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Newbie Blunders ~ What are Yours?

by LilBlackDress
11 replies
I thought I would share some of my biggest newbie blunders. I am still learning at all of this but I have come a long way, so here are some of my mistakes, maybe I can save someone else .

~Not realizing I had made sales on ClickBank. I looked at the main page never noticed the dates, just saw big fat 0's. Very discouraging. One day I looked in another section and was shocked to see about 5 sales!

~Forgetting to put the -20 on my Amazon affiliate link which identifies region. An Amazon rep had given me the code and I had overlooked the -20. No -20 no credit for sale.

~Selecting domain names that did not have key phrases in them because they were kinda cute and catchy

~Picking a hot product, making a site for it and then realizing the trial offer scammed consumers. So I had to switch products (happily before I had made a sale) which leads me to my next mistake....

~Picking to many products to be an affiliate of. I would say start with just a few products. Know your products really well (call the company and check on customer service also). Pick products that you feel good about selling. Start with a few and then add more.

~Using the wrong affiliate code, adding an extra period or something and realizing the link didn't work later. Always check links.

~Not staying focused. Intially, I got excited about one idea, then thought of something else and then something else and never spent time really building one thing.

~Not having a mentor. Appreciate all the great advice I have had on here though. But having one go to person would be great. I would advise any newbie starting out to try and get a great mentor and when you do well make it worth their while.

Anyone else?
#blunders #newbie
  • Profile picture of the author Video Guy
    I think that building a good relationship with your list is something that I have neglected to do.

    That to me was the biggest blunder
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Campbell
    Originally Posted by LilBlackDress View Post

    ~Not staying focused. Intially, I got excited about one idea, then thought of something else and then something else and never spent time really building one thing.
    This is probably the one blunder that everyone makes at one point or another in IM. It is key to develop a game plan and stay focused on your goals. If you consider marketing a job then you should try to treat it like one and focus on results. Starting too many projects at once will burn you out.
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    • Profile picture of the author Robyn8243
      Not staying focused is a biggie....although I don't know if I would classify it as a newbie mistake. Seems to be an ongoing issue for me....in fact I should probably be doing something else right now.

      My biggest newbie mistake was being afraid of anything I deemed technical.

      I spent my first year online without an autoresponder and even longer without a hosting account. When I finally learned, it was a thousand times easier than I imagined, and I don't want to think about how much money I literally flushed.

      Based on questions I see being asked frequently, especially in WSO section, I don't seem to be alone on that one.

      Next biggest mistake was trying to do everything myself.



      Robyn
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  • Profile picture of the author BJ Min
    i'm not sure if this is a newbie blunder because sometimes i go through it myself...it's getting distracted with all types of methods on how to make money online....

    i'm sure all systems work...but i have noticed that people are usually good at ONE type of way to make money online...whether it's writing & selling their own ebooks...blogging...ppc...affiliate marketing...

    my advice after being in IM for 2 years seriously...is to try out different methods AT FIRST...and see which one brings the best money for you as well as which one comes NATURALLY for you...

    whatever that is, STICK WITH IT...

    when you stick with it...don't get distracted by all the other product launches coming out there left and right...

    stick with YOUR method...and i can assure you that will be the best way to make consistent income online...

    BJ
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    • Profile picture of the author Freeman77
      Originally Posted by BJ Min View Post

      i'm not sure if this is a newbie blunder because sometimes i go through it myself...it's getting distracted with all types of methods on how to make money online....
      Man, I'm feeling that big time right now, especially with just joining this awesome forum. In fact, I just posted this: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...se-advice.html
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  • Profile picture of the author Charles Washington
    One time I had computer game store. I was dropshipping video games, and selling them through an OScommerce shopping cart.

    Well, I forgot about the site and the email I used for that site. Then one day I checked it, and I had $70 worth of sales and payments from a lady via paypal. I didnt catch it till 3 weeks later. Needless to say, that woman was MAD!
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  • Profile picture of the author kimothy777
    My biggest blunder is listening to everything gurus tell me to do and starting to apply something without the know how to finish.

    1. I was told to change my web site to a blog, so I started to do that and got into a pickle. It cost me three months (I kid you not). My site was completely out of action. Due to my lack of technical expertise I couldn't finish, so mid way I had to back pedal. It cost me hundreds of dollars when I eventuially got a friend involved to undo my mess, plus loss of income...
    2. Another well meaning person told me to swap to a reseller account to make lots of money. I tried to change my sites over, and again lost about one month. I had no technical ability and no money to pay anyone so tried to struggle through it myself. Big mistake. That cost me dearly. Now I have a reseller account with no-one under me that is costing me so much money I need to change back again to keep afloat financially...
    3. I was told to buy viral friend generator and get more visitors to my site. I paid a technician to fix it up then found out that my autoresponder (Aweber) doesn't allow the script to be used. So I have a $197 product that I cannot currently use.
    4. Today's mistake is listening to the guy who told me to reinstall firefox and that it would work. I have spent about ten hours fixing up the extensions that have caused problems and I no not where to go next. I am completely stuck so I am spending time writing on this forum through sheer frustration.

    Just don't listen to everyone unless you know you can fully implement what they say without getting stranded half way and having to back pedal like me....

    I must be really clsoe to success because I am failing alot lately... Yay!
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    • Profile picture of the author mikeyman120
      My biggets mistake was not realizing that the money is in the list. I tried direct linking for a while but always spent double on ads than I would make. Then I would have no one to contact to sell a new product to. So had to direct link again. I finally realized I have to send people to a squeeze page first and then redirect to an affiliate product.

      So what I am saying is my biggest mistake was not getting an autoresponder and setting up opt in forms on my sites. Since I have used opt in forms I am now making part time money instead of nothing.

      Mike
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  • Profile picture of the author $Layla$
    I guess my blunder is just stalling. I really intend to get started, then I do get started, then I get nervous and halt all action once again. I really will eventually get started. You ever hear that saying, procrastinators unite, tomorrow? Well that is me, a big procrastinator! I get started then right at the last moment I have to rush to finish, not what I'm shooting for here.
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  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    1) I should have picking my business based off my values and lifestyles instead of adjusting my lifestyles/values to fit a business (never works!).
    2) Not focusing on one thing.
    3) Listening to friends and family about what I should be doing other than what I know will make money.
    4) Not doing it 10 years ago.
    Signature
    I have no agenda but to help those in the same situation. This I feel will pay the bills.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
      1. Biggest mistake by far - not having a mentor. I had the attitude, "I can do this, it will be a peice of cake, I dont need help"

      2. Trying to do everything myself. By not outsourcing I suffered health issues due to over working myself. Definitely outsource!

      3. Not having a balance between work and leisure.

      4. Hoping or even assuming that something *may* work. I invested years into websites before even being aware of internet marketing, market and keyword research.

      5. Networking. By not networking with likeminded people, my progress suffered greatly. Definitely get yourself along to as many seminars as possible. The speaker may suck, but the guy sitting beside you might be an internet millionaire!
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