A newbie who suffered Information Overload..

by 65 replies
79
Hey all,

Although I've been registered on the WF for some time now, I've been more of a lurker than participant..

New to Internet Marketing and studied hard the last 3 months getting pretty much no where I bought quite a lot of WSO's on the forum and have had real value from all of them. However in addition to the WSO's i gradullay found myself floating from one sales page to another and purchasing endless streams of c*ap, 1 click software, ebooks with endless waffle and bought into a few programs, NET result? Information Overload.

Just last week 3 months into trying to make head-way in Internet Marketing I just felt overwhelmed by all the Informaiton, daily emails, etc, etc, etc... However at the weekend I attended an event in the UK, London which opened my eyes up, immediately identifying where I had been going wrong.

To date I estimated I've invested about $5,000 in loads of different tools, ebooks, courses etc and return on my investment? $350 in affiliate commission, I don't mind holding my hand up and saying, I've make mistakes, lots of them! That being said I'm now learning from all mistakes made and instead of suffering Information Overload I'm taking action..

- Removed myself from all emails lists with the exception of a select few
- Removed a PLR ebook I flipped the content of and placed on my blog (I need to write my own)
- Deleted a mailing list I accured over a 3 month period, which was 4,000 (List became non responsive purely because I was not delivering value)
- Completed setting up my blog
- Decided on my first ebook to write and aim to have that done in 3 - 4 weeks
- Working on my first WSO

Much more than the above, but as a newbie would like to place a small bit of advice, don't end up where I was with a hard drive full of stuff gathering digital dust and like a dog chasing it's tail, invest wisely and it's not about how much money you have it's alll about what you do with it...

Thanks all and looking forward to being a more active member of the forum
#main internet marketing discussion forum #information #newbie #overload #suffered
  • william,
    I feel for you man. I have been in a similar situation and did something along these lines. I decided to get some professional coaching. I really like it so far and it is helping me do exactly what you figured out. Very good advice for newbies. thanks so much for the insight.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks, if only one person gets something out of my mistakes that makes me happy

      I've also the past weekend signed up for professional coaching with Alex Jeffreys and Dean Holland, can't wait or it to start and finally some much needed direction
  • Hey, that happens to all the newbies. It's like a rite of passage, lol
    • [1] reply
    • lol, hope their not as daft as me and parted with to much cash!
      • [1] reply
  • I'm glad I read your post because I'm at that stage also and am working on my own product that I hope to promote through Clickbank. What I also realised was that after creating sites and even getting subscribers, not knowing what do do with the subscribers was a massive awakening. That's when I realised that it's not a game. It's real. We're dealing with real people and by offering half hearted products we're messing with peoples lives and their cash not to mention the damage it can do to the reputations of online marketers.

    I also cleared alot of clutter and completely stopped jumping from opportunity to opportunity and the advice of one internet marketer to another. We all have our own ways of doing things and I think if we do things with a passion then what we are doing is just simply, for real!!!! Focusing on one thing but working at it to the best of our ability with complete consistency will definately produce results if we are passionate about it.

    I sincerely hope and wish you all the success that I myself would like.
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Hey Wasim,

      Just noticed your from High Wycome, I used to live in MK not far from you

      I can't beleive how focused I've been today by taken certain action steps to clear it all out, wipe the slate clean and start again... The Instant Profit Seminar I attended at the weekend at got a lot from it, very cool Seminar

      William
  • I found myself in your situation as well. Information is everywhere and if you are not careful which one to digest, they can overwhelm you completely. You will end up doing a lot but achieving none. You did a great job in taking action and admitting that you are in such a problem. I am doing a clean up myself and is trying my best to focus on a particular path. I hope we both get the results we deserve. Good luck!
    • [2] replies
    • William,
      I am right here with you, I have spent around 10k in 6 months and gross income of $400. I didn't have ADD before I started this journey, I do have a consumers mind though. I just signed up for coaching that wasn't part of a bonus. I intend to put on the blinders and move forward in the direction I am sent. I just need to get one thing working to prove to myself that I can do it. This is the direction I am headed and I hope to leave a positive feeling will all that I interact with. Keep moving forward and try to follow one path to completion before starting a new one.
      To your success,
      Thor
      • [1] reply
    • Hi Goldenboy,

      That's exactly where I was at, doing a LOT and achieving nothing, not a nice place to be, super focused now though and looking to what's in store for the future

      William
  • You are right on time with this thread. I've made the same mistake but not as extreme as you luckily. I did make an impulse purchase this morning when looking at some WSOs and could easily see it happening again. I will heed your advice and put my blinders on and stick with my plan as well! Once I find a couple of niches, I know I'll be alright though.
    • [1] reply
    • Hey Nicole,

      I made an impusle purchase on Friday evening to, travelling down to London with my son to the seminar, even though I had in my mind NO MORE just now lol, oh well that is the last for a long time unless it's for market research purposes...

      All the best Nicole

      William
  • [DELETED]
    • [1] reply
    • There's one thing sure in this life in Internet Marketing, there's no get rich quick! Takes lots of hard work, dedication and adding value...

      William
  • Information overload is a huge issue as a newbie. Every new sales page or sales person has just the right system that they want to sell you. I am glad to hear that you have been able to strip away some of the fat and focus on what you are really after. If you have made $350 in affiliate commissions then it sounds like you at least have one revenue stream that is worth pursuing. Keep one building those streams up and some day very soon you will have made your $5000 back and then some Good luck
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks Presto, appreciate your kind words

      William
  • I've made some mistakes but SO glad I started with a good coach soon after getting underway.

    I have EXCELLENT programs sitting on my HD, and I am going thru them one by one to implement the awesome strategies, etc.

    No more buying for me; I'll spend my money on great coaching and ads/swaps to build my list instead.

    Thanks for the inspiration!

    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Hey Carol,

      That's great news, coaching program will be completely new to me, however I'm looking forward to it, still unsubscribing from mailing lists though, that's taking time

      William
  • It's happened to me too. I've learned to pull myself away from all the hype online and focus only on what's working to generate money for me every day.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Top Tip Jeremy, focus on what's important, and of course Take Action!
  • Wow I remember those days of spending countless amounts of money on things that I thought were going to make money, lol here's the deal though there's no such thing as failing because you've gained so much insight from it. 5 years ago i spent 2000 dollars on joining a program. I was wandering how these people were making so much money and the secret I came to find out is that you need two things... Find out how to rank high on GOOGLE and making sure you find a product or a way to help people. If you sincerely help people you will gain friends. Honesty is key believe me I know. I make a little over 4thousand a month and you have to gain peoples' trust. I'm not rich but helping people sure feels good and even better if I get a check out of it. Good luck and much success
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks Danny wish you all the very best to I'm glad I've taken the steps and action today, it's a weight of my shoulders completely! I've been so much more productive today to, which is excellent...
  • Nice to know I am Not the only one in this Boat, i recently took almost the exact same steps and have found with focus and a plan that Income is Indeed Possible.

    I Live in regional Australia and we have ZERO events around the place, i never even hear of the ones in the capital cities.

    It was extremely hard to admit my failures and my shortcomings, But with a coaching course I too am now on track, with a solid plan of action.

    Thanks for the post mate, I am sure that many people will get value knowing they are not alone in the Info overload category. I spent a whole day just going through stuff I bought and thinking "Now why did I buy That?"

    I truly believe The Keyword for making the Transition from hopeless WSO Junky to Actual business Builder is ACTION, Use what you learn, use what you buy. Not just a little bit but 100% commitment.

    Oda

    P.S I didn't realise how many lists I was on! getting off them took a few days.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • i have to admit wsos are hard to resist. i must admit i do learn something new from everyone of them.
    thnaak god they are cheap enough.
    • [1] reply
    • I don't think I've bought a WSO I haven't liked, oh no I'll change my mind there was one which was a waste of time, but I'm not saying which one and by who.... Majority though of my time and money has been sales page jumping on the web and push button software..
  • LOL it just occurred to me , if all of us newbies didn't buy everything online, the gurus wouldn't get rich. the truth of the matter is they KNOW only a very small percentage of us will ever do anything with everything we buy. Sad but True.
  • wow this sounds like an AA meeting. Sad but true most of the stuff on the internet is just fluff. It's our passion of wanting to succeed make us buy on compulsion. I've accumulated my fair share of fluff that I stored on an external terabyte hard drive hoping to get to it one day but that day never seems to come around. I recently signed up with a coach/mentor and she has been great . Before you invest in your business invest in yourself.
    • [1] reply
    • Investing in yourself is key, I starting to see that now
  • I guess this is true then

    Information overload is the rite of passage for IM newbie

    i was there and i feel for you
    thankfully you decided to take an action..

    Having a plan and taking an action is the most important to do in IM
    • [1] reply
    • I hear you all. I became interested in IM over a year ago and wasted 8 months with the info overload, getting nowhere, learning a little bit, spending too much time on forums (lol).

      I would literally spend 6 HOURS straight at night with 20 tabs open (lol) staring at the screen in what could be described as cracked out stupor....
      I also jumped from method to method without really following through.
      Finally, I had enough of this bender and I wasn't gonna give up either.

      I just had to stop, become disciplined, and tackle one little thing at a time, really following it through till the end. The is still lots of work ahead (of course) but I found my groove, what my strengths are, what I am interested in and I feel i can do it now.

      Good luck to everyone and don't give up!
      • [ 2 ] Thanks




















    • [ 3 ] Thanks
  • been there, done that.. lol

    But yah, you brought up a few really good points on information overload. it doesnt matter if you are not making money, all you have to do is TAKE ACTION... then tweak what you are doing............
  • @sumting4u

    It sure does lol, I've been so productive this week compared to the last 3 months it's unreal and real visitors to my blog who WANT to be there reading my story, very cool indeed... I've completely changed my mind-set and really going all out to succeed and I have no doubt this will happen now being a member of Alex Jeffreys Inner Circle

    @warriorsam

    That's right warriorsam, best thing I done this week, take action, get rid of all the unwanted email subs, cancell any memberships that didn't deliver true value and more importantly results.

    @iced$ugar

    I found myself glaring at my screen more often than not to, wondering why things were not working and revenue coming in, I totally realise now where the problems were.

    @Scott Lambency

    Thanks for the great reply Scott, real good avice there "information begins to contradict each other" That's so true, and oh boy doesn't that confuse newbies!

    @harryhumph

    Take Action is where it's at, along with ethical marketing and adding real value to your customers
  • If it makes you feel any better, instead of three months of information overload, I suffered from at least three YEARS of it! You are so right that the best thing to do is just to focus on one thing. It took me much longer to learn that -- and, go figure, things did not start going well for me until I did.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • I'll be honest here if it wasn't for the Instant Profit Seminar at the weekend I could have went on for years in the same loop to It's sad, think I might write up a newbie ebook.....?
  • William,

    1st off you are true and honest with yourself which is a big thing.

    I discussed this issue with Spike Humer last night (business startup expert)...I think you will find his answers intersting (BTW, no optin)...

    SuccessBug.com Fools Guide to Rapid Small Business Growth 06/13 by successbug | Blog Talk Radio
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Hey Barry,

      Thanks for the link, I'm listening now
      • [1] reply
  • It's amazing how much time we can spend reading sales letter copy and purchasing product after product without any success. Even after 2 1/2 years I find myself like an addict distracted with all the latest software and products.

    Each week brings a new challenge but I'm learning to focus all of my energy on 1 (and 1 thing only) and seeing it all the way through. Thanks for sharing.
    • [1] reply
    • It's very easy to fall into the trap of buying the next best thing to come along in the hope it's going to make a difference, for me this is where most of the distraction came from in the first place.
  • Glad you've re-focused and know what to keep and what to get rid of. It is a process we all must go through on the road to success. To me maintaining that newly found laser focus is what is going to get you to the next level.

    Keept at it!!
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Sounds like a good plan of action to m. Good luck
  • Kudos to you. You just graduated! Every one goes through it because we all want to succeed so bad that we try do shortcut everything and buy the latest shiny object. It just doesn't work.

    The process is the process. Some get lucky and find success early but most have to go through the steps and build a business.

    I am really happy for you! Congrats and good luck with your coaching.
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks Gregg, that's exactly where I was at, looking for the quick-fix to riches, simply doesn't exist and glad I found out sooner rather than later... I've been so much more productive this week instead of searching for the next best thing, I've been working hard building the business from the ground up...
  • It's like a bad habit, isn't it? Always thinking that someone else has that missing piece of the puzzle. Imformation overload is right!! Glad you unsubscribed to the mailings because most of it is nonsense anyways. I think its cool that you have made your own product on your own blog. You are in the drivers seat my friend. Good Journey!
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • It certainly is, and I'm still unsubscribing it's crazy must have been on 50+ lists :-O)

      Thanks for your kind words
  • it happens to me too...so sad...
  • Yes Internet Marketing is a large learning curve, I think everyone goes through the
    same mistakes, sufer from information overload, subscribe to way to many marketing
    newsletters and getting inundated with hundreds of emails a day.

    You have done the right thing in unsubscibing to email lists, they will only eat up all your time and energy. We all get suckered into buying way to many product, chasing that elusive quick
    start-up fix. Truth is it does not exist, just start with one marketing model stay focused on it, perfect it, only then can you see the wood from from the tree's
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [2] replies
    • I'm certainly super focused now and started writing up my own ebook last night, still unsubscribing from lists though lol I must have been well over 50 :-O)
    • I always tell my clients to stick to one strategy at 1st.

      Keep things simple.

      Being on 50 lists shows a real underlying focus problem that needs to be addressed.

      Unsubscribing is helpful, but you MUST get to the root of the problem.
  • I've learned that its better to try and learn by mistakes in the beginning, when you dont have any experience and no mentor.
  • definitley can identify with you on this one, one great bit of advice I had given to me when I started was to only buy something if you are definitley going to use it tomorrow, makes you think twice before pulling out the ccd!!

    Also i think alot of newbies struggle as they have no clear plan as to what they want to achieve online, no plan equals no map equals you not arriving at your destination!!
  • @Barry

    Yes certainly 1 strategy, think I had become a jack of all trades!

    @charliesheen

    Good point, providing you learn by your mistakes and move on that's the main thing

    @Rob Bright

    I'll keep that in mind for the future, top top!
  • Find a niche opportunity that interests you like offline, or copywriting or adsense...whatever. Then hang out in that specific forum and try not to spend so much time on the main hwy here where every opportunity is whizzing by... Establish what you want to be, and make that board "your" warrior forum. Keep blinders on...Yeah if you wander out on main discussion street, you are asking for ideas of all shapes and sizes and colors and momentum to be whizzing by you in every indirection...can be disorienting. Find the group you fit into and focus all your time and learning there for awhile. Develop some friends.
  • hey william, my advice to you, dont buy anything anymore, make a plan and WORK!!!

    It happens very often where newbies are confused and/or overwhelmed my all the information.

    Sometimes, you're simply better off taking action and you'll get the hang of it from there. Just dont stop working.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Hey thanks David, I have officially stopped buying as of last Friday.... It's all action and work now, been a really good productive week although I seem to be suffering writers block at the moment with the ebook I'm working on lol
  • Info Overload isn't such a bad thing.... eventually things get sorted out as it all becomes clearer. Dots get connected.... puzzle pieces snap into place. Next thing you know, you're the one overloading someone else with info!
    • [1] reply
    • I agree knowledge is king, but I was buying into the wrong stuff with lots of fluff around the edges and more often than not left me with more questions that answers
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed