3 HUGE mistakes I made when I first started trying to make money online

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Hey Newbies,

I thought I would share a few of the mistakes I made when I first got started in internet marketing and hopefully you can avoid them.

Spending Too Much Time "Learning"

When I first got into internet marketing I probably downloaded close to 200 different reports and ebooks hoping to learn more about the whole make money online process. I read each report from start to finish and then proceeded to download more. This process went on for the first couple of years until I finally realized that just reading all of those reports won't do me any good. Its about execution. Its about taking what I have learned and put it into action. I like to say I suffered from IIS or instant income syndrome. I was reading and reading just looking for that magic system that could make me money fast.

The problem was that I never found it. And you know why? Because there is no magic system that can make you money fast. When it comes to making money online it takes hard work. As the saying goes, you get out what you put in. I wasn't putting very much in so I wasn't getting very much out of it. But once I stopped just "learning" everything and started actually doing something, things changed quickly.

Spending Too Much Time In "Set Up Mode"

The second huge mistake I made was spending way to much time in set up mode. Set up mode is when you are in the process of setting everything up. That can be your blog, your website, your marketing campaigns etc. You see, I would spend hours doing keyword research and then do nothing with that research. I was just "setting" everything up but once again, not actually doing anything. Doing that cost me a lot of time and money. You can't do that. Don't take forever to set up your blog or website. Make it functional and then start sending traffic to it. As you learn more and your site starts to grow you can make changes. So don't get stuck in set up mode like I did. If you start something get it done as quickly as you can.

Procrastinating

I love what Mike Litman says about procrastination. He says it is the thief of profit. And boy is that true. The more you procrastinate the longer it will take for you to make money online. Trust me, I am speaking from personal experience. I would put everything off until tomorrow. The problem was that tomorrow never came. And the longer I waited to complete a task, the bigger that task looked. Which in turn made me want to push it off even more. Procrastination will keep you broke. So don't put off what needs to be done. Tackle each task as it comes up. That way you will never get behind and feel overwhelmed by all the work that needs to be done.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #huge #made #make #mistakes #money #online #started
  • I agree. And here's mine. Not enough time testing. Once I learned to use Google Optimizer to do split testing, it changed everything.
    • [3] replies
    • Agreed. Its insane what you'll figure out with the scientific method approach.

      Scientists are onto something.
    • Hello there,

      What exactly is "split testing"? I have heard this term in many threads but I am not sure what it really means. Can someone shed some light on this for me?

      Regards,

      Yoan
      • [1] reply
    • Banned
      Great tips, thanks for sharing! I would also add paralysis by analysis
  • Good tips. Related to your 2nd mistake, "Spending too much time in setup mode", I think this really relates to newbies trying to get everything perfect from the get-go. I was DEFINITELY guilty of this and still struggle with it. Except now I know I am doing it and when I do I just say "just get it up and running and keep moving"...
    • [1] reply
    • That's exactly what it is. And I still struggle with that sometimes too.
  • Agreed to all of the above.
    I would like to add:
    Perfecting product, however, products are never perfect and sometimes I take waaaaaay too much time perfecting everything because I am scared to release anything less than perfect!

    The thing is though, that only after people use your product that you will be able to make it better based on the feedback that you get (or ask).

    So, perfection.
    • [2] replies

    • Very true! I used to do that same thing. But then I realized I just have to get the product out there and I can update the product and make it better as I go along.
    • I agree with everything.

      Something very important with procrastination is: if you did someone and procrastinated, don't think you will do differently the next time. You have to change something to get a new result.
  • That is amazing how you have managed to find the causes of the huge mistakes.

    Now that you have this information it can be eliminated from your focus to success.

    Thats how great IMarketers SUCCEED. They have eliminated all your discoveries from their working daily schedules.

    Good luck for your future success
    • [1] reply
    • Doing this for almost 13 years now - I still tend to get sucked into the "learning process" Often!

      I try to stay focused on projects, but tend to get distracted by a new tip or tutorial. I call them my "ohhh shiny" moments.

      Fear is a biggie - it's easy to justify procrastination when it's being held up by fear.
      • [1] reply
  • Great Post! I can definitely relate to those 3 mistakes, especially #1 - but I like to call it:

    :confused:Information Overload!!:confused:

    I don't know about everyone else here, but I found myself reading every ebook and watching every webinar I could get my hands on... soaking up as much information about everyone else's success. But it wasn't until recently that I realized I will never make a dime online until I actually start applying my knowledge! Now that I ACT and follow the system of Internet marketing, and quit chasing the magic money button - I finally found success!

    Advice for Newbies: learn a little, then apply it. Once you have mastered it, go back and learn a little more. You will succeed - but don't give up!
    • [1] reply
    • Been there, done that, and it's deadly. As you said, you don't make any money until you apply what you've already learned. You can fine tune it later AFTER you know what's working and what isn't with your specific audience.
  • Thanks for the post. I think it all boils down to a simple rule that I try to follow when working on a new project:

    "It doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to get going"

    Once you are up and running you can always go back and improve things!
  • Sometimes One report contradicting other,This makes even more difficult in your IM life.

    If you want to earn quickly grab a unique way and learn the other things on the way.

    "If you keep on learning then finally, when you start the process whole trend is already updated"

    Learn while you work
  • Mine is also the "product perfection" problem... I was supposed to release UFM over 2 months ago, but I kept going back and smoothing out different areas Hey, the product is fantastic now, but then again, it was fantastic 2 months ago too!


    So to go with what H.Miller was saying - get it out there, offer lifetime updates to purchasers- keep improving. Whatever you do, don't sit on your hands!
  • great points! Sometimes knowing less is better. You have no idea what is possible so you try things that you might not do if you had more knowledge.
    • [2] replies
    • All these remarks are great and so very true! My problem was (besides information overload) I just loved to make the web pages and play with the colors and tweak here and there. BUT.......as we all know now, you can have the best looking site, but if you have no traffic, it's all a big bust!

      The past 4 months have been a real eye opener for me. I started concentrating on just a couple of items at a time and working them really hard. I also was told about a technique call the Pomodoro Technique that basically just has you time yourself for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minute break. Then you rinse and repeat.

      During this 25 minutes you are not allowed to answer the phone, skype, emails, or any distractions. You just work on your project. As a writer, I can tell you this has really helped me to learn to focus.

      You really don't realize how many interruptions you have, or how much you goof off until you time yourself.
      • [1] reply
    • I've often been guilty of being too stupid to know this or that can't possible work! My inspiration was Albert Einstein: "If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?"
  • These are my three.

    1. I didn't make my own products
    2. I didn't build a list
    3. I didn't seek out affiliates
    • [1] reply
    • I agree -
      Closely related:

      1) Didn't complete my own products
      2) Didn't build a big enough list that I actually kept warm with engaging emails on a regular basis
      3) Didn't seek out affiliates in my niche that were qualified to actively (operative word) promote my products, and would do so.
      • [1] reply
  • Yep. Those first three just about says it for me.

    I could have been a lot more successful a lot sooner if it wasn't for those.

  • I feel like you are talking about me 100%. how did you know those things about me???
    its funny that we all face the same problems and we MUST LEARN from them and each other.

    Great post and thank you
    im logging off right now, gotta finish my damn site.


    zena
  • this post really made me laugh. i have made the exact same mistakes. this post is a huge eye opener for the newbies
  • While you must learn what you are doing, action will bring you the biggest and best results.

    Learning from experience is 100000x better than from an ebook.
  • Great post, you've perfectly detailed my first few years in internet marketing. Things opened up for me when I realized I didn't have to be able to do everything myself. I write content; that's my strength. Recently a client asked me to create a huge power point presentation for him. There was a time when I would have spent weeks trying to do the whole thing myself. Now I play to my strengths and pay someone else to do the rest. Even though my expert's hourly rate is rather steep, she can do in one hour what it would take me a whole day to accomplish. Outsourcing can be a beautiful thing!
  • Great sharing. For me my 3 biggest mistake is
    1) choosing wrong autoresponder
    2) trusting wrong outsourcer (never check their background)
    3) doing too many projects in one time.

    CY
    • [1] reply
    • Isn't it funny how these three are inter-related?

      I bet every person that's trying to make money online with Internet marketing is making these mistakes in some way or the other. Thanks for the share!
  • Banned
    Truest part is procrastination one. FUlly agre and guilty of it VERY FREAKING DAY.

    Thief of profit = SO TRUE IT HURTS. I'll even start to use that phrase if you don't mind.
  • For me as a total new the biggest problem is I feel the more I learn the less I know! one minute I think I've learned loads, then I come across something I know nothing about and hve doubts that I'll never know enough to compete with all the other successful Internet Marketers! (just off to google what the hell split testing is..!)
    • [1] reply
    • That's one of the problems with trying to learn how to make money online. There is so much information out there. Some good and some not so good. The key is to fail fast. When you learn something new, implement it quickly. The sooner you know something doesn't work, the sooner you can move on to a new technique and figure out what does work.

      Start right now with what you already know. You don't need to worry about split testing right now because if you don't have a website or blog up and running you have nothing to split test. So find a product to promote, set up a simple blog and start promoting it immediately. Remember, its all about taking action.
  • setting up things and delaying things are the two killers
  • I think I heard Tony Robbins once say procrastinate about procrastination, I personally find it easier said than done sometimes.

    This is a great thread, thanks for sharing
  • Taking action is the biggest factor for success.

    Half the people here on the forum probably know a lot about IM, certainly enough to make them a lot of many. But often they are scared to jump in for fear of failure, and this is failure in itself.

    Just get in there and do it guys!
  • I think, You are right. I do agree very much with your third point that we should not waste our too much time for doing procrastinations. Thanks a lot for this information.
  • Thanks for the post...

    I am newbie here...now still learning step by step to get in business online...the first mistake i ever done before is spent a lot of time to learn..buy so many ebooks but unfortunately never practice it..

    but now i am trying to move forward using all the knowledge i have to sucess in business online...

    pls pray for me..
  • That's right,i also did make these same mistakes.Good thing is,i learnt from them.
  • my biggest mistake was to start online business lately.
  • I definitely agree , especially with the first point .

    The first point was one of my biggest mistakes . Learning too much stuff , while taking no action .
  • Im guilty of the first thing in the list as well. I really experienced information over load back then and I cant decide on which system to follow. Good thing that there is what we call 'break' and it helped me to get a clear mind.

    Andrea
  • Oh boy you are totally in my mind!I would describe the same thing with the exact same words!Thank you!

    TAKE ACTION!Put your learning into action!Thanks for posting!
    • [1] reply
    • I agree with everything said here. My biggest mistake was spending too much time in imitation (albeit it still remains the sincerest form of flattery.)

      I tried to imitate the writing style and flow of top sales letters, but I realized I needed to develop--or find--my own writing voice first. Then I could bring that voice to my copywriting, while still using high converting sales letters as my blueprint for what works.

      Nader
  • Great Post!! I am new to internet marketing and I have been doing research for too long! I am getting ready to roll out an unbelievable opportunity that is new with residual income every month. I will post this in the appropriate affiliate marketing database page. Thanks again to the veterans for helping out the newbies!!
    • [1] reply
    • I am new to internet marketing and the only real problem I am having right now is building my list. It only took me a few days to get my website set up, and while it is far from perfect, I at least have a website to direct traffic to. Once I get a list built up I think things will go a little smoother.
  • I think I spent to much time getting distracted by "information over load" ...

    Keep things simple, keep moving forward and NEVER give up!

    Rev
  • Although Im new in this business, Ive been making a strong effort to work things out and get business to blossom.
    My service: WordPress websites

    I have clients already waiting for my services and a 10-day buffer zone until I have to complete them.

    The problem is, I personally dont know much about WP...

    But thanks to oDesk, I still think things can work out.

    Basically, I will keep getting clients through telemarketing and other various promotional techniques in which I will invest a lot of time and effort.

    On oDesk Ive posted that Im looking for a WordPress designer and a personal assistant.

    The assistant is to know WordPress well and english well so we can communicate easily. I give him an idea of what my client's wish is and he creates a set of instructions for the WP designer.

    The WP designer then creates the site based on those instructions.

    Template provided.

    The reason Ive separated these two jobs is simple: I want the assistant to be smart and understand things so he can give instructions well and think of the best solution for the common goal - a good WP website that satisfies my client's needs.
    Meanwhile, the WP designer has to be a hard and efficient worker well-trained in WordPress and willing to get the job done on time and in good fashion, based on the instructions.

    What else must I know to make things work? The plugins and the technical stuff? Any tips? Must-knows?

    Please let me know what you think of this plan.

    Thank you
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • I totally agree, hell I still find myself spending to much time in "set up mode". Good points.
    • [1] reply
    • Information overload is my nemesis. I cull my email subscription list now and avoid following the links in the emails.

      Here's a good quotation I have posted on my noticeboard to stop procrastination:

      "Doing nothing is hard because you never know when you've finished."
  • I still spend too much time in setup mode. I know in my head that a site doesn't have to be perfect in order to make money (my most profitable site is also my ugliest, go figure) but I have a hard time making a site good enough and then moving on to promotion. I'm getting better though...
  • New - been at it 4 months

    SO glad I started with a coach/mentor who kept me accountable and set deadlines!

    He saved me from myself! lol

    Love to check out every shiny new toy, but......can't because I have to get this project finished and 'report' in.......

    Love having a coach!!

    • [1] reply
    • Yes having a coach helps out a great deal.
  • I too made these same mistakes in the beginning and i'm glad you made this post. This will be especially useful advice for newbies, So they will not make the same mistakes. But you know what, you just learn from your mistakes and will be more smarter with the decisions you make in this business.
  • Oh, my goodness. I can totally relate to your post! When I first got going I had so many irons in the fire I couldn't see straight. I saw so many things that needed to be done. I tried to do everything at once instead of focus on one thing and learn how to master that before going on to the next.

    I would find myself, within the course of a few hours, jumping back and forth between the article I was writing to worrying about my website content which would then lead me to long Google searches about authoring such content and then on to fretting about keywords. Meanwhile my unfinished article was just sitting there. I felt I needed to know all of it right now in this very second. Talk about the "jack of all trades" syndrome.

    I kept reminding myself that it was going to take time, effort, persistence and dedication to grow my business and I just had to accept that. From that point on, I chose one marketing strategy at a time to focus on. That's when I had to transcend the blocks in myself to persist because I refused to distract myself by going on to something else before I was finished with my current project. All that jumping around was avoiding the issue at hand which was "just DO something already"!
  • I have same problems. It relates to "Spending Too Much Time "Learning" "and "Spending Too Much Time In "Set Up Mode" ". I spend a lot of time to research and less of action, it is effect to my online income.
    Thank.
  • I gotta say, I use to come in here and laugh at people that kept saying

    build a damn list

    Build a damn list.

    While they were screaming and building their list, i kept laughing and not building one.

    Can you guess which one of us was making money?....yes, those that were building their list. For sure.

    When I started building a list i made my first few sales, and then more people on my list and more sales. I thought to myself, oh man celente you friggen idiot.... all this time you were laughing you could have been building a bigger list.

    So if you think you suck at this game, and you are not making sales. I would say you are not building a list. Start doing it, do it yesterday people. If I started building a list from day one I would be much better off.

    You will see huge differences to your business once you do this. I am in 7 niches to date. And I only do very well in them because I have nice targeted lists that I treat like my best friends. When it comes time to sell something, or a launch a product they trust me and click the buy button.

    One of my niches I have a 6 figure group of list on aweber, just from that list alone I make more in my crappy 9-5 job I had.

    So listing building is what i would say is the single biggest thing you should be doin.

    HOpe this helps.
    • [1] reply
    • This is good advice as I have heard a lot of people say the same thing! This might sound like a generic question but where do I start? Articles? I am new to this but I am looking to bring on board as many people for the current affiliate marketing program that I am in, and then get in more programs.....You seem to have good experience and I appreciate the advice.

      Thanks!
  • It's important to realize your mistakes
    and learn from them. Continuing to make
    the same mistakes over and over again
    will only result in the same results which
    are mediocre or horrible. There are some
    people whom are complete egomaniacs
    and fail to realize that everyone makes a
    mistake or two in their life.

    Jake
  • Perfection, Procrastination and Fear of success are my biggest problems I have. I am now trying to get things out and using critiques as a way to improve my products.
  • This is excellent advice on what to avoid and very true. I notice that people (including myself) first spend too much time researching the same things, then procrastinate during the set up mode.
    My father told me some good advice that I will pass on to you all.

    To set goals for yourself. Just by setting a goal you are 10% closer to achieving it than if you never set the goal.
    Tell one person about your goal and it goes up another 10%.
    Create an action plan and your chances increase to 50%
    And put the plan into action and your chance of success goes up to 90%.

    Hope that helps at least one person on here.
  • Banned
    that's very good that you have found the problems...now move ahead
  • Yep, good points. I'm very well aquainted with all of them unfortunately, heh heh!

    I started researching this field a couple of years ago, and it's only now that I'm taking action.
  • This is 100% true and I did that exact same thing. The main one was spending too much time LEARNING and not enough time taking action and DOING. Learn a few things and then just do it!
  • This one is absolutely huge. I honestly think you can't learn or know if something works for you until you do it 20-50 times.

    Write 50 articles then decide if it's not working (probably will be working nicely if you do it right by this level).

    Create 50 info products (wow...you'd be an expert)

    Build 50 Niche Websites (YOU WILL BE MAKING MONEY...I almost guarantee it).

    The fact is..."set up mode" is just an excuse for your past to keep you from your future.

    Don't let it...get it done, again and again and again.

    Cheers,

    Brad
  • I agree,
    The most important thing is to take action quickly, things will get better along the way, just start with what you have and then make it better.
    Simple
  • good tips thanks. mine was spent WAYYYYY to much money on useless programs. wish I just found the WF before i began. but seriously, nothing wrong with learning before you dive right in, it just depends on the type of person you are. Are you a hands on person that needs to make mistakes to learn or can you pick up a book or visit a blog and learn that way.
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