain amount of money with screen shots. But then again, that would leave many teachers, University professors and scholars out.

I agree that being an expert is not a prerequisite to profitability! But being a good researcher, having an eye for detail and being professional is. Because as soon as you say or even imply you're an expert people's magnifying glass, critical cap and skeptical eye comes out.

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Chris_Custer

9 years ago

Originally Posted by The Niche Man

I think expert is another one of those words that's starting to step into a fuzzy gray area. It's especially true when it comes to online marketing. Because there is no "certification process" to go through that would deem a person expert like other industries.

The term "expert" is very subjective and fluid depending on the market expectations (medical advice versus article marketing advice) and the vantage point of the end-user. If I know more than you about something you want to know about, am I an expert to you? Does it really matter to you?

I think what Steve is getting at, and I agree, is that too many people hide behind the "I'm not an expert" excuse to not taking action, when the real issue is they're afraid to fail. And I get that. Been there many times.

No, you don't have to be an expert. You do, however, need to be knowledgeable on the content you're providing, and honest enough not to make claims feigning experience you don't have. And if enough people want to know what you know badly enough, they'll pay for it.

They won't give a crap if you're an "expert" or not.

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kilgore

9 years ago

I certainly don't think you have to be a subject-matter expert to succeed in business, but you should have some sort of skills or talents that give you a competitive edge. Subject matter expertise can fall into that category, but so can writing, programming, design, management or any number of other things. Obviously the more of these things you do well, the more likely it'll be that you succeed.

The key is to make sure that what makes you better, faster, cheaper (or however else you differentiate yourself from the competition) is aligned with your skills, talents as well as with your business model. So as mentioned above, if you're selling information products, it's probably a good idea to be a subject matter expert. Unless (as also noted) you're selling your talent as someone who's good at compiling and packaging research. Or maybe instead of creating your own information products, you're good at selling quality books as an Amazon.com affiliate. The point is, if your positioning yourself in a way that your competitive edge is the quality of your product, that product had better be good. Give me a reason I shouldn't just go to Amazon myself, do a quick search and buy a fantastic (and cheap) book like "The Four Steps to the Epiphany" but instead should buy the shoddy looking e-book that you're hawking for $87.

Of course there are also of plenty of other fantastic business models that in no way involve the creation of or selling of information products. Do I need to be a mechanic to sell cars? Probably not, though having some car knowledge seems like a reasonable prerequisite. The same would seem to apply to other forms of e-commerce or to software as a service or any number of other types of businesses. My team has never created an ebook, a video course, a squeeze page, a sales page (at least not in the way that most here would recognize), or an opt-in page. We do what we're good at and competes only where we can win. We do what works for us, both based on what our customers want, but also based on what we are able to deliver -- and deliver better than anyone else. Over two years later, we absolutely do have great content knowledge, but we didn't start as experts and even now, there are plenty of others who know more about our subject than we do. But we're not positioning ourselves as content creators so that's just fine.

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savidge4

9 years ago

I totally get what you are saying. But I think there is a line there somewhere. Starting in a subject you are not an expert in is something we as marketers do over time. But just starting out its really not about the passion of the subject as it is about the "experience" of the subject.

There is no question that anyone can write an article on a subject. I personally do it all the time. you just hit the net, read 3 or 4 articles and combine what you have read in your own words. with this the "Lack" of experience doesn't show. Taking that knowledge and sharing it on this forum is right in line with this.

Its the product creation, the membership site, and even selling a product and developing a list that the lack of experience shows.

I personally have a Wordpress WooCommerce based forum. I have a mailing list with 5000+ on it. Those people are getting first hand experience in programming and web development from somebody that does it for a living. The level of value drops considerably if someone is reaching the same crowd and has no clue the difference between CSS and PHP.

We see this manifest in front of us all the time. those posts with titles like "How to get traffic to my site?" and they have a sig link to "Make $1000 this week" What can these people offer to their mailing list once they have them? What can they offer of value in a Membership site? Chances are even better than good that these same people probably have not even bought and looked at the product they are selling.

Then there is product creation. I was looking at a piece that someone had put together on getting likes on Facebook. as in 1000 in 24 hours for free. really to a point the product had some merit, it might work.. but then you look at their social links on their site and what is there? Facebook likes 0. REALLY?

It should be a law ( only kidding ) that if you create a product and you are claiming X results that YOU personally should have gotten those results from THAT product. If that law really existed In the MMO world, 99.999% of the marketers would be out of business.

There is basically a market place full of crap products that are produced to create income based on nothing more than an idea. it really is just short of fraud. And really Im not even talking about the MMO niche only here. its IM in general. its just sad on many levels.

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svetod

9 years ago

"Fake it till you make it" -
It's not a motto I live by and certainly not meant in a way to really fake smth, but everyone should start somewhere and have the confidence to try and fail, while working their way to the top.

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Sid Hale

9 years ago

I think almost everyone so far, has missed the point of Steve's original post.

"But being an expert is not a prerequisite to profitability!"

Not once did he imply that you should try to fake anything, nor try to label yourself as an "expert" or "guru".

Creating a useful, helpful product... and then marketing it well is really all that it takes.

Product creation, and Sales are both learned skills, but the entry level skill sets can easily generate good returns. Practice makes perfect (i.e. more profitable).

Those who don't have it... fake it (think HYPE, false scarcity, and/or doctored screenshots).

There's really no need, 'cause it just ain't that hard.

edit: correct me if I'm wrong, Steve.

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Tom Addams

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Steve B

I've been a member of this forum for awhile and I've noticed over the years that many, many would-be marketers hesitate and often turn away from this business because they think they have to be an expert or an authority in some chosen subject in order to be "qualified" to write an article, create a product, start a membership site, or even post a thread in this forum.

I'm 39 now. When I began a university career at 18, I managed to find myself at a very prestigious institution. Had I turned up to my first lecture, Microeconomics 101, and discovered a nice, friendly chap standing behind the podium, a nice chap without professional qualifications, but a nice chap who, through reading the morning paper, had a working understanding of microeconomics, I would have been rather disappointed. I would have wanted, you see, an expert to teach me the subject. This is commonsense. It turned out I had a PHd lecturing that morning. I would have taken him over the nice chap any day of the week.

Fast-forward to October 30th, 2014, today. Let us say, I don't know, I want to learn how to create software in VB. I happen to notice 2 WSOs on the subject. One is created by a nice chap who has used software before and has a basic understanding. The other chap has been producing software for 30 years, knows the ins-and-outs of the industry, can code in VB and numerous other languages, has a facility for writing, and - in a nutshell - is an expert. Which WSO do I buy? The non-expert WSO or the expert? I'm smart, so I choose the expert WSO.

Do you need to be an expert in a particular field to produce a product about that field in which you are (let us repeat) an expert? No. Of course not. But, to create a great product, it is a necessity. I'm not an expert in software programming. I'm familiar. Could I produce a product? I could. Would it be good? Nope. Would it be a worthwhile thing to give to the world? It would not.

There is an old saying among fiction authors: Write what you know.

I offer the same saying to anyone in this industry. If you are an expert in dog training. Write about it. If you are an expert in social media management. Write about it. If you are NOT an expert in anything, then BECOME ONE. And then, if you wish, write about it. Non-experts have diluted this industry enough. It creates resistance from our target audience because, having purchased low-quality products in the past, they are wary of every product, wary even of the good ones. And, really, how is a person to tell the good from the bad when there is more bad than good? It is, in my opinion, this thinking - that people should be allowed to educate in subjects for which they have little knowledge - that not only dilutes this industry, causing people to waste money and making it harder for experts to sell worthwhile products, but it eats away at the reputation of us all. Think of all the junk out there. It towers over the worthwhile products. And, for those of us who produce worthwhile products, we have to work in an industry where marketers are known for the low-quality, the shams, and thereby we get tarred with the same brush.

I would certainly not encourage any newcomers to create a membership site or a product unless they ARE experts. You have to think of the long-term. If you become an expert and give people a great product, they will buy from you today and maybe every year for the next 40 years. Sell them crap, that's it. One shot deal. No more. And, in the process, not only do you ruin your own business, but you negatively impact the industry as a whole.

Write what you know.

GRM

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collison

9 years ago

The "expert" meme is a bit of red herring. Often we don't get what we want from an "expert" for many reasons:

Maybe the content is too broad, the book is intimidatingly long, it's in an academic paper, there is too much detail. The "expert" can't explain it properly , he doesn't "speak to me" . resonate with me. Sometimes highly focused information is what I want, well explained, concise easy to understand or maybe video, from someone who may not be an expert, but who understands me and my problems is what I sometimes want.

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jbsmith

9 years ago

I have seen it over and over again...X has 50% of the knowledge as Y, but because X is active, has empathy for his or her market, relates better to their market and is a better teacher and communicator they become a massively successful entrepreneur while Y continues to preach, dream and come up with excuses why they are actually smarter or better.

If you have a passion for helping your market/customer, have their best interests in mind, have empathy and learn to communicate effectively with them...you will win.

Jeff

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Steve B 9 years ago

As Syd, and Chris, and Jeff have pointed out, the important point I was trying to make with this thread is that you don't need to be stopped in your tracks or feel like you can't have a profitable business if you don't consider yourself an expert in some field.

Average people make money in simple little businesses that you would never suspect.

I'm definitely not talking about "faking it" or lying and anything else where the owner misleads or misrepresents his credentials or experience.

Christopher, you are assuming that an average person can't sell an authoritative info product without it being junk. That's limited thinking.

Why can't the marketer license an info product to sell that was written by an expert? Why can't a marketer joint venture or be a partner with an expert to produce a highly authoritative info product?

I have a good friend James that sells a book on organic gardening. He told me years ago he knows absolutely nothing about the field. But his uncle is a true expert that wrote a book about the subject which almost no one bought. So James went in partnership with his uncle. James does the marketing, the uncle took care of the contents. They have now sold just over $60K worth of that book and two others.

My point is . . . you don't have to be an expert to have a nice profitable business.

I appreciate all points of view.

Steve
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HelpingYouBeAnExpert

9 years ago

If you are just out there sharing you ARE THE EXPERT in the eyes of those reading, listening or watching you. Not all but some! That is the biggest thing I realized since online.

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skyro

9 years ago

I agree. You can still be successful without being a expert in this business. You just have to have a plan set your goals and take action. You can correct and learn as you go along but most important thing is to take action and don't give up.

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gjabiz

9 years ago

IF you know a person WANTS something, and you KNOW that person is in a group of people, or there is a general group of people who want the same thing...

then you simply find the expertise they want. You don't have to have it, just be able to provide it to this person in a manner and at the time they want it.

And another over simplification is: YOU are an expert on YOU.

What did you buy recently? Are you in a group, or are there others who are also buying what you did?

Now, marry the two. USE the expertise you already have and provide this to others who may not yet have it or are seeking similar things or information.

gjabiz

PS. Successful publishers are experts (but fail a lot of the time) on knowing what topics THEIR target market wants, and then provides it to them.

Examples: Agora Publishing with their many experts on stock markets.
Mother Earth News with their homesteading and self reliance publications.
And from the past, Delshar Publishing had several "gambling" books, including dice and card games, yet, the publisher, who made the money, didn't know a thing about it.

Expertise can be borrowed, bought or bartered for.

I think the point is to not get bogged down if you think you aren't yet knowledgeable about what it is you want to do, don't let today's knowledge keep you from tomorrow's PROFITS.

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discrat 9 years ago

Yeah I do not think you have to be an Expert to be successful in a chosen Niche.

Obviously if you are it does nothing but good.

But for instance if you are an Affiliate and have some knowledge about a certain field. ( Not an expert though).
You can still make a tremendous amount of Money AND provide value by pointing others out in the direction they actually need to go.... i.e. someone who is an Expert and has a viable Product to help these people with

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Steve B

9 years ago

Originally Posted by gjabiz

I think the point is to not get bogged down if you think you aren't yet knowledgeable about what it is you want to do, don't let today's knowledge keep you from tomorrow's PROFITS.

Gordon,

I couldn't agree more. Sadly, so many people discount their own knowledge, training, life experience, and interests and feel they have nothing to offer others that could become the basis of an online business.

I am convinced that everyone has a viable business inside their "being" somewhere. They just need to figure out how to tap into it.

Steve

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discrat 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Steve B

Gordon,

I am convinced that everyone has a viable business inside their "being" somewhere. They just need to figure out how to tap into it.

Steve

Unfortunately, I am sorry I would have to disagree with this ! The romantic and the 'touch feely kumbahyah lets hold hands together " side of me wants to agree with this.

But the realist and the practical side of me knows better..

I know many, many friends, family members, people off the street etc..etc.. who just do NOT have the aptitude to do this stuff.

Its just NOT there. It is just not for Everyone ! And no matter how hard they try they will NEVER be successful at it. That sounds harsh and negative, I know.

But God gives EVERYONE special gifts. And I think he wants each of us to have the insight to be able to tap in and discover these special Gifts he has blessed us with.

And the fact is for many people being a successful Entrepreneur and knowing and having the ability to grow a business is not one of them
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Trey Morgan

9 years ago

I agree. Sometimes we forget that everyone who is considered an expert on a topic had to start off as a newbie just like everyone else. So, there really is no excuse to say that you have to be an expert in order to be successful. You can become an expert if you're willing to put in time and effort on a daily basis.

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gregdavidson727

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Steve B

Usually becoming successful in online business requires that you "put yourself out there." Often you will have to leave your comfort zone and try new things that are often scary, stressful, and unsettling.

What works perfectly for one person won't necessarily work for somebody else. Simply putting yourself out there doesn't always work. The way you look, the sound of your voice, your writing style, etc. will determine whether or not people will be receptive to your offers.

It's like how some people have what it takes to be a comedian. All because you're willing to get on stage doesn't mean that you're going to succeed at making people laugh.

Obviously, if you don't try, you'll never know.

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Robert X

9 years ago

Even doctors call their craft a "practice". They too do NOT know everything and are constantly learning everyday. So think of it like that.

Teachers too only learn how to teach. They don't apply English, P.E., or Math for that matter to make a living by "doing it". How many teachers have you ever met made a living by actually doing what they teach.

I believe in most areas you should be "doing" what you teach, such as in IM. But, in fact, some of the greatest internet marketers of all time (Frank Kern) made products and millions of dollars by just throwing together a report about a topic. (Example..Frank Kern and dog training. He admittedly never once trained a dog)

However, What IF? What if someone could dig up a nugget in their research that could give you the "cure" or a way to "make your million bucks", would it be ok then?

My 2 cents,
Robert C.

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Malteaser

9 years ago

Agreed! Some people think you need to have some special gift of some sort but when you study top producers none of them had a 'gift' or 'secret'... if there is a secret it's persistence, consistency and having a big vision for yourself.

Whether people like it or not they will hit barriers... the ones that push through and allow themselves to fail are the ones that will succeed.

This is a business at the end of the day not some hobby like people like to treat it... a business requires you to be self disciplined cause we need to take decisions for ourselves... we are the boss remember?! People fail to understand this and they let the silliest and dumbest of things stand in their way...

Well if this is the case then stick to the 9-5 and enjoy working for someone else's dreams!

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RDInfo 9 years ago

There is also another thing to consider :
What being an "expert" means ?
Does it mean that the person has a good theorical understanding of the subject ? or a good practical understanding of the subject ? or experience of the subject ? startegies, techniques, tips to get rid of or decrease the impact of a problem ?
This is an important thing to consider because nowadays there are many experts in theories which are not based on something measurable in the objective world... They have learned concepts at school and just repeat what they have learned and sometimes it is not true/accurate enough/useful in the current state of the objective world.

You don't need to be an expert to create/distribute products, but imo you need to be honest about what you do, who you are, your understanding, your experience, what you have to offer, and why you do what you do (your intent). If it is honest enough, fair enough, and beneficial to the targeted people, people will appreciate your help/products and they will buy them and they will be grateful to you.
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Randall Magwood

9 years ago

Steve i agree 100%. When i first started i didnt know anything about websites, internet marketing, marketing, or info-products. I used to try to explain this *new concept* to everyone around me (because i was so excited), and all i saw were blank stares on their faces. But i tried to make money anyway.

My expertise came several years later when i finally knew what to do. But there's only one way to gain that mastery in business and marketing - and that's through implementation.

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bobbydiraag

9 years ago

No one can be an expert online as things are always changing..You are learning something all the time!!

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Tom Addams 9 years ago

Originally Posted by bobbydiraag

No one can be an expert online as things are always changing..You are learning something all the time!!

That's like saying no one can be an expert in land law or personnel economics because the fields are always changing, or an expert in software engineering or meteorology. Spurious to say the least.

Expert : a person who is very knowledgeable about or skilful in a particular area.

A great deal of your knowledge in a chosen field would need to become obsolete due to advancements before you were no longer considered an expert; and experts tend to keep up with developments.
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schttrj

9 years ago

The dichotomy of "taking action"...

If you succeed, you reinforce your positive beliefs.

If you fail, you reinforce your negative beliefs.

Instead of "taking action", every newbie should follow the 3-steps of success.

1. Observe.
2. Act.
3. Conquer.

...Exactly in that order.

Research, research, research even before you take action.

Only taking action is not enough.

Taking smart action is the way to glory.

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desbravador 9 years ago

The best part I like is getting out of your comfort zone, the longer you do the easier it gets. Persistence pays
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- Brett Hitchcock 9 years ago
  
  Very interesting thread. I enjoyed reading all the views. I agree that you mustn't hold yourself back just because you think you aren't an expert. if you have quality info to share that helps people that's a great start. Then hone your skills as you go.
  
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You Don't Have to be an Expert to Make Money

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