1 year into IM... 5 things I learned!

You hit the nail on the head with FOCUS...It's too easy to purchase every new strategy that comes along and never finish anything. I think that's why most Internet marketers fail. The ebook that turned everything around for me was Dennis Becker's 5 bucks a day. I applied the principles in that book to my business and I can honestly say I have never looked back.

step number 5 is really true. That had helped me alot as im doing IM from last 5 months. Thank U all warriors here

Thanks dude for those helpful tips.I am new with affiliate marketing and i have like 3 months in it and i havent made a penny.But im starting to make succsess with a course.Anyways thanks for those tips.If you can help me with affiliate marketing pm me
thank you
Oswald Luis

Thanks for these nice tips , I am also new to IM , it is important to have the correct mindset when starting any business.

Can I ask you which traffic method do you like to use ??

Focus is HUGE! I am finding that hard to do. But I have to focus in order to reach my goals. To do this I plan out exactly what I am going to do and do it without distraction until I'm done. You just have to force yourself otherwise you could end up wasting your precious time! Time is the one thing we can't get back!

This is what most newbies must read, and it's pretty motivated. One of the reasons that most struggling internet marketers fail is because they lost focus. I strongly agree that we should focus on one thing that really works, and we need to keep it going until we finally master and see some success.

Never give up like John Cena!

I agree but also, working on your business is hard with all the social media and etc, you have to stay away from distractions

All good points. You'll be amazed by how much more you learn the longer you're in this industry. It's amazing how many different angles and categories there are in marketing online, tons to learn (if you choose to learn it).

I agree all your points. Thanks for this post

Right on Akos...

Caution: Philosophical Rant Ahead!

I've just rounded the corner and am approaching a total of 7 months invested into this amazing journey. I cannot count how many times the thought of giving up came to mind when each new challenge arose.

A large portion of the focus depends on the individuals ability to avoid the distractions that can often lead to dead ends, and wasted time. I have found in my experience that planning and setting goals has a huge grip on my desire to succeed online (and off), and definitely helped me to persevere through many of the pitfalls associated to the learning curve, and the cards life deals us. (*Still does!)

You make a valid point, and one that I; myself am 'guilty' of, which is trying to tackle too many projects at once. I actually racked my brain trying to master SEO, keyword research, domain buying and selling, gaming the SERP's, learning web design, and probably 10 other methods all at once... only to awaken to the realization; had I just focused on one quality niche, one article at a time, I would have likely reached my income goals that I set out to conquer 6 months ago.

With little regret, the amount of knowledge gained through this forum, and the act of applying the techniques openly shared by successful marketers here, has elevated my understanding to 'feel' a huge sense of accomplishment, despite having made little money as of yet.

I think if there were a #6 on your list, it would definitely be "Time Management"

Looking back, I found it easy to waste a lot of time studying 20 different techniques, and by doing so, I was actually stalling my forward momentum, as it was nearly impossible to implement them all at one time.

However, by not prioritizing the money over that of conducting thorough research, I have since narrowed down my focus to 2 main projects, with another 100+ sitting 'in wait' to be developed, and I feel almost possessed in knowing; I am close to a huge financial breakthrough.

Finally, I believe with confidence; this cheap laptop can carry me anywhere I desire.

While everyone is different, it takes time to assemble the ingredients and learn how to formulate a winning recipe worthy of flavoring the tongues of the masses.

Think Big... Absolutely Brother!

I remind myself daily to remember; in the metaphorical sense, there are millions of people online who are starving for answers, services, information, and products to fulfill their hunger (need or desire). I vividly picture them armed with a fork and spoon pounding on the table (or their computers), demanding sustenance, armed and ready to devour the appetizer...

Another words, it took me 7 months to learn; the key is to compel them to sit still at your table (your website), just long enough to give them a free drink to wet their thirst in their search, in exchange for an opt-in, then... worry about 'taking their orders', and preparing to 'cook-up' and deliver the next course (or action).

If done properly, in time your menu will increase 10 fold, and soon you can be cranking out orders like 'Pizza Hut' on a Friday night!

My personal mistake was thinking; I needed everything in place to support a million customers, as opposed to just giving out samples, then determining (questioning) "what it is that people truly need, desire, or want to sustain that ever-present hunger?"

Leading to # 7 Mindset...

"We are all just prisoners here, of our own device" - Hotel California

None-the-less, we are all seeking something, somewhere, everywhere, and longing for a certain understanding to compel us to free ourselves from limitations, bondage, and well....sophisticated slavery; such as a crappy job we hate!

When you really think about it, even Pizza Hut started off selling 1 pizza at a time!

It's really NOT that hard to build an online business, especially, with the help of those in this forum sharing their secret recipes, and a path to success!

The Warrior Forum is ONE big @$$ kitchen arming people with the ingredients, tools, and recipes to succeed, and those who can stomach it, can cultivate a massive crop, feed the masses, and NEVER go hungry again!

But... one must be mentally prepared to bury the BS, cultivate the land (DO THE WORK), plant a seed while warding off predators, nurture that crop, and be patient while awaiting the tender rewards of said efforts.

"The root of success cannot bear fruit without planting a seed of hope first!"

If you cannot believe in your success... you are doomed to failure.

Meanwhile, I just lost my job on Tuesday (got laid off), I am seconds away from losing my residence (to new ownership), and the only thing that really matters to me right now, is NOT losing my internet focus, and all that I have to look forward to, as I know; my freedom resides in the seeds I am planting online!

What a ride indeed!

There is no greater high!

All the Best,

Art

Thanks a lot for posting your learnings here

I will also learn from your learning so that I can apply them in my future goals

I always concentrate on one rather than selecting many, if you focus and do things consistently you will definitely be in a place where you feel much confident in taking your next step.

When the going gets tough, keep on pushing through. If someone were to give up
each and every time something got hard, there would be no success in the world.

And yeah man, definitely focus on one thing. If you focus on too many things, you
will for sure get lost or just have a burn-out phase.

I agree with you here buddy. Network marketing can work but you have to approach it in the right way. You have develop a solid reputation online, which doesn't happen quickly. You have to lead with valuable information first. We all have to learn a few things when first starting. I have as well. I also believe that if you set the right foundation underneath you, that time is well spent and will be worth it in the long run.

What I'm learning as well is that you almost have to love it. If you don't love it, then giving up is a lot easier. I have been working on an authority blog and it's been brutal doing so much work every night and raking in only $.50 or $.1.20 per day in adsense.

My girlfriend told me that I have to be semi-crazy to keep this up. But I am not crazy because I am making tweaks, I believe in my plan and I'm seeing the increase in traffic.

As my blog closes in on an Alexa number under 1 Million and traffic is increasing so are profits. Now it's easier to keep going. But you have to believe in yourself, believe in your plan and love what you are doing.

FYI: The blog I'm referring to is not the one in my signature.

-Stack Bundles

Thanks for the post - lots of really relevant points there -especially the one about focus being vital.
I've also been doing IM for about 1 year and the biggest thing I've learnt is to keep searching until you find something that works, rather than trying to beat a dead horse.
As an example, I have a lot of sites (which are a result of my lack of focus...) which each require a lot of maintenance and which after a year earn only a couple of bucks a day, whereas I also have a one page site that took me 30 minutes to build and which requires no maintenance, which yesterday made $156 (my best day so far!).
Experimenting is important but by 'failing fast' and recognising which approach to continue with and which to abandon means that you gradually build a portfolio of sites that are high performing and which justify your time, rather than a huge portfolio of sites that are each mediocre.

It is not that no one knew about those. But sometime we do not keep those points in your mind!

Great tips!

Quitew obvious but it is surprising to see so many people forgetting these basic steps.

I might just add that to succeed you need to think of IM as a business, as soon as you get out of the hobbyist mindset you begin to make some real progress

Dave

I agree with you 100%, its easy to give up easily it almost happened to me but now am glad I went through it!.

You might want to add a #6 to that list.

6. Obtain Targeted Traffic, Traffic, and more Traffic.

Because without it, our business's wouldn't succeed

With regards to number 5 don't just read the warrior forum put what you read here into Action. There's no point just sitting in front of your computer reading all day that won't make you any money. You have to put what you learn from here into action. That means consistent action not just one or two days but everyday. When you start taking consistent action that is when you will see the money rolling in.

-Kevin

Great share! Think big is defiantly my favorite

Mike Tyler.

You have missed some essential things to be learned but I understand you just based it on your own experience and I respect you for that. However, I agree with the 5th learning. Everyone should join the warrior forum before starting internet marketing. Great share though.

I am a newcomer to the forum and IM world. I have been trying several different programs over the last year and a half. I am learning alot as I try to figure it all out.
This can be confusing at times but, also, fun. No $$$ yet, but, I keep plugging along. Because one day it will be there!

Awsome post... I can definately relate to everything you're saying. I struggled greatly in the beginning due to lack of planning and goal setting but once I decided I wasn't going to quit and accept failure - things started to change.

I set BIG goals for myself but I celebrate even the smallest of acheivements...

Wow so true.. I've seen people going through many many products without taking a single action..

Nice! I like how not one of the things you've learned is "buy tons of marketing products," which is what many (myself included at first) think is the answer.

Internet marketing has the easiest barrier of entry of any business. You don't need to know a lot to get started. If you build up the right valuable assets you can reap HUGE rewards. The problem is most people just don't stick with it long enough.

Cheers for doing it the right way!

Great post, particulary like the part about focus! and I would say keep it simple to start with and don't try and master too many strategies at once. Get good at a few things first and you'll start seeing results. This also helps with the motivation!

And don't forget...

Build your list!

You most likely won't be successful only on your own...

You need a network, a list, and group of folk with whom you can partner.

That should always be kept in the back of your mind.

You are correct FOCUS is the main thing that brings success.Keep focusing in one thing until you master it. Then move to another one and of course Never Give Up! Until you achieve all your goals.
Cheers
Mildred

I think WF is amazing , I really started to go through the threads after 6 months being member and then moved on, big mistake! I think someone shot a email about a product on WR from that moment on I've realised how big and powerful this forum is, so around 10 months I come here nearly everyday, learning and learning...
Yes, I regret to spend 6 months without come here.I should be in a better position now as I spent money in useless things and I could build my Business.

Lesson learnt!

Newbies the Warrior Forum is your main tool, trust me!

wow.... Thanks for all the useful replies Totally agree with the last poster, newbies read WF! )

Hi Akos,

The above mentioned points are absolutely truthful words (that we must agree)

1. This is where everyone will try their best and then if they dont see immediate result, they gave up easily. However they should also think one important aspect is "Go Extra Mile" and there you will find your results. but most of us fail to do this. Ex. for a baby birth the mother should wait min 8 to 10 months, similarly put your efforts and the wait for the results it will be fruitful to your life.

2. We loose our focus very easily because of the other distractions. Self Motivation is important aspect for your focus, a good examples are Scientist Albert Einstien, Great Alexander, many leaders. They all focused on their vision and they achieved their mission.

3. Goal Setting is very important. it is like travelling without knowing the destination. we must set our goals and work towards acheiving the goals. it should be realistic. Not like reaching sky end. we should have two type of goal settings. 1. Short Term and 2. Long Term. all your short term goals are focused to reach long term goal.

4. We must think always big, if you think smaller then there would not be any growth in terms of every aspects.

5. Forums are biggest source of knowledge gain, financail growth, gain more authority, sharing each other, building relationship etc.

The above mentioned points are completely my own thoughts and not intend to affect others.

Thanks

Thanks for reminding me not spend so much time on reading about others success, and to focus on building my own. It is so easy to get distracted with all the great information that is available. Need to focus on learning, then, appyling the information.

Definitely having a no fail/quit attitude is key to your success online...Many beginning marketers after seeing no success choose to quit...IM is all about learning, failing, trial and error...I have tried to get some of my friends into IM after they saw the success I was having but it is definitely not for those who think they can make money their first week

Thank you for your generous sharing of these useful tips.
Setting goals and follow it persistently with is the way to success.

Don't forget to be persistent. And absolutely wanting something to achieve. Lots of willpower is essential for every entrepeneur!

Thanks for sharing!. I think focus is the most important part, you have to find a method and stick with it until it works

I have learnt number 5 and I must stick to it

I totally agree with your post, and certainly there are some excellent tips in there that we would all do better reminding ourselves of from time to time.

My one cautionary warning, and I'm only saying this because I myself am guilty of it, is that there's a time and a place for thinking big and I don't think it's when you're first starting.

Who knows, maybe this is just me that has this problem, but to me it's easy for me to get too wrapped up in 'Big' plans to the point where I lose sight of the baby steps it takes to reach something 'Big'.

Of course, taken in context with the rest of your post it makes perfect sense, especially since you already listed Focus above this tip, which I 100% agree is a CRITICAL element to success, but I still think this warning is worth saying.

Thinking big is great, but recognize that tomorrow won't be your 'Big' day, because it takes time, energy and effort to get to 'Big'.

You shouldn't let monumental plans, even if they're feasible and definable, keep you from recognizing the importance of consistent work on your business. I know the OP knows this, I just wanted shed some clarification in the hopes that others will avoid my mistakes.

It helps me to remember the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare; even when you're not moving as fast as you might want to be moving, rest assured that slow and steady is more than 95% of IMers will be able to do, EVER, with their business.

Know where you want to go, then focus on putting one foot in front of the other until you get there.

- Stephen

There is one rule I always follow: "Never give up".

2. Focus Focus Focus! I don't like people who make hundreds or thousands of micro-niche websites and they put big and annoying ad blocks on them and that is it... Then they just get a check from Google saying you earned $xxxx last month. I think this strategy is unsustainable. OK it might work for a few years or so, but not for decades. I focused on two websites in this year. One is a blog and one is a pioneer startup. So my message: Focus on a website at a time!

This one is almost the most important thing. You need to stay focus, Internet is too big and you easily get lost. I write every single goal and not move to next one until finish it.

great tips! Thanks

I find the "Focus" part particularly important

great post op..and i too have been into IM for exactly 12 months almost to the very day and IMO #1 is the single most important tip for this type of income generating thing.

never give up, no matter what , ever

i have been doing IM for 1 year now and have not made any significant $$$$$ from it, but i have been enjoying the perks of it ( free stuff , buzz being generated in my niche, being talked about and looked at as a legit business ) and it gives me more motivation to work hard at it.


"Success is only the byproduct of hard work"

Hey!
I am exactly 145 days into internet marketing. One thing that has really kept me back from the success that i might have achieved by now is my fascination with new shiny products. That is why in the beginning of the month of December i decided to shut out everything else and just focus on building my site. Because in trying this and that, i have failed to do what is important for the growth of my site. In the two weeks that i have worked on my site i have earned 75% of what i have earned in the last three months. Cents but progress all the same.
Felix.