You Making Any Money Yet? Passive Income?
One of the common things I see when trying to help people earn money online is that they have been at this for a long time and have yet to breakthrough and earn much money yet. It took me quite a while to get the cash-flow flowing as well way back when I first started.
So, I try and do what I can to shorten the learning curve and help speed up the cash flow for folks when giving advice and whatnot. Here are some of the MAIN road blocks I've found people have that prevents them from succeeding and what to do about it:
#1Copywriting & Conversions:
I'd say, IMO, 1 out of 15 marketers who are NOT making money, are also not good at copywriting and do not focus on conversions at all. They toss up some crappy sales page or squeeze page or sales video and then try to drive a little traffic to it. That never works and then they say things to me like:
I tried PPC with Adcenter and Adwords and it did not work. I lost a lot of money. I also tried solo ads and banner ads and those failed too. So, I really need to figure out how to get MORE traffic!
Listen, the problem is not traffic. And, let's repeat this over and over so it's tattooed firmly in your mind:
The problem is conversions!
The problem is conversions!
The problem is conversions!
The problem is conversions!
The problem is conversions!
The problem is conversions!
The problem is conversions!
The problem is conversions!
The problem is not usually traffic, it's often conversions. HOWEVER... I know the feeling because I often am gun shy about traffic myself. There's like some mental scar there in my mind and even though I've generated millions online, I'M STILL GUN SHY AT TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFIC!
That's because of the scars from the past. So, I know very well the feeling and thoughts myself. I do. I promise. However, the fact remains, traffic is often easy. Conversions are the tough part.
And, the one thing most people run into is that they give up "3 feet from gold"... What I mean is they start off going down the "conversions" pathway, focusing on their copy and all, only to quit right before they were about to strike gold.
If only they would have STUCK to that sales funnel and their copy tweaking, they would have reached a point where their stuff converts. Then, if paying for traffic, they would have "cracked the code" and it's game over, success! Finally!
A common example of what I see from people goes something like this:
I have been focusing on my sales-letter Eric! I've been focusing on it for 40 days and 40 nights and I've put my heart and soul into it. It's still NOT converting! HELP!!
Sound familiar at all? Well, then I take a look at the salesletter and here's my response that often goes something like this:
I dont see any testimonials, you should get some. The headline does not really make sense. You should add your name and even a picture of yourself because people like to buy from people and your name is nowhere to be found. They buy from those they "know, like and trust" and how can they trust a blind sales letter from a no named individual?
I also would add a sub-headline. I'd divide up your mega-long, bulky paragraphs into smaller paragraphs because they are easier to read. I'd add some PS's too. You should also correct that second sub-headline on your body copy because it does not make sense. I'd add a bonus or two... and think about adding a really creative, bold, guarantee!
Lastly, you are not unique or different. Your headline says, "how to make money online" and that's not specific or unique enough. It should be "how to make money online with Amazon or Ebay or Affiliate Marketing with A secret resource"... or something that is a differential point or unique. You have to rise above the noise. You are not rising above the noise, you're blending in with the noise... and badly.
Oh, and you need to add some credibility... why would they believe you? You need credibility or authority or even celebrity appeal and that can easily be manufactured, like most marketers do.
My point is that they HAVE NOT put their heart and soul into that sales letter, they've barely even tried. They did not work 40 days and 40 nights at all, not even close. Heck, probably more like 40 minutes versus 40 days.
AND, this is with them knowing they are not professional copywriters or successful marketers. They are attempting to write the copy and make a fortune themselves, by writing the copy themselves, which is the #1 MAIN KEY to earning revenue online! Its not traffic.
So, what happens, normally, is that person sends some traffic and it does not convert. They get frustrated (naturally) and either quit and look for some new "business opportunity" (otherwise known popularly as "shiny objects") or they try something else.
But, if they just stuck to that offer and that copy and made it better and better, testing and tweaking and tracking it, over and over, they'd end up profiting and making big bucks. But it's natural to want to quit in our microwave society of instant gratification.
I do the same things at times and have to tell myself to freaking focus too! We all do. And, every million dollar marketer I have ever known, focused heavily on their conversions (NON-STOP) and even to recreate, switch-up, tweak and change their old copy (that stopped working) years later, to get it to work yet again!
What to do:
-- realize this is a business, not pretend business, not a hobby or entertainment, it's a business and you are not going to magically stumble upon some hidden scheme that was mysteriously chosen and sent to you from the mystical realm of space. That magic button did not mystically find you, it was emailed to you! This is a business and requires your whole heart and soul to breakthrough.
-- realize that if you are not a copywriter and do not study it, do not practice it daily, that you are not good at it yet and probably need a lot of help... or practice... to make it pop. You'd be better off focusing on promoting someone Else's offer that is converting. However, it's much easier to make a lot of money as a product owner than just an affiliate IMO. You have more control of your own products and you can offer up-sells, which makes campaigns much-much more profitable for you.
-- realize there's plenty of people out there who can help you. Get critiques often, ask for opinions often, ask. That word "Ask" is very important in business.
-- realize that if you invest in a copywriter that the game is not over there. You'll still have to tweak and focus on your copy for a long time to come. Even if that copywriter hits a grand slam right out of the gates (rare), eventually that copy will need some more help and tweaking. See? Copywriting and focus on conversions never stops.
-- realize that true professional copywriters are expensive and their time is quite valuable, but they are people too and there are a lot of copywriters out there eagerly wanting "work". If more marketers "got it" in this game, those copywriters would be booming, but since the flood of "schemes" and "magic buttons" stormed our market here, way too many marketers are NOT focused or do NOT understand the true power of copywriting.
-- start small on traffic and realize if you fail the first day, do not quit and it's not the end of the game, only the beginning. Keep tweaking your copy and conversions until that baby converts well and the traffic is dialed in.
-- the quicker you start focusing on copywriting, persuasion, sales and conversions, the quicker you'll make money. Most will spin their wheels for the next 3 years, wasting their time and money chasing magic buttons, getting nowhere close to big bucks. They'll continue doing that for years and years.
You, be smarter than that. Start now. Start focusing on copy now and if you stick to that, you'll make money faster than most of this market ever will. You'll quickly be WAY ahead of the game even if you read ONE BOOK on copywriting or conversions. After a month of study, you'll be so far ahead of most in this market it's not even funny.
If you practice writing copy yourself, over and over again, you'll blow everyone away and this business will start to become clear and easier. You'll leave everyone else in the dust, besides us marketers who "get it".
So, get it.
And rock on.
~Eric Louviere
Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)