The 3 Best Investments I've Ever Made in my Internet Marketing Business

51 replies
Hey Warriors,

I notice a lot of things on this forum and one of the biggest things I notice is that people don't think of things in terms of "investments, business builders, and tools" but rather "costs, traffic generators, and software."

Well, for starters, that isn't successful thinking. To those who might be hurt by that, I'm sorry. However, there's no BS in that statement.

If you think about spending 20 bucks a month for an autoresponder or 7 dollars an article as a "cost," you will not spend the money or rationalize not spending it.

Think of it as an investment and you'll flourish.

Now...with that being said, I wanna share with you my 3 greatest investments for my internet marketing business.

1. My Aweber Account

I've spent hundreds paying for this and have made it back over and over. Having a list allows you to complete market research, sales on demand, testing new ideas, and many other things.

For 20 bucks a month, you can get a great account with Aweber. I highly recommend this to ANY business person online. Having an active list is what separates the big businesses from the small businesses/hobbyists.

2. My article writing team

I've spent almost a thousand dollars on articles in various niches. I've also provided PLR as source content to my writing team. I submit the articles (thinking of outsourcing but haven't found someone who is good yet) but they produce them.

They've saved me 20-25 hrs of time per month which has allowed me to learn new traffic strategies and create my products while still growing my business.

3. My Coaching Sessions with Jimmy D. Brown and Sean Mize

This is by far my biggest investment in my business. I've spent THOUSANDS with these guys and earned that back in saved time and profits big time.

You have to spend it to make it. These guys have done it all and are making millions. Spending 1k or 500 bucks to talk with them and learn is definitely worth it. The key is being prepared for it.

For a newbie who doesn't know how to create a website, this is over your head. But if you have a website and you've done something online...invest in the high end coaching programs. Even if they are from emails and not phone or person/person type coaching, they are still worth it.

You're buying time with successful people. This is absolutely priceless.


Well hopefully you take these ideas and figure out a way to implement them in your business.

IN SUMMARY

1. Think of spending money as an "investment" not a "cost"

2. Build a solid team of people in areas you want to outsource (article production/submission and website design are 2 great starting points)

3. Get coaching from successful people who you like AND are successful. That is key numero uno for this post


Cheers,

Brad Spencer
#business #internet #investments #made #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author AndyBlackSEO
    I definately agree with you their Brad. You do have to spend it to make it. Money invested back into your business wisely can enable you to reap further rewards.

    I haven't paid for coaching in the past, but throughout my online journey there has been one or two people who are good at what they do and have steered me in the right direction.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      Originally Posted by AndyBlackSEO View Post

      I definately agree with you their Brad. You do have to spend it to make it. Money invested back into your business wisely can enable you to reap further rewards.

      I haven't paid for coaching in the past, but throughout my online journey there has been one or two people who are good at what they do and have steered me in the right direction.
      Andy,

      I definitely think you should look for the high-end coaching. The key here is to work through the lower priced/free products before investing in the high end stuff (by high end I mean over $197 level).

      It is just world changing. When you are speaking to someone who makes 2 million dollars+ a year from coaching, consulting, and product creation, it is just an energy boost. Especially when you see the enormous plethora of ideas out there.

      There are good stuff here on the forum. My first "coaching" experience was here years ago. I decided to take a risk and it was the best risk I ever took.

      Hope that inspires you to look into coaching. I recommend Sean Mize (one of the biggest article marketers on EZA...look him up) or Jimmy D. Brown (speaks for himself but he is amazing).

      I've had results with these guys so that's my opinion.

      Cheers,

      Brad
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
    without a doubt: my library of various books by dan kennedy, joe sugarman, etc.

    Others: jeff walkers PLF, aweber, webhosting, camtasia, frank kerns free videos prior to the first MC launch. I just got affiliate elite - so far I'm thinking it's a keeper.
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    -Jason

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    • Profile picture of the author Joel Chue
      Hi Brad,

      Great post. I never knew Sean Mize offered coaching...
      I've been noticing him on EA, interesting things he's doing on EA. = )

      Is he a fellow Warrior?

      I can't think of 3 best investments now but my BEST has to be

      Outsourcing. I outsource whenever I could... and this is always my best investment. I outsource article writing, content research, graphics...

      the only thing I focus on is usually the copywriting and emails etc...
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      • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
        Joel,

        Yea his coaching is his main biz. He teaches people how to create high end coaching programs (10-15k type things).

        I didn't do that but I spent a good amount on coaching and his products. They work and he is VERY smart.

        He has a weekly phone conference coaching program that gets 40-50 people at 400 bucks a pop... Pretty cool!

        Cheers,

        Brad Spencer


        PS- Outsourcing rocks doesn't it




        Originally Posted by Joel Chue View Post

        Hi Brad,

        Great post. I never knew Sean Mize offered coaching...
        I've been noticing him on EA, interesting things he's doing on EA. = )

        Is he a fellow Warrior?

        I can't think of 3 best investments now but my BEST has to be

        Outsourcing. I outsource whenever I could... and this is always my best investment. I outsource article writing, content research, graphics...

        the only thing I focus on is usually the copywriting and emails etc...
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        • Profile picture of the author Joel Chue
          Thanks for the info Brad.

          Sending you a PM.

          Joel

          Originally Posted by Brad Spencer View Post

          Joel,

          Yea his coaching is his main biz. He teaches people how to create high end coaching programs (10-15k type things).

          I didn't do that but I spent a good amount on coaching and his products. They work and he is VERY smart.

          He has a weekly phone conference coaching program that gets 40-50 people at 400 bucks a pop... Pretty cool!

          Cheers,

          Brad Spencer


          PS- Outsourcing rocks doesn't it
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    • Profile picture of the author jasonl70
      Originally Posted by Brad Spencer View Post

      How do you use Camtasia in your business?

      Cheers,

      Brad Spencer
      making videos of course
      videos for reviews, videos for squeeze pages, etc.. I just got it recently.
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  • Profile picture of the author agni
    Brad,
    Thanks for sharing the three best investments you made. It is true that spending money is to be considered as an investment on yourself and on the business. I would add that focused action is the crucial success element (though it goes without saying!). Agreed that high end coaching is the vital differentiating factor. But for many new comers, affording high end coaching is not possible at least during their initial stage.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      I understand the practical elements of not being able to afford something.

      But let me ask you this question. If you are a new internet marketer but you're an expert at say "software design for the I-Phone" then you've got a market.

      Here's a sample business you could create.

      1. Initial ebook on tricking out your I-Phone--- Free

      2. Upsell after the opt-in to "The Ultimate I-Phone Guide"- $27

      3. Interviews with people who've used their I-Phone in Cool Ways- $27 monthly membership

      4. Ebook on designing your own I-Phone App- $97 product.

      5. The big icing on the cake- high end coaching- walking people through creating their first app- $1,000.

      Now, if you could create a list of 1,000 people, don't you think it stands to reason at least one of those has 1k to spend to learn how to create an I-Phone App?


      "Affording" is a poverty mentality...don't focus on it. It is real and I understand that. But create something so that mindset doesn't need to exist.

      You know what I mean?

      Cheers,

      Brad Spencer




      Originally Posted by agni View Post

      Brad,
      Thanks for sharing the three best investments you made. It is true that spending money is to be considered as an investment on yourself and on the business. I would add that focused action is the crucial success element (though it goes without saying!). Agreed that high end coaching is the vital differentiating factor. But for many new comers, affording high end coaching is not possible at least during their initial stage.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kris Turner
    I agree with the AWeber one. I hadn't even really considered it that way until your post. But there's not much else in IM that is such great value for money, when you consider what it does for your business.

    I'd also include Product Launch Formula 2 and Altitude as some of the best investments I've made.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      Originally Posted by Alex Taylor View Post

      I agree with the AWeber one. I hadn't even really considered it that way until your post. But there's not much else in IM that is such great value for money, when you consider what it does for your business.

      I'd also include Product Launch Formula 2 and Altitude as some of the best investments I've made.

      I've heard a lot about Altitude. That is Eban Pagan's program right? Why was it one of your better investments?

      Cheers,

      Brad Spencer
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      • Profile picture of the author Kris Turner
        Originally Posted by Brad Spencer View Post

        I've heard a lot about Altitude. That is Eban Pagan's program right? Why was it one of your better investments?

        Cheers,

        Brad Spencer
        It covers the typical stuff very well (copywriting, design for sales, traffic generation, persuasion etc.), but it also covers things you don't get in most other courses: how to create systems in your business that will allow fast growth without hitting ceilings, how to hire people, the mindsets needed for massive successs, and lots more.

        It's less about tricks and techniques you can use for instant results (you can find those elsewhere, including this forum), and more about the strategies you need to use for long-term success and growth.

        That was refreshing. It played a big part in taking me from a "hobby" mindset to a "business" mindset.

        Everything Eben Pagan does blows me away. To me, he's in a class of his own when it comes to teaching online marketing and business building.
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        • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
          You raise a huge issue when you refer to the "hobby vs. business" mindset.

          That is definitely what I was getting at. People come to WF, make a few posts, and wonder why they aren't getting the traffic they deserve.

          If you don't have a plan for your business, then you WILL fail. Yes I said, FAIL! It is 100% certain. It might take a while or you might fail by lack of momentum (you quit b/c you don't see results).

          This raises another concern/pet peeve of mine. In some of my emails from readers, I get the issue of "why isn't this happening" and then I always respond with "what are you doing every day to track, improve, and increase" your traffic, sales, conversions, etc (insert many things here).

          Usually, I get "I don't have a list, blog, software, etc"

          This is depressing because people are expecting a Sequoia tree to grow without planting a seed first and nurturing it...


          C'est la vie,

          Brad Spencer





          Originally Posted by Alex Taylor View Post

          It covers the typical stuff very well (copywriting, design for sales, traffic generation, persuasion etc.), but it also covers things you don't get in most other courses: how to create systems in your business that will allow fast growth without hitting ceilings, how to hire people, the mindsets needed for massive successs, and lots more.

          It's less about tricks and techniques you can use for instant results (you can find those elsewhere, including this forum), and more about the strategies you need to use for long-term success and growth.

          That was refreshing. It played a big part in taking me from a "hobby" mindset to a "business" mindset.

          Everything Eben Pagan does blows me away. To me, he's in a class of his own when it comes to teaching online marketing and business building.
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  • Profile picture of the author JonathanBoettcher
    Traffic Geyser....
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  • Profile picture of the author mywebwork
    Originally Posted by Brad Spencer View Post

    Hey Warriors,

    I notice a lot of things on this forum and one of the biggest things I notice is that people don't think of things in terms of "investments, business builders, and tools" but rather "costs, traffic generators, and software."

    Well, for starters, that isn't successful thinking. To those who might be hurt by that, I'm sorry. However, there's no BS in that statement.
    Brad is correct.

    A lot of people don't treat Internet Marketing as a "real" business. The fact that you can do it in your kitchen in your shorts often makes one forget that you're running a business that needs to be taken seriously to be successful.

    How many people have an actual Business Plan? How many approach a new niche and first make a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis to see if it's a good market to get into?

    Thinking of your "costs" as investments is just one step to taking your Internet Marketing business seriously. And its a good start.

    Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author CurtisN
    Only 2 off the top of my head:

    1) Aweber account

    2) Traffic Uncut, which is a traffic course by Richard Legg. This one is for two reasons: one, I learned a lot about traffic generation and SEO. Two, it was a comprehensive course, not a pile of ebooks masquerading as a course.

    Too many people expect to buy some of the products that they see promoted inside their inboxes and learn from them. Obviously some products are better than others, but I honestly believe that to achieve any real success, you need to either purchase a course or you need some kind of personal training.

    Curtis
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      I definitely agree with you about the issue of "ebooks masquerading as a course."

      I've bought tons of courses over the years and most are just compilations rather than holistic approaches to the topic of the course. Not good.

      2 marketers who I've experienced that offer GREAT courses are Sean Mize and Jimmy D. Brown. I've never regretted anything I've purchased or received and they've never been a waste of my time.

      Just thought I'd suggest that to you!

      Cheers,

      Brad Spencer





      Originally Posted by CurtisN View Post

      Only 2 off the top of my head:

      1) Aweber account

      2) Traffic Uncut, which is a traffic course by Richard Legg. This one is for two reasons: one, I learned a lot about traffic generation and SEO. Two, it was a comprehensive course, not a pile of ebooks masquerading as a course.

      Too many people expect to buy some of the products that they see promoted inside their inboxes and learn from them. Obviously some products are better than others, but I honestly believe that to achieve any real success, you need to either purchase a course or you need some kind of personal training.

      Curtis
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  • Profile picture of the author VegasGreg
    In addition to some of the investments above, I would add:
    • Developer's license for the Revolution (WP) Themes [/*]
    • Membership Script[/*]
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    Greg Schueler - Wordpress Fanatic... Living The Offline Marketing Dream...

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  • Profile picture of the author bingbong
    hi brad,

    how did you get on with your business considering you invest helluva lots of money. did you see any improvement in your business or just starting building your business.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      Originally Posted by bingbong View Post

      hi brad,

      how did you get on with your business considering you invest helluva lots of money. did you see any improvement in your business or just starting building your business.

      For starters, you have to spend it to make it. That was a profound realization. In the beginning I was running a loss b/c I was investing more into my business (coaching, traffic, articles, etc.) than I was taking in.

      Most businesses don't start making cash flow til later. This isn't perfect but I believe you have to seriously invest EVERYTHING you have (for cashless people, this is effort and frustration) into building your business. It has to dominate your life and spare time. There is no "I'll work 2 hrs after work" when you can use your lunch hour and car trips to listen to audios or write an email, etc. You have to make it happen.

      That being said, once I started investing in my business and creating relationships, I started making money with affiliate marketing. That is where most of my income comes from at the moment. I've switched gears to product creation since I noticed that a lot of my "how to do something" searches didn't give me what I wanted. So, I'm creating that.

      Does that answer your question?

      Cheers,

      Brad Spencer
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Killian
    Good post Brad

    Funny, not long ago, I was wondering if Sean was still around, use to be on a few of his lists, I must have unsubed. Ironically though, just a couple days ago I get a direct mail piece from him

    That is one powerful thing I've learned over the years, I agree, you do need to invest in your business for it to really grow. Whether it be tools or coaching. Doing it on your own or only for "free" doesn't usually get you that far, least not as far as you "could".
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      Originally Posted by Ron Killian View Post

      Good post Brad

      Funny, not long ago, I was wondering if Sean was still around, use to be on a few of his lists, I must have unsubed. Ironically though, just a couple days ago I get a direct mail piece from him

      That is one powerful thing I've learned over the years, I agree, you do need to invest in your business for it to really grow. Whether it be tools or coaching. Doing it on your own or only for "free" doesn't usually get you that far, least not as far as you "could".

      The problem with sticking to the "free" mentality is that it HOLDS YOU BACK....

      I mean think about it. You can only write so many articles. Much more than 3-5 a day and you're exhausted mentally. Then you have to test pages, write emails, etc. If you're mentally tired, then you will neglect other areas.

      Just by outsourcing article marketing, you can save so many hours of time and stress and these are low value tasks.

      Sean does it and he's making 15k+ a month.

      Ironically "free" means "chained to low income slavery" in the IM world. I'm sorry if some find that offensive but it really is true.

      Cheers,

      Brad Spencer
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      • Profile picture of the author Ron Killian
        Originally Posted by Brad Spencer View Post

        The problem with sticking to the "free" mentality is that it HOLDS YOU BACK....

        I mean think about it. You can only write so many articles. Much more than 3-5 a day and you're exhausted mentally. Then you have to test pages, write emails, etc. If you're mentally tired, then you will neglect other areas.

        Just by outsourcing article marketing, you can save so many hours of time and stress and these are low value tasks.

        Sean does it and he's making 15k+ a month.

        Ironically "free" means "chained to low income slavery" in the IM world. I'm sorry if some find that offensive but it really is true.

        Cheers,

        Brad Spencer
        You don't have to tell me, I was agreeing with you

        I tried the "free" way for many years. While I made good money, I realized over the years I could be making so much more.

        The thing is, you don't have to spend a ton of money. Instead of social book marking by hand, you could invest in a script or pay a submit service. Same for RSS submitting, ect, ect. Just a couple examples that most could relate to.

        I was one of those people that wasted so much time doing things by hand that could be automated.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Stigson
    I made my first few hundred dollars, then I re-invested it into more and more and more and more... It's a 'growing spiral' instead of a down-going spiral... Get your money to work for you in the right areas of your business.

    Must haves, hosting, autoresponder...

    Then you need to invest the rest in yourself... to take action, to do on a daily basis. To keep going.

    The only investment you don't get back is time!

    - Chris
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    • Profile picture of the author Ron Killian
      Originally Posted by Chris Stigson View Post


      The only investment you don't get back is time!

      - Chris
      Oh, that is so it! If people just get and understand that part.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      Originally Posted by Chris Stigson View Post

      The only investment you don't get back is time!

      - Chris
      This is probably the best quote I've ever seen on Warrior Forum!

      Cheers to that! *Beer clinks in the background *

      Brad Spencer
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      • Profile picture of the author milkyway
        Brad and everybody else,

        thanks for this informative thread. I can relate to thinking of spending money as an investement. However, as somebody who is relatively new to running an online business (or any business at all, for that matter), I sometimes have trouble to decide what is a valuable investment for me and what isn't.

        AWeber seems to be a pretty easy case... But things come up like WSO's and other things that I don't need right now, but which cover a problem that I will most likely have to deal with in the next few months.

        Given that these are serious offers, not scam, how do the more experienced guys deal with this? Invest money in everything that you will, most probably, eventually need? Invest money in everything that sounds remotely interesting and let yourself be inspired, even if it wasn't covered by your initial plan? Invest money only in things that you need right there and then? Any other strategies?

        milkyway
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        • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
          I've done both...meaning buy something and be inspired=change plans and also gone and searched for things related specifically to my strategy.

          The basics (site, hosting, autoresponder, product, etc) are obvious investments. The key is to drill down and go in and create your strategy.

          Do you wanna run membership sites? Then get a software system or do a fixed term membership (content delivered by your autoresponder).

          Do you wanna create products? Learn outsourcing and stuff like that.

          Email marketing?

          PPC?

          You get the idea.

          The thing is you need to plan specifically where you're going (or wanna go) and work backwards. Most things you can learn for free. There is NO product out there that will truly be like actually DOING what you're going after. So get out there, get the basics for free, and then do it and figure it out. You'll learn more that way.

          If you're FOCUSING on something then buy a product (I personally don't buy products under 47 dollars now b/c that is usually the threshold I've found to be my experience level on new areas...I know the basics on a ton of things and 7 dollar crap doesn't cut it anymore).

          Does this help you?

          Cheers,

          Brad Spencer

          Originally Posted by milkyway View Post

          Brad and everybody else,

          thanks for this informative thread. I can relate to thinking of spending money as an investement. However, as somebody who is relatively new to running an online business (or any business at all, for that matter), I sometimes have trouble to decide what is a valuable investment for me and what isn't.

          AWeber seems to be a pretty easy case... But things come up like WSO's and other things that I don't need right now, but which cover a problem that I will most likely have to deal with in the next few months.

          Given that these are serious offers, not scam, how do the more experienced guys deal with this? Invest money in everything that you will, most probably, eventually need? Invest money in everything that sounds remotely interesting and let yourself be inspired, even if it wasn't covered by your initial plan? Invest money only in things that you need right there and then? Any other strategies?

          milkyway
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          • Profile picture of the author milkyway
            Brad,

            yes, this helps -- thanks. Set me back on track...

            I actually have a plan and managed to stick to it through a lot of internet marketing related information. But lately, I started to browse in the Warrior Forum, and in particular, some of the WSO are extremely tempting. And suddenly everything seems to be related to my problems...

            Could it be that you guys are just writing too good a sales copy?

            Cheers,

            milkyway
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            • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
              Haha, good sales copy is designed to be tempting.

              That is why you shouldn't buy unless YOU are in control. This is why people buy tons of products b/c they don't plan what they are doing and are SEDUCED by the copy.

              Selling stuff is good for us...but as a community I feel that we need to be responsible in selling stuff. It is important to be honest, upfront, and no bullshit.

              I will be happy to tell someone not to buy b/c the most valuable thing I can do is PREVENT someone from buying one of my products IF...that means my reputation is improved and he decides at a future date to maybe buy one or TWO of my products (or maybe coaching in the future).

              Responsibility prevents me from gaining a quick sale...and not forgoing much larger future profits.

              I rest my case

              Cheers,

              Brad





              Originally Posted by milkyway View Post

              Brad,

              yes, this helps -- thanks. Set me back on track...

              I actually have a plan and managed to stick to it through a lot of internet marketing related information. But lately, I started to browse in the Warrior Forum, and in particular, some of the WSO are extremely tempting. And suddenly everything seems to be related to my problems...

              Could it be that you guys are just writing too good a sales copy?

              Cheers,

              milkyway
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          • Profile picture of the author annabanks
            Originally Posted by Brad Spencer View Post

            I've done both...meaning buy something and be inspired=change plans and also gone and searched for things related specifically to my strategy.

            The basics (site, hosting, autoresponder, product, etc) are obvious investments. The key is to drill down and go in and create your strategy.

            Do you wanna run membership sites? Then get a software system or do a fixed term membership (content delivered by your autoresponder).

            Do you wanna create products? Learn outsourcing and stuff like that.

            Email marketing?

            PPC?

            You get the idea.

            The thing is you need to plan specifically where you're going (or wanna go) and work backwards. Most things you can learn for free. There is NO product out there that will truly be like actually DOING what you're going after. So get out there, get the basics for free, and then do it and figure it out. You'll learn more that way.

            If you're FOCUSING on something then buy a product (I personally don't buy products under 47 dollars now b/c that is usually the threshold I've found to be my experience level on new areas...I know the basics on a ton of things and 7 dollar crap doesn't cut it anymore).

            Does this help you?

            Cheers,

            Brad Spencer
            Hi Brad,

            I'm very interested in outsourcing. I've done so many things "on my own" until I'm burned out! I'm reading, "The 4-Hour Workweek", by Timothy Ferriss. I am committed to build a team of quality people.

            How does one learn outsourcing, the right way?

            Cheers to you,

            Anna Banks
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            • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
              Outsourcing is best accomplished by taking your strategic plan (your month goals broken into weekly lists which is built into daily tasks.

              For me, I outsource article marketing/submission. That will save me 20-25 hours a month. I can then focus more time on different things.

              That is the best bet for starting out.

              This is probably the easiest holistic approach. Find the tasks that are routine and then design a way you want them done and give the directions to someone else.

              Cheers,

              Brad



              Originally Posted by annabanks View Post

              Hi Brad,

              I'm very interested in outsourcing. I've done so many things "on my own" until I'm burned out! I'm reading, "The 4-Hour Workweek", by Timothy Ferriss. I am committed to build a team of quality people.

              How does one learn outsourcing, the right way?

              Cheers to you,

              Anna Banks
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  • Profile picture of the author runfast
    Hey Brad thanks for the tip. I'm new here at WF.
    Do you guys want to know why Brad is successful?
    1. He isn't scared of taking risks.
    2. He's aware that he doesn't know everything so he seeks those that do (coaching).
    3. He shares it with others
    Here's my offline success story.
    I own 2 enclosed trailers. Size is 7ft x 20ft. UHaul doesn't own anything this large. I rent them for $35 per day. One trailer averages $500 per month. With the recent recession and everyone foreclosing and moving to another home the rental has really jumped. I started 2 years ago with this and it's been making my mortage payments.

    It doesn't matter if its online or offline. Take risks, ask for advise, and share it with others!
    Signature

    If Life gives you Lemons...make Lemonade!

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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      Thanks for your compliments. Your business is awesome. Whoever thought renting 2 trailers would pay a mortgage payment?

      Just goes to show that business doesn't have to be hard or simple.

      Cheers,

      Brad




      Originally Posted by runfast View Post

      Hey Brad thanks for the tip. I'm new here at WF.
      Do you guys want to know why Brad is successful?
      1. He isn't scared of taking risks.
      2. He's aware that he doesn't know everything so he seeks those that do (coaching).
      3. He shares it with others
      Here's my offline success story.
      I own 2 enclosed trailers. Size is 7ft x 20ft. UHaul doesn't own anything this large. I rent them for $35 per day. One trailer averages $500 per month. With the recent recession and everyone foreclosing and moving to another home the rental has really jumped. I started 2 years ago with this and it's been making my mortage payments.

      It doesn't matter if its online or offline. Take risks, ask for advise, and share it with others!
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  • Profile picture of the author lemonarian
    My best investment... my time spent taking action. Experience is the only real teacher IMO.

    Other than that, in Alex Goad's Players With Money last year, that's when things really started clicking for me, and I got to know Alex too I owe a lot to that dude.

    Linus
    Signature

    * Do You REALLY Need A Million Bucks?
    (Three-part crash-course in how to build a "minimalist" business online)

    * My "fix-all" solution to ANY marketing problem
    (whether you don't even have a website... or you're running a multi-million biz)

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  • Profile picture of the author annabanks
    Hi,

    I am new to Warrior Forum. I am a life and career transition facilitator looking to come into the 21st century, using IM strategies. In my first career as an accountant, I successfully used "time intensive" article marketing and radio in a more traditional environment.

    The IM strategies are very exciting and the learning seems "so hit and miss". I have a "Blogger blog", but would love to create my own hosted WP website, auto-responder service, etc.

    What advice would you give a newbie Internet marketer transitioning from a world of traditional off-line marketing?

    Thanks, in advance, for your help.

    Anna
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      A newbie needs to have a few things.

      1. A strategy

      2. An autoresponder

      3. A site

      4. Desire to take action and learn.

      I know this is semi-relevant but if you're wanting advice it might be better to start a new thread. I understand why you'd ask and I'm happy to help you out...it might get you more responses to start your own thread so people are focused on your question exactly.

      Feel free to PM me!

      Cheers,

      Brad



      Originally Posted by annabanks View Post

      Hi,

      I am new to Warrior Forum. I am a life and career transition facilitator looking to come into the 21st century, using IM strategies. In my first career as an accountant, I successfully used "time intensive" article marketing and radio in a more traditional environment.

      The IM strategies are very exciting and the learning seems "so hit and miss". I have a "Blogger blog", but would love to create my own hosted WP website, auto-responder service, etc.

      What advice would you give a newbie Internet marketer transitioning from a world of traditional off-line marketing?

      Thanks, in advance, for your help.

      Anna
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      • Profile picture of the author annabanks
        Originally Posted by Brad Spencer View Post

        A newbie needs to have a few things.

        1. A strategy

        2. An autoresponder

        3. A site

        4. Desire to take action and learn.

        I know this is semi-relevant but if you're wanting advice it might be better to start a new thread. I understand why you'd ask and I'm happy to help you out...it might get you more responses to start your own thread so people are focused on your question exactly.

        Feel free to PM me!

        Cheers,

        Brad

        Brad,

        Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I'm still trying to understand the "lay of the land" on Warrior Forum. Because I'm new, there are restriction on where one can post a comment or question.

        Anna

        P.S. I'm creating a strategy, signed up with Aweber, still working on a website, and the reason I'm asking questions in the Warrior Forum is because I really want to learn and take the needed action. Thanks again.
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        • Profile picture of the author W.P. Allen
          Does anyone have any big investments that have paid off in their business?

          Cheers,

          Brad Spencer
          I've spent thousands on outsourcing (content creation, SEO, software, etc.) and it has paid off in spades!
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          • Profile picture of the author milkyway
            This thread has been incredibly inspiring -- I just saved it for re-reading on days when I doubt the sense of what I'm doing...

            This thread should be made a sticky
            There is a thread called "New -- Read This!" at the top of the Main Internet Marketing Discussion Forum which contains links to various interesting and inspiring threads. I think this one would fit there very well. Does anybody happen to know how I can suggest this? (I'm afraid I can't send PMs yet)

            Thanks to everybody for sharing,

            milkyway
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          • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
            Originally Posted by hst151975 View Post

            I've spent thousands on outsourcing (content creation, SEO, software, etc.) and it has paid off in spades!
            I outsource all content creation and link-building. Everything else its just a one man show: i design, code, tweak, manage my small lists, etc

            But the time saving only in link-building campaigns its huge. I clearly understand why so many people outsource almost everything!

            Fernando
            Signature
            People make good money selling to the rich. But the rich got rich selling to the masses.
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            • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
              Like I say, you have to focus on business building activities. Article writing is great but it is very time-inefficient if you're running a major company (or want to in the future).

              Have you ever thought of outsourcing your coding and tweaking? Imagine if you could focus solely on list building and creating upsells, cross-sells, One Time Offers (OTOs), and home study courses?

              Talk about a major increase in monthly income!!!

              Get thinking

              Cheers,

              Brad Spencer



              Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso View Post

              I outsource all content creation and link-building. Everything else its just a one man show: i design, code, tweak, manage my small lists, etc

              But the time saving only in link-building campaigns its huge. I clearly understand why so many people outsource almost everything!

              Fernando
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  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    mine are probably, hosting, auto responder, and internet connection.....

    these 3 things pay for everything I own..

    yeah you can use free services, but that should only be temporary until you can afford it...
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Molano
    This thread should be made a sticky (without the Jimmy D. Brown and Sean Mize promotion, however good they may be and even if it was not intended).

    Brad, you are dead on about the investment, reinvestment and business mentality. I fully agree with you.

    As for my best investments (rough estimate):

    Content Creation: $10k
    Search Engine Optimization: $5k
    Direct Response Copywriting: $15k
    GetResponse Account: $87 / 6 Months
    Testing/Tweaking/Tracking: $3k
    My Business Model: Priceless

    For everything else there is MasterCard.

    I know a lot of people will think: "Wow, this guy has spent a lot of money, what a waste."

    Wrong. I have invested and reinvested a lot of money, with a huge return over what I have invested.
    Signature
    Como Ganar Dinero Por Internet - Spanish Make Money Online Site

    Daniel Molano
    - LinkedIn Profile
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      A very nice compliment saying that it should be made sticky. I appreciate that.

      I just say who my mentors are by mentioning Sean and Jimmy. Both have done different things and I've spent over 1k with each of them...easily worth what I spent as well. My ROI is infinite b/c it changed my perspective forever.

      I'm curious though on how you spent 3k testing and tweaking. Did you have someone uploading and managing your split tests?

      I'm glad someone else got on here and was ballsy enough to share their numbers. I've not spent as much as you but I can definitely see myself doing that in the upcoming months. Lots of cool projects coming up

      Best Wishes!

      Brad Spencer



      Originally Posted by Daniel Molano View Post

      This thread should be made a sticky (without the Jimmy D. Brown and Sean Mize promotion, however good they may be and even if it was not intended).

      Brad, you are dead on about the investment, reinvestment and business mentality. I fully agree with you.

      As for my best investments (rough estimate):

      Content Creation: $10k
      Search Engine Optimization: $5k
      Direct Response Copywriting: $15k
      GetResponse Account: $87 / 6 Months
      Testing/Tweaking/Tracking: $3k
      My Business Model: Priceless

      For everything else there is MasterCard.

      I know you will probably think: "Wow, this kid has spent a lot of money, what a waste"

      Wrong. I have invested and reinvested a lot of money, with a huge return over what I have invested.
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  • Profile picture of the author locke
    So best investments i'm hearing include :

    1.) Web Hosting
    2.) Auto Responder i.e. (Getresponse or Aweber? Which one is better?)
    3.) Coaching/Training/Ebooks and Courses
    4.) Outsourcing Articles / Research / SEO
    5.) Article Marketing / Submission
    6.) Social Bookmarking

    What other things am I missing here? In regard to email marketing w/aweber or getresponse when launching a new venture is it smart to get a mailing list going from step one or is it a good idea to wait till traffic builds to a level that is respectable i.e. 250/visitors per day?

    Selling products vs affiliate marketing? I've been having trouble finding the time to create these IM products, has anyone ever had good experience outsourcing to other countries via craigslist in regard to content creation... any recommendations of service providers that could crank out a quality product at an affordable price i.e. researchers/writers... just trying to put it all together! this is a great thread!
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    • Profile picture of the author Brad Spencer
      To answer your first question...

      You should be building a list from Day 0 (in other words...have your list building system set up before traffic comes in).

      This will help you b/c once you have trafffic coming in, you don't want to lose it forever (likely unless you collect contact info)

      Content creation is an art and therefore you need an artist...

      I'd be skeptical of hiring someone off craigslist unless they have a site w/ samples and testimonials (key requirement is that you must be able to ask these clients questions...only fair).

      I'd head over to Elance and find someone once you have an outline created along with specific requirements. If you bid on a project, follow through on paying these people b/c you'll build a great reputation that way. Freelancers love working for ppl who pay ontime and as agreed upon.

      I'm glad you find this post good. That was my goal a few days ago when I posted this info. It's important to think like a business and outsourcing is DEFINITELY a "business" mindset!

      Oh, and by the way, you always have time...the key is choosing to spend it online. This is a common excuse and I'm still guilty of it at times. However, you ALWAYS can find time...it just usually comes at a cost. But so does everything...

      Cheers,

      Brad



      Originally Posted by locke View Post

      So best investments i'm hearing include :

      1.) Web Hosting
      2.) Auto Responder i.e. (Getresponse or Aweber? Which one is better?)
      3.) Coaching/Training/Ebooks and Courses
      4.) Outsourcing Articles / Research / SEO
      5.) Article Marketing / Submission
      6.) Social Bookmarking

      What other things am I missing here? In regard to email marketing w/aweber or getresponse when launching a new venture is it smart to get a mailing list going from step one or is it a good idea to wait till traffic builds to a level that is respectable i.e. 250/visitors per day?

      Selling products vs affiliate marketing? I've been having trouble finding the time to create these IM products, has anyone ever had good experience outsourcing to other countries via craigslist in regard to content creation... any recommendations of service providers that could crank out a quality product at an affordable price i.e. researchers/writers... just trying to put it all together! this is a great thread!
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