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one course - remove hype - who to trust !!

by Chris R Thomas
21 replies
Hi guys,
With so much information here and on the net in general how does one sift through all the hype. I have been looking at /toying with IM for past 8 months - and decided that the only way to really learn is to take action.
So I have built 3 niche sites and one ecommerce site - boy - you soon learn where your weekness lies . I quickly discovered I didn't pay enough attention on the keyword research, I really know very little about copywriting / conversion.
But as I drive a fair amount here in Aus I have listened to stacks of podcast, James Schramko, Lifestyle Business, Pat Flynn amongst many others and the learning curve is steep.
Now when you listen to all these podcasts quickly- they by and large say pretty much the same thing -add value to customers- unique content is king - article marketing for backlinks - build list - social media - outsource when you start making some $$ -

Now My question is - If I was to pay for a course to really help get a handle on niche marketing / PPC / etc and join one mastermind forum for real guidance etc - is there a stand out person that you experienced IMers would recommend - and why?
#hype #remove #trust
  • Profile picture of the author Tony Marriott
    Couple of bits of advice.

    Usually first posts asking - how do I make it IM? just end up getting advised to "search the forum" etc. and do some research. I understand you want to get on and have come here for help but this forum definitely helps people who help themselves and even more if you contribute more (in the way of posts/answers etc.). Of course if you are new you may feel you have less to offer but generally everyone has something to offer. Many will be even less experienced than yourself.


    Secondly, if you do get specific answers to your question then do your due diligence. Open questions like that tend to get a lot of self serving answers and may not have your best interest at heart.


    One thing that springs to mine is Ed Dale's "Challenge" it's completely free and good place to start. Just Google it.


    I don't think you will get a combined training course for niche sites and PPC. PPC is pretty specialized and I strongly suggest that you take a course specifically on PPC. It is not an area you want to go into without having a really good understanding of what you need to.


    Google themselves run an AdWords certification program and all the training is completely free so that would be good place to start.


    Individual qualification in AdWords management | Google Certification Program


    good luck
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris R Thomas
    Hi Tony,
    I have had a look around the forum and very helpful it appears - but as you say there is just so much information and it is hard sifting through the self serving from the genuine.
    I did take a look at the "the challenge" this year but decided to get stuck in and build a couple of sites first.
    I drive quite often 3 or more hours to a job - so podcasts have been my media of choice for information.
    Thanks for taking the time to reply
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    • Profile picture of the author MP80
      Dude.. Great to see a fellow Sunshine Coast-er on here!

      Congrats on taking action - that is a great way to learn.. A lot of stuff sounds good in theory but doesn't always go so well in practise. And other stuff does work, but once you try it you realise that it is 'not your thing'. Try a handful of ideas that appeal to you, narrow them down to just one that you really like, then make a step-by-step plan and stick to it. It is great to follow someone, or better still have a mentor who will hold you accountable.. but at the end of the day you will still [most likely] need to add your own twist and personality to whatever you do.

      Here is a similar thread that may help answer your question.
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  • Profile picture of the author clarentino
    I recommend Bring The Fresh. It's not on my signature but I started making money after joining the course. Everything makes sense after that.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gerard Mohamed
    Tony,

    Information overload is one of the huge challenges for people starting off within the IM niche because you can become totally overwhelmed. My suggesstion is to try and focus on something that is aligned to an inherent or existing skill that you have. If you are a graphic artist then go for banner creation, if an excellent writer then SEO writing, if a computer expert, then web design etc. Too many of us get our knickers in a knot because of trying to multi-task, and then unfortunately losing the plot with it.
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    Gerard.

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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Wilson
    Why pay for it when there is everything on the WF.

    Anyway I'd look at some books for fundamentals such as anything from Marketing Sherpa and similar. Join the war room and you'll get access to a ton of free WSO's and ebooks even ebook courses.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tadresources
    For me it is the internet marketing superclass as if it wasn't for that course I wouldn't have 15 cash pulling niche websites.

    It is a real inspiration to me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris R Thomas
    Thanks for your replies on and all - as I suspected - everyone has a different opinion :confused:

    Hey MP80 - no better place to be !! Especially when I get some passive rollling in
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  • Profile picture of the author iamchrisgreen
    Originally Posted by Chris R Thomas View Post

    HBut as I drive a fair amount here in Aus I have listened to stacks of podcast, James Schramko, Lifestyle Business, Pat Flynn amongst many others and the learning curve is steep.
    Pat Flynn and James Schramko are the real deal. Very different but both awesome. I would suggest you find their podcasts and sites and devour the information they give out !!
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris R Thomas
      Originally Posted by iamchrisgreen View Post

      Pat Flynn and James Schramko are the real deal. Very different but both awesome. I would suggest you find their podcasts and sites and devour the information they give out !!
      I do a lot of driving - so podcasts are my choice of info intake. I have listened to all their podcasts in a short period of time and have found good information.
      But I think the golden rule is you have to take action, When you listen to 6 hours of interviews in one hit etc - you start hearing similar themes - you need to take action - you need to cut your teeth and work it out - it doesn't or rarely happen overnight- you need to start building list asap - and get a mentor to speed things along.
      Would love to hear from actual paying customers of these guys and learn just how well they helped them?
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  • Profile picture of the author James Schramko
    It us hard to learn to ride a bike by reading a book or listening to a podcast about it.

    Roll your sleeves up and get dirty
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    • Profile picture of the author Jacob Tudor Baruch
      Michael Stelzner has an awesome book called "Launch." It's about content marketing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris R Thomas
      Originally Posted by James Schramko View Post

      It us hard to learn to ride a bike by reading a book or listening to a podcast about it.

      Roll your sleeves up and get dirty
      Hey James,
      Too true you have got to get stuck in, I have got 4 sites up and am certainly starting to realise I have much to learn.
      I have listened to most of your podcasts from nov 2008 to present in last few months and always learn something!!
      Thanks
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    • Profile picture of the author wisedave
      Originally Posted by James Schramko View Post

      It us hard to learn to ride a bike by reading a book or listening to a podcast about it.

      Roll your sleeves up and get dirty
      Hmmm.... it would seem I have heard that before. Like you said in the Freedom Ocean Podcast.

      To quote you (who quoted General Patton) - "A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week"
      Plan your work and work your plan....I think Joe Verde said that. If it wasn't him, it was during a Friday morning sales meeting where his quotes were splashed about.

      And then there is Nike - "Just Do It!". Simple and to the point.

      Another vote for Schramko....the big fish in the Freedom Ocean. Give Schramko's Traffic Grab a look. It may not be the all singing, all dancing product that you are looking for but you should probably get a firm basic working knowledge of some core skills then either branch out or zero in depending on your business model, resources and skill set.


      Cheers,

      Dave
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  • Profile picture of the author barbling
    What I've learned over the past 3 months (my learning has gone exponential, I might add) is this.

    1.) Get huge amounts of people into your list. Do this by creating value-packed WSOs that have a low price of entry (I start mine at DIMESALE at $0.97 and increase every few sales).

    2.) Get known as an authority. I've done this by answering questions and posting at my flagship site.

    3.) Promote goodness to your list.

    4.) Rinse and repeat.

    It just plain *works*.

    No need to bother with SEO or PPC or Adsense or what have you.

    It works. Takes lots of effort, mind you, but....

    It works.

    Hope that helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    You should get your hands on John Reese's "Traffic Secrets 2.0" guide. I don't think it's available at his website anymore, but rummage thru Ebay to see if someone is selling his course there.

    You need targeted traffic to succeed. And this course will show you how to do it.
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    • Profile picture of the author LBspeaks
      Originally Posted by Randall Magwood View Post

      You should get your hands on John Reese's "Traffic Secrets 2.0" guide. I don't think it's available at his website anymore, but rummage thru Ebay to see if someone is selling his course there.

      You need targeted traffic to succeed. And this course will show you how to do it.
      A lot of TS 2.0 is about content generation. If you check out WF, you'll see a lot of people talking about how EZA and article marketing are not working for them anymore. Of course, I have always believed in paid traffic only... apart from syndicated traffic. Both those sources will continue to work for a LONG time.

      So TS 2.0 might have been taken down by Reese because it is outdated... Just saying!

      LB
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      Lokesh Batra- The Man Who Serves...

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  • Profile picture of the author LBspeaks
    Originally Posted by Chris R Thomas View Post

    Hi guys,
    With so much information here and on the net in general how does one sift through all the hype. I have been looking at /toying with IM for past 8 months - and decided that the only way to really learn is to take action.
    So I have built 3 niche sites and one ecommerce site - boy - you soon learn where your weekness lies . I quickly discovered I didn't pay enough attention on the keyword research, I really know very little about copywriting / conversion.
    But as I drive a fair amount here in Aus I have listened to stacks of podcast, James Schramko, Lifestyle Business, Pat Flynn amongst many others and the learning curve is steep.
    Now when you listen to all these podcasts quickly- they by and large say pretty much the same thing -add value to customers- unique content is king - article marketing for backlinks - build list - social media - outsource when you start making some $$ -

    Now My question is - If I was to pay for a course to really help get a handle on niche marketing / PPC / etc and join one mastermind forum for real guidance etc - is there a stand out person that you experienced IMers would recommend - and why?
    I am biased... but trust ME if you are going to go into marketing to offline businesses. :p

    And if you need someone even better, go check out Jay Abraham's stuff... the man has sold stuff worth $ BILLIONS for his clients....

    More than $7 Billion on the last count...

    LB
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    Lokesh Batra- The Man Who Serves...

    I am new to the online world of forums and social media... but I have spent the last 7 years of my life talking to business owners all over the world, and helping them generate extra profits. And I can show you how to do the same... Get the Review Copies of My $497 Ignitional Program Here...

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    • Profile picture of the author James Schramko
      Originally Posted by LBspeaks View Post

      I am biased... but trust ME if you are going to go into marketing to offline businesses. :p

      And if you need someone even better, go check out Jay Abraham's stuff... the man has sold stuff worth $ BILLIONS for his clients....

      More than $7 Billion on the last count...

      LB
      Jay Abraham was the core influence for my business success.
      I have met him and he is a very good marketer.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kerry Finch
    Hey Chris, its great that you've now joined our local Sunny Coast Meetup Group (Sunshine Coast Internet Marketers (Sunshine Coast) - Meetup). I've been fortunate to have James Schramko as mentor and friend for several years and can vouch for his integrity and wealth of knowledge.

    Look forward to seeing you Wednesday night for Gideon Shalwicks presentation to the group.
    Kerry
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