The Reason Most Newbies Fail Miserably Is...

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If you're a Newbie or have been doing IM for a while and not making the money you want yet then this list will hopefully help you...

In my experience (talking to my 100k+ list, over 10 years in internet marketing, $6m+ in sales, millionaire status etc. yawn!) these are the Top 7 "Newbie Killers" i.e. reasons why most Newbies fail... and I want to hear YOUR suggestions, what do YOU think?

NEWBIE KILLER #1. SELLING WHAT PEOPLE NEED

People don't buy what they need. They buy what they WANT! I call this the "Chocolate-covered Broccoli Principle"...

Chocolate - people WANT it, but it's not good for them
Broccoli - people NEED it (it's good for them) but they don't want it

If you sell "chocolate" all you'll have is customers with rotting teeth (and lots of refunds).

If you sell "broccoli" then you won't have hardly any customers at all - nobody wants it!

The solution? Sell chocolate-covered broccoli - sell them on what they want and then, when they "bite into" your product, give them what they need.

NEWBIE KILLER #2. BELIEVING THE HYPE

We're all pretty smart people here and know that IM is not some push-button riches system and yet sometimes we get caught up in the wonder of it all and believe that maybe there IS a way to make lots of money without doing anything. There isn't. Trust me. All the top IMers I know are still working their butts off, they're not on desert islands drinking cocktails as software "pumps cash into their accounts".

NEWBIE KILLER #3. THINKING THAT IDEAS = MONEY

Your great ideas aren't that great (I know because I have had them too). Model what already works and don't re-invent the wheel. Do what I did and start an "Ideas Book" where you write down all your ideas so you can get them out of your head and focus on action instead. I've done this for years and have not ONCE referred back to the Ideas Book to get an idea!

NEWBIE KILLER #4. WASTING TIME ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS

Think of your time as a jug of water and the projects you have as different empty glasses of water. Once you start pouring the jug you can't stop so what do you think happens when you move from one project to another trying to pour in your time? A lot of it gets spilt and wasted in the transition from one project to another. Solution: work one project until COMPLETION and then move onto the next one. Result = no spillage of time. Easier said than done of course and I know some big names who still get caught out by this one.

NEWBIE KILLER #5. THINKING IT'S ABOUT THE INTERNET

It's not. It's about PEOPLE. Working out what people want, what they need and giving it to them in spades time and time again. Building networks, building relationships and above all - HELPING PEOPLE. The technology and gizmos are just the medium.

NEWBIE KILLER #6. GETTING STUCK ON THE PRODUCT MERRY-GO-ROUND

Also known as "Bright shiny object syndrome". Buy, try, cry, goodbye. That's the endless cycle most people go through. But if you just stick to one thing that works, see it through and implement it all - you will see results.

NEWBIE KILLER #7. MISTAKING LEARNING FOR EARNING

Yes learning and your personal education is important. As Jim Rohn says: "Personal wealth rarely exceeds personal development", but ultimately you need to APPLY what you learn and start to EARN! :-)

Hope this helps you and would love to hear your comments and additions.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #avoid #bad #fail #killers #newbie #news
  • NEWBIE KILLER #8. Not sitting down and doing the things that actually make you money.

    Forum posting... not making you money. Facebook comments about your neighbor's dog... not making you money. Buying yet another WSO and probably not even reading it... not making you money.
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    • An absolutely gold post.It is so important to do things that are productive to helping you make money in the long term
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    • NEWBIE KILLER #4. WASTING TIME ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS

      Yep...guilty as charged. It wasn't until my second year at this game with no income that I decised to work only on ONE project at a time..
  • Haha - love it! Let's see if we can get to NEWBIE KILLER 99 then create a WSO out of it! LOL
  • Yeah...you mention my mistake in #2 and #3
    sometimes, I still do that but still try to stop doing that mistake ;P
  • NEWBIE KILLER #9. Thinking that you don't need a business plan.

    This is a business like any other business. It needs a structured business plan and a written list of goals that have a deadline attached to them.

    Di
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    • Yes - great point. Too often I see people treating this more like a hobby than a true business. If you treat it like a hobby you'll get hobby-like results: lots of free time used up, some enjoyment had but not too much to show financially at the end of it! How many hobbies do you know that put money IN your bank rather than take it away? :-)
  • NEWBIE KILLER #10 - NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR SALES AREN'T SPENDABLE

    Just because you made $50 selling a CB product doesn't mean you should go out and spend it on music from iTunes. Bank as much of your money as possible...money is to your business what blood is to your body. You should only take out as little as possible until you have approximately 1 years' salary banked, and then still take out as little as possible.

    -- j
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    • How very true. I know a couple of really big name IMers who fell victim to this too - made a whole stack from a product launch and then burned through most of it (not on the business).

      As Brian Tracy says, you need to have the TRIANGLE of financial security:

      1. Income - money consistently coming in
      2. Investment - reinvest it into business and stocks, shares, property
      3. Insurance - protect yourself against "the nasties"
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  • I love that broccoli and chocolate analogy. Completely true in both aspects. This is a great list thanks for the share!
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    NEWBIE KILLER #11 - UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

    In this category falls anything such as believing that the next new software will make you wealthy within 48 hours. Or expecting results without the willingness to take consistent actions drives a lot of online marketers into failure.

    All successful people know that the foundation to their success was hard work. They won't deny this fact for a second.
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    • Yes exactly - having high targets and goals to aim for is one thing but expecting the earth whilst doing nothing is quite another! Well said.
  • The quote above is the key statement right here.

    People chase the dream but lack the grass-route business plan to make it happen. The result, buy one product after another after another after another after another after another........ You get the idea.

    We have a responsibility to change this conceptual thinking that money will be made from the next product! It's almost an addiction, at least it was for me until I began running my online business the way I had run an offline business - vision, targets, goals, strategy, systems, all centred around one person and one person only.........

    The reader.

    Thanks for this insightful thread.

    Marcus
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    • >We have a responsibility to change this conceptual thinking that money will be made from >the next product! It's almost an addiction, at least it was for me until I began running my online business the way I had run an offline business - vision, targets, goals, strategy, systems, all centred around one person and one person only.........
      >The reader.

      Marcus you're so right. Getting those systems in place is key and as you rightly say - putting the reader / customer at the forefront of your thinking is definitely critical. Thanks for your comments.
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  • NEWBIE KILLER #7. MISTAKING LEARNING FOR EARNING

    Learn the wrong move for earning and wasted my time doing mistaking learning.
  • NEWBIE KILLER #97 - SEE NEWBIE KILLERS #1 - 96

    Making the same mistake time and time again. We've all done it, made a mistake but not learned from it, so we go off and make it again (and maybe again and again). Once a mistake has been made, and you know it's a big one, learn from it and move on, don't do it again.

    If someone you know advises you not to do something, because they've either done it themselves or know it's the wrong thing to do because they know their stuff, listen to them... Ah, but then many marketers are always telling us what to do, or what not to do, but only because they're making some money out of you by saying it... It's a marketing minefield out there...
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    • Brilliant! Yes how very true. I think we're all guilty of that one. You think you have something "down" only to forget it about it and make the same mistakes in the future. If only there was a cure for this! :-)
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  • I do something similar to this Michael, I jot down any idea's I have either in my notebook or my phone. Then when I have a minute I mind map them and leave them in the "idea's" folder...And that's where I leave them!

    Simply by getting them out of your head you can move on and focus on the job at hand, follow it through and not get distracted by all the idea's floating around in your mind
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  • NEWBIE KILLER #12. Not having the correct mindset.

    It took me a very long time to even properly understand what the correct mindset was.
    I was stuck in my own pre-conceived idea's, such that I was completely blinkered to the
    fact that it was me that was not right. Until you understand properly what it is, there is no way you can get your head in the right mode to have a chance of success.

    You need to work at it for a while to alter those long standing paradigms.

    Hope that makes sense (he said scratching his head.)

    George
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    • Yes - totally right. It's not a very "sexy" thing to talk about but you're spot on - the mental side of this is perhaps the most important of all... But trying to sell that to people would be like opening a "broccoli stall" ;-)
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  • NEWBIE KILLER #69 (lost count) Failure to realise that effort = rewards. The harder & smarter you work the more money you will make. It's not like a "job" where you just turn up & it doesn't matter what you do you get paid. It takes hard work & effort.

    Love it Mike!

    Cheers,

    Jamus
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  • Newbie Killer # 13 - not repeating the strategy that made you a sale.

    When we finally do make a sale, we don't simply continue doing what it was that brought in the sale in the first place. This might be due to having too many strategies working at one time so you're not sure what worked.
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    • yes exactly - I think as marketers we all suffer from this. We try so hard to get something to work and then when it does, we get bored and want to create something new! Haha
  • NEWBIE KILLER #14. Thinking that a Guru, Webinar, Seminar, Magic Potion will get you results. When the only thing that will make you succeed is hard work and sheer determination.

    Nice to see you on the Warrior Forum Michael :-)

    Billy
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  • NEWBIE KILLER #15 Putting The Kart Before the Horse: trying to figure out how to do something 10 steps from where you currently are. FOCUS on getting the next step done first.

    Cheers,

    Jamus
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    • So very true - it's too easy to get caught up in the grand scale of a huge plan when really you just need to to put one foot in front of the other.
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  • Awesome thread Michael! It is very important to learn what we should do to be successful, but to also learn what to avoid that will prevent us from enjoying success.
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  • NEWBIE KILLER #7. MISTAKING LEARNING FOR EARNING

    Yes learning and your personal education is important. As Jim Rohn says: "Personal wealth rarely exceeds personal development", but ultimately you need to APPLY what you learn and start to EARN! :-)


    I am definitely guilty of this one. I have spent much more time learning than earning!
  • Can you explain chocalate and brocoli principle with an example?
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    • An example of "selling chocolate" as an IMer would be selling a push-button software that makes you rich - everybody wants this but the contents are not "nutritious" or good for you.

      An example of "selling broccoli" as an IMer would be selling a 1007-step process that tells you how to technically set your website up - everybody NEEDS this but nobody WANTS it.

      An example of "chocolate-covered broccoli" as an IMer would be selling a cash-creating coaching program that is proven to work by previous students but requires some work - gives people what they WANT (promise of cash) and what they NEED (the steps and guidance to succeed).

      Hope this helps.
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  • I agree 100% with #6 - Newbies also want to get a feel for what's going on and how to "make it". While doing this many start to follow so many different marketers and each marketer has his/her own way of doing things, teaching, creating products, etc. While this is fantastic because there are so many ways of to make money, its hard on the newbie because he/she's focus is going in way to many directions. It would be good for newbies to check out many marketers then narrow it down to just one or two they want to emulate at a time to really try to learn from. This may help with the bright shiny new object syndrome...
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  • I shared a bit of my 11 plus years being online here and I think that summed up my thoughts nicely.

    Newbies fail for all kinds of reasons and Michael summed up some of the real common ones. My first year online was a very humbling experience because I had already had success in offline business and thought it would translate to the online world; boy, was I wrong. Somehow and for some reason, once I got online I thought it was going to be "easy". Somehow I thought the business fundamentals didn't apply to the online e-commerce world.

    I've met a lot of marketers who, at one time, were banking 10k, even 100k per month, but within a short period of time ended up with nothing because they hadn't built a real business. All they had was one or a few "money-makers" that made them money, but they weren't building any real relationships, they weren't focusing on repeat business / customers, and they were always looking for that magic piece of software or short cut that would make them more money quicker (sometimes they were flat out breaking the law).

    One of the biggest reasons for failure, other than improper mindset, is thinking that one doesn't need to know or respect the business fundamentals. Treat your business like a hobby and it probably won't last, treat it like a real business that provides real, long-term value and your chances of making money 30, 40, even 100 years from today goes up tenfold.

    RoD
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    • Yes, I totally agree with you - those that don't treat it like a business will suffer for sure. Just because it's on the internet and can be operated from home many people lose sight of the fundamentals as you say.
  • What a brilliant thread, I'm guilty of nearly all of them I think. Although I agree with what you say Karen Blundell, I really do... I think this thread brings home to us the reality of what we do (and keep doing) wrong.
    This is why we get disillusioned because we try to be positive whilst doing things wrong... so we need to be shown and reminded...
    Thanks Michael
  • NEWBIE KILLER # Whatever (is it 15 or 16)

    Not learning one particular skill. So many people spend so much time jumping from one idea to the next they never stop and master a particular skill and become a true expert at it.

    A skill that can make your online business and a skill that other online marketers would gladly pay you for a service or pay you to teach them how to master that skill.

    Even if you never 'went full-time' as an internet (based) marketer you'd definitely open up a world of opportunity offline. Copywriting, consulting, website building, PPC, graphic design, email marketing... all jobs real companies pay good money for.
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    • I believe that desire, action and persistence are the most important when it comes to succeeding with Internet marketing.
    • I can punch quite a few holes in some of the theories here, but this one just shouted for my attention, so don't take it personally.

      I personally know three Multi Millionaires (one of them is worth several HUNDRED MILLION dollars... Kunal... he's the owner of Snapdeal.com and lives in Gurgaon, India).

      ALL three of them are experts in nothing.

      As Kunal once told me, "I'd rather have money over fame and power and expertise."

      So while this might be well meaning advice, it is one of the reasons why most people get stuck at an income ceiling. Worse... they start peddling out advice that gets other people stuck too.

      And the worst thing is... That "newbies", as you refer to them, do nothing waiting for expertise to appear magically. Expertise, is like the finish line. If you are waiting for the finish line to appear magically at the starting line, then good luck with that...

      Being useful, on the other hand... That doesn't require expertise or money or any of the other pre-requisites suggested here. Watch this video by Derek Sivers to understand my point clearly...

      Start Now. No funding needed. - YouTube
      I am a systems guy. Last year, our company sold $20,000,000 worth of consultancy services and related products. I am not the owner. I am an employee. I joined in 2008, and I am as far from expert as one can be. Still, I managed to be the top seller last year. Why? Because I kept it simple and followed the system that I was hired to follow!

      The real problem is... that people don't have the right system. Yes, you can call it the shiny object syndrome or whatever... but all you're trying to do is mask the fact that you've failed, to instill confidence in your system among your followers and students as a coach. At best. Or, at worst, that you're so desperate for money that you'll accept anyone into your program without verifying what kind of a person they are.

      I talk about it in my report, Offline Black Book Lite. About screening for the right followers and clients. About how not to be so desperate that you are gladdened by people following you, or giving you money.

      Think about a real business person you know. A real businessman. Or a businesswoman running a $50 Million + business. Would they be happy to have a few hundred (or thousand) people paying them $27 for their advice? Would they be willing to spend time with these people?

      People... wake the F*** up. Businesses aren't about copying someone else's ideas. Businesses are risky inherently. If you need money, GET A JOB! No business guarantees money right off the bat, and I say this with all due respect that Mr. Cheney, despite being successful enough for himself (which is cool,) is failing to relate with the person who's bank balance is running out on an hourly basis.

      It's not about the ideas. It's about execution. It's about creating something that OTHERS find valuable. A product or a service that other people find valuable enough to invest time and/or money in. Read the last statement again. That's the only marker of the validity of your plan. Besides, no business plan ever survives the first contact with the world. So there really is no need to have a business plan any longer than one page... specifying your VISION of how you plan to change the world.

      Then the second thing you need to test, once you know your product or service (not the idea) is valuable, is whether your business is sustainable and will grow over a long term. No point in creating value if you have to spend $40 to acquire a $7 customer, right? Sure, you can argue all day about Lifetime Value, and that might again be well meaning advice. But what if you're running out of cash? You won't be able to get any new clients through advertisement then.

      So do you have a growth engine? Is the business sustainable? And these questions need to be asked for you. Not for the guy with $20 Million in Venture Capital. Sure, your idea is great and all, but if YOU can't grow that business and if your resources and assets can't sustain that business, then you'd be better off throwing it away.

      LB
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  • I'm guilty of this. I refused to seek out help from an already established and proven mentor. If newbies really want to get into the game fast, they should find a good internet marketing coach who's already successful and learn from them.
  • Isn't it funny how we don't feel qualified to speak about things, but I would like to say that LBSpeaks post comes over very negatively for me...
    I don't like the connotations or attitude...
    Of course successful marketers outsource, but they didn't start off that way... they became good at something... then expanded...
  • NEWBIE KILLER #4. WASTING TIME ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS

    Think of your time as a jug of water and the projects you have as different empty glasses of water. Once you start pouring the jug you can't stop so what do you think happens when you move from one project to another trying to pour in your time? A lot of it gets spilt and wasted in the transition from one project to another. Solution: work one project until COMPLETION and then move onto the next one. Result = no spillage of time. Easier said than done of course and I know some big names who still get caught out by this one.

    This one... along with this one:

    NEWBIE KILLER #6. GETTING STUCK ON THE PRODUCT MERRY-GO-ROUND

    Also known as "Bright shiny object syndrome". Buy, try, cry, goodbye. That's the endless cycle most people go through. But if you just stick to one thing that works, see it through and implement it all - you will see results.


    Spells disaster and leads to getting nothing accomplished at all, I know because I did this for a long time and know people also who fell into this trap. I have since learned that long term success is based on hard work, dedication and persistence and not being afraid to fail sometimes... The inability to take consistent action also plagued me alot and I think led to the two problems annotated above.

    Allen
  • #7 - mistaking learning for earning. See, for most people, they will sit through an info product and do nothing. It is the HOPE, the positive expectancy promised by the product that they are buying into. But the truth is that true learning only happens while you do it. That's when you start making mistakes, and start learning from them.
  • This is a very solid informative post.Many newbies should be able to hopefully benefit from this post. Great work.
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    • I aim to please! :-)

      Seriously though - I hope this helps a lot of begginers and feel free to keep adding this list and sharing YOUR experiences because we were all newbies once!
  • All of what you are saying here make a lot of sense.
    Learn one skill at a time before going on to
    the next one and you will soon be an expert.
    Learn it with the purpose of being able to apply it.
    Implement it and you will see results.

    And there is one thing I would like to add to the subject
    of learning and that is this: Whatever you are studying
    make sure you never go past a word or words you have not
    fully understood. If you feel you don't understand what you
    study go back and look for a word or words you did not
    understand fully.

    A common sign of having gone past a word/s not
    understood is ''Yawning". The reason most people give up a study
    is because of accumulation of not understood- or misunderstood words.

    You see it all the time in schools where students get educated, so called,
    in a subject and go out in life and do something else.

    All the best,
    Truls
  • #8. Reading and posting in forums instead of actually doing is definitely a killer for a lot of people. I think there would be a lot more successful IMers if people would just do a little research, and then get started. And if you do, great. Just don't stop at your first hicup. Learn from your mistake(s) and move on.
  • Great post Michael - we have all been victims at some stage simply buying the next product, that even hinted at success, to hit our inbox.
    But these alone will not have any effect on your success. You need to be ALIVE. Statistics show that people only operate at 3 - 5% of capacity. So why is this?
    Simply because we are lost in thought, rather than focus on the particular product that we just bought 97% of people start thinking about what's going on in their lives or indeed go checking their emails and fall into the next email with yet another "fantastic product" they simply must have, after all it's going to be "the one" to make money.
    I met a very good friend 2 night ago, his net worth is over £45million and he employs 1200 people. He is now spending his time with key employees trying to awaken them to be alive and take the business to greater heights.
    We can all do it: take a mind shower in the morning i.e. clear all thoughts from the past day or beyond and start to focus on the present day - then things can happen for you!
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    • Awesome, yes I agree. That focus is so important for sure. Keep on trucking! :-)
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  • This thread was what I really needed right now. Lots of good information. Thanks
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      Great informational thread -

      The thing that i feel fails with newbies is motivation. The act of carrying the rest of it out and doing what they need to do they tend to fall off topic. maybe it is me personally but what i understand from this is that most of them seem to see it as a problem to experiment also.

      I remember someone was telling me he tried one method and Internet Marketing doesn't work at all and is a ' Useless way of making money'

      After showing him different methods and ways he could research he soon changed his attitude towards it.

      I can't say he stuck it out - He made something like a 100 bucks and got tired of doing it.

      Dedication is essential also.
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    • Hey Michael...

      *Brilliant analogy*....love this one...how "Chocolate Coated Broccoli* simply sums up the mindset of todays *buyer* online....you know this is the very same principle that makes sellers on eBay *Top Rated Sellers*...the long term eBay businesses!

      You see the tightly targeted niche markets on that platform, that these guys sell into tend to be products that people want to buy cheaply...ALL day everyday...and they are products these people don't actually need....a *FACT*...and the reason is because buying online ignites a feel good factor...

      ....the anticipation of receiving the item...yes they love the buzz of waiting for it to come like the weekend...you the seller simply tap into which markets these are and slide in among these sellers....SO yes I fully agree with you on this concept of *SUCCESS*!

      See you in the mix Michael....John.
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  • Many people fail online because they don't make a plan and stick to it + they are not consistent and they don't consider every mistake/failure as a learning experience ... They ended up quiting to quickly ... Infact when they faild they become much closer to success than where they were the fist time ( but most people don't realise it )
    BTW Do you offer a money back on Traffic Tycoon .. I've just received an email from one of your affiliates will look at it by this evening as I'm not at home now...
    Thanks for this inspiring thread
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    • Thanks for the comments - yes a plan is critical of course.

      Traffic Tycoon is NOTHING to do with me. It is someone else who CLAIMS they just happen to share my name whereas I feel they are masquerading as me. So beware - it is not my program and I have no connection to it.
    • All newbies (that includes me as well!), just have to find out what's in the package of an IM program.

      After learning about it, all it takes is the first step to start showing the world what's the deal that you would like to share.

      From there onwards, it will be another path to tread! =)


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  • Thanks michealjcheney for the valuable lessons. Being guilty of # 4 & #6 myself, these hints sure would ginger many like me to become better administrator of our marketing business. More grease to your elbow !

    ultimuw45
  • Guilty as charged on ALL fronts, yer Honour! And STILL serving time!!! One of the biggest problems for me, and many others, I think, is FOCUS - focusing on the job at hand long enough to actually see it through to completion. I'm improving, but still have a long way to go.

    I'm going to start by getting the hell out of this forum!!....for now!!!!

    Good stuff, Michael.

    Cheers,
    Ray
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  • I'm not 100% sure about this one, because if this was universally true, 2-seat convertible cars would outsell diesel family cars, and that's obviously not the case.
  • Lol, you know, I think it's more towards the lines of....

    This --------> The "Mirror, Mirror On The Wall" Syndrome

    It's called "Marketing Narcissism".

    Marketers these days go around tapping shoulders of hungry people, and asking... "HEY, I love shoelaces so I wrote up a freaking brilliant guide on 'how to tie shoelaces'.... and since you have money, you're going to love it!"

    Hungry people eat them up instead.

    lol
  • Number 2 and 4 are my sins
  • Nice info Michael. I love your idea about newbie killer#1. It apply to me in the past and even now I'm still trapped. At least now I know What to focus on.
  • A lot of what you guys are talking about has opened my eyes. I am ashamed to say it, but I am victim to it all. Think it's time to actually visualize what I want. Then work at it step by step. When you drive from one city to the other at night, you can't see the whole 200 miles (or kilometers) layed out in front of you. You can only see a couple of feet (or meters) but still you can make it safely to the next city. Time for me to start learning the hard way. Also I signed up, Michael, can't wait to start!
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    • You're so right - sometimes you don't need to see the whole path in front of you, just the next short section so you can start taking steps towards it. And well done for admitting you've fallen vicitim to some of this stuff, you're not alone!
  • GREAT THREAD! THE INFORMATION WAS HELPFUL!
  • An ideas book... Hmmm, that's a good idea, that way I can come back to that literature on occasion and see the folly of my own thought processes.

    Good stuff!
  • Those are all really good reasons, but I think there's a deeper theme that runs beneath pretty much all of them.

    That theme being, "internet marketing isn't really an easy thing."

    I think a lot of people get into internet marketing after reading those ads that say "so and so makes a million dollars working from home in her underwear... click to read her story!"

    Or, books that say "live this superstar, super-rich lifestyle working only four hours a week."

    Take "The Four Hour Workweek" for example. I mean, doesn't the title say it all basically?

    I've never read the book, so I can't comment on the advice in it, but I think the title is setting people up for disappointment from the start.

    You're not going to get ANYWHERE working just four hours a week starting out.

    You might see a bit of "pocket money" success at 10 hours a week.

    You might even be able to live on what you make from 20 hours of work a week.

    But if you really want to make what amounts to a full time, grown up income online...

    ... Well, I'm sorry folks, but you're really looking at a standard 35-40 hour work week there, at least in the early years.

    And if you want to get rich, expect to put in 50 hours a week or more (again, I mean in the early years.... obviously, as you build up passive income streams and a reputation, you can cut out much of the "lead chasing" part of your workload, as people will be coming to you, but I digress.)

    The thing most people need to realize about IM, as well as the more mainstream self-help industry that IM sort of feeds off of, is that most of the richest people in the industry got that way because they sold a dream.

    That is, the dream of getting a lot without putting in much effort.

    Imagine if someone roped you in with copy that claimed instant "overnight" results, and then after you gave them your money, they turned around and started saying "yeah no, really this is all about slow, steady, long term progress... you're going to need to put in at least 20 hours a week at this, and even then, results aren't guaranteed."

    How would you feel about that?

    I mean, assuming that the "instant results" part of the copy was what got you to buy (I suppose some people might overlook these tactics and say "well he's offering more than he can deliver, but I can find some gold nuggets in here anyway," although I'm sure those people are in the minority.)

    Chances are, you'd be pretty pissed if someone did that to you.

    And yet, extensive market research shows that if you promise instant results, you'll sell more.

    So what's an information product marketer going to do, knowing that he needs to promise instant results to market his product, but will create MASSIVE buyer's remorse if he turns around and offers something totally different (but more realistic) in the actual product???

    That's right: he's going to stay congruent and give you a product that plays into your fantasy of overnight results, no matter how flawed that fantasy is.

    He'll tell you all the talent can be bought at $5 an hour on elance, even though most decent talent goes for $20 or more. Why? Because: if he told you decent freelancers actually cost real money, you'd realize the program isn't actually "easy," and you'd go back for a refund.

    He'll tell you SEO is just a matter of simple matter of inserting keywords and throwing up backlinks wherever, even though it's been proven that Google values some links more than others, and will actually delist (or at least demote) sites with too many automatically generated backlinks. Why? Because if he told you EFFECTIVE backlinking was hard work, you'd realize the program isn't actually easy, and you'd go back for a refund.

    I could go on and on with these examples all day.

    The point is, much of internet marketing is hard work, and if you want to do it right, you'll need to either put a LOT of hours into it, or spend a lot of money up front to get freelancers to do it for you.

    AND, even if you've got the budget to hire talented freelancers, you still need to have the vision to put all the pieces together than really make sure everything works (i.e. you need to be able to give your freelancers instructions, rather than relying on them to be the business owner for you).

    So, in summary, running an IM business isn't really an easy job.

    Some people might tell you it is, but I assure you, those same people put in their 40 hours a week to get to the position of being able to tell you it's easy.

    So, yeah, that's about it.

    Making money online is work. REAL work.

    But I'll tell you this: as someone who made over 4.5k online last month, I can guarantee you it was easier than what my friends who own brick and morter businesses had to go through.

    A LOT easier.

    So....

    Just keep that in mind, and keep working hard, everyone!

    Peace.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Hi guyz, I'm new to IM as well. Thanks to Andy for giving out a detailed info (rather resourceful!*) on building a success in IM.

    Personally, I say the no.1 reason for holding a lot of people for achieving the internet marketing is coming down to our MINDSET! period!
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  • I remember reading in cashvertising about the LF8 (life force 8) and it kinda contradicts what you're saying about people buying what they want over what they need.

    People need sex, food, sleep, etc so they will buy anything to help them achieve these needs (viagra/prostitutes/steak/ambien) lol.

    But I still hear what you're saying, people definitely do buy tons of crap they don't need.
  • Hoho.. You got me on this one. Newbies really need to take note on avoiding this!!
    • [1] reply
    • Totally agree on that man! Follow one course until successful once again..
      • [1] reply
  • And this is where I personally disagree to some extent. Of course you don't have to reinvent the wheel, but if you can, i'd always prefer to do it. Look at some of the greatest entreprises these days. They are where they are today because they came up with some kind of a disruptive innovation. They reinvented the wheel (maybe not to 100%, but to a big percentage) and most of their success is, to this day, based on that innovation. Metaphorically speaking you could say that cargo ships are used for transporting goods over big distances because the wheel isn't the best thing to get you far .

    Of course you need to learn the basics along the way or you're doomed to be unsuccessful, but for me this is pure handwork, routine or whatever you want to call it (boring?). You can make good amounts of money by not reinventing the wheel, but you need some sort of an USP anyway, so why not a really irresistible one?

    However, it's probably safer for the really newbiesh :confused: newbie to follow your advice, but I could never stick with it in the longer run. It's too boring and I love taking risks to some extent.

    Oh, and another thing that is probably going to happen is that newbies that read your list will follow it to a T. Maybe you could point out a bit more that this list is based on YOUR EXPERIENCE and that not all entrepreneurs are the same. I know you did point it out, but honestly, I don't think too many people actually read the introduction to the list. I kinda had to throw in the previous two sentences because I was pretty unsuccessful myself when I just implemented other people's advice or systems and it only got better when I broke out of that vicious circle. Even if the systems didn't only seem to work for so many others but really did.

    Wow, so many different views on my side so I'd probably better state that I quite agree with the rest of the list and that I think it is a very helpful one not only for newbies but probably for every entrepreneur. Kudos to you!

    ~ R. Shawner
  • Hi Michael,

    I think Number 2 and Number 6 go hand in hand. I still actually see well know IM names sending out alerts to their list for the BRIGHT SHINY OBJECT......have i bought some of them??? OF COURSE

    However I am much more guarded now as most of the sales letters for this stuff is very similar and shouts $47 with a ten dollar bill sitting behind it if you click the close button.

    People are blind to this now.

    I think your anlogy of the fillied glasses is a great one and where I have been struggling. But I am making changes and hopefully they will lead to more Action

    Cheers
  • Nice list. Persistence is probably the top and most accurate reason. Whether one is amidst creating 1 site or 100 sites or 1,000 sites (however many), if persistent until "completion" success should follow; if the sites are intended to be and correctly set-up to be successful. Right?
    • [1] reply
    • NEWBIE KILLER #18. MISTAKING SALES FOR PROFITS

      A common issue for both internet marketers and small business owners. Selling more is only a good thing if you are making a profit on each sale.

      Spend $20 on ads, sell three $5 ebooks = $5 loss NOT $15 profit



      - Jamie
      Self confessed 'shiny object' chaser
  • Hmm, maybe I should look into alternative careers...
    • [1] reply
    • Great tips. Thanks for the info.

      The old adage holds true. "If you fail to plan, you'll plan to fail."

      For those who still thinks that IM is simply to build a website, pay for traffic, play golf and wait for the cash to rake in, you'll be sorely disappointed.

      Stop believing those "Work 20 minutes a day, earn $1000 from day 1!" etc.

      Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.
  • Awesome stuff man! it would be nice if threads like these pop up more often.
    newcomers are always looking to start off the right way. It is always tough at first,
    but anything your staring from scratch should be a challenge!
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  • This is one heck of a post. I agree with every reason listed here. I was scared to spend money in the beginning. Now I operate like a scientist and know where to spend money because I know my average customer value. I know the average per click to get this down to a science.
  • newbies dont make it because you're not willing to put in 12-16 hour days for years that it takes.
  • In my experience, one of the biggest reasons newbies fail is believing one of the biggest lies in IM (and the world in general) . . . that "producing value will make you money". Unfortunately that simply isn't true at all in practice. What makes money is persuading people to give you money!

    You can have the best value in the world, and still make zero, unless you can actually PERSUADE people to GIVE you money in exchange for what you've got!

    I've created plenty of products that have great value, and made precisely zero from them. There's whole threads on the WF saying that all you have to do is create value, and you'll make money, with hundreds of people agreeing with this lie. Well, all those people can now either send me my money, or admit that the whole idea is a LIE !!!


    Chris
    • [1] reply
    • I hear what you're saying and yes, it's true that these people forget to say that you need to know how to MARKET that value, we are MARKETERS after all! :-)

      - Value without marketing doesn't sell (but you at least know you're doing good stuff).
      - Marketing without value can sell (but you'll be heading South...)

      See my part about choc-covered vegetables. To me, part of "creating value" is being able to convey that value effectively in a way that is enticing and does your product justice. And yes, this does get easier with time - we were all newbies once and having someone to model and follow definitely makes it easier!
  • NEWBIE KILLER #19. INFORMATION OVERLOAD - THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START
    They have 8 Billion make gagillion Dollars buy my e-books out there! I need a website, seo, email, squeeze page, traffic, graphics, backlinks, merchant accounts, etc... oh my!!!
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  • Why the heck did you have to take away all my delightful fantasies about this business!

    Now I actually have to go DO something to make things happen. And it's YOUR fault!

    Hmmm, I know...this is a TRICK posting isn't it, you're SELLING something. That's what it is. You're a SALESMAN...

    Ok, maybe a little sarcasm there, you're absolutely right. Problem most people have is they don't really get it deep inside. Everyone knows they have to do something to make things happen. They still don't really DO it.

    I know I have a problem with that. Coaching helps though, as it is good to talk to someone who knows, and can guide you through everything.

    Thanks,
    ~Olav

    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Haha, yeah, sorry about that - welcome to the REAL world! :-)

      A salesman, moi? ;-) I am delivering value, giving first and then, sure, if you want to know more then... you get the idea. :-)
  • I think (as a newbie myself) that all is true and the one I think is the hardest for me is not really knowing yet what is the order of projects to focus on.
    2 weeks ago I joined a program to solve just that so... now I'm following the program and just doing first and learn from it...
    hope to break out of the statistics of the 95% lol
  • Because... of kittens, friggin Internet kitties.
  • Thanks for the awesome list Michael. I am so much inspired by the quotes that I am going to refer my list members to this page, so that they can understand what internet marketing is about.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [2] replies
    • Michael,

      I bet most of us newbies are guilty of the vast majority of your points. I know I am. Or at least I was. I've had a couple of these things pointed out before, and have taken action. However, some of your points are new to me and I'm still doing them.

      It makes sense when it's pointed out. Why isn't it stark staring blinking obvious without it having to be pointed out? That's the annoying thing.

      I'm going to copy your pointers onto a printed sheet and pin it up in front of me as a constant reminder of the error of my (former) ways.

      Thank you.

      Best wishes,
      Paul
      • [1] reply
    • Thanks Madhushan, I know they will thank you for it too.

      Yes there's lots of information out there for newbies, but from my experience if they can avoid these "newbie killers" as they get started they will be well on their way.
  • Oh my, guilty as charged. Mine is 1, 2, and 6. I need to put my sunglasses on so shiny objects won't distract me.
  • Banned
    That is a awesome list. The reasons why a newbie fails are already in it. I sure do hope that the newbies follow the advices in here and make some money.
  • Great post mate.

    One of the hardest things about making money online is STAYING FOCUSED. Youtube is such a distraction...

    Chris
    • [1] reply
    • Chris - yes, you're so right - focus is definitely one of the unsung heroes in running an effective online business. Running a tight ship and have a daily to do list that you review before each day can really help. That and banning youtube! ;-)
  • Honestly all I can think right now, is that the Warrior Forum should have social media sharing icons.

    Then this thread would be the I would share everywhere.

    I'll do that manually anyway but having icons would be the BOMB!

    Gone sharing, will contribute later.

    Sergio

    PS. Michael Cheney my man, you keep knocking it out of the park, awesome stuff!
  • I 100% believe and agree with your reason. if only the could stay away from it or get someone that would direct them
    • [1] reply
    • Newbie Killer #XX - Thinking that internet marketing is only about the "internet marketing" niche.
  • Thank you guys - really appreciate your thanks! :-)

    Lance you said "Newbie Killer #XX - Thinking that internet marketing is only about the "internet marketing" niche." - yes SUPERB point, I see it as a test bed and a market you need to graduate from into the REAL world and bigger opportunities ;-)
  • This is where most newbies failed it happen to me. trying to work on more than 1 project at the end achieving nothing or working on a project only to drop it half way through. This best thing is to focus of one project at a time.
    • [1] reply
    • Couldn't agree more Joe, very well said.

      I think that's one of the little-known secrets to success really - just focusing on one key project at a time and devoting all your time and effort to seeing it through.
      • [1] reply
  • Most of the time newbies fail due to lack of focus. There is plenty of info available on this form to help an aspiring internet marketer make his first dollar, yet most warriors don't.
  • This is an awesome post man. "Buy, try, cry, goodbye." Haha i like it
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  • This is such a good thread, members learning from other members is what it is all about. As much as I'd like to add something to this thread, seems like everything has been covered within my knowledge.

    Keep up the good work people, please!
  • I failed when I started online because I lacked in focus ..so my suggestion for newbies is to believe in their work what they do ..don't try too many things at the same time..Just FOCUS FOCUS and FOCUS
  • Wow this is good stuff! This is my first post since I just signed up today. I have been trying to do IM for almost 8 months now and havent made my first penny. I've spent plenty of them and I feel like I've been walking around in a dark shopping mall with my credit card only to find "this" store with the lights on. I can now see what I was working with and guilty of. Problem is this forum is now my new "Shiny Thing". Now I need to check my email and see what other instant riches IM products my former marketeers are promoting.......

    It's funny several of those programs said just sit at home and email this or post office that and they will beat down your door to buy your service or product. Funny thing is no one has called and no one has replied to my emails. So I took Tom Hopkins advice and knocked doors (literally) until I felt better. That little exercise gave me more leads than I have had in the previous 7.5 months.
  • Warriors,
    Thanks for your distribution in this awesome thread.
    Another free report is good for newbie get started in internet marketing is "Why You'll Never Succeed Online" by John Thornhill. It's the great value i have ever read.
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    The Reason Most Newbies Fail Miserably Is...

    If you're a Newbie or have been doing IM for a while and not making the money you want yet then this list will hopefully help you... In my experience (talking to my 100k+ list, over 10 years in internet marketing, $6m+ in sales, millionaire status etc. yawn!) these are the Top 7 "Newbie Killers" i.e. reasons why most Newbies fail... and I want to hear YOUR suggestions, what do YOU think?