On the verge of giving up IM for good- any advice?

113 replies
Hey, I have been learning IM for about 4 years with very little success and a lot of wasted hours and money. This is not a moan just want some advice and guidance before making my decision.

I have tried so many course that promise you "just follow the exact steps and you're guaranteed to make money". Some of the famous courses I followed include google sniper, profit instrument, business in a box seo and so many others my desktop is shockingly polluted with these so called blueprints.

I tried everything that has come by me both online and offline (called about 30 prospects following John Durhams cold calling script but I had not even 1 appointment). I have Read numerous posts and tried methods from WF and other IM forums but I feel so frustrated that I know so much about seo, webdesign and internet marketing but I can never ever get anywhere.

Now after 4 years of trying and very little success ($300 promoting world cup tv offer on clickbank which i can no longer do because world cup is over) I feel that I honestly can no longer carry on wasting hours building sites or trying to find offline prospects if things dont pick up

I am really on the verge so if anyone can help me or advice me and others in my situation it will be much appreciated
#advice #giving #good #verge
  • Profile picture of the author Murt@gh
    Are you focusing on many different things or sticking to one solid plan and giving it your all?

    I think you have to stick to one thing as best as you can to start with and wait to see results. If you don't you shouldn't give up unless you believe you made a bad product choice (in which case you can always still switch it up right?)

    I see you had success with the world cup offer, can't you do some kind of spin off of what you did with that? I know it isn't the world cup but important sporting events are always happening.
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    • Profile picture of the author Malik.A
      Originally Posted by Murt@gh View Post

      Are you focusing on many different things or sticking to one solid plan and giving it your all?

      I think you have to stick to one thing as best as you can to start with and wait to see results. If you don't you shouldn't give up unless you believe you made a bad product choice (in which case you can always still switch it up right?)
      Well at the start I was focusing on building affiliate sites, but as time went by they weren't really working at all and I couldn't get support so i started looking at cpa.

      I can focus but I just lost trust in the methods and dont want to waste more time on them. so I would move on. where would your recommend me to start
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  • Profile picture of the author DustonMcGroarty
    You had success promoting the World Cup and that's great... copy the formula you used to make that work and implement that elsewhere. There's always SOMETHING going on that you can promote. It's just putting the right offer in front of the right people at the right time. And it sounds like you made that work with the World Cup stuff.

    Don't give up... there's money to be made... lots of money.
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    • Profile picture of the author Malik.A
      Originally Posted by DustonMcGroarty View Post

      You had success promoting the World Cup and that's great... copy the formula you used to make that work and implement that elsewhere. There's always SOMETHING going on that you can promote. It's just putting the right offer in front of the right people at the right time. And it sounds like you made that work with the World Cup stuff.

      Don't give up... there's money to be made... lots of money.
      Tried to repeat that for the superbowl but it didn't work as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Azrul
    maybe you can do something without using any money. only skills, such as article writing. write articles and sell them off as plr.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Meaney
    I'm sure not many people will agree with this but...

    IM isn't for everybody. Yes it's a shame when people decide to give up, but some people have skills that are meant for elsewhere. Knowing when to give something up is important, but 30 calls isn't that many.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ephrils
    If you've had success promoting something already, the world cup, then find out where else you can use that skill to keep making money. Once you find that something you're good at keep at it, mastering one skill takes time but can really pay for that time if you continue to use and hone it.

    Seasonal things happen every week or every year, maybe make a network of sites based on your ability to promote seasonal things?
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  • Profile picture of the author writerval
    I think for most people, IM takes a long time to learn. I'm pretty sure Ewen Chia said it took him at least 5 years (in his book "How I Made My First Million on the Internet").

    You can give up if you want to. In the end, the ones who make it are the ones who want to enough.
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  • Profile picture of the author claynekeegan
    Profit instruments is a very good course!! I'm using it myself and making 4k-5k/month just from this.. don't give up! try again and again and again!
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  • Profile picture of the author NateRivers
    Instead of focusing on following "blueprints" step-by-step, you learn the skills that make money... such as driving traffic, conversion, and monetization strategies.
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    Try using craigslist as it is free and a great way to prosper. It can be used to gain both affiliates and customers for your product or service.

    CL is probably the best game going.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jacob Hargreave
    Originally Posted by Malik.A View Post

    Hey, I have been learning IM for about 4 years with very little success and a lot of wasted hours and money. This is not a moan just want some advice and guidance before making my decision.

    I have tried so many course that promise you "just follow the exact steps and you're guaranteed to make money". Some of the famous courses I followed include google sniper, profit instrument, business in a box seo and so many others my desktop is shockingly polluted with these so called blueprints.

    I tried everything that has come by me both online and offline (called about 30 prospects following John Durhams cold calling script but I had not even 1 appointment). I have Read numerous posts and tried methods from WF and other IM forums but I feel so frustrated that I know so much about seo, webdesign and internet marketing but I can never ever get anywhere.

    Now after 4 years of trying and very little success ($300 promoting world cup tv offer on clickbank which i can no longer do because world cup is over) I feel that I honestly can no longer carry on wasting hours building sites or trying to find offline prospects if things dont pick up

    I am really on the verge so if anyone can help me or advice me and others in my situation it will be much appreciated
    Malik it sounds as if you are truly burnt out here. Now as much as I am against quitting or giving up, I'd like to give you some serious advice that just might put you back on track here son.

    First I think it may be time for you to take a break from the marketing world. Now before anyone jumps on this old man, let me first explain my insanity...

    As we all know, the same thing daily especially with little or no results can be... trying. Unfortunately most people simply try to power through until the see success which works sometimes. However for the norm it's like running a marathon up hill, extremely tiring.

    My suggestion is to take a short break, a few weeks to a month maximum. Get some time to really clear your head about where you want to go with your marketing. A lot of times on the road to success it's best to pull over and plot your course a bit before continuing.
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    Jacob Hargreave at your service...

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    • Profile picture of the author chestmary
      Originally Posted by Jacob Hargreave View Post

      Malik it sounds as if you are truly burnt out here. Now as much as I am against quitting or giving up, I'd like to give you some serious advice that just might put you back on track here son.

      First I think it may be time for you to take a break from the marketing world. Now before anyone jumps on this old man, let me first explain my insanity...

      As we all know, the same thing daily especially with little or no results can be... trying. Unfortunately most people simply try to power through until the see success which works sometimes. However for the norm it's like running a marathon up hill, extremely tiring.

      My suggestion is to take a short break, a few weeks to a month maximum. Get some time to really clear your head about where you want to go with your marketing. A lot of times on the road to success it's best to pull over and plot your course a bit before continuing.
      I agree with the poster. I, like you, have been at this for four years. The first three years were dismal failures, amazon last year was ok but adsense was crap. Now the amazon sites are crap because I got caught up in the "farmer update".

      So I took a break, because I was exhausted, angry and could not concentrate. This gave me time to consider where my mistakes and weaknesses are. Considered quitting but it's really not an option for me. So put a blueprint together, something I never considered doing before, from a few of the many wso's I've purchased. I now farm out (cheaply) the time-killing stuff that makes my teeth itch and I now once again feel like I can quit my stupid job in the near future.
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  • Profile picture of the author xxdksxx
    Just get out there and talk to people see what people are actually doing to make money don't pay someone who has the " Over night Success" guide they will never work.
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    • Profile picture of the author James Sides
      Grrrrrrrrr...

      I want to say this with all the compassion in the world but making money online is NOT hard. People make it harder than it needs to be.

      I agree with a previous poster you should take a break for a week, clear your head, and come back ready to work.

      I am going to give you a very simple blueprint to make money online. No BS, no affiliate links, just a real way to make your first steady income.

      Are you ready?

      First, I will not tell you to go promote any affiliate offers because being successful as an affiliate involves a lot more than just building a site and getting traffic. Some sites will get 1000's of hits and make nothing.

      You are going to make your first steady income with adsense.

      1) Go to Amazon

      2) Look through hot items/products

      3) Make a list of those products

      4) Go to the Google Keyword tool or w/e software you use

      5) Plug in the keywords you found

      6) Save the report to an excel file

      7) Remove any keywords that don't get 1500 EXACT searches per month

      8) Take the remaining keywords and plug them into the Godaddy Bulk Registration tool at Go Daddy Domain Name Search Tool

      9) Now, take the list of keywords that HAVE an exact match domain available and save them to notepad (.com, .net, or .org)

      10) Go to Spyfu and check the CPC of each keyword (Need a min of $1)
      Also check to make sure there are at least 3+ advertisers for the keywords

      11) Take the remaining keywords and save them to a new notepad file

      12) Review page 1 results for each of the keywords (analyze your competition)

      13) Pick a keyword from your notepad with the LEAST amount of competition and register an exact match domain.

      14) Build a Wordpress site and add a 400-500 word keyword rich article as your home page

      15) Add one page of content targeting a new LSI keyword every day

      16) Build at least 3-5 HIGH QUALITY backlinks every day

      ***Make sure you add tracking to your site. When you start seeing your first trickle of visitors add your adsense. Don't add it straight away. Give Google a week or two to get to know you first.

      Do this every single day and YOU WILL make consistent money.

      Then, DO IT again and again and again. Then, hire people to do it for you. ETC etc etc

      Hard? No. Tedious? VERY

      Adsense is the single easiest way to get started. Once you've mastered that then you can move on to other adventures if you so choose.

      Best of luck,

      James
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      "People will remain the same until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change."

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      • Profile picture of the author Whothar
        Originally Posted by Fenderkid View Post

        Grrrrrrrrr...

        I want to say this with all the compassion in the world but making money online is NOT hard. People make it harder than it needs to be.

        I agree with a previous poster you should take a break for a week, clear your head, and come back ready to work.

        I am going to give you a very simple blueprint to make money online. No BS, no affiliate links, just a real way to make your first steady income.

        Are you ready?

        First, I will not tell you to go promote any affiliate offers because being successful as an affiliate involves a lot more than just building a site and getting traffic. Some sites will get 1000's of hits and make nothing.

        You are going to make your first steady income with adsense.

        1) Go to Amazon

        2) Look through hot items/products

        3) Make a list of those products

        4) Go to the Google Keyword tool or w/e software you use

        5) Plug in the keywords you found

        6) Save the report to an excel file

        7) Remove any keywords that don't get 1500 EXACT searches per month

        8) Take the remaining keywords and plug them into the Godaddy Bulk Registration tool at Go Daddy Domain Name Search Tool

        9) Now, take the list of keywords that HAVE an exact match domain available and save them to notepad (.com, .net, or .org)

        10) Go to Spyfu and check the CPC of each keyword (Need a min of $1)
        Also check to make sure there are at least 3+ advertisers for the keywords

        11) Take the remaining keywords and save them to a new notepad file

        12) Review page 1 results for each of the keywords (analyze your competition)

        13) Pick a keyword from your notepad with the LEAST amount of competition and register an exact match domain.

        14) Build a Wordpress site and add a 400-500 word keyword rich article as your home page

        15) Add one page of content targeting a new LSI keyword every day

        16) Build at least 3-5 HIGH QUALITY backlinks every day

        ***Make sure you add tracking to your site. When you start seeing your first trickle of visitors add your adsense. Don't add it straight away. Give Google a week or two to get to know you first.

        Do this every single day and YOU WILL make consistent money.

        Then, DO IT again and again and again. Then, hire people to do it for you. ETC etc etc

        Hard? No. Tedious? VERY

        Adsense is the single easiest way to get started. Once you've mastered that then you can move on to other adventures if you so choose.

        Best of luck,

        James
        This is very similar to the methods I use for some of my websites, you should follow his advice. Some of my sites make $5 per day, some make over $20 - so you can see the need for multiple sites in order to start getting a nice, steady paycheck.
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        • Profile picture of the author bmcgoff
          Originally Posted by Whothar View Post

          This is very similar to the methods I use for some of my websites, you should follow his advice. Some of my sites make $5 per day, some make over $20 - so you can see the need for multiple sites in order to start getting a nice, steady paycheck.
          Same...I've only bought 3 WSOs: Jan Roos Amazon Sites, Daniel Brock's Deadbeat (this is similar, just more robust, less structured...perfect for AFTER you've gone through Jan's), and Angela's backlink packets.

          I'm on my way to having 10 mini sites created by the end of the month. I don't know if this will work, but I'm putting blinders on and focusing on nothing else. I shouldn't even be reading this...back to work!

          Real quick, on the "know thyself" mantra, I spent a while trying to be a writer and make money off articles, etc. Truth is, I hate writing. I outsource all of it now, and I'm much happier. Good luck, man. I hope you find success online or off!
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          • Profile picture of the author Alan Ashwood
            A few small things I noticed going through all the above messages.

            Your original said you have Google Sniper.
            After your break, look it up again, because I know a number of people who say it works If You Study And Follow It Carefully.

            Stop running around in the traffic, you've got confused. Pick one path to travel, and stay on it.

            If money's tight, look at the Adsense ads on all your sites and blogs. Go through each one and set up Google AdSense and Amazon Associates again.

            Then Check Your SEO. Check each site and each page for the quality of SEO. Just by adjusting your SEO on everything, you should find traffic improvements.
            Are your sites optimized for keywords?
            Are your Opt-ins working? What are you offering as an incentive?
            Articles and Posts. Are they your originals? If yes, then reproof them, improve them, submit to article directories etc.
            Check your Image. Are your sites easy on the eye, or garish nightmares which will drive readers away?
            Is your writing style friendly, pleasant, relaxed, professional, knowledgable? get a friend to read them and give you fair judgement. If critical - that's how your readers see it. Fix it.

            Do you get involved?
            Did you blog hop, give advice in WF, or 'connect' within the trade? Next time, do it. Give and take in fair proportion. I would expect someone with 4 years experience to have hundreds of posts, mostly helping and advising others. (I've been here two weeks and i already have 40+ posts). It's not difficult.

            All the above costs nothing. You're simply updating the work you've already done.
            But whatever you do, do not start duplicating content.

            There is tons of fantastic advice above from some great people.

            If I were you, I would copy the most helpful and complex ones to text files; print them out, and write copious notes. Yep, with a pen.

            In 4 years you must have gained a lot of knowledge, probably much more than me.

            Use what you've learned over 4 years. Put this education to work for you. I'm sure you could create one or two useful products from your knowledge.

            If the information's any good - somebody will pay for it.

            That's the business were in - Information Marketing.
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            Now where did I put that pencil?

            Time for a cuppa.
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            • Profile picture of the author Alan Ashwood
              Originally Posted by Alan Ashwood View Post



              Do you get involved?
              Did you blog hop, give advice in WF, or 'connect' within the trade? Next time, do it. Give and take in fair proportion. I would expect someone with 4 years experience to have hundreds of posts, mostly helping and advising others. (I've been here two weeks and i already have 40+ posts). It's not difficult.
              Just a thought.
              In answer to my own questions above. I noticed that you're not member of the War Room.

              I can't understand that, if you're as good as you say. I think this answers my question. The War Room would give you the opportunity to mix with the top Warriors; share advice, offer your services, sell your own products as WSos, buy recommended products rather than guessing at it elsewhere, checking expert reviews . . and much more. But surely you knew that after 4 years in the business?

              Why am I not a member?

              I'm broke. Really really broke. I will scratch up the money though. The value, advice and opportunites in the War Room are well known.

              This tiny one time investment of £20 may be one of my answers.
              Yes or no, I'll still keep going the way I am now. I've invested too much of myself already to give up.

              It's 3.40am.
              I've been working on my IM business since 10.00 am yesterday.
              I've written 3 articles, published 2 posts to two of my blogs, participated in at least 7 WF threads tonight, blog hopped to 21 blogs and left comments on 9 of them, sent an article to EZA, and tried to fathom out how to use Squidoo:confused:.

              Discovered that my Google Analytics isn't working , tried all the usual suspects with no success. Maybe I'll ask some Warriors fo advice later.

              I have to be at my first day customer's house by 9.00am to finish landscaping their new garden, then over to repair some timber work for another client at 4.30pm.

              Should be home around 7.30pm, just in time to put my 3 little daughters to bed.

              Power nap till about midnight then start again on IM.

              I'm 62, 3 heart attacks down and knackered - but I ain't beat yet!

              Is this what your days are like?

              To be put on my gravestone: "See - I told you I wasn't well!"
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              Now where did I put that pencil?

              Time for a cuppa.
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              • Profile picture of the author Apollo-Articles
                Originally Posted by Alan Ashwood View Post

                Just a thought.
                In answer to my own questions above. I noticed that you're not member of the War Room.

                I can't understand that, if you're as good as you say. I think this answers my question. The War Room would give you the opportunity to mix with the top Warriors; share advice, offer your services, sell your own products as WSos, buy recommended products rather than guessing at it elsewhere, checking expert reviews . . and much more. But surely you knew that after 4 years in the business?

                Why am I not a member?

                I'm broke. Really really broke. I will scratch up the money though. The value, advice and opportunites in the War Room are well known.

                This tiny one time investment of £20 may be one of my answers.
                Yes or no, I'll still keep going the way I am now. I've invested too much of myself already to give up.

                It's 3.40am.
                I've been working on my IM business since 10.00 am yesterday.
                I've written 3 articles, published 2 posts to two of my blogs, participated in at least 7 WF threads tonight, blog hopped to 21 blogs and left comments on 9 of them, sent an article to EZA, and tried to fathom out how to use Squidoo:confused:.

                Discovered that my Google Analytics isn't working , tried all the usual suspects with no success. Maybe I'll ask some Warriors fo advice later.

                I have to be at my first day customer's house by 9.00am to finish landscaping their new garden, then over to repair some timber work for another client at 4.30pm.

                Should be home around 7.30pm, just in time to put my 3 little daughters to bed.

                Power nap till about midnight then start again on IM.

                I'm 62, 3 heart attacks down and knackered - but I ain't beat yet!

                Is this what your days are like?

                To be put on my gravestone: "See - I told you I wasn't well!"

                You really need to slow down.

                Sam
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          • Profile picture of the author stylewars
            I agree with the previous posters about taking a break. I actually am back at it after a 2 and a half month break which included staying away from this forum.

            Don't let my post count fool you. I re-registered under a different name because I wanted a fresh start, literally. I would spend hours reading this site and not putting my knowledge into action enough.

            Now I have a time limit I spend on here. I do like an hour and then get back to work. Then when there is downtime, I scan my homepage which is a news site, catch up on the latest for another hour then back to work.

            I have no television, no cell phone, only a landline.(which I turn off when i'm working)

            Now that I am on a disciplined schedule, I am more focused without the distraction of tv, cable, cellphones ringing, people wanting to come over and drink and all of the things your computer/smartphone/ipad/pad can do(games,e-books, digital comic-booking, cool apps, 2.0 communications, etc).

            I now am a minimalist who has his eyes on the prize and that is the first page of Google, Bing and Yahoo. It's about wanting to WIN. "WINNING" (CHARLIE SHEEN VOICE)
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      • Profile picture of the author Diane S
        Originally Posted by Fenderkid View Post


        7) Remove any keywords that don't get 1500 EXACT searches per month
        Do you mean "Remove any keywords that don't get at least 1500 EXACT GLOBAL searches per month"? Or do you mean "at least 1500 EXACT LOCAL searches per month"?

        Originally Posted by Fenderkid View Post

        13) Pick a keyword from your notepad with the LEAST amount of competition and register an exact match domain.
        Would you mind sharing what your criteria are for determining the strength of the competition? PR of competitor? number of backlinks? Both? Other things?

        How is OP doing? On a break? Did you choose a method and make a plan?
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    • Profile picture of the author LiamP
      Have you still got content you can use? At a guess you might have spent the last 4 years trying marketing tricks rather than creating valuable content. And this is where your problem might lie.

      Create valuable content, then try the marketing tricks. If the marketing doesn't work, you'll still have great content to repurpose and go forward with.

      Ask yourself 'How can I add value?'
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      A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
      Robert A. Heinlein

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  • Profile picture of the author Diane S
    You have been given lots of advice in this thread. You have a LOT of experience. You have LEARNED A LOT about what you cannot make work. I have spent some wasted money on methods that looked easy, where the originator really was making money and really believed others could do the same. That has not proven true for me most of the time. You need to know yourself, first of all. You have tried other people's ideas, and they have not worked. What about your own ideas? What are your interests? What do you know a lot about - not in the IM niche - that others could benefit from?

    It sounds like you need a break, first of all, and then a new plan, created by you, for you. A realistic plan that takes into account your learning style, your interests, your preferred methods. I recommend you create your own product, not in the IM niche. The product could be a downloadable information product, a membership site, a multimedia course on a topic you already know a lot about....those are just some ideas. If you have Skype you could offer live coaching on any topic. You could offer five minutes of that coaching over at Fiverr.

    I wish you all the best, and sincerely hope you find something that works for you. We all need to "take the internet and make it our own" to succeed. Just HOW to do that? Only YOU can answer that for yourself...
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  • Profile picture of the author simonbuzz
    Banned
    My advice will be Just stick to one plan...don't try to too hard....take your time and start slowly....
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  • Profile picture of the author alcarrerra
    My #1 advice ... is to go into a niche that you like and enjoy (not for the money).

    The money will start rolling in slowly.
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  • Profile picture of the author Julie McElroy
    You have already gotten a lot of advice here, but we ALL have been in your shoes. What I would say is first figure out what you have skills in and then figure out what you like to do based on those skills.

    I think what a lot of people do (you are not alone) is try to do too many things and grab onto each "promise" or tactic to make them money. Get a PLAN and THEN find tactics that will help you. I tried niche sites, affiliate marketing, etc. I learned that my skills AND what I liked were in writing. Then, I went from there. It is so much easier when you have a focus.

    But, not everyone is cut out for this either. But, before you give up, think about what I said along with others here. The WF is a GREAT place for advice. It is also a built-in support network! Good luck in whichever you decide!
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  • Profile picture of the author reynoldscorb
    When I was feeling frustrated with Internet Marketing, I changed my approach. Instead of trying to sell other people's products and services and an affiliate I started selling my own. I picked up computer programming and have since created a few profitable websites, phone apps, small computer software, along with designing websites for a few friends. Since then, I earned more money that I ever did from selling as an affiliate and I've opened up a lot of new doors.

    My recommendation is that you take a new approach. Not necessarily computer programming like I did, but don't be nervous to look around and see what there is to offer. There's a lot more out there than just being an affiliate.
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  • Profile picture of the author Knowledge Kick
    I hope you stick with it. Never give up. There is money to be made.
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  • Profile picture of the author PatrickP
    I would strongly recommend you sell an actual product. Something unique. Something people will want to buy.
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    • Profile picture of the author xxdksxx
      Originally Posted by PatrickP View Post

      I would strongly recommend you sell an actual product. Something unique. Something people will want to buy.
      Yes build a relationship with people and sell them something good not something that isn't or is all about hype you want them to come back. Help as much as possible and good things will come your way.
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  • Profile picture of the author scrofford
    Originally Posted by Malik.A View Post

    Hey, I have been learning IM for about 4 years with very little success and a lot of wasted hours and money. This is not a moan just want some advice and guidance before making my decision.

    I have tried so many course that promise you "just follow the exact steps and you're guaranteed to make money". Some of the famous courses I followed include google sniper, profit instrument, business in a box seo and so many others my desktop is shockingly polluted with these so called blueprints.

    I tried everything that has come by me both online and offline (called about 30 prospects following John Durhams cold calling script but I had not even 1 appointment). I have Read numerous posts and tried methods from WF and other IM forums but I feel so frustrated that I know so much about seo, webdesign and internet marketing but I can never ever get anywhere.

    Now after 4 years of trying and very little success ($300 promoting world cup tv offer on clickbank which i can no longer do because world cup is over) I feel that I honestly can no longer carry on wasting hours building sites or trying to find offline prospects if things dont pick up

    I am really on the verge so if anyone can help me or advice me and others in my situation it will be much appreciated
    Well if you're on the verge of quitting then quit. Maybe it's not for you. To me it sounds like there's something you aren't doing right whether its focus or sticking to one thing or whatever.

    Continuously going through course after course won't get you anywhere. If affiliate marketing isn't working for you, try something else unless of course you want to quit. Try creating a product to sell. If you don't know how, there's plenty of free information on how to do that.

    Quit the cold calling crap and all that other junk. Find a hungry market and give them what they want! It's that simple. You know the deal. Focus on one thing and don't let the next shiny object distract you. Anyway I'm sure you've heard all of this before. Good luck on your endeavors.
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    • Profile picture of the author genhorrall
      Don't give up! I would have to agree that taking a break would not be a bad idea, but no longer than about two weeks.

      You will come back with new ideas and new prespective.

      Next you talk about all you have learned. So go with that. Write about it. Writing is the key here. The question would be what have you been writing. What is your writing style? Knowing this can be very helpful. Have you been writing you know business style or like you are having a conversation with your readers. This is just a little type I picked up from Frank Kern. You want to have people like they are having a conversation with them. Not like you are selling them things. Just something I had to learn the hard way. I always wanted to sound smarter or like the authority. Authority and respect come with sharing and talking and building realtionships. So that is where I would focus.

      I would also follow the advice you were given by @Fenderkid. He is right Amazon products make it very easy to start making money. He gave you some really great advice.

      I wish you the very best of luck. Do not give up, change how you approach it, and when you feel you need a break take one and come back to it. Keep after the same blueprint for at least 90 days and just keep doing it. It will pay out in either money or knowledge and that is the only two things make doing this worthwhile anyway.

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  • Profile picture of the author Carol_A
    Take a break

    Figure out if you have the drive/passion/will ... to continue

    Get a coach

    Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author Linda_C
    Originally Posted by Malik.A View Post

    Hey, I have been learning IM for about 4 years with very little success and a lot of wasted hours and money. This is not a moan just want some advice and guidance before making my decision.

    I have tried so many course that promise you "just follow the exact steps and you're guaranteed to make money".
    May I be brutally honest? A 6 year old at a lemonade stand knows how to make money. SELL SOMETHING. Preferably something people want. Doesn't much matter if it's a product or service. That's your choice.


    It seems as though maybe you are chasing the "secret" of making money when the secret is right in front of your nose - people make money by selling something others want to buy.


    Also sounds like you have shiny object syndrome - trying many different things. Problem is, dabbling in a little of this and a little of that doesn't make money, as you have discovered.


    Take a break for a week or two. Think about what kind of BUSINESS you would like to operate. Pick ONE thing that you can do well or learn to do well. Make a plan. Figure out how many sales you need to reach your goals. Figure out how much traffic you need to get that number of sales. Then do it. Work at it relentlessly for however many hours you can. Ignore the shiny new ideas. Stick with your business plan until it is making you money.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisKahler
    Consider the Colonel for KFC... he was denied his now famous chicken recipe over 1000 times before finally someone gave him a chance... and how, well his recipe is famous!

    Everyone can be a Colonel in their own right. Giving up is the only way you will really fail... it doesn't matter if it takes 4 years or 10.

    My advice to you is to forget about money. When you do something like IM for the money for too long without getting paid, you begin to self sabotage yourself with stress and pressure. It gets worse as time goes on because you feel as if you should be doing so much more than what you've done.

    I would suggest doing anything you can to ENJOY any part of IM possible. For me I find enjoyment in blogging because you can literally blog about anything, it is like an extension of how you think and your personality, and it requires you to be committed because blogging for income takes a little longer to establish than some other methods.

    However, if you do it correctly it rewards you HANDSOMELY and will always be enjoyable so long as you blog about what you like.

    Your best bet is to establish a habit of writing and working to improve that skill. There are numerous of ways to profit from writing with IM other than blogging. With healthy writing skills and a clear focus on being productive, any proven plan you apply yourself to will work.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Stirling
    3 words...

    get a mentor


    it sucks when you try to do everything yourself..
    you can't focus, you don't really try.. because no-one is
    pushing you. you probably know a lot after 4 years..that's
    about the same as me..

    but even if you don't get a mentor, get some friends you
    can talk biz with (i.e. mastermind group) or line up some
    JV partners to do a project with...

    good luck mate!
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    Only keep going if you will enjoy it and the potential rewards could/would be worth it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chevy5
    I agree with the other posters about taking a break. Information overload can drag you down also. Don't spread yourself too thin. Finding success is frustrating, but we know it can be done. You should be able to find something else you can promote on clickbank. At least you've had some sales. Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Cole
    Sounds like you have a little case of magpie syndrome, picking up shiny objects that catch the eye, whether they have value or not.

    You mentioned 'profit instrument' if it's that course by Ritoban C you should take another look at it. As a test and using only the info in the free PDF and videos I built a 'Profit Instrument" in about four hours. And made money from it. Not a lot, but some.

    If I could make money with the free version you should be able to with the paid for product. But I think the larger problem is that type of Capture Page video.

    The type that glosses over the fact that real work and effort are involved in Internet Marketing and claim that a fifty to a one hundred dollar information product can end all your money problems instantly.

    My advice would be that if you really want to work from home, WORK from home, and stop falling for "One size fits all" Magic Button Success Products, they won't work for you unless you work hard at them.
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    Get a free, easy to understand and follow step by step plan to start an Internet Network Marketing business from the ground up, for about a three dollar a day investment.

    Not a 'cookie cutter' copy and paste system that's flooding the market, it's a pratical guide to creating your own unique lead generating system using free and low cost tools.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paleochora
    I agree with a couple of the posters earleir up the list.

    Take a short break. Clear your head.

    The step-by-step offered in a previous post is sound, although with the courses you have bought I wager that it is not all new information to you. Follow this religiously and, eventually, there will be money.

    One thing I want to ask and add:

    LIST?

    Have you been building lists? If not, when you return to IM make sure that whatever you do, in whatever niche, you make sure you have an opt-in form and an incentive to opt-in above the fold on everything you put out.
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    • Profile picture of the author terrencewan
      My dear friend,

      I was like you, everyday thinking of
      giving up, as i don't see much results
      after working for sometime.

      I am in no position to advice you,
      but i can share with you my point of view.

      Success is not easy,
      i told myself that i must agreed with it first,
      once i know is not easy,
      i tell myself how do i become successful?
      Be it in IM or elsewhere,
      when i look around those successful people,
      i found something similar in them.

      The key to success :

      FOCUS, CONSISTENT, PERSISTENT


      A lot of things are easy to say then done,
      that's why it is so hard to be successful,
      you just need to believe in it,
      else you can hardly achieve any results,
      as you move from one thing to another.

      If you tell me for the past 4 years,
      you are just focusing on 1 method,
      i am sure you can see some results.

      Alternative, get a MENTOR,
      so one who can guide you and
      help you to be successful,
      but ensure that you follow someone
      who is already doing well in your
      chosen field.

      Good luck and wish you success...
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      • Profile picture of the author ivana
        You got sucked into buying mode and kind of forgot about the basics.

        Now here are the basics. You need 1 "sales page" or "money page"

        You need to send many targeted visitors to that page and you will make sales.

        You don't need to build millions of websites, you just need 1 page.

        Simple formula

        [Targeted visitors + Money Page that converts at (at least) 3%]=$$$$$$$

        If you have one page that sells, and you invest lots of time into sending traffic to it, you can capitalize on it.

        Promote recurring commission programs and build safe income.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnniew
    Try to think outside of the box, if you are into SEO/IM for over 4 years and you can't get your website ranked it mean that you don't know enough about SEO. I suggest you to focus on one project, pick up an offer or get a new age/fresh relevant subject and make a blog, keep updating it and write/order a lot of articels, put google adsense and then start with off page SEO, backlinks, linkwheels, pyramid, AMR, do it for 2 month.. if you won't see improvement in your ranking in two month I guess that IM is not for you.

    Good Luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author spope91
    You mensioned you were know how to do everything, but have not had success, why not offer your services to people?

    You can make thousands every month by selling yourself as a web designer on Elance or Fiver, or any other similar website.

    You can design web pages/websites for people, and even get some SEO practise in their, by doing this,not only are you earning, but it's good on-the-job practise, you never know, you may even crack the code

    Hope this helps pal.

    Pope.
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  • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
    Originally Posted by Malik.A View Post

    Hey, I have been learning IM for about 4 years with very little success and a lot of wasted hours and money. This is not a moan just want some advice and guidance before making my decision.

    I have tried so many course that promise you "just follow the exact steps and you're guaranteed to make money". Some of the famous courses I followed include google sniper, profit instrument, business in a box seo and so many others my desktop is shockingly polluted with these so called blueprints.

    I tried everything that has come by me both online and offline (called about 30 prospects following John Durhams cold calling script but I had not even 1 appointment). I have Read numerous posts and tried methods from WF and other IM forums but I feel so frustrated that I know so much about seo, webdesign and internet marketing but I can never ever get anywhere.

    Now after 4 years of trying and very little success ($300 promoting world cup tv offer on clickbank which i can no longer do because world cup is over) I feel that I honestly can no longer carry on wasting hours building sites or trying to find offline prospects if things dont pick up

    I am really on the verge so if anyone can help me or advice me and others in my situation it will be much appreciated
    No offense, my friend, but if ~$300 USD is all you've earned in 4 years of trying, it sounds like you've got some major issues with your mindset.

    I have AdSense sites that make more than that each and every month, and took little more than a week or two to set up.

    It aint brain surgery. Stick to the fundamentals:

    (1) A solid method of monetisation. Could be:
    (a) Promoting in-demand products. Physical (Amazon, other retailers) or electronic (Clickbank, etc). But pick the ones that are "useful", not the scammy, gimmicky ones that you couldn't imagine yourself ever buying even as a prospective customer with an interest in a relevant field.

    (b) "Selling advertising" (Google AdSense, Chitika, banner impressions/clicks, etc.)

    (2) Drive targeted traffic. It doesn't matter whether you're promoting stuff yourself or selling ads on your site - if your traffic isn't targeted, you aren't making much money. Two common methods of generating targeted traffic are:
    (a) SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). Write quality, keyword-optimised content (don't go overboard with them), then work on acquiring relevant backlinks. The higher their PR and the more context-relevant, the better.

    (b) Article marketing. This can help with SEO, too, in that it can help you acquire quality backlinks. But backlinks aren't the primary objective of article marketing; the primary purpose is targeted traffic. You write great articles and syndicate them to other people's sites in front of their audience, who hopefully have enough of an interest in what you've written to click your resource-box links back to your site and decide to opt-in, click ads, buy stuff, or whatever. In most cases, you'll want to use an opt-in to build mailing list. Without a list, you'll struggle to generate sufficient ongoing levels of traffic to be making a regular income of any significance. Mailing lists are vital.
    Skip the scams, forget the hype. There are few magic bullets, and even if there are a few "magic bullet opportunities" knocking about, you're unlikely to get in on them. Forget it and work on building a real, solid, authentic business.
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  • Profile picture of the author Malik.A
    Thank you all for your response, it has been overwhelming; I really underestimated the WF I have been a member for months but never use to get involved in discussions, all that is going to change in the future so thanks.

    Heres what I have decided to do;

    1) Take a break- This has been emphasis by a few warriors and I will set myself 2 weeks with No IM at all.

    2) follow a single course- a few warriors have said that profit instruments course has worked for them so I will focus on this and nothing else

    3) Get a mentor- though I am no sure about this one because money is kinda tight at the moment, does anyone know what the cost of a mentor would be, or is there a warrior who can mentor me in exchange for me to work for you to link building or something like that you usually outsource?
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Success always begins in your mental image of the processes you are working.

    If you are only finding failure, is it possible that you are only expecting failure?

    We all have had to learn about what is possible, try a few things until we found our calling, practice failure until we learn confidence, then dive in with both feet to achieve the success "we knew" was possible all along.

    I suspect that you just have not found that one thing that excites you to your core.

    Once you do, no one will be able to stop you.

    There are thousands of business models that have proven profitable for others, but just because others have succeeded with something is no assurance that you will succeed with the same thing.

    What worked for me may not work for you. What worked for my friend may not work for you or me. And what will eventually work for you may not work for us.

    At the lead of the train is education and training. The train's engine is following by work and failure. Near the caboose, you will find confidence and success.

    Don't give up until you have examined all the possibilities.
    Signature
    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author brobdingnagian
    1. start a fresh email address and do NOT sign up for any squeeze pages. Keep this email address 'business only'.

    2. Seek advice from the big fish here on Warrior Forum. They are here and they are (mostly) available. Don't be intimidated and ask honest, real questions. Listen!

    3. Take 2-3 days and formulated a step-by-step success plan. It doesn't matter if the plan is 4 steps or 400. Write them all down. Set a date on the calendar to start the plan.

    4. Work the plan. Do not advance to the next step until you have completed the current one.

    I know it sounds basic, but this is the 4-step I use to break any paralysis I'm having in my projects.

    It works like a charm, every time.
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    • Profile picture of the author biz4bucks
      If Thomas Edison had given up then someone else would have discovered the light bulb.

      Try CPA Marketing -- Read CPA Arbitrage.

      AL
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by synthman View Post

        If Thomas Edison had given up then someone else would have discovered the light bulb.

        I like that as a quote.
        Signature
        Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
        Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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      • Profile picture of the author thinkrich
        Originally Posted by synthman View Post

        If Thomas Edison had given up then someone else would have discovered the light bulb.

        Try CPA Marketing -- Read CPA Arbitrage.

        AL
        True That!

        It took Thomas Edison no less than 10,000 attempts to find the right filament to work with. The right ingredient. The right 'recipe for success'.

        What others have said is true.... take a break.

        Let those old ways of thinking drift out, while new ways of thinking drift in.

        Paradigm Shift
        Out with the old and in with the new.

        Most people who come online have the exact aspirations as you do, and yet, not many of them succeed.

        Why?

        They did not know how to plan for success. They ended up (unwittingly) planning to fail.

        So how do you plan for success?

        Mind Maps
        These incredible tools let you see how you are thinking now and finding the excuses/objections and reasons for your failure thus far.

        You already know what is not working, so you need to change strategies so that you develop a formula that is more successful.

        This starts with a mindset.

        "Change your thinking - change your life" <<<< Me

        Follow your PASSION.
        This is different for everyone as everyone is an individual.
        You mentioned selling stuff to do with the World Cup, so do you have a passion for soccer?
        There are plenty of affiliated products to do with soccer on the web which you can make money from...
        or you can start your own.

        Most people start by selling other people's stuff (affiliate marketing) until they produce their own products which do NOT have to be masterpieces or blueprints, but practical guides with essential info on a particular topic.

        "You will become as great as your dominant aspiration... If you cherish a vision, a lofty ideal in your heart, you will realise it."
        -- James Allen, As You Think (originally titled 'As Man Thinketh", published in 1904)

        Please re-read that line above ^^

        .

        ..


        ...

        Get a Mentor ... many people have suggested this, and yes, you can learn from the experiences of others, like those on this forum. For specialised training on your PASSION, you should actually find a coach.

        I am sure you have a truck load of stuff laying around on your computer. Drag some of it out and write down notes from a number of them, which you can apply to your own situation.

        "I use the word secrets not because these things are hidden, but because so few people are prepared to hear them today."
        -- The Bhagavad Gita (written over 5,000 years ago in India)

        Success is in your hands.... take the gloves off



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  • Profile picture of the author Tomkinsona
    Hello,

    I know how you feel because for the last 2/3 years I have tried Internet Marketing, jumping from one 'brilliant' email offer to another without knowing whether it was a scam or genuine.

    I researched the market to find the genuine Internet Marketers with the real training and guidance. The problem I then had was not sticking at one plan because it did not make me money overnight so I started something new! Big mistake. Also, using as an excuse the fact that I had a full time job and couldn't afford the time. Another big mistake.

    I have started again and am sticking at it because if it can work for other people it can work for me AND it is starting to.

    Pick an established and proven Internet Marketer with a Training Program and follow it all the way through.

    Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author James Clark
      Well, anyone can give up. In my honest opinion the most important skill is to learn how to sell. Anyone can learn how to do web design and all that other stuff you mentioned.

      Keep in mind, you have to learn how to read the prospect mind literally! I'm not speaking about an educated guess.

      Look, I fail all the time but I'm turning around in a circle all the time looking for something that has value to someone, and they are willing to pay for it.

      Thats what Internet Marketing is.

      Example: sometimes it can be something simple like how you quit smoking or how you avoided junk food.

      I was watching the news the other day and there was discussion on how to walk away from a mortgage without feeling guilty. I have no idea on how to do that myself, but if I was in the situation would look into it.

      Failure is not a real emotion. It just tells you that what your doing is not going to work.
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  • Profile picture of the author simbot82
    great advice here, wow
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    • Profile picture of the author Shadowflux
      There is a lot of great advice on here so, chances are, you might not even read this post but I'll offer some suggestions anyway.

      Take a break first, clear your head. When I take a break from something I find I am better at it when I come back than when I had left.

      Next, why not go to Flippa or something and just buy a website that is doing decently well?

      You learn a lot from failing but you learn even more from success. Running a successful website will give you valuable insight.

      Stop spending money on "guru" courses. I could buy a course on how to become an Olympic athlete but it is NEVER GONNA HAPPEN lol
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    • Profile picture of the author capitalalchemy
      Don't give up - we all have our ups and downs. You get closer and closer each time.

      I agree with the user who said to stick to one thing at a time. Truth is, I have misses as well. Not everything is always going to be fruitful, but I can say that over time you get better at identifying things that are going to work.

      What I would recommend is that whatever product or path you are considering to use to make money, do as much research on it as possible before deciding.

      Try to find areas where there is no competition. Keep honing your skills and monitor the results.

      Stop buying how to make money products - you already have more than a foundation.

      One thing that I do is when something didn't work, I sit down and take the emotion out of myself and look at it honestly. I grab a pen and paper and I figure out what went wrong to learn from.

      In the long run, IM is about creating many different types of streams of residual income. So, for instance - affiliate marketing is kicking your butt right now. Could you create your own product for this round instead?

      Also, when I felt that I was really a failure at this, I was thinking so because I had not start up capital and had built TONS of web properties that were only making a little here and there.

      Then I stepped back and realized that although I wasn't making a whole lot, that money was totally non existent at one point. I had built web properties that could give me just enough start up capital to maybe do something with.

      It's really important that you step back and really look at what accomplishments you have made, even if they aren't always financial.
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    • Profile picture of the author deehunts
      Best advice I can give you is never give up! You have spent 4 years working at this, now would be the worst time to quit. A lot people make it to the edge and instead of taking the next step to success, they are afraid to move on. You are at the edge, and your next step can land you in places you never imagined. There is a lot of money to be made online, just make sure you are in the area that fits you best. Most importantly, do what I did. Ask some people directly, if they would be willing to mentor you.
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    • Profile picture of the author blend
      If anyone on the warrior forum says it's easy to make money online then their having a laugh! From what i've learnt it's far from easy, it's only easy when you have a stratergy and a lot of patients. I was never interested in paying for ppc on google, so i learnt the methods on seo.

      Keyword research.
      Keyword in domain
      A lot of unique content
      Plenty of seo
      Plenty of patients.

      This worked for me, so it can work for anyone!!

      Also, the best way to make money online is to "Think outside the box" and start your own business. If you want to succeed and make plenty of money online, you need a business plan, product's to sell etc..

      Oh and one more thing....DONT GIVE UP!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Originally Posted by Malik.A View Post


    I tried everything that has come by me both online and offline (called about 30 prospects following John Durhams cold calling script but I had not even 1 appointment). I have Read numerous posts and tried methods from WF and other IM forums but I feel so frustrated that I know so much about seo, webdesign and internet marketing but I can never ever get anywhere.

    Now after 4 years of trying and very little success ($300 promoting world cup tv offer on clickbank which i can no longer do because world cup is over) I feel that I honestly can no longer carry on wasting hours building sites or trying to find offline prospects if things dont pick up

    I am really on the verge so if anyone can help me or advice me and others in my situation it will be much appreciated
    Malik, it sounds like you're jumping around too much, and not focusing long enough on any one method to be successful with it.

    For example, you can't just cold-call 30 people and expect to set an appointment - before you call at least 500 or more prospects, you're really not in a position to say that it doesn't work. Telemarketing offices would have trouble hiring and keeping any sales staff if they followed your criteria for marketing success.

    Whether you're doing online or offline marketing, you've got to be far more patient. This is not "hit and run" type marketing, you have to build up your momentum initially (which can take some time) before you start seeing any kind of consistent success - it definitely does not occur overnight in internet marketing (or offline marketing), and you have to get rid of your "get results quick" type mentality.

    You're building a real business here, and you simply cannot expect things to magically skyrocket overnight!

    Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author aileengallagher
      Malik,

      I would take a break for a couple of weeks and re-evaluate.

      Decide what about Internet Marketing drove you into this area in the first place...What is your reason 'WHY'?

      Then if you decide to stick with it, decide how you would like to spend each day if you were a full-time Internet Marketer.

      Do you enjoy creating content, writing, shooting video, mentoring etc?

      What skills have you built up over the last 4 years? Over and over again, people who come into IM jump from one shiny object to the next, hoping that this is the 'push button' system that will finally work for them.

      The level of success that anyone has in any profession is directly proportional to the amount of value that they give to their customers/clients.

      What value are you providing? What skills do you need to learn?

      It wasn't until I found a community of like minded internet marketers that I stopped buying into the hype and focussed on educating myself and becoming a more skilled marketer.

      Hope you make the right decision.

      Aileen
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    There are lots of these stories on warrior forum, and lots of them lately.

    I think when a person comes in here there are two problem.

    1) They are lost and confused as to what really market can make them money.

    2) Because of 1) THey give up and stop looking for more, or taking action on the information they hold in their knowledge bank.

    I know this because i have been there in the beginning. YOu need to find out how you want to make money and what is working for you and go with that. What works for you might not work for someone else.

    You have to get through the ups and the down, and just get your hands dirty before coming here and claiming you have given up and tried every avenue, because once you find something that works, and brings in money you will not have to work a day again in your life.

    Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author omk
    4 years is a long time to be struggling. But you need to do a real gut check and ask yourself if you really tried 110%.

    My guess is that if you are honest with yourself, you'll see that you've been looking for a quick way to make money for the past 4 years, instead of trying to build a real online business model.

    Just think where you'd be right now, if you had a blog/website/info product that you've been building and cultivating for 4 years!

    Don't give up! Tell yourself that this is your last chance. Do or die!
    This last time, build a solid plan and focus on one type of marketing. Whether it's CPA, building your own product or offline marketing.

    I'm willing to bet you know enough about Internet Marketing to help local small businesses.

    Anyway, I wish you luck with whatever your decision is.
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    • Profile picture of the author MarcoJardel
      You've probably gained a hell of a lot of knowledge from your IM purchases over the last 4 years...

      Rather than following "blueprints", why not create your own products? I'm sure there are tons of SME's who would benefit hugely from the knowledge you have in Web Design & SEO.

      Following IM "blueprints" can work. But it's rare you will see the rewards that the product creator claims... In 90% of cases the author has only become rich from selling the blueprint rather than the blueprint itself...

      These are far better as "supplementary" income for newbies IMO. 4 years deep and with tons of knowledge you would be better off working on your own product.
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  • Profile picture of the author TycoonRob
    I've been at this point many times. Sometimes I've had my best ideas after feeling this way. One idea that I had that helped increase my PayPal account was writing a bunch of articles. I picked a popular topic, did some quick research, and wrote a series of 10 articles. Sold them in packs of 5 here on WF as well as DPF. I might have pulled in $100 or so, but it was something! There are people that make good money just writing articles for others. And if you don't like that, find something you CAN do, and offer that service to others. It's simple, it's not a "system", and it works.
    Signature

    Doubt everything you believe.

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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Originally Posted by Malik.A View Post

    Hey, I have been learning IM for about 4 years with very little success and a lot of wasted hours and money. This is not a moan just want some advice and guidance before making my decision.
    You've gotten a lot of good advice in this forum. I think the most solid is to take a break for now. Take a few weeks off. Then, before you come back, take a whole weekend (or whenever you can take 2 solid days off) to spend some time alone with a notebook. Jot down EXACTLY what you want in your life a year from today, 3 years from today, and 5 years.

    Then jot down a simple plan of action on how you're going to get it. I did this over ten years ago when I was getting nowhere after 8 - 10 straight months of not making a single dime. It was the best thing I ever did.

    I have tried so many course that promise you "just follow the exact steps and you're guaranteed to make money". Some of the famous courses I followed include google sniper, profit instrument, business in a box seo and so many others my desktop is shockingly polluted with these so called blueprints.
    There is definitely a disconnect here since I personally know people making a lot of money with sniper sites (don't know about the other ones you listed). You're doing too much at one time. To be blunt here, without actually seeing and knowing EXACTLY what you've done, it's difficult to diagnose where you're going wrong, but clearly you're jumping from one thing to another and that's a proven recipe for failure.

    I tried everything that has come by me both online and offline (called about 30 prospects following John Durhams cold calling script but I had not even 1 appointment). I have Read numerous posts and tried methods from WF and other IM forums but I feel so frustrated that I know so much about seo, webdesign and internet marketing but I can never ever get anywhere.
    Offline marketing takes time to learn. It takes even more time to learn how to call prospects and learn the art and science of closing them. If you're giving up after 30 phone calls then you should send businesses post cards and have them call you; even then, though, you'll have to close them. There are several people that do this and the only time they have to call people is to follow up on their messages. But this may or may not be in your budget.

    You're definitely giving up way too soon, you're not giving your business any kind chance of building momentum. I didn't land my first offine client until I had made over 300 calls! But guess what? I closed my next one 27 calls after that because I learned a lot during those first 300 calls. You're not giving it enough time.

    Now after 4 years of trying and very little success ($300 promoting world cup tv offer on clickbank which i can no longer do because world cup is over) I feel that I honestly can no longer carry on wasting hours building sites or trying to find offline prospects if things dont pick up

    I am really on the verge so if anyone can help me or advice me and others in my situation it will be much appreciated
    You're focusing way too much on "money-makers" and are not focusing on building a business built on a solid foundation. But again, without knowing EXACTLY what you've actually done it's difficult to diagnose what you're doing wrong and what you're doing right.

    You really should take a break, though, and come back in a month (or so) so you can come back with a fresh prospective.

    RoD

    P.S. These two threads might lead you in the right direction:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...desperate.html

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...xcuses-10.html
    Signature
    "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
    - Jim Rohn
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  • Profile picture of the author Carol_A
    Take it from someone who has only been at this for 5 months and making thousands per month.....

    GET A COACH

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    • Profile picture of the author bmcgoff
      I've been looking for a good coach...if you know of any, can you PM me some info?
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    • Profile picture of the author bmcgoff
      Originally Posted by Carol_A View Post

      Take it from someone who has only been at this for 5 months and making thousands per month.....

      GET A COACH

      I'm sure there are threads on this, but I've been looking for proven, trustworthy coach...anyone?
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  • Profile picture of the author madison_avenue
    It takes anywhere from 6-10 years to get great at something.

    The Only Way to Become Amazingly Great at Something | zen habits

    It doesn't mean that you have to be great to be successful or that you have to wait 6 years, but that there is a distinct learning curve. Even being good at it takes some time.

    The crucial thing is the process, understand it. If you are failing first be clear why you are failing, if you can identify the reason you can change and become successful
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  • Profile picture of the author clarktr2
    I've only been into IM for about a year, but I'm pretty consistently making between $500 and $1000 a month. Not a full time income, and nothing to brag about, but I AM making money online. Over the past year, I've felt like you're feeling now at least 10 times. A couple of months ago, I was really feeling frustrated, and wasn't sure where to take my little online business next. I wasn't thinking of giving up, but I was feeling very overwhelmed and frustrated that my income stream wasn't growing faster.

    So I didn't just take a break, I left the country for 3 weeks to clear my head. I've structured my life so that I can do this kind of thing 2 to 3 times a year (I keep my living expenses very low). I went to Mexico, laid on the beach, backpacked around, drank some tequila, and did a lot of thinking. I told myself that I wouldn't do any "work", but I planned to do a lot of time thinking about strategy and tactics (2 very different things). I kept a notepad in my pocket at all times. I didn't purposely sit down and decide "I'm going to think about my IM strategy right now" - I just left myself open to it and let it come naturally.

    And what happened? I've learned that vacations are the best time to clear your head and gain new inspiration. The new routine and the break from the monotony of your daily grind tend to make your brain think in new ways. I came back refreshed and with about 10 pages of notes and ideas that I wanted to try out in IM.

    Now, you don't have to leave the country. Not everyone can just jaunt down to Mexico for 3 weeks. But you CAN take a break and get out of your routine. Take a long weekend. Hop in the car, and just drive. Take a road trip. Go somewhere relaxing. And spend some time stepping back from what you've been doing. Keep your notebook handy to jot down your thoughts.

    Maybe at the end of the weekend, you'll decide that you really DO want to give up. But I have a feeling that you'll come back refreshed, with some new ideas, and ready to kill it.

    Now, what ABOUT strategy? I've only been in this for a year, and apparently I'm having more success than you already. What can you learn from what I'm doing?

    There's already some great advice in this thread that I'd like to second for starters.

    Adsense is a great way to get some income rolling in. It's easy. I heartily recommend spending some time putting together a little "adsense-farm" so that you at least have SOME money coming in.

    Another thing that I've learned is that in the beginning, you need to make S**t tons of sites. You're probably not a keyword research expert yet. I'm not! So start cranking out 3 to 5 page websites based on the best kw research that you can do. Throw 3-5 backlinks at them. Some of these won't rank in the top 200 results. Others will hate page 2 with ease. Concentrate on those. If you make 30 websites, and 10 of them look like they're ranking pretty easily, focus your efforts on those. Build them out and throw more backlinks at them. Let the others wither and die.

    Rinse and repeat.

    Eventually, with the income that these spammy little sites bring in, you'll have enough money to finance hiring other people to build more of these little sites, as well as having the money to pay for a great design and copywriting etc. when you're ready to tackle a bigger project.

    Hope this advice helps, and good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Scouser
    Excerpt from “Confessions of a Crap-Head”

    (crap-head)
    “I remember when I first got into crap. It was great. Everyone was giving me crap for free. I loved the high. I thought they were all my friends – crap-heads together. Then when all the free crap was gone and I was hooked, my so-called friends started charging me for crap. So I bought it.”

    “I didn’t know any better, I just wanted some crap. But the crap just wasn’t the same anymore. Sure, it promised the same high but never came close to what I expected it to be. The more crap I had, the more I wanted it. So I kept buying more and more crap, as much as I could afford. But then I couldn’t afford it anymore and started borrowing to pay for the crap. After a few months, the money ran dry. I owed so much I wondered how I could get myself out of the situation. That’s when I decided I could make some money selling crap myself. “

    “So I thought I’d sell crap. Everybody else was doing it – why couldn’t I? But I just didn’t have the heart to sell crap to anyone. I was sick from all the crap – how could I push crap onto some stranger when I knew what it was doing to me - how useless it was, what a waste of time it was, it just seemed wrong. That’s why I wouldn’t do it. There’s enough crap out there if people want it. I’m not going to push crap on unsuspecting people when I know the truth.”

    “Look at me now. I’ve taken so much crap I don’t talk anymore – unless it’s about crap. I’m so sick of crap. I wish I’d never got involved with it. It’s ruined me. Sure, I could have made some money along the way dealing crap, just to get more crap, but at the end of the day, it’s all just crap.

    “I can’t look at myself in the mirror – all I see is crap looking back at me. I wish I had done it differently. I wish I had never gotten involved with crap. It’s such a waste of time. All the years I’ve wasted on crap I can never get back.

    “If there’s a lesson I can teach to anyone out there who is thinking of trying crap – don’t do it. It will get you nowhere fast, and you’ll lose all your money on the way. At first it feels good, but then begins the slow descent into debt and misery. I got it wrong. Don’t make my mistakes.”


    Transcript from a brief interview with a previous associate of crap-head….

    (Interviewer)
    So how did he get off the crap?

    (Former Associate)
    Well, he met this former crap-head, very heavy crap-head in his day. He’d lost everything chasing the crap, he went wherever he could get it. It finally broke him, physically and financially. Then he woke up and said to himself – I don’t need this crap, I’m not taking this crap anymore. And he stopped using it. Just like that. It was an epiphany.

    Suddenly, it all became clear. He went away for a couple of years and re-educated himself – stopped taking all the crap and got himself clean.

    How is he now?

    Well, he’s not rich, but what he has got, he doesn’t waste on crap anymore. He’s smarter now, he’s got his crap together. He will never buy crap anymore – he’s fully recovered.

    Can you tell me his name?

    I can’t tell you who he is. He’s out there. You’ve just got to find him for yourself. He doesn’t sell anything, so don’t be expecting to buy any crap from him. He’s out there just to help people who are still buying crap. He’s determined to get people off crap – if he can do it, anyone can. He’s trying to stop the crap anyway he can – in fact, he’s dedicated himself to it.

    Where can I find him?

    He’s everywhere and nowhere. But be warned, if you do find him, don’t offer him any crap – he’s had enough crap - he just might throw it back in your face. There’s only so much crap one person can take, and he’s had a lifetime’s worth of crap.

    So where did he get his crap from?

    Oh, by these guys who really know their crap. They’ve been selling it for years behind the scenes. Nobody really knows them. They stay in the shadows, mostly. You’ll never find out their real names, they’re that shady. They come and go - in and out fast when they see a great crap deal, when the crap’s real hot. They get the crap stuff at cut price, take their own cut, then cut the crap themselves and sell the crap on at a massive profit. They’re making a crap load of money. No-one knows it’s not really their crap. They’re just passing the crap on to someone else to sell. Supply and demand as it’s called in the crap trade.

    So what happens to all this crap?

    Well, the distributors turn the crap into more crap and sell it as their own crap. No-one knows really, except for those who make the actual crap, and the people who buy the crap. It’s a secret society of crap. Even though everyone knows where it really comes from, crap-heads want the crap so much, they don’t care where it comes from or who, as long as they get their crap. That’s the beauty of crap – it sells like crap.

    But listen. I’ve got some better crap. Not off that crap guy. A guy who’s got the real crap stuff. This crap is like crap you’ve ever seen before. Some real good crap. Keep it to yourself, this crap is crap hot! I can’t tell you how crap this stuff is. If word gets out, everyone will want this crap.

    No Thanks. I tried crap once and didn’t like it. Are you a crap-head yourself?

    No, no. I just use it when I need it. There’s some good crap out there if you know how to find it, but usually I just make my own crap – it’s pretty easy really. The good stuff is really tricky to find – it’s like Gold Dust. Very few people know of it, so if you find anyone who can get their hands on it, let me know. I heard of a guy they call ******, supposed to be in the UK somewhere. He’s got a mean reputation as the ‘go to guy’ who holds all the Gold Dust. ***** I think his name is. I’m going to check him out.

    So what’s happened to crap-head?

    The last time we talked, he ended up asking me to leave - too many questions apparently. He said he had to get online and help some people he knew were in trouble - he’s turned into some kind of vigilante. Who knows what he’ll do next.

    He was really high, excited – not from the crap, but something he was about to do. He said he had to check his stats, whatever that meant. All I remember was as I was walking out the door, he slipped me a piece of paper and then disappeared muttering something about dogs…..

    What was written on it?

    It said…..

    ********

    You’ve got be crazy. Gotta have a real need. Gotta sleep on your toes, and when you’re on the street, you got to be able to pick out the easy meat, with your eyes closed.

    Then moving in, silently, downwind and out of sight you’ve got to strike when the moment is right without thinking.

    And after a while, you can work on points for style. Like a club tie, and a firm handshake, a certain look in the eyes, and an easy smile.

    You have to be trusted. By the people that you lie to. So that when they turn their backs on you – you’ll get the chance to put the knife in….

    You’ve got to keep one eye, looking over your shoulder. You know, it’s gonna get harder, harder and harder, as you get older. And in the end you’ll pack up, fly down south, hide your head in the sand.
    Just another sad old man, all alone, dying of cancer haaa haaa!!

    And it’s too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around. So have a good drown, as you go down, all alone– dragged down by the stone…

    Gotta admit, that I’m a little confused. Sometimes it seems to me, as if I’m just being used. Gotta stay awake gotta try and shake off, this creeping malaise. If I don’t stand my own ground, how can I find my way out this maze?

    Deaf, dumb and blind. You just keep on pretending........ That everyone’s expendable, and no-one has a real friend. But it seems to you the thing to do, would be to isolate the winner. And everything’s done under the sun, and you believe at heart everyone’s so caring…..

    ********

    That’s all I can tell you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Scouser
    Let's see how long this post stays up........
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    • Profile picture of the author Scouser
      Ps.

      This was just a site I put up to see if the actual process worked - I was just thinking about capturing emails......Any advice is most welcome......

      David
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  • Profile picture of the author JayWeir
    Malik, I would agree with everything that Fenderkid has said. It's great advice. I would take a break from IM marketing to clear my brain cache Then I would check out the amazon products that are hot sellers that I am personally interested in. For example, if there is a particular new electronic that I have been dying to own, I would create a WP blog on that. Because I am genuinely interested in the item that is also a hot item currently on the market, there is a certain ramping up of energy when I am engaged in marketing it.

    The essence of successful IM are just 2 things really:

    1) Traffic
    2) Conversions

    But some gurus have just made it more complicated than it is so they can sell their products to newbies.

    I hope this helps

    -Jayson
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by JaysonDrake View Post

      Malik, I would agree with everything that Fenderkid has said. It's great advice. I would take a break from IM marketing to clear my brain cache Then I would check out the amazon products that are hot sellers that I am personally interested in. For example, if there is a particular new electronic that I have been dying to own, I would create a WP blog on that. Because I am genuinely interested in the item that is also a hot item currently on the market, there is a certain ramping up of energy when I am engaged in marketing it.

      The essence of successful IM are just 2 things really:

      1) Traffic
      2) Conversions

      But some gurus have just made it more complicated than it is so they can sell their products to newbies.

      I hope this helps

      -Jayson
      Jayson, this is absolutely right. While you don't have to be "head over heels" passionate about what you're doing in IM, you've got to be at least halfway interested. Otherwise, your excitement and enthusiasm will peter out after a few days, and before you know it, you've fallen off the wagon and are trying yet another bright and shiny new method that appeals to you.

      If you're doing this purely for the money and nothing else, I'm not sure how long you can sustain your interest in IM. I find that some newbies just want to be spoonfed all the information like a mindless robot, and implement things without thinking, as they're really in this solely for the money. If this is what you're doing, then congratulations - you've just acquired another j.o.b. that you'll dislike intensely!

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    Create Squidoo lenses for free. I knew nothing about html and I'm creating wonderful lenses now. Webmasters like you are making a lot of money simply by creating Squidoo lenses. You can also sell many affiliate products. I'm using them to promote my ebooks and it's working.

    Squidoo is somehow irritating sometimes because their system has many rules, and they keep changing them. You have to agree with them, and follow these rules. There are people making $2000 per month with their lenses, but they have around 800 - 1000 lenses, and they have promoted them everywhere. You need Many Backlinks.

    I was making money by writing articles for Constant Content, but now I have to promote my sites even more than before because ezinearticles is not sending me the same traffic it usually did, even though Google is sending me more traffic. Anyhow, I saw that I was wasting time writing articles for other people instead of trying to sell my own ebooks and I'm creating lenses basically to promote my work.

    I was fed up like you when I decided to make money as a writer instead of trying to sell my own work. However, this wonderful forum is teaching me how to make money. I didn't care about making money, but about promoting my knowledge. I was sure that everybody would buy my ebooks. I didn't know that in order to reach my audience I would have to beat all the competition we face online... I made so many mistakes! I spent A LOT OF money! Wish I knew how to create Squidoo lenses from the beginning of my journey online...

    Anyhow, I'm making peanuts from Squidoo right now because I have created only 31 lenses. I write daily articles, I have a blog, I translate dreams for the public... I don't have time to create many lenses. But you can devote all your time to this practice like many lensmasters.

    Participate Every Day of the discussions at the Squidu forum, and promote your lenses there.

    Here is a perfect combination: promote your own products + get paid by Squidoo only for creating lenses + sell many Amazon, Clickbank, eBay, etc. affiliate products through your lenses by adding to your lenses all these products besides your own (if you have already created any product, this is not necessary), Without Spending Anything.

    Here is a lens that teaches you how to create many lenses in a short period of time:

    http://www.squidoo.com/passive-income-website-traffic-squidoo-beginners-guide

    You'll also learn how to get traffic. Read the entire lens, and the comments. Everything in this lens gives you precious information. Visit all the other lenses I suggest. You are surely going to make money this way if you'll create many Quality lenses. Long lenses, with great content, and links from authority sites, giving trustful information to the public. I created a lens with only 3 of my articles and many links and it is my top lens right now. Be intelligent. Don't give up.

    Here is a lens that will give you courage, and show you how to proceed:

    http://www.squidoo.com/achieving-success-in-life

    And here is my third, best advice:

    Spend $37 in order to become a War Room member. If you want to seriously learn how to make money online you must become a War Room member. This is the best advice I'm giving you.


    All the best!


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  • Profile picture of the author Xavier Tan
    To me, you should just go the adsense way. No list building, email marketing, conversion. Just write articles (you can outsource) and do SEO. Simple.
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    Are you a newbie who wants to kickstart your sales ASAP?
    Do you have a killer product but lack the cash to hire a top-notch copywriter to help you rake in the profits you deserve?

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  • Hi Malik

    I hope you don't give up. Unfortunately most of the products that you find out there are garbage. Alot of marketers just want the fast buck and will take advantage of you to get it. As I understand it, List Building is the best and sure fire way to become and remain successful. The people who are claiming to make huge amounts of money are making money off of their email list. Build a list up my friend. If you buy one more thing, buy a list building course. Also I would advise you to search for Paul Counts, Jeff Wellman, Keith Wellman, Eric Holmlund, and Liz Tomey. I would also sign up at ericstips.com

    I sincerely hope this information can help you. Dont Give Up!

    Anthony Spencer

    Thoughts + Feelings = Manifestation
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    90% Of IM'ers Fail. Why? 90% Of Im'ers Don't Build A Good Email List. Learn the Golden Rule of Internet Marketing And Join The Successful 10%.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by ajspencersolutions View Post

      Hi Malik

      I hope you don't give up. Unfortunately most of the products that you find out there are garbage. Alot of marketers just want the fast buck and will take advantage of you to get it. As I understand it, List Building is the best and sure fire way to become and remain successful. The people who are claiming to make huge amounts of money are making money off of their email list. Build a list up my friend. If you buy one more thing, buy a list building course. Also I would advise you to search for Paul Counts, Jeff Wellman, Keith Wellman, Eric Holmlund, and Liz Tomey. I would also sign up at ericstips.com

      I sincerely hope this information can help you. Dont Give Up!

      Anthony Spencer

      Thoughts + Feelings = Manifestation
      It's easy to get sucked in by all the newbie "bait" out there - namely, all the "pushbutton, do nothing and make thousands without lifting a finger" type products/software on Clickbank. You're going to be seriously disappointed if you jump on this bandwagon.

      Building a real and sustainable business on the internet requires effort and time. I know it's human nature to want success immediately, and it may seem logical that internet marketing could deliver instant results, but this is seldom true. While success may come faster, the results you want won't occur overnight.

      Focus on just one method for at least 6-8 weeks - if you can do it consistently and conscientiously over this timeframe, you should start seeing tangible results. You probably won't make thousands of dollars right off the bat, but you should at least start making some money.

      Keep building on that and doing the work consistently, and before you know it, you'll be making hundreds of dollars per day.
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  • Profile picture of the author Apollo-Articles
    At least with that knowledge you could easily get employment as an affilaite marketer/SEO/assistant?

    When I look back what made me the most money was ideas I created myself either from scratch or by mixing with other methods.

    If you're looking for the "magic bullet method" you won't find it, you need to think outside a box and have persistence in one method.

    Sam
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by Apollo-Articles View Post

      At least with that knowledge you could easily get employment as an affilaite marketer/SEO/assistant?

      When I look back what made me the most money was ideas I created myself either from scratch or by mixing with other methods.

      If you're looking for the "magic bullet method" you won't find it, you need to think outside a box and have persistence in one method.

      Sam
      Sam, it seems like practically every newbie goes through this "magic bullet, pushbutton program" phase these days, where they're convinced all they need to do to generate significant instant profits on the internet is push a few buttons on the computer.

      The faster the OP can get rid of this mindset, the faster he'll see progress in his IM. This is an universal fact, and the sooner he can shed this mentality, the more fruitful his efforts will be.

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author dacahe
    I agree with some people here.
    First of all take a break, you can't think clear while you are in the gutter.
    Mind I said, take some time OFF, not go and wallow in your failure.

    I went 7+ years without making a single penny, and I have learned from so many gurus that would make your head spin, I was the world's most educated broke internet marketer.

    Second determine if this is for you or not, it may very well not be for you. But do think about one thing, what is the alternative?

    If you do decide to come back to this online world, follow the simple methods and plans, forget about the bells and whistles, get back to the basics. Overall I think you'll find your answer when you are away.

    I myself started having success in the offline world first, it's a business that started growing by itself. But instead of trying to charge thousands of dollars for a site and all that jazz I started doing $300 or $400 dollar sites, then the word got out and the ball started rolling.

    Now I am beginning to outsource it.

    Above all follow your dreams but change your behaviors.
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    • Profile picture of the author dacahe
      Oh one more thing, I highly recommend Commission Overload, by Tim Atkinson, I know it's another program, but I have seen tactics there that are new and refreshing, It might be for you it might not, just telling you what I am finding out there that really stands out from the rest.
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  • Profile picture of the author singhavn
    I would advice you to start with adsense which is the easiest method to make money online. After you are settled with adsense, move on to other methods but don't try too many together.
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  • Profile picture of the author davidfstyles
    Hi Malik,

    All I can say is based on my personal experience but when I started listening to myself and taking on my own projects rather than listening to what others taught... that is when my IM business took off.

    It sounds like you've got all the knowledge you need. Just do some research, go with a project you feel will work and follow through on it. IM can be a very lucrative venture once it all lines up.

    Hope that helps,

    David.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lee Belch
    you sound like you need a hand? I tell you what, if you email me/pm me ill make you a sales page for one of my products, pay the hostings fees and put your clickbank code on the sales page. I will then teach you the best ways to promote it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lee Murray
    Hi, this is my first post at WF! I've been marketing for exactly 3 years (almost to the day) now and my story is somewhat similar to the OP (that IS correct lingo for "original poster," correct?) in that my results have been less than satisfactory.

    In fact, my wife *secretly* wants me to quit! But I absolutely refuse. I've had enough success to know that all you need to do is scale up. But I, too, have fallen prey to information overload and product hopping.

    I am currently taking the best of everything I've learned (based on my own results) and formulating my own system to follow. I echo everyone who advises to pick one process and implement it with ALL of your might. Failure to do this has been my personal downfall.

    But I won't give up. The only way to fail is to quit.

    Alcoholics Anonymous said it best: "Internet marketing works if you work it." I may have changed or added a word or two. ;=)

    It's nice to be here.
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  • Profile picture of the author topfree
    I know how you feel, my problem is I keep getting "good ideas" to do and I get side tracked from what i was doing :rolleyes:. Now I just write down my good ideas and then continue working on my current project. If you keep working on the same project for a couple months it should have a pretty good foundation.

    Just make sure you take a day off once and a while, like once a week, it really helps keep your head clear. I finally took a day off after working on IM for 6 weeks straight and it really helped rejuvenate me.

    I say just keep at it, all it takes is one lucky strike to make it big.
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  • Profile picture of the author tortoise
    I'm a telemarketer. If everyone gave up after making 30 calls with no sales, there would be no telemarketing industry! Pick one way to make money. One. Then do that until you're making money. There are enough ways online to make money online that everyone can find something they're good at.
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  • Profile picture of the author LetsWin
    Originally Posted by Malik.A View Post

    Hey, I have been learning IM for about 4 years with very little success and a lot of wasted hours and money. This is not a moan just want some advice and guidance before making my decision.

    I have tried so many course that promise you "just follow the exact steps and you're guaranteed to make money". Some of the famous courses I followed include google sniper, profit instrument, business in a box seo and so many others my desktop is shockingly polluted with these so called blueprints.

    I tried everything that has come by me both online and offline (called about 30 prospects following John Durhams cold calling script but I had not even 1 appointment). I have Read numerous posts and tried methods from WF and other IM forums but I feel so frustrated that I know so much about seo, webdesign and internet marketing but I can never ever get anywhere.

    Now after 4 years of trying and very little success ($300 promoting world cup tv offer on clickbank which i can no longer do because world cup is over) I feel that I honestly can no longer carry on wasting hours building sites or trying to find offline prospects if things dont pick up

    I am really on the verge so if anyone can help me or advice me and others in my situation it will be much appreciated
    dont give up.

    find a passion and monetize...also just keep at it...there no blueprint...I am sure your resulf would be different if you called 100x more people.

    hang in there.
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  • Profile picture of the author stepman77
    Here's my advice to you -

    Forget everything you know.

    Delete every single IM ebook from your hard drive.

    Stop coming to WF.

    Separate yourself from the IM world completely...I can tell you right now that if you don't know how to mentally handle yourself you will quickly lose money and confidence trying to find the 'Magic' solution (We all know it's not there, but we keep looking anyways) and going from course to course, method to method.

    Instead, rely on your intuition. Think about what would your ideal 'Business' be on the Internet...A business that you could see yourself LOVING.

    Do you LOVE exercise? Start an exercise website.

    Do you LOVE self-development? Start a self-help website.

    Don't worry about competition, Don't worry about what anyone else is doing, only YOU! If you have a 'pet' idea, DO IT! You don't have to wait for a guru to figure out your method and write a course on it to be able to make money online. After 4 years I would think that most of your problems are mental, so hopefully if you find something that you LOVE and distance yourself from the IM world and what experience others are having (Not to mention all the IM courses), then hopefully you'll start seeing more of the success you want...In time.
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  • Profile picture of the author tonnele
    Quitters never win. Basically you have to learn how to market your product and services because "marketing is 95% of the business". There are some great books that will help you in this regard. They are "The IRRESISTIBLE Offer" by Marc Joyner and basically all the books in No B.S. Series by super marketer Dan S. Kennedy.

    You must also learn how to write effective copy that sells for that I would recommend Dan Kennedy's "Ultimate Sales Letter" . I hope this helps
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  • Profile picture of the author CaesarSEO
    Hi Malik,

    I hope you can regain some hope by just looking at me.

    I've joined this forum on the Nov of 2010 and at that time I had no knowledge whatsoever of IM. I was so fascinated that I used most of the time since then learning, buying courses and putting them in practice.

    What's different with me is that every course I bought I had this thought in mind "I will at least make that money that I used to buy this course back", so I always put to action every single course I bought, and most of the courses here on WF work.

    Now I've started earning properly since Feb of 2011 and in just 3 months I made 6k+ USD. I do lot of different things but together they bring in some cash.

    But I guess what gave me the right push is the fact that I usually do not give up easily.

    There's one thing that I always came across at the beginning when I was browsing this forum for some more answers, and the answers from those earning the money was always the same: keep focused, and don't give up. And there's really no magic formula out there, not giving up and doing your best is the best strategy.

    For some reason and considering most people's posts I have been a lot quicker than others in reaching a good income but yeah if you like doing it and learning IM, you will be able to achieve this too in much quicker time.

    So stop thinking you have failed and start thinking that you have to make this succeed for the sake of the time and money you have spent until now.

    It will work out.

    Isac
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  • Profile picture of the author dagaul101
    Don't give up just yet, you have to take into consideration that most of what is spread around in IM circles has been flogged to the death, if you can find one thing that you know in the 4 years you've been doing IM that has made even a tiny amount of money, then whatever you learn apply in line with that.But it takes time, my mjain beef with IM is the manner in which all the gurus make it seem so simple anyone can do it, and overnight they can start raking in the cash, most of the time this is just said to hook a sale, it's unfortunate but this is the main reason why many give up on IM, the realisation that the quick buck didn't arrive as they expected
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  • Profile picture of the author NickFarina
    Originally Posted by Malik.A View Post

    I know so much about seo, webdesign and internet marketing but I can never ever get anywhere.
    That sentence alone for me is the exact reason you shouldnt quit. You have a lot of knowledge that many on here including myself probably dont.

    How about creating some seo or webdesign guides, can be pdf or videos. Use them to build a list. I'm sure there is a lot of people especially on here who would welcome such guides.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulturner
    I feel for you and have been in a similiar postion. But - I stuck with it and I learned SEO, now I have a business doing SEO for companies, and I own a handful of sites that make some money with more growing.

    I think the problem is there are so many ways to making money online that we get sidetracked. You need superhuman focus to ignore the tons of emails that come in with a new technique so its hard - but it can be done.

    Here is the secret to making money online - there is no secret!! Just treat it as a real business and stick with it without distraction. Pump your revenue back in to building on your system by using outsourcers from the warriors for hire section or fiverr.com and keep moving forward

    Also after a few years I still haven't built a list - something i am correcting now

    Good luck to you my friend
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  • Profile picture of the author Phuoc
    You gotta know what you want, and how you gonna get it.
    Have a plan, and take action!
    Most importantly, never give up!
    If you truly think IM is for you then you should never give up!
    PERSISTENCE is the key!

    Good luck to you
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  • Profile picture of the author jr1228
    Everyone else has provided great advice, so I won't add to that, but... I encourage you to stick with it. I have been in IM for 7+ years and have failed many times. I really have only started seeing positive results in the last six months. The feeling of being successful has washed away every painful feeling of failure over the last 7 years. I would do it all over in a heartbeat to get to where I am now.

    Keep at it!
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    500-word articles for $3!
    Send me a PM for details.
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  • Profile picture of the author ecclectix
    I think a lot of us have felt this way at one time or another. This forum is a valuable resource and you have been given some really good advice in this post. I would take some time off and re-evaluate. What worked for you, what didn't, and how you can improve what you did well. Find a mentor and learn from them. Stay focused and start small and grow from there. Best of luck to you!
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    • Profile picture of the author SteveParma
      I've been trying for the past 8 years to make money and every day I also feel like quitting, but I can't because I'm "pot committed" and because I know so much about it compared to anyone on the street. No one I know can even begin to carry on a conversation about internet marketing.

      Alas, I have learned some lessons and I have had a little success. Here are the mistakes I've made and the flaws in my character that I believe are killing my success.

      1 - Thinking isn't doing. We can all think of wonderful ideas, but until they make a brain scanner that converts your thoughts to a product, it's only the first step.

      2 - Not being able to finish a project - Can you finish a project or do you only do things half way or 95%? You need to be able to finish a project and not be scared that it'll be a complete and utter failure.

      3 - You aren't Apple - It's hard or impossible to create a brand without a ton of money. You can't create something new and convince someone they want it like Apple can. Rather you should be discovering what people want already and then giving it to them.

      People wanted to watch the world cup already and you made something to enhance that experience, from start to finish. How bad do they want it? Are you finding the desire or are you trying to shove a desire on them? Why didn't the superbowl one work?

      One of my greatest marketing revelations came to me when I was in a gas station and the cashier was stressed and concerned about her son not being able to play football, because he refused to take the physical in school because they make you get undressed.

      I told her that when I was in school, I went to a chiropractor for $20 and he didn't make me undress, that he checked my stomach area for hernias, not....lower. Well she thanked me profusely and I made a "sale" to the chiropractor.

      She was desperate for a solution, I had the answer and a testimonial. I didn't have to give her this long pitch, I didn't have to invent something, I just listened and fixed a complaint. You need to find a treasure, not make one.

      I feel that's why it's so hard to make money. We try to force something to happen. Rather than give something people want. We learned this tactic because of commercials, big businesses, infomercials, print ads. Ride the waves in the ocean, don't create your own ocean and waves.

      That's why keyword research is so perfect.

      Find something people want and you can relate to. Honestly ask yourself, would I want the product I'm trying to create, or even ask them in forums or facebook pages, then give them it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Miranda
    Do NOT give up! This is the worst thing you could do at this point. Nothing good comes easy and great success could come be very close and you won't know if you quit now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Orla Kelly
    Hi there, I started IM about the same time as you and made loads of decisions that went horribly wrong for me and lost a fortune. I was on the verge of giving up totally one yr ago as I was sick to the core of offers of the next best thing, making things out to be push button simple. There were so many promotions each claiming to be the best I was disillusioned and in despair. Last year I turned a corner and found someone ethical who would teach me what I needed to learn and this has stood to me. I tried so many things and now I am more focussed and applying what I learn. Don't just try different things, try to be as specific about what exactly you want, are willing to do and are interested in. I could have given up as I was expected to fail but I refused to give in and give any one the satisfaction! The darkest hour is before the dawn. There is something out there that will work for you, hang in there!
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  • Profile picture of the author langm120
    I know the feeling. Between listening to the BS artists and spending a small fortune it is difficult to persevere....but what is the alternative?

    Mike Lang
    Signature

    Michael Lang

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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Reeves
    Originally Posted by Fenderkid View Post

    Grrrrrrrrr...

    I want to say this with all the compassion in the world but making money online is NOT hard. People make it harder than it needs to be.

    I agree with a previous poster you should take a break for a week, clear your head, and come back ready to work.

    I am going to give you a very simple blueprint to make money online. No BS, no affiliate links, just a real way to make your first steady income.

    Are you ready?

    First, I will not tell you to go promote any affiliate offers because being successful as an affiliate involves a lot more than just building a site and getting traffic. Some sites will get 1000's of hits and make nothing.

    You are going to make your first steady income with adsense.

    1) Go to Amazon

    2) Look through hot items/products

    3) Make a list of those products

    4) Go to the Google Keyword tool or w/e software you use

    5) Plug in the keywords you found

    6) Save the report to an excel file

    7) Remove any keywords that don't get 1500 EXACT searches per month

    8) Take the remaining keywords and plug them into the Godaddy Bulk Registration tool at Go Daddy Domain Name Search Tool

    9) Now, take the list of keywords that HAVE an exact match domain available and save them to notepad (.com, .net, or .org)

    10) Go to Spyfu and check the CPC of each keyword (Need a min of $1)

    Also check to make sure there are at least 3+ advertisers for the keywords

    11) Take the remaining keywords and save them to a new notepad file

    12) Review page 1 results for each of the keywords (analyze your competition)

    13) Pick a keyword from your notepad with the LEAST amount of competition and register an exact match domain.

    14) Build a Wordpress site and add a 400-500 word keyword rich article as your home page

    15) Add one page of content targeting a new LSI keyword every day

    16) Build at least 3-5 HIGH QUALITY backlinks every day

    ***Make sure you add tracking to your site. When you start seeing your first trickle of visitors add your adsense. Don't add it straight away. Give Google a week or two to get to know you first.

    Do this every single day and YOU WILL make consistent money.

    Then, DO IT again and again and again. Then, hire people to do it for you. ETC etc etc

    Hard? No. Tedious? VERY

    Adsense is the single easiest way to get started. Once you've mastered that then you can move on to other adventures if you so choose.

    Best of luck,

    James
    Hey James,

    Nice of you to provide that blueprint for the OP.

    Not trying to put it down or anything, but posts like this can be a little misleading to the new guys out there.

    In my experience it's usually the smaller details that separate a failed campaign/website from a profitable one.

    Anyone can attempt to do what you mentioned, but unless they understand the individual steps in detail they won't go far.

    Since you're targeting low traffic keywords and using only exact match domains, it's pretty hard to fail at ranking the site (still very possible) in the top few spots ...

    But at the same time, EVEN if you reach number 1 and get ~800 visitors each month, you can't just slap Adsense on there wherever you please and expect the magic to happen.

    Site layout and Ad placement alone could be the difference from a site like that making $20 per month or $200+ per month.

    That's what I mean by the smaller details. They're details experienced guys like you and I might consider general knowledge...

    But for the average IMer who's never really "had success", details like that can make all the difference in the world.

    Again, not trying to knock your post at all...just thought it might be helpful to some others out there.

    Have a good one!

    Thanks,
    Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author focused
    You've already identified some of your strengths that you feel you are knowledgeable or proficient in. Write them down to more accurately identify what they are.

    Also, you have an abundance of courses in a variety of IM areas.

    Now with that list of your IM strengths in mind, match up your strengths with an IM course (or an IM strategy) that best would utilize those strengths of yours. And pick a course (or strategy) that you have confidence in that it is solid.

    Once you've done that, apply yourself diligently to working that course (or strategy) until you achieve some minimal results. Then expand on those results. Don't let yourself get distracted, and don't slack off. Read some motivational books or materials to keep your outlook on the positive side.
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    • Profile picture of the author StevenJones
      What shireen said.

      Focus on one thing that goes well, exploit it and reap the rewards. Be persistent. Only move on when you totally see no potential in your work.

      Steven

      Originally Posted by shireen View Post

      Hi:

      Shireen here :-)

      Focus on the one's that makes you most money so far & be good at it.
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  • Profile picture of the author CPA Andrew
    I suggest you make your own style and you WILL get followers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ken Durham
    sometimes, there is a time to call it quits. Not everyone can be a chief or a rock-star, or get rich in IM. Some are just made to do other things and it is no fault of their own. IM can get nasty and cutthroat. If you look at the ones that do succeed, you seldom see them following others, but rather learning from them and then putting their own twist on things. Most would call it thinking outside the box.

    Only you know if it is time for you to quit. No one else can do this for you.

    Good luck either way you go.
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    yes, I am....

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