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A thread that may change our lives

by NoGutzNoGlory
20 replies
I have been lurking around this forum for literally probably 3 years SPINNING my wheels looking for the BEST possible way to make money online. I'm not only doing this post to finally add some value to this forum but to also remind myself of what I have learned over the past 3 years in internet marketing. This post should be a good eye opener for many that have been chasing themselves around in circles trying to find what they need to be doing to make money online.

First off I have learned that there is no one formula to making money online. There are many ways to making money online and its up to you to pick one and stick to it. Get really good at it! I can't tell you how many times I've switched over to the next BIG thing to making money on the internet. Do you have one mentor? stick to that one mentor and learn everything you can from him/her. Everyone is going to have different opinions and this is why you can't have all the gurus marketing to you at once. It just creates way to much noise.I have discovered the secret to making money online is having your OWN recipe. I always used to think that I needed to go for keywords that were highly searched so I could generate traffic.

I heard things like "go for buying keywords" "product name keywords" " go for keywords with a high commercial intent or high cpc" "go for markets that are competitive" "go for markets that have lots of products" but wait, isn't everybody doing this? It defeated the purpose of putting in all the work when everyone is trying to compete for the same thing. At least thats what it seems like to me. I came to a big realization which has lead me to write this post. This is now my philosophy:

- Don't start out trying to make money
- go into a niche you are passionate about
- know the basics of choosing a good niche
- learn everything you can about that niche
- don't worry about ranking in google
- search through forums and blogs where people have questions regarding your niche and post answers on your own site
- look to help people at the early stages rather than trying to fill your site with ads and such
- build a following through social networking
- don't be greedy
- once you've earned trust from others then start monetizing

you see, I feel like I have been concentrating on all the wrong things that gurus teach in making money online. I think it comes down to your own formula. . that formula is providing information based on your experiences to those in your niche market. I think that's the key to success and I plan on putting it to the test.

Ive been afraid to start something because I always wonder if im going to get traffic, where am i going to get traffic from, what product am i going to sell, how am I going to get my content, are people going to read my content? Is my content relevant? and so on . . Im thinking way to far ahead which causes me to give up. just like any business it s a journey and not just some one time thing. I'm coming to the realization that it takes about 2 years just to start a good business and scaling it from there.

I should worry less about how im going to get traffic to my site and just do what I'm passionate about. If I do that then the traffic will come. I'd love to hear what you guys think about this philosophy and if it's something you already implement. If so, has it made your business successful?
#change #lives #thread
  • Profile picture of the author magiclouie
    Thanks a lot for sharing and putting this together, NoGutzNoGlory.

    Yeah, one step at a time, there's no need to rush. But in reality, it's really tough to focus only in one method. It requires self-discipline to fight those temptations and distractions. Especially on those shiny objects out there that could really catch our attention and interest.

    Indeed, experience is the best teacher.

    More power to you, mate.

    Cheers,
    Louie Tugas
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  • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
    Originally Posted by NoGutzNoGlory View Post

    I should worry less about how im going to get traffic to my site and just do what I'm passionate about. If I do that then the traffic will come.
    No it won't.

    Sorry, you have to actively pursue traffic.

    Doing what you're passionate about is cool. But don't automatically assume people are going to trade their dollars for your passionishness. Because you'd be better off playing the Lottery.

    Picture this...you love making soup. So you rent a storefront on a little side street and start making gallons of soup. Nobody knows you're there, nobody stops in to buy your soup.

    Now...do you have a business, or do you have a hobby you're passionate about?

    Believe it or not, even the IRS in the US (if you were here) would say you have a hobby.

    Hobbies are great. No doubt about it. I have a few myself, as do most people. But at the end of the day it gets you nowhere to confuse a hobby with a business. They are two different things that may or may not intersect. If you want them to intersect you need to take actions that will allow them to merge.

    And unfortunately, "If I do that then the traffic will come" is not a proper mindset. Maybe in a Hollywood movie, but rarely in the real world. If you want traffic, you will have to go after it proactively.

    ~Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
    A thread may have caused me embarrasment a few days ago.

    The entire crotch of my jeans had split and there I was marching along to the shop with my undercarriage ready to drop out.

    On a serious note I'm in agreement with Bill. You awlays have to keep plugging away for traffic. As an analogy you can be the best guitarist in the world, but you'll only be the best in your closet if you remain there.


    Daniel
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    • Profile picture of the author wizzard74
      Originally Posted by Daniel Evans View Post

      A thread may have caused me embarrasment a few days ago.

      The entire crotch of my jeans had split and there I was marching along to the shop with my undercarriage ready to drop out.

      On a serious note I'm in agreement with Bill. You awlays have to keep plugging away for traffic. As an analogy you can be the best guitarist in the world, but you'll only be the best in your closet if you remain there.


      Daniel
      Was that a "you've been framed" moment
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  • Profile picture of the author Victoralexon
    I can relate to what you are saying. Too many of waste too much of our time chasing something which does not really exist.
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    • Profile picture of the author sidcandid
      I would like to congratulate you on this great thread. I agree that a lot of people, especially those new to IM chase that next Big thing and end up losing money instead of making money. I would also agree that its great to chase your passion when working in IM but you do need traffic for your site to make sales and profit which serve as a motivation to keep going.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikenin
    Agree with Bill. Sometimes "the next big thing" can be very profitable. It is often a matter of timing, and staying up to date on current trends can certainly pay off.
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    Hey!!

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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Doing what you're passionate about and not getting traffic will cause you to quit your internet venture. You'd have a better chance of selling something that your passionate about on Ebay... since they get millions of people everyday looking to buy something.
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  • Profile picture of the author ambition
    You are right in the fact that there's no 'one' method for making cash online. There are countless opportunities out there. I feel the way we handle the overwhelming surge of options in the beginning is very dependent on the individual and their circumstances. I personally tried out several tactics over the last year to broaden my understanding of IM and find the balance that I enjoyed most. Some people start by going all out on one particular area until they've mastered it - nothing wrong with that either. Really, the only detrimental conclusion is to give up entirely.

    The worst way to come into this in my opinion is desperate or depressed. My most unproductive days are always when I let my thoughts start wandering into how much longer I'll have to wait to see a stable income. I have to remind myself that this is a business, and like anything worthwhile, it takes a decent amount of time, energy, and experience to see results.

    Regarding your 'own recipe' theory, if that's working for you, by all means stick with it. However, reinventing the wheel isn't always necessarily the best option. The method I use (authority sites) is quite popular and I would assume common knowledge.. but it works, and will always work as long as the internet is around. You'll notice a lack of threads talking about authority sites in forums though, because they actually take a lot of *drumroll* time and commitment.

    I'd also advise rethinking the last bit about not worrying about traffic, as that could really be a burden to your efforts. Sure, you could build a 50 page site, and it definitely would eventually pull in some natural visitors from the search engines. But you could also spend a couple days doing proper SEO and grow those numbers exponentially. Traffic should be a top priority. Without it, you don't make money.
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  • Profile picture of the author PathShawN
    i am totally agree with all of you guys!
    you need traffic to sell, it is the main idea or concept to sell online!!

    but it is not just to have a damn good product! you need also people to offer your product! if no it will be as stupid like trying to sell something in the desert! lol
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  • Profile picture of the author paul_1
    When you have value, Traffic will follow, and so does money...
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    • Profile picture of the author REHughes
      Originally Posted by paul_1 View Post

      When you have value, Traffic will follow, and so does money...
      Again, as has already been stated, this IS NOT TRUE! You can't just buld it and they will come.
      See this post above - again!
      -POST #3-

      Yes, as already stated, you might get a few stragglers stop by your site, but for the most part, you have to direct traffic there yourself.
      Why do you think, when you see kids having a car wash at the local auto parts store or other local business, they have several people on the sidewalk holding huge signs?
      To Direct Traffic to their business proposal.
      Suppose they were to just sit around the building all day and never advertise the carwash - do you think they would earn any money?
      Maybe a little, but most would be left driving down the road.
      If you plan to sell anything o the internet, you will have to have a good approach for driving good, quality traffic to your site. Period!

      Robert
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      • Profile picture of the author gvsridhar171
        While I do appreciate your point that you should focus on one and stick to it I don't agree to your point that traffic will come on it's own. Even if it comes, there is no guarantee that the product or service will be purchased by the traffic just by going through your website.

        I have experienced that unless there is a 2 way communication, sale invariably doesn't take place. If you are an amazon or e-bay, it happens. But if you are just any one else like thousands of other internet marketeers then you have to interact with the traffic else sale just don't take place. Having visitors to your site is different. But making them buy is not a joke.

        I have chosen 3 products to sell and earn money out of it.

        I always pull out datas from the internet and get into direct mailing to them (offline) and by email and also follow it up with a telephone call. These efforts are only yielding results to me.

        My primary site is ranked well and is available on page 1 of google ... yet unless there is 2 way communication that takes place between sale doesn't happen.

        So what I am trying to drive message here is that we need to go after the traffic. Traffic will not come on its own.
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  • Profile picture of the author NoGutzNoGlory
    I don't want to sound like a hypocrite cause I know you all are right and I've heard it again and again . . nothing moves without traffic. Herein lies my problem, im not confident in my keyword choices and if its realistic for me to rank or to competitive. I guess I haven't built up enough confidence to know that I can rank the keywords I'm going for. The only way to find out is to take action I know as well. Time is money and I get afraid to invest time and money into something that may not work in the end because of competition. Something I just have to get over . . .
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  • Profile picture of the author PreciousGems
    Interesting topic. I more focus on creating a site where I can engage my readers by develop a great writing style. My primary focus is to make sure that my content can be findable enabling readers to find my content, making sure it's readable so that my readers can read my content, understandable so that they can understand my content, the most important is to have my site actionable, so that my readers can engage in taking action. The greatest achievement is to make sure it's shareable, so that they can share the content if they feel it will be valuable to someone else. A great way to drive traffic to a site. Value Value Value in giving giving and giving. It's always best to give and create value is how you build a great reputation with your readers, coming back for more great value.
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  • Profile picture of the author Noel Cunningham
    Thanks for sharing OP. There are a lot of good points in there that anybody good take on board. That's one of the best things about the WF is that people share their idea's/experiences with others - great stuff.

    Just looking at your forum name - No Gutz No Glory - you're not a fan of that Aussie rock band Airbourne are you?
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  • Profile picture of the author Deepak Media
    "providing information based on your experiences to those in your niche market"

    This line is history in the making
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    Digital Marketing Author | Speaker | Consultant

    Read my Blog: DigitalDeepak.com

    @ Bangalore, India.
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  • Profile picture of the author Cataclysm1987
    It's one of those classic Marketing versus Quality arguments.

    Theoretically, if your site is really high quality, millions will find it because it will become viral.

    Or you'll just have the most delicious soup no one ever tasted. Who knows.

    Either way, you are right to start where you're passionate. Success doesn't come to people who wake up in the morning not giving a crap.
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    • Profile picture of the author Noel Cunningham
      Originally Posted by Cataclysm1987 View Post

      It's one of those classic Marketing versus Quality arguments.

      Theoretically, if your site is really high quality, millions will find it because it will become viral.

      Or you'll just have the most delicious soup no one ever tasted. Who knows.

      Either way, you are right to start where you're passionate. Success doesn't come to people who wake up in the morning not giving a crap.
      I know exactly what you mean. You could have the best built, greatest content filled site on the web but if your not getting eyeballs on it then your screwed It can be a hard old slog at times but by being determined and executing a well thought out plan you are giving yourself every chance of success...

      And Cataclysm I love that line "Success doesn't come to......" I must throw that into a an AR mail sometime and get my peeps super motivated! Love it
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