Feeling burned out from so much IM garbage and failures

55 replies
Hi everyone,

Is it just me or does it seem like 99.99% of the Internet Marketing courses that you have to buy get you to see the way to make money but never really guide you in exact steps to the touchdown zone? Does anyone have recommendations from any serious courses that teach you step by step how to make online money or is it just that my luck is so bad that I keep falling for the shittiest courses taught by con artists? I'm just rambling and I consider myself a 7-8 out of 10 in online marketing. If anyone could help guide me in the right direction and help me see the light down the tunnel that would be much appreciated...thanks!
#burned #failures #feeling #garabage
  • Profile picture of the author Wile E Coyote
    If you're a 7-8/10 in Online Marketing, and still need to be hand-held "step by step", you're way over estimating your own ability.

    If you're unable actually put your foot to the pedals, you're more realistically at a 0-2/10 in Online Marketing.

    Just a couple of points for you to consider...

    You keep "falling" for the shittiest courses because you aren't on the business side of things. You're the target audience. You're a buyer. Not a seller.

    I'm going to guess and say you've bought over a dozen courses in the past year and don't have much to show for it. You probably just give up and than blame the "con artists" who got you to buy the course, despite your 7 or 8 out of 10 marks.

    Let's stop the bleeding, and let's not buy anymore courses. Let's compile the knowledge you already have and let's put it to action. Sounds like a great "First Step" to me.

    I'll even hold your hand when you cross the street
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155119].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

    Is it just me or does it seem like 99.99% of the Internet Marketing courses that you have to buy get you to see the way to make money but never really guide you in exact steps to the touchdown zone? Does anyone have recommendations from any serious courses that teach you step by step how to make online money or is it just that my luck is so bad that I keep falling for the shittiest courses taught by con artists?
    You do realize, of course, that the people you are asking for recommendations are many of the people selling the same kinds of course you say are garbage.

    Instead of playing shiny object syndrome, tell us exactly what you've done and tried and why it didn't work.

    Buying another course isn't likely to make any difference for you. If that has been your way of operating - buying and trying courses and then switching to something else if you don't see results - then you'll likely get the same results the next time you go through the cycle.

    Do something different instead.

    Mark
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155135].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Meaney
    Are you adding actual value to any niche?

    Are you doing anything that helps people or improves their lives - just a little bit? Are you hammering it relentlessly for months on end?

    Cause that's what it takes. This stuff is hard, and it takes time.

    If you're jumping from one thing to the next, stop. Dedicate the next 6 - 12 months of your life to something, and see it through. Be glad of the small wins, there are rarely big ones quickly.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155153].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TrickyDick
    Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

    Hi everyone,

    Is it just me or does it seem like 99.99% of the Internet Marketing courses that you have to buy get you to see the way to make money but never really guide you in exact steps to the touchdown zone? Does anyone have recommendations from any serious courses that teach you step by step how to make online money or is it just that my luck is so bad that I keep falling for the shittiest courses taught by con artists? I'm just rambling and I consider myself a 7-8 out of 10 in online marketing. If anyone could help guide me in the right direction and help me see the light down the tunnel that would be much appreciated...thanks!
    If you're like most people, you haven't fully implemented 9 out of 10 of these courses.... You threw in the towel before ever fully implementing because it "wouldn't work."

    Granted, some courses are worthless timewasters.... But, you'll never know until you fully implement it.

    Here's the first step to getting help....

    List the products you've purchased...

    Show us your "output"... the URLs..... put the the PDFs in DropBox... or whatever is appropriate for your "output."

    I'm looking forward to seeing your list....

    Remember, there are a lot of people here who can help.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155163].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author anayb
      If you want to be successful, stop following courses and start doing. Better yet, get to work. And if you think following courses is your work, then you've got an even bigger problem.

      Quit wasting your precious time on meaningless fluff when you should be working.

      You're reading courses without realising that the vast majority of them are generated and propagated by ordinary people with no more expertise than they have.

      Here's a revelation: the vast majority of these WSOs are designed to accomplish just one thing: get like-minded people to click and follow. It's as dog-eat-dog as selling jellybeans. Think about it.
      Signature
      Do you need an exclusive video product?
      Graphics Design - Motion Graphics - 2D & 3D Animation - Video Editing - Color Grading - Logo Animation - etc
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155214].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author anayb
    Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

    Hi everyone,

    Is it just me or does it seem like 99.99% of the Internet Marketing courses that you have to buy get you to see the way to make money but never really guide you in exact steps to the touchdown zone? Does anyone have recommendations from any serious courses that teach you step by step how to make online money or is it just that my luck is so bad that I keep falling for the shittiest courses taught by con artists? I'm just rambling and I consider myself a 7-8 out of 10 in online marketing. If anyone could help guide me in the right direction and help me see the light down the tunnel that would be much appreciated...thanks!
    If you want to pursue a course on marketing, then I recommend MIT OpenCourseWare; they must have a course on digital marketing. You have to check it out.

    In case you want to know more about AdWords or FB ads, Google and FB have courses on that.
    Signature
    Do you need an exclusive video product?
    Graphics Design - Motion Graphics - 2D & 3D Animation - Video Editing - Color Grading - Logo Animation - etc
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155218].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jay29mcr
    If you are still paying for guides you are certainly not a 7-8 out of 10 in this industry
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155364].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mladen720
    Thanks everyone for your inputs. I guess i am not a 7/8 out of 10 in internet marketing if im having these problems.

    I have tried a couple things from bought courses:
    affiliate marketing by building out websites and / or youtube
    client SEO but cant get any clients
    selling postcards to local businesses
    drop shipping using Shopify, FB ads for buyer intent traffic, and using aliexpress for the source of dropshipping
    buying from alibaba and sending to amazon fba
    -----
    after doing all of these in the past 7 months, i studied my ass off and implemented , yet nothing has worked out in my favor. I want to give myself credit for dipping my toes in these courses and implementing but
    to be honest im going in debt with all of the fees, ads, and capital needed to run these and that is ultimately making me fail. If I was rich and had $100,000 to spend on internet marketing then im sure i can make this happen just like everybody else probably after trial and error.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155431].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Wile E Coyote
      I don't dabble with the drop shipping because you can bank or bust a lot. So I can't help you much there. If this is what you've focused on, then yeah, it's very expensive. You probably just got suckered in (no offense) a course that makes it sound like drop shipping is just a go-to business that has zero risk.

      Offline Marketing definitely works, but it requires a butt load of hustle. Same with the SEO arbitrage. So, I'll ask what have you done in these two areas?

      With Youtube/Affiliate Marketing, what were you sending traffic to? Do you still have your site up? Where is your Youtube channel? Let's check out some of the videos and work together improving the process.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155460].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
      Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

      Thanks everyone for your inputs. I guess i am not a 7/8 out of 10 in internet marketing if im having these problems.

      I have tried a couple things from bought courses:
      affiliate marketing by building out websites and / or youtube
      client SEO but cant get any clients
      selling postcards to local businesses
      drop shipping using Shopify, FB ads for buyer intent traffic, and using aliexpress for the source of dropshipping
      buying from alibaba and sending to amazon fba
      -----
      after doing all of these in the past 7 months, i studied my ass off and implemented , yet nothing has worked out in my favor. I want to give myself credit for dipping my toes in these courses and implementing but
      to be honest im going in debt with all of the fees, ads, and capital needed to run these and that is ultimately making me fail. If I was rich and had $100,000 to spend on internet marketing then im sure i can make this happen just like everybody else probably after trial and error.
      Without knowing the specific details, it sounds like you are jumping around from one thing to another.

      7 months isn't that long, especially when you consider how many different things you have listed.

      I would focus on 1 - for example, affiliate marketing (cpa offers) and work on that and stop jumping around. I would even take it a step further, start with 1 traffic source (example - facebook ads, ppc, ppv, etc) and 1 niche and focus on that.

      Keep in mind, not every campaign will be a success, you need to try multiple things.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11156366].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author anayb
        I have never seen anyone failed in IM who were able to build an audience around a niche market; these people aren't too ordinary ones, but they have started from the scratch and without no significant upfront capital. What they got is perseverance and the unique ability to serve their community well. You got to be a great GIVER/PROVIDER if you want to make a fortune from the Internet. Instead, most folks try to play the role of a TAKER for their own very money problem--which is counterproductive and totally wrong mindset. If you're in great need of money, go freelancing route, and don't play with traffic.
        Signature
        Do you need an exclusive video product?
        Graphics Design - Motion Graphics - 2D & 3D Animation - Video Editing - Color Grading - Logo Animation - etc
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11156392].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

      If I was rich and had $100,000 to spend on internet marketing then im sure i can make this happen just like everybody else probably after trial and error.
      No.

      You still don't get it.

      Money isn't the problem. Right now you're thinking like a gambler with a credit card addiction.

      If you want your own business, you have to start thinking with your own head (free).
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11160828].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jay29mcr
    You don't need loads of money to succeed in this industry. You just need a plan and a routine and always remember to have a backup should it all go tits up
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155440].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author harib
    You only need two things:
    1] Find out what problem people are having and they can not get.
    2] Search for it and give it to them. That's all.
    give them what they want and you get paid. Period!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155453].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author harib
    People pay for the value you bring to the market place and not a good product, it has to solve their problems.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155459].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    If I was rich and had $100,000 to spend on internet marketing then im sure i can make this happen just like everybody else probably after trial and error.
    Success does not come from the amount of money you invest.

    I have tried a couple things from bought courses:
    affiliate marketing by building out websites and / or youtube
    client SEO but cant get any clients
    selling postcards to local businesses
    drop shipping using Shopify, FB ads for buyer intent traffic, and using aliexpress for the source of dropshipping
    buying from alibaba and sending to amazon fba
    All things I would warn anyone against, let alone a newbie.

    No mention of running targeted traffic to a squeeze page. I guess that would make too much sense.
    Signature
    Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
    All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155463].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MValmont
    There are plenty of super good step-by-step courses in the WSO section of this forum.

    In fact this is where I learned when I started.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155490].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author missmystery
    Most of the stuff on here is actually not garbage. I've very rarely paid for a completely useless product. People tend to avoid responsibility and try to blame something else, in the case of a lot of people here, the courses.

    Good luck with your action taking, I am sure you'll get there if you do the courses and put them into action.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155527].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mladen720
    Hey everyone thanks for solid advice. I have not yet sent targeted traffic to a squeeze page yet and am considering doing it with my amazon product...thats a great idea Brent Stangel

    I also didnt mean they were all garbage courses from WSO. I guess I was being the prey in a hunter / prey internet marketing world because most of my courses were coming to me through email or facebook ads and the courses were usually $1995 for the whole course so maybe I was the huge sucker involved.

    Can anyone lead me in the right direction for a squeeze page? I hear about click funnels a lot but i am swayed away from it because the price per month seems so expensive to me when it looks like you can just build a squeeze page in wordpress for yourself right??!?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155534].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Enfusia
    Hi, the first thing I would want to ask you is;

    What are you truly passionate about?

    What would you do for 10 years for free because you love it so much?

    Let's start there. I.E. Niche selection.
    Signature
    Free eBook =>
    The Secret To Success In Any Business
    Yes, Any Business!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155621].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rory Singh
    Success comes down to not just buying courses but implementation of those courses or course with a determined 'mindset' and following through with a 'long term plan'.

    Simple strategy?

    1- Pick one niche
    2- Pick one product
    3- Pick one marketing method...learn it. Master it. Rinse and Repeat!

    The key is to become a Master.

    And do all of this with the idea of value, helping others and Giving in MIND.

    Success is a Process that takes time.

    It's not one thing or one sentence that will give you your 'touch down'.

    It's how you play the game, how far you are willing to go and how well you treat the 'team' (the people you will help along the way on your journey).
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155625].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    It's just you M

    I know it can be frustrating, but your energy is off. Vibing too low. If you are doing things from fear, frustration and desperation, everything you see or use or try will not work. Almost like being in your bedroom on a bright sunny day, but you're choosing to be inside, to wear dark glasses, to close the shades and to pull down the blinds.

    It's sunny as heck outside, brilliant weather, but you complain about the darkness. When all you need to do is take off your glasses and head outside to see the brightness. And all you need to do for IM success is face, embrace and release your fears, however unpleasant, so you can see the excellent resources around you and move into higher circles.

    I rarely mention money stuff but I have created courses that established IMers really enjoyed, and regularly let me know how much it has helped them. Dudes making $30,000 a month and up. But these guys are vibing on a high wavelength, up there in circles, and since I am up there with them, we match.

    Keep your head up. Feel your frustrations and fears. Let them go. See more clearly. Align with folks who put out super helpful products.
    Signature
    Ryan Biddulph helps you to be a successful blogger with his courses, manuals and blog at Blogging From Paradise
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11155664].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Cathy Cone
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11156240].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mladen720
    Thank you everyone for who has replied so far...it looks like i learned a few things since posting this thread.

    1. Create your own product and start selling ...stop buying courses and start to implement with your own courses.

    2. Data monetization is very good way to monetize through email using CPA's .

    Anyone care to offer their opinions??

    Thanks!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11160819].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rory Singh
    I don't agree with creating your own products.

    People on this forum keep telling brand spanking new marketers to go out and create their own products.

    I know you are not brand new OP.

    But why not learn a marketing skill (really learn and master just (1) and sell other peoples PROVEN products?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11160825].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mladen720
      You are spot on Rory, I have learned a couple skills really well but am finding it hard to make money with them .,.my skills are SEO and Facebook advertising...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11160864].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    Most the criticism of MMO programs boil down to traffic

    Most of weak spots involve traffic

    They show you the monetization aspect but don't really teach you how to get the traffic.

    The problem with this is it is YOUR JOB as the marketer to come up with the traffic.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11160960].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mladen720
      writeaway Yes, I know. The traffic is the hardest part when it comes to obtaining
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11161124].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HowieP
    To simplify it, all you really need is:

    Landing page creator - Opt-in form - collect leads

    Build email list - treat your list like human beings

    Give value - promote offers - make money
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11161741].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mladen720
      Only problem with your simple method, is finding the traffic to send to your landing page opt in form. ...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11161749].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author HowieP
        Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

        Only problem with your simple method, is finding the traffic to send to your landing page opt in form. ...
        Traffic is everywhere, it just depends on if you want free or paid?

        Free is more work and takes longer to see results.

        Paid cost money, but you get quicker results.

        We all have the same options, but whatever option you choose, collect those emails.

        P.S I know how you feel, but don't give up.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11161823].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mladen720
    HowieP

    Brilliant.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11161748].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

    Thanks everyone for your inputs. I guess i am not a 7/8 out of 10 in internet marketing if im having these problems.

    I have tried a couple things from bought courses:
    affiliate marketing by building out websites and / or youtube
    client SEO but cant get any clients
    selling postcards to local businesses
    drop shipping using Shopify, FB ads for buyer intent traffic, and using aliexpress for the source of dropshipping
    buying from alibaba and sending to amazon fba
    -----
    after doing all of these in the past 7 months, i studied my ass off and implemented , yet nothing has worked out in my favor. I want to give myself credit for dipping my toes in these courses and implementing but
    to be honest im going in debt with all of the fees, ads, and capital needed to run these and that is ultimately making me fail. If I was rich and had $100,000 to spend on internet marketing then im sure i can make this happen just like everybody else probably after trial and error.
    If my math is correct, you've implemented, or tried to implement, five totally different business models in seven months. That's less than a month and a half each. No wonder you're losing. No one learns to swim by dipping their toes in the pool, much less five pools.

    Stop buying $2k guru courses. Stop blowing money you don't have on "all the fees, ads and capital needed".

    At this point in your online adventure, if you had $100k, you'd end up blowing $100k.

    You can get geared up to earn your first profits for almost nothing. Before you sign up for an expensive landing page subscription, learn to set up a simple one using free templates and once you're making money, you can move up by reinvesting your profits instead of tapping another credit card.

    They say dogs can smell fear. So can online prospects.

    They say sharks can smell blood in the water. So can unscrupulous IM gooroos. So quit swimming with the sharks wearing a steak bathing suit.

    And if you're really that burned out, take a break. Since it sounds like you have product at Amazon, learn to promote that and get your money out of the investment. Trust me, a few wins will clear the smoke and leave you energized and ready to go again.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11161789].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mladen720
      Thanks JohnMcCabe You really put it all into perspective man, i appreciate the nudge. I have spent way too much money on courses and you are right i dabbled into each one expecting high hopes and huge returns from the promises made by the "gurus" but in the end they were the sharks out for blood. I am sure some of their tactics work but the way i see it is i have learned an immense amount of information over the past 7 months even if i havent made any money yet. Only time will tell what i do with all of the ammassed knowledge that i have learned. Thank you!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11161992].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Pedro Campos
        Man, don`t give up. It takes consistent and proper action on your marketing to see results. I would advise you to get a solid educational program that you can feel supported along the way and go all out in your online campaigns.

        We all experienced bad moments but if you can put everything together with a quality marketing strategy and believe in yourself you can definitely succeed.
        Signature

        Moderator's Note: Affiliate Links are not allowed

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11163214].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author mladen720
          Thanks Pedro Campos Do you have any groups you can refer me to ?
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11163428].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

            Thanks Pedro Campos Do you have any groups you can refer me to ?
            Your sirloin swimsuit is showing again. You post that you're burned out from wasting money on IM courses, and he advises you to get another IM course? Most likely, the one in his sig, I'm sure.

            Shiny Object Syndrome is a hard one to beat, but you can do it. Just take your hand off the mouse button and back away...
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11163999].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author mladen720
              Hey JOhn, no im not going to buy any more courses, I've realized everything i've paid for in the past is all taught for free all over the web. Im only interested in free information from now on and joining the right groups that provide it all for free who are the REAL gurus that don't need to sell courses to make their living but instead do what they preach , you dont come across that too often.
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11164064].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
                Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

                Hey JOhn, no im not going to buy any more courses
                That's a good start to overcome your issues.

                I've realized everything i've paid for in the past is all taught for free all over the web.
                That's probably not true or you aren't buying quality courses. I've learned new things from many quality courses even though I've been online for many years.

                Im only interested in free information from now on and joining the right groups that provide it all for free who are the REAL gurus that don't need to sell courses to make their living but instead do what they preach , you dont come across that too often.
                I applaud you trying to break the bright shiny object cycle. However, you don't come across those types of groups too often because they basically don't exist. You aren't going to find this at the level you are expecting for free.

                Also, your ideas about real gurus not charging is just wrong. Every doctor that has ever given me advice has charged me a fee. That happens even when they don't give me any medicine or do any treatment. Does that make them wrong for sharing their knowledge or somehow less than worthy?

                Those groups you are looking for will scam you as fast as a guru - even without an exchange of money - if you aren't careful. You can lose money through losing time, going down untested paths, and making mistakes with all your free advice.

                You know that the Warrior forum, used to have an entrance fee, right? Are you saying you wouldn't come here just because there was a fee?

                What are you planning on selling when you figure out how to do it?

                Mark

                Update: You have been active in buying or trying to buy or showing interest in WSOs the last couple days. So, even though it's none of my business, when are you going to start your new thing about not buying more? I mean you complain here and then you keep doing what you are complaining about. And you are looking for the promised $16,000 in a month type things. I'm not harrassing you, I'm trying to help you see. And, I'm sharing this from my own personal experience.
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11164109].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
                Originally Posted by mladen720 View Post

                Hey JOhn, no im not going to buy any more courses, I've realized everything i've paid for in the past is all taught for free all over the web. Im only interested in free information from now on and joining the right groups that provide it all for free who are the REAL gurus that don't need to sell courses to make their living but instead do what they preach , you dont come across that too often.
                The time to buy courses, or coaching, or any other education, is when you need something specific. For example, I use a piece of software called Scrivener. It's intended for writers, but I use it for a lot more. When I first acquired it, the several-hundred-page manual was intimidating. So I looked for manuals and courses that would teach me how to do specific things. Some I did find for free on YouTube, others I paid for. Bottom line, getting the specific knowledge I sought cut down on my learning curve.

                I do believe you will have a hard time finding groups set up purely to mentor people like yourself, purely from altruism. Your best bet is to look for groups where people are learning from and supporting each other, not hunched at the feet of a so-called "REAL guru".

                The true experts that do give back in groups may still sell courses, but they won't be the type you see targeting SOS sufferers. Off the top of my head, there's Jeff Walker who teaches product launches, Ryan Levesque who teaches using surveys to give customers what they want, Ryan Deiss who teaches email automation and marketing in his flagship course, and I'm sure I'm missing others. The typical price point is about $2k. The common denominator is that these teachers teach specific methods to people looking for specific knowledge.

                You aren't ready for that level of course yet. Learn to make a dollar before you chase dreams of thousands.

                And the powers that be may strike me down for saying this, but, like an alcoholic staying away from bars, stay away from the WSO forum until you're ready to look for specific solutions to specific problems.
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11164414].message }}
                • Profile picture of the author Pedro Campos
                  I agree it takes time, but if someone wants to succeed at something they can`t go all out with their eyes closed. Find a good program that supports you and gives you the education to start making real results, not like 100 bucks here and there...shoot for the stars!
                  Signature

                  Moderator's Note: Affiliate Links are not allowed

                  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11164548].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author oppyeaunome
    I know the feeling.

    This is something I've struggled with for many years. When I first came online, I fought hard to make some money.

    I bought everything that I could get my hands on. To me every course was one step closer to the push button millions I was promised. I always ended up spending money and never making it back.

    Like you, it was tough. I spent many days thinking all of this is fake. All of this was just one big scam.

    You know what I had to find out the hard way? That making money online was just like any other business you had to work hard to make it happen.

    The harder you work online, the more money you'll make. It's that simple.

    Every day you just have to wake up and go for it.

    Keeping trying and eventually, you'll find something that works.

    Making money online is simply this:

    Traffic---->Offer---->Backend

    First, you have to find traffic that's targeted to your offer. Having traffic that's targeted to your offer means they are more likely to buy what you're offering.

    Once you get them to buy your offer you have to have things in the backend that they can buy and a way for them to stay in constant communication with you.

    Making money online is about putting in the work. If you don't put in the work and try some things you won't make the money.

    Here's the truth you have everything you need to make money already all you need to do is start taking action.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11163466].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mladen720
      That is solid advice oppyeaunome , great reply i really enjoyed reading it and you are totally right. I was at the point that this is one huge online scam but realize now that it is about how you sell. I believe college is one huge scam that people believe they need but in reality unless you become a doctor or dentist or lawyer or anything specialized requiring you to know and remember a lot of information . Every position is expendable and can be replaced but i do know that once you find a proper mentor willing to show you the ropes on how he does it , then it can properly help you jump the learning curve. I was always after the right mentor, but those are hard to come by because those guys are not the ones selling dreams and courses. Thanks man.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11164066].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    im not going to buy any more courses
    I'm not big on 'affirmations' - but I think you need to look yourself in the mirror and say the above statement a few hundred times....

    What you say and what you do aren't matching as yet. While you've been posting negatively about those who sell IM products - and vowing to stop buying....you've posted questions or comments in about ten WSOs and offered to 'review' a half dozen upcoming 'offers' (in exchange for a free copy).

    I know - it's a hard habit to break. What if so-and-so really does have the insider secret to fast easy money....what if you miss it? Isn't that the thinking you need to change?

    The only way to break the shiny object cycle is to stop reading sales pages - stop wasting time reviewing upcoming WSOs - stop buying or acquiring, at least for a while.
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
    what it is instead of what you think it should be.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11164105].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author T S Chan
    Stop buying courses and start providing values.

    It takes time and consistent effort to see results.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11164146].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mladen720
      What kind of value can I provide for my community offline? Where I can get 2,000 people to pay me $5 per month.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11164928].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Pedro Campos
        The best advice is to offer before receiving! Use the internet to promote whatever you are doing offline.
        Signature

        Moderator's Note: Affiliate Links are not allowed

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11164986].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author iwantbreak
    it is very tough to cut through the IM arena especially with so many Internet Marketers out there...however I would suggest you to get yourself a course on Internet Marketing from Udemy that will help you move places
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11165956].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    What kind of value can I provide for my community offline? Where I can get 2,000 people to pay me $5 per month.
    As long as you are asking questions like the one above - you are still in 'dream' mode. You say "provide value" but you're still looking/wishing for $10k a month one way or another.

    Try implementing some of the excellent advice in this thread and you might be surprised what you can do.
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
    what it is instead of what you think it should be.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11166003].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
    I never truly understood why people who want to get into IM think that a $7 course is going to be the "miracle" that lights the way to the "20 minute workday" or the "laptop lifestyle."

    The truth is that THERE IS NO 20 MINUTE WORKDAY!

    STOP looking for it! It doesn't exist!

    Now, the laptop lifestyle. Yes, it DOES exist. BUT, and this is a big "but," you need to work your A** off to get there!

    This thread really made me sit back and think about what it was like for me back when I started in 2008.

    I can't tell you my whole story from start to finish, because it would end up being a novel, but in short, it went a little something like:

    I got laid off (with zero notice) from my job as a Food & Beverage Manager at a golf resort. I was doing quite well for myself there. I was on salary, so that meant working 60 hours a week, but I liked what I was doing so it wasn't that big of a deal.

    Anyway, I hadn't been saving any money, because I was a young(ish) guy at the time and I thought I would never get laid off, etc. Well, we all know what happened in the US in 2007-2008 when the economy flipped upside down, so, guess I should have listened to my father when said "you should always be saving for a rainy day." Rainy day? Hell, it POURED!

    Anyway, the only thing I knew about the internet at that time was how to log onto it and "surf the net." I had no idea you could make money from it.

    I'll get to the point. I NEVER bought any guides or "shiny objects." I didn't have the money. It just wasn't an option. I could barely make my car payments. I taught myself. I "Googled" everything. YouTube was an awesome resource, and now it's even better.

    I have no idea even today why people feel the need to buy all of these courses that promise riches and "20 minute workdays."

    It's NOT necessary. I buy courses and products today, but mostly software that will make my life easier. I still don't go around buying all of these "miracle" courses. Heck, I don't even have to buy them nowadays. All I have to do is ask the vendor for a review copy and I can get them for free.

    I'll openly admit, I struggled for a long time, but only because I resisted building a list. For some reason I just did not want to start building a list. I was intent on making it with article marketing, which, at the time, was still somewhat viable as a means to make a full-time income. Some people were doing it.

    It wasn't until I started my own blogs and websites and started building a list that I actually started to turn the corner.

    And even then, I worked 14-16 HOURS A DAY, EVERY DAY (even on Sunday).

    I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote some more. I reviewed every product in my niche that I could get my hands on. I tried and tested traffic method after method after traffic method. Most of them failed. But when I found one that worked, I scaled it up and brought in leads with it.

    I went through a dozen or more niches before I found one that I was successful with.

    I FAILED time and time again, over and over.

    But I was determined to make it. You see, for me, it HAD to work. The thought of quitting NEVER entered my mind.

    The problem is that people just don't understand what it actually takes. They try something for a week or two and when they get no results they latch onto something else.

    My advice to the OP is to STOP buying courses. You don't need them. If you have an internet connection and $50, you have just about everything you need to get started. Get a domain, a web hosting account, and an autoresponder account. Set up a WordPress site in your chosen niche. Then GET TO WORK. Start producing great content as if your life depended on it. Make sure you've got plenty of opt-in forms on your website. And when I say "get to work," I don't mean an hour a day. You need to put in 12-16 hours per day.

    I'm sorry if this is not what you want to hear, but if you want to be your own boss then that's what it's going to take. There's no magic button. There's no miracle system. There's no push button software. There are no SECRET SYSTEMS!

    There is only HARD WORK!

    So, do you have what it takes or not?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11166163].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author boblyle
    You're not alone. Many have traveled that same path that you have been led down. There are many crap systems out there that promise the world and under deliver but on the same token there are some that over deliver as well.
    If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
    Signature
    Drop shipping is a Dying Model
    This is the New Wave of E-Commerce
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11166508].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author gm777
    Forget about numbers, find a community you belong to and give them something valuable, funny, intriguing and/or new.
    You can curate good content from other sources or you can report news or trends with some unique twists (newsjacking/trendriding) or you can entertain or intrigue them.
    If you want to generate more traffic try funny and intriguing quizzes, contests, giveaways, etc...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11170560].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TiffanyLambert
    I hear this a lot from people I first meet in IM - they've bought a ton, and see no success and wonder why there aren't any soup to nuts courses.

    Here's what my thoughts are:

    First, I've bought excellent courses and crap ones I knew would probably be crap but I just wanted to see if there were any little nuggets in there. I've never bought a single course I didn't find at least ONE thing to learn from in it. I never go into a course thinking it's a one stop shop to success. There's ALWAYS something else to learn to a way I need to twist it.

    The bad news is, building an online business isn't about one course that teaches it all. It's about gaining a lot of knowledge from many sources and putting it together to Frankenstein it into your own business model.

    We're like snowflakes (not the political name calling) - we're all different. No two paths have been identical, I guarantee it - even if they took the same course, each person put a different amount of effort, time and enthusiasm into it.

    So what do YOU do now?

    First, if money bleeding is an issue, start simple. A $0.99 domain (find a coupon code for Godaddy) and baby hosting for under $10 a month. Nothing more.

    Many responders here were right about full implementation. Most people quit on a course. Go back through what you bought and keep a spiral or file of lessons you learn that can be applied to most online business models (like list building tips or traffic tips).

    Have a focus on free at first. Level up later with big investments once you get savvy.

    So for mostly free, you'd start blogging - and sharing value w/your niche. You'd become an affiliate marketer for digital/tangible products and make good recommendations to build trust and loyalty from your audience.

    You COULD start creating a course if you want to - all you need is to write it and turn it into a PDF before you list it on JVZoo or another platform, and those fees get taken out AFTER a sale is made, so no up front spending.

    This is not going to be fast in most cases. My first year I made $7,000. Then I reached $60k, then $100k and now I've never been under six figures in many years. But every year my income grows - because I continue adding little nuggets of information to my business model.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11170606].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
      Originally Posted by TiffanyLambert View Post

      I hear this a lot from people I first meet in IM - they've bought a ton, and see no success and wonder why there aren't any soup to nuts courses.

      Here's what my thoughts are:

      First, I've bought excellent courses and crap ones I knew would probably be crap but I just wanted to see if there were any little nuggets in there. I've never bought a single course I didn't find at least ONE thing to learn from in it. I never go into a course thinking it's a one stop shop to success. There's ALWAYS something else to learn to a way I need to twist it.

      The bad news is, building an online business isn't about one course that teaches it all. It's about gaining a lot of knowledge from many sources and putting it together to Frankenstein it into your own business model.

      We're like snowflakes (not the political name calling) - we're all different. No two paths have been identical, I guarantee it - even if they took the same course, each person put a different amount of effort, time and enthusiasm into it.

      So what do YOU do now?

      First, if money bleeding is an issue, start simple. A $0.99 domain (find a coupon code for Godaddy) and baby hosting for under $10 a month. Nothing more.

      Many responders here were right about full implementation. Most people quit on a course. Go back through what you bought and keep a spiral or file of lessons you learn that can be applied to most online business models (like list building tips or traffic tips).

      Have a focus on free at first. Level up later with big investments once you get savvy.

      So for mostly free, you'd start blogging - and sharing value w/your niche. You'd become an affiliate marketer for digital/tangible products and make good recommendations to build trust and loyalty from your audience.

      You COULD start creating a course if you want to - all you need is to write it and turn it into a PDF before you list it on JVZoo or another platform, and those fees get taken out AFTER a sale is made, so no up front spending.

      This is not going to be fast in most cases. My first year I made $7,000. Then I reached $60k, then $100k and now I've never been under six figures in many years. But every year my income grows - because I continue adding little nuggets of information to my business model.
      This post is right on the money. I happen to know Tiffany (not personally, but through her products), and I can tell you that she puts out real quality, unique stuff, and I'm guessing that's a HUGE part of why she's successful.

      Tiffany said that we are all like snowflakes (meaning we're all different), and no path is identical. Well, I couldn't agree more with this evaluation.

      You might decide to get into the same exact business as mine, or hers, or any other marketer's that you admire, and that's fine, but your road to success will never be the same road as another.

      In the end, you may be able to achieve what another person has, or even better, but your path to that goal will look much different than another persons. You might work more hours, or less, and in that case it might take you more time to reach your goal, or less if you are a faster worker, etc.

      This brings me to the subject of finding a mentor. A lot of people feel that getting a mentor will be their "fast track" to success. A mentor is surely a positive thing, don't get me wrong. However, I didn't have one, and many other successful people never had mentors, either.

      A mentor can show you the steps to take, but they cannot take the steps for you. And you may or may not agree with a mentor's particular behavior in regards to their work habits or how they obtain their goals.

      What I'm getting at is having a mentor is great, but that alone won't get you where you want you to be. In the end, it's YOU who has to crawl, walk, and then run. YOU have to put in the time and do the work.

      Finally, I would just reiterate that you don't need to buy course after course or pick up every single shiny object some marketer emails you about. I think that self discovery is far more valuable than learning something from a course. Why? Because it allows you to have an amazing sense of accomplishment, and with that comes confidence. Once you have confidence that you can teach yourself, there's nothing you cannot learn or do.

      I see so many people struggling with Internet Marketing and I believe it's because there is just so much to learn a person gets overwhelmed. It doesn't help that there are just so many marketers pulling you in every direction. It's like they're sitting on your shoulder and whispering in your ear that their way is best. It can maddening! Block all of it out.

      The best advice I could give to somebody suffering from "information overload" is to sit down in a comfortable chair and turn everything off so you have complete silence. Close your eyes and clear your mind. Imagine that you are sitting at a desk with a pencil in your hand and a BLANK piece of paper in front of you. In your mind, take the pencil and write down EXACTLY what it is you want to achieve. Make it simple. only one or two sentences. Be specific. Something like "I want to make my first affiliate sale from Clickbank within the next 30 days."

      Then, open your eyes, get a real pencil and paper, sit down at your desk or kitchen table and begin listing the steps you need to take to achieve your first goal. If you need to do a little research, that's fine, but at the beginning stage you shouldn't need to.

      One thing that is important when setting a goal is that you need two basic components; what you want to achieve, and the time in which you want to achieve it.

      For example, if I were to start an online business from ground zero, my goal sheet might look a little something like this:

      GOAL #1: To make one affiliate sale from Clickbank within 30 days.

      ACTIONS TO COMPLETE GOAL:

      1. Open a Clickbank account.

      2. Select a niche and corresponding product.

      3. Contact the vendor and try to obtain a review copy of the product (most will comply if you ask correctly). If you have to buy it, well, consider that an investment.

      4. Go through the product with a fine-toothed comb. Know it by heart.

      5. Buy a cheap domain from GoDaddy or Namecheap (Budget $5-$10).

      6. Buy a hosting package (Budget $5-$10 per month).

      7. Open an autoresponder account (look for one with a free trial, Aweber, GetResponse, MailChimp, Constant Contact, etc).

      8. Install WordPress on domain and apply necessary settings (optimize with proper plugins, etc - Use YouTube for this info - TONS of WP tutorials there).

      9. Set up a list for my blog/website in my autoresponder account and add opt-in forms to my blog. Put one at the top of sidebar, one at the bottom of each post/page, and one of either a pop-up/slide-in/litebox, etc.

      10. Write first product review about chosen product (at least 1000 words + images + on-page SEO optimization). If you know how to make a decent review video, go for it (NO sales page screen capture videos). If you aren't video savvy yet, that can be a future goal.

      11. Set up social media accounts for my website/business on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Google Plus.

      12. Share a link to my review post on my social media accounts.

      13. Interact with others in my niche on social media (at least 30 minutes per day). Post in Facebook groups, Twitter, Google +, etc. Be genuine and DON'T SPAM!

      14. Write 4 more articles about my chosen niche (at least 500 words with images). Look through Q & A sites for questions people are always asking and write articles that answer those questions well. Be helpful & don't try to sell. Share links to my articles on my social media pages.

      15. Join the top 2 forums related to my niche and post good content and help people. Add blog link to forum signature after making 25 good posts on each forum (spend 15 minutes per day in each forum).

      16. Rinse & repeat steps 2,3,4,10,12 & 14.

      17. Begin to learn about traffic generation. How can I get targeted traffic to my blog? How can I SEO my blog? Learn on-page SEO first.


      Or something like that. Get the idea? That's just a rough draft off the top of my head, but hopefully you can understand the concept.

      The idea is to have a clear action plan with specific goals to achieve.

      If you achieve your goal, great. If you don't, DO NOT be too hard on yourself. Simply set a new goal like "Make my first Clickbank sale within 60 days." Then, look over your action plan again and decide if there is anything you might need to tweak to help achieve your new goal. By now you will be at least 30 days in, and you should have a general idea where you are falling short. I can tell you right off the bat that your toughest tasks are going to be traffic generation & SEO. If you need to work on those, simply add that to your second goal, so your second goal would be:

      "Increase traffic by 10%, work on SEO until my review post moves up in the search engine rankings by at least two pages, and make my first Clickbank sale within 60 days."

      Once you hit your first goal, or part of it, it's time to set a higher goal.

      Let's say you achieve part/all of your goal and get your first Clickbank sale within the first 60 days. Your new goal could be:

      "Increase traffic by 10%, work on SEO until my review post moves up in the search engine rankings by at least two pages, and make my SECOND Clickbank sale within 90 days."

      If you hit another part of your goal, let's say the traffic part, then you change your goal again, let's say:

      "Increase traffic by ANOTHER 10%, work on SEO until my review post moves up in the search rankings by at least two pages, and make my SECOND Clickbank sale within 90 days."

      If you hit your SEO goal, then you change your goal again to reflect that, and raise the bar on the SEO part, like this:

      "Increase traffic by ANOTHER 10%, work on SEO until my review post moves up in the search rankings by at least two MORE pages, and make my SECOND Clickbank sale within 90 days."

      Do you see where I'm going with this?

      What you are trying to do is slowly raise the goal bar each time you hit a part/all of your goal.

      In this way, you ALWAYS have something to strive for, and you will ALWAYS be moving forward.

      As your goals change, your action plan may also change as well. It's up to you to decide whether or not you need to change your action plan to align with the goals you need to reach.

      Just remember, you can change your action plan whenever you want, but NEVER change your goals until you hit one/all of them. If you keep changing your goals before you hit them, you will lose sight on your set goals, and NEVER hit them! In essence, you'll be running in place and not moving forward, and you always want to be moving forward.

      It's also important that you do not set your goals so high that it takes you an overly long time to reach them.

      You want to set "bite sized" goals for yourself. You want to make it so that you CAN reach your goals without making it TOO easy, if that makes sense. The reason for this is because when you hit a goal, you are going to feel a sense of accomplishment. Over time, you will get "addicted" to the good feeling you get when you reach one of your goals. I actually feel an adrenaline rush when I achieve a hard goal. This is going to act as positive reinforcement to KEEP you striving for higher goals. In other words, challenge yourself, but don't make it impossible to hit your goals. That's counterproductive.

      Now, you are probably wondering how you are supposed to complete some of your goals if you don't have the knowledge required.

      This is where research comes in.

      Anyone who wants to be their own boss and run their company has to have a few qualities. If you know you don't possess these qualities, it doesn't necessarily mean you cannot start your own business, but you will need to acquire these skills first. The good thing is that EVERYONE already has these skills, they just need to learn how to activate them, or "tap in" to them.

      You need to be a self-starter, highly motivated, able to work without supervision or someone constantly telling you what to do (initiative), able to learn/teach yourself, and know how & where to find the information you need.

      Luckily, finding the information is EASY. Just go to Google or YouTube. Nowadays, it really IS that simple. I recommend video learning, as it provides two forms of reinforcement, which are hearing and seeing. Reading would be the third important factor in learning, and if you can find reading material that's great. The ideal way to learn any skill online would be to combine all three. So you read, hear, and see something being done.

      Lastly, anything really worth achieving is NOT going to be easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it.

      No matter what, NEVER lose sight of your goals and NEVER give up.

      Now, does that mean you should push everything else in your life aside and focus only on starting your online business? Of course not!

      You may need to work a full-time job, especially if you have others who rely on you.

      You might only be able to put in an hour or two every day because you have other responsibilities, and that's fine. There is nothing wrong with that. That's life. That does not mean that you shouldn't try.

      Look at how many single moms are out there working a full-time job, taking care of their children, and going to school at the same time. It's great to have inspiration. Let something like that be your inspiration.

      I'll leave you with this: YOU can achieve anything you want to in this life if you want it bad enough and you are willing to work hard enough to get it. It's not going to happen overnight, but with determination and drive, it WILL happen.

      Damn, I could have turned this into a WSO (just kidding)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11172086].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Nattsurfaren
    Things to consider:
    1 The sellers will protect their work.
    2. The sellers want to promote.
    3. Why would they tell you exactly the right tweak / formula.
    4. They make sure they tell you that you're the one to blame if you fail.
    5. They are right if you give up though. Don't give up.
    6. Nobody will ever sell you a solution that make a small amount of money with the basic setup. Give up on that thought.
    7. If you want to start and learn then think who would make money if you make money. These are the people that will truly help you and go an extra step to do so.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11171063].message }}

Trending Topics