10 Years In Hindsight- What I Wish I Had Done/ Learnt Sooner

After you do anything for a time, you look back and wonder what you would've done different, what you would've changed etc. And with 10 years being online approaching this June, I've done just that, and I thought I would share some of my insights.


Stop Chasing Shiny Things.


I would've stuck to one thing and pushed it. Think of where I would be if I had started article marketing 10 years ago... would've had quite the nice passive income for sure. Stop doing the oh shiny dance. Stick to something for an actual reasonable amount of time to test and find out if it works or doesn't.


Build A List. LOL.


I never thought I would say that. Really I thought why the hell would these people want to keep hearing from me? Well, I started building my list, and guess what, I lose very few subscribers and it is continually growing. Had I started this 10 years ago, instead of this year, again my income would be very different for sure.



Now I can send out an email and watch my bank account grow, knowing I am helping those people reach their own personal goals.


And I LOVE just love the relationships I have built this way.


Brand yourself.


Make a name for yourself and stick to it.



I've always been me online. I have gone through different usernames etc, but in the end I went with my own name, and although that in itself can carry certain issues, I wish I would've started that way from the start, instead of only the last two years.



In just two years I dominate my name, you punch my name in the search engines and it's all me. Think of the branding power this would give someone after 10 years.


Build relationships.


I never thought about this power when I started. I did of course build a few in the beginning and I still work with them today, but I never did it to the extent I should've.


See, a big part of this online game is networking and relationships. Without some form of relationship, I never would have gotten to work with wonderful people like (in no particular order) Allen Says, Jim Straw, James Jones, Scot Standke, Loud Mac, Vegas Vince and the list just goes on. Had you asked me a couple years if I thought any of those names would've even given me the time of day, I would've laughed. They were the "big boys" I was just me. But through building relationships I have worked and cross promoted with all of them.


Never give up.


Now I am not saying banging your head against the wall for ten years is the most fun, but keep trying. If it means you have to get a real "job" well you learn it, then do it. It took me these 10 years to break the 6 figure mark, and you know what? I'm proud of that. I came online thinking it was a get rich quick world, only to find out that it takes hard work and dedication, just like anything in life.


Mastermind


This is something I only realized recently (Thanks Vince) More than one brain is better and can make ideas flow a whole lot better, and you will be amazed some of the things you can come up with this way.


Learn from those that know.


There are people who really know what they are talking about.



Learn to listen to what they are saying.



I have picked up and advanced my own copywriting skills listening to tips from Loud Mac. I've learned alot about article marketing from Allen Graves and Steven W. I've learned a lot about business from Allen Says and Jim Straw. I've learned a lot about barter and branding from Vegas Vince.



Point is, I shut up and listened to what they had to say, and used that to better my business.


So for those of you just getting started, or for those of you needing that extra pick me up, I hope this helps, because this can be a very hard business to get a grasp of, but once you do, it can pay off big time.


I hope this helps anyone, and if it helps just one person it did it's job.


Best wishes,
Sylvia