relative begineer- how to learn SEO and IM?

by biotin
41 replies
I've been trying to make money online for about a year- with little success. I've purchased Lump Sum Profits and Freedom Formula 8. The former was very helpful, and the latter didn't provide much new information (though for someone starting out, it could be very helpful!).

What do you experts suggest is the best way to learn SEO and IM? I've read lots of reviews for different products, but now that I'm $500+ in the hole buying programs, I'm very cautious. I've also read plenty of articles on SEO and IM, but in light of the algorithm updates, I don't want to get burned by anymore outdated info. What do you suggest?
#begineer #learn #relative #seo
  • Profile picture of the author butters
    Originally Posted by biotin View Post

    I've been trying to make money online for about a year- with little success. I've purchased Lump Sum Profits and Freedom Formula 8. The former was very helpful, and the latter didn't provide much new information (though for someone starting out, it could be very helpful!).

    What do you experts suggest is the best way to learn SEO and IM? I've read lots of reviews for different products, but now that I'm $500+ in the hole buying programs, I'm very cautious. What do you suggest?
    Everything you need to know is free and available over the web...

    SEOMoz and SEObook are a good source for SEO techniques, yet, we have a forum right here for it... Adsense / PPC / SEO Discussion Forum hunt about in there for a while to learn the odd technique or two.

    Don't forget sites like copyblogger for copywriting techniques, smashmagazine may help from time to time, there is just to many to name.

    There is also the war room here which is filled with lots of little nuggets of information, a great investment for 37 bucks .

    Then look at blogs of reputable people online, even on this forum, they are also filled with tons of information!

    Look for reputable members and follow what they post, information is given away daily here on the forum.

    Edit: I even forgot to mention the 30 day challenge by Ed Dale and Dan Rein

    (I could keep remembering more and more things but ill stop editing now .)
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    • Profile picture of the author biotin
      Great! Thanks for the suggestions! I'll check those out.
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  • Profile picture of the author biotin
    Thanks- could you expound on that?
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  • Profile picture of the author LexiB
    Would you ever build a business on a lot if the government told you "at any moment we could, without notice, demolish your building and run a road right through this lot"?

    Probably not. Then why on earth are you interested in SEO?

    Never do anything that leaves you solely in the hands of someone else (SEO).

    And never invest time and money into something that can be taken away from you without notice (SEO).

    Focus on building relationships in the marketplace. That's how businesses are built.
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    • Profile picture of the author biotin
      Thanks for the explanation. Aside from paying for traffic or reciprocal backlinks, what other strategies build relationships?
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      • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
        Originally Posted by biotin View Post

        Aside from paying for traffic or reciprocal backlinks, what other strategies build relationships?
        Honestly, "paying for traffic" and/or "backlinks" will not build you any kind of relationships. Never.

        Irrelevant backlinks will put you in deep trouble :p

        99% of the SEO stuff circulating around 'make money online' circles is BS.

        Fun: just saw this on the FB wall of one of my friends --

        lol just came across a Link Removal service from the same guy that was supplying the backlinks last year...
        Signature

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      • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
        Originally Posted by biotin View Post

        Thanks for the explanation. Aside from paying for traffic or reciprocal backlinks, what other strategies build relationships?
        Questions like this can't be answered on a public forum.

        Save yourself anymore wasted time and money, and get yourself a mentor.
        Signature

        BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

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  • Profile picture of the author JasonBennet
    I agree with Lexi that it will not be practical to have your business dependent on 3rd party like the search engine. If they want to change their algorithm, your website ranking might be gone overnight and your business will be affected over night.

    It will be good that you grow your own list of subscribers. Having a mixture of paid and free traffic sources in your marketing campaign will ensure that there is multiple source of traffic back to your website and your business is still functioning.
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  • Profile picture of the author SandraLarkin
    Banned
    The foundations of IM you need to learn before you move on are:

    Sales copy
    SEO principles
    How to set up a domain with wordpress, and create content
    Different types of IM - affiliate, your own product, CPA

    --------------

    Then free traffic generation tactics:

    Youtube
    More SEO - advanced

    -----------------


    I suggest you read books about sales copy, SEO to start, and then go into niche selection and keyword research. This is however one way to get into IM. These skills will be beneficial in any endeavor you choose down the road in your IM career.
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  • Profile picture of the author twister85
    The two things you want to learn Are free of cost. Warriorforum consists of all popular threads and freebies about learning IM and SEO techniques.

    Take one week to browse around the forum and discover how to do and tackle things the right way in Internet marketing and SEO field. I'am Sure you'll be working On your new project of IM or SEO business with lot of knowledge about the particular niches.
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  • Profile picture of the author WarrenPeterson
    Originally Posted by biotin View Post

    I've been trying to make money online for about a year- with little success. I've purchased Lump Sum Profits and Freedom Formula 8. The former was very helpful, and the latter didn't provide much new information (though for someone starting out, it could be very helpful!).

    What do you experts suggest is the best way to learn SEO and IM? I've read lots of reviews for different products, but now that I'm $500+ in the hole buying programs, I'm very cautious. I've also read plenty of articles on SEO and IM, but in light of the algorithm updates, I don't want to get burned by anymore outdated info. What do you suggest?
    Stop trying, and just get to the work of running a business. I'm serious. I don't let my coaching clients use the word 'try' when talking about their online business.

    If you were going to build a business as a dry-cleaner, would you say you are just going to give it a try? Of course not. You would develop a plan, and you would execute that plan, adjusting for market conditions. Do the same here.

    When we use the word 'try' we have actually already created the 'out' in our minds. We can always say, "We gave it a try".

    Programs, strategies, guides, etc... none of them can make you any money - they are just information. Until you commit and fully execute on that information, it will gather dust....

    So develop a business model that is either based on your strengths and your interests (both would be even better), and execute that business model.

    My two pennies.... sorry if this sounds too direct... I'm wrapping up a few other things and should be asleep already!
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    • Originally Posted by WarrenPeterson View Post

      Stop trying, and just get to the work of running a business. I'm serious. I don't let my coaching clients use the word 'try' when talking about their online business.
      why, what happens, they all get jinxed?

      'Opening businessess' blindly, as far as I know, it's not a very good idea, you need to do market research first. That's why we use the word 'try'. You don't just open a business on an hunch.
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      • Profile picture of the author WarrenPeterson
        Originally Posted by rise_more_and_more View Post

        why, what happens, they all get jinxed?

        'Opening businessess' blindly, as far as I know, it's not a very good idea, you need to do market research first. That's why we use the word 'try'. You don't just open a business on an hunch.
        Huh? Who ever said blindly or a hunch? Why are you quoting me with this?
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        • Originally Posted by WarrenPeterson View Post

          Huh? Who ever said blindly or a hunch? Why are you quoting me with this?
          Oh ok, so you meant something I don't really understand. Ok, my fault. Maybe you can enlighten me as to how you mean by implying that 'trying' is bad.

          You know, on a second thought, it doesn't matter.
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  • Profile picture of the author m00d
    Originally Posted by biotin View Post

    I've been trying to make money online for about a year- with little success. I've purchased Lump Sum Profits and Freedom Formula 8. The former was very helpful, and the latter didn't provide much new information (though for someone starting out, it could be very helpful!).

    What do you experts suggest is the best way to learn SEO and IM? I've read lots of reviews for different products, but now that I'm $500+ in the hole buying programs, I'm very cautious. I've also read plenty of articles on SEO and IM, but in light of the algorithm updates, I don't want to get burned by anymore outdated info. What do you suggest?
    Build more than you purchase... It's good to buy tools but if you don't build something with them what good are they?

    Have you built a web site? Do you have something for sale someone could buy?
    Signature
    Cheap WordPress Hosting @ 3Host
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  • Profile picture of the author indiainternet8
    To know about seo work and strategy. Seomoz is the best e-book and freely available.....
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  • Profile picture of the author troy23
    By buying all those products you are missing the main point - to keep it simple.
    Formulas, systems etc...they rarely work.
    You don't need to delve deep into SEO. Learn the basics of IM and take it from there.
    The one thing you must do is take action.
    Do you know how to buy hosting, install Wordpress, write articles etc?
    Focus on the foundations and steer clear of Facebook millionaire tools.
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    • Profile picture of the author livitweb
      For someone starting out, you shouldn't have invested that much in order to learn about SEO and IM. There are a whole host of free tutorials and EBooks online that you could have read and learned from. Learn the basics, stick to one method, and "practice" on it with a website that you can set up from free platforms like Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr, and the likes. Promote that site then via social media and video marketing.
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      • Originally Posted by livitweb View Post

        There are a whole host of free tutorials and EBooks online that you could have read and learned from.
        Examples? It's not very helpful to tell people 'there's this and there's that out there somewhere on the internet', it's like looking for a needle in an haystack. There's also a load of trash out there so what are the free tutorials that you personally recommend?
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    • Profile picture of the author biotin
      Originally Posted by troy23 View Post

      By buying all those products you are missing the main point - to keep it simple.
      Formulas, systems etc...they rarely work.
      You don't need to delve deep into SEO. Learn the basics of IM and take it from there.
      The one thing you must do is take action.
      Do you know how to buy hosting, install Wordpress, write articles etc?
      Focus on the foundations and steer clear of Facebook millionaire tools.
      Yeah I've set up several sites, I'm familiar with WP installation, etc. My main issue is not lack of ideas, its knowing the steps to take. eg. I don't want to write lots of quality content, if nobody is going to see it. I'm trying to determine how to best use my time to get quality traffic to my sites. Could anyone shed light on determining priority?
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by biotin View Post

        I don't want to write lots of quality content, if nobody is going to see it.
        I don't blame you.

        Why not write some quality content, publish it on your site and have it indexed there, and then circulate it as widely as possible for re-publication elsewhere, so that plenty of targeted people see it (and decide to visit your site because they liked it and want to read more)?

        It's just one way ... (but it works for me and it doesn't depend on SEO to attract targeted traffic).

        Here's a post illustrating exactly what I'm suggesting: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post5035794
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by biotin View Post

    how to learn SEO and IM?
    Originally Posted by biotin View Post

    What do you experts suggest is the best way to learn SEO and IM?
    Originally Posted by biotin View Post

    I've also read plenty of articles on SEO and IM
    You seem - repeatedly - to be talking about "SEO and IM" almost as if you somehow imagine that they're in some sense "equivalents", or "of equal significance" or "both essential"? They're not at all.

    SEO is just one small way of addressing the "need for traffic" which is important in IM. (It's typically a bad, small way, too: SEO traffic tends to be - for many purposes - the worst-converting and most precarious and least reliable kind of traffic there is).

    I'm trying to help, not to "lecture" you, but I strongly suspect from the wording of your original post that at the moment you're laboring (as many people do) under a massive misapprehension about the role of SEO in IM, and it'll help you a lot to appreciate that it's a small and optional one of questionable value to many IM business models, and not something you should instinctively focus on, as I think you're mistakenly assuming at the moment.
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  • Profile picture of the author davidfrankk
    Try and figure out your interest first. Maybe you like to write, maybe you like to share information through youtube videos, or maybe you just like to make money on auto-pilot (that's overrated).
    Once you have done this look for information online. You will find everything online, mostly for FREE. Make a model of what exactly you want to do with your business and set goals.
    You are now ready to start !
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  • Profile picture of the author cpa-money
    i learnt from forums and blogs online, but the best way is to try new things and new ideas every once in a while. this is the best way to success online, to find things that works in generating money and just stick to them.
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  • Profile picture of the author betterwtveter
    SEO is very easy once you test and try it on a few websites. The best way I have learned how to do SEO is to Google search "How to SEO" and you will find tons of results to help you out.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pedro Ferreira
    I tried SEO when i first started and it was the worst thing I could have done. And I actually ranked for some good keywords. And then I lost my rankings. And then I ranked again. And then I lost it all...

    Conclusion, I had to start all over again. DO NOT start with SEO. It's not free either. People sell these lies all the time that SEO is free and you can build free backlinks. Yeah, good luck with that when your competitors are spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on their SEO campaigns.

    There are BETTER sources of traffic out there.

    SEO is completely unreliable.
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  • Profile picture of the author MartinPlatt
    I'd say just create unique and compelling content, and the search engines will do the rest.

    If you really want to get into SEO, pay someone to do it. It is quite time consuming, and you spend as much time finding out what the 'latest' seo ideas are as you do actually marketing, probably more. And that's probably not what you're here for.
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    Stuck with earning commissions online? Get this get this uncensored affiliate marketing guide for free (sold as coaching for $4,997)

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    • Profile picture of the author biotin
      Originally Posted by MartinPlatt View Post

      I'd say just create unique and compelling content, and the search engines will do the rest.

      If you really want to get into SEO, pay someone to do it. It is quite time consuming, and you spend as much time finding out what the 'latest' seo ideas are as you do actually marketing, probably more. And that's probably not what you're here for.

      If I post original content on my site, say, 4-5 articles per week, do I need to employ other promotion techniques to get noticed and get targeted traffic?
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by biotin View Post

        If I post original content on my site, say, 4-5 articles per week, do I need to employ other promotion techniques to get noticed and get targeted traffic?
        Yes, definitely.

        How will putting 4-5 articles per week on your own site attract targeted traffic? You could perhaps, eventually, attract a little SEO-only traffic (which isn't usually much good) that way, if you use enough low-competition keywords, but keyword-rich articles don't read too well and nobody else is going to publish them anyway. So that isn't really going to work.

        Using articles to attract traffic isn't about how many articles you have: it's about where you get them published. You need them to be published as widely as possible and to appear in front of the already-targeted traffic you want to attract, not just to put them on your site and hope that eventually a few people will happen to find them there through a search-engine (if your business is anything like mine, those are people who won't normally opt in or buy anything, anyway). And to get the articles published as widely as possible, they need to be written for syndication.
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        • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          Yes, definitely.
          14 posts to go to 20,000.

          I want to see something spectacular posted.

          That is all.
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          • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
            Originally Posted by John Romaine View Post

            14 posts to go to 20,000.

            I want to see something spectacular posted.

            That is all.
            PARTY at John's house!!!!

            I'll bring the tequila.......

            RoD
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            "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
            - Jim Rohn
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Originally Posted by biotin View Post

    I've been trying to make money online for about a year- with little success. I've purchased Lump Sum Profits and Freedom Formula 8. The former was very helpful, and the latter didn't provide much new information (though for someone starting out, it could be very helpful!).

    What do you experts suggest is the best way to learn SEO and IM? I've read lots of reviews for different products, but now that I'm $500+ in the hole buying programs, I'm very cautious. I've also read plenty of articles on SEO and IM, but in light of the algorithm updates, I don't want to get burned by anymore outdated info. What do you suggest?
    Go here:

    Adsense / PPC / SEO Discussion Forum

    And start off by reading the "sticky" by Paul Myers.

    RoD
    Signature
    "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
    - Jim Rohn
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  • Profile picture of the author tooAlive
    The first thing you need to do is stop buying SEO products and guides.

    Seriously; most of them are either scams or simply stuff you can find for free with a little digging.

    I'm assuming you're using Wordpress, so I'd recommend installing a little plugin called Wordpress SEO by Yoast. It'll easily help you optimize your pages and posts for your target keywords. That should be plenty for your on-page SEO.

    With that said, I also wouldn't put all my eggs in the SEO basket. It's good to have your site, pages and posts optimized for the keywords you're targeting, but that shouldn't be your main focus for generating traffic.

    SEO is volatile and you're one algorithm update away from losing your place in the SERPS. And if your business depends 100% on SEO traffic, that can be devastating.

    Incorporate other traffic methods into your SEO strategy, such as video marketing, social media, forums, guest posting, list building, and others.

    Also, don't get into paid traffic until you've set up a funnel or a system to keep that traffic. Whether you want to sell them affiliate products or just get them to join your list; you need a system in place. Paying for traffic only to have the visitors read your articles and leave is just like throwing money out the window.

    You should also have a tracking system in place to track conversions and optimize your site to see better results.

    In a nutshell, diversify your traffic sources and stay away from paid advertising until you have a system set up to (hopefully) recuperate your advertising costs.
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  • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
    Here is the single most important piece of information I can give you.

    >> Learn how to SELL.

    And more importantly, learn how to sell stuff that people actually WANT.

    It doesn't get any simpler than that.

    You have to become a seller.

    This is basically how I simplify everything in life. You either learn how to sell, or you die. Life in a nutshell.

    I still don't know a lot about marketing. But I told myself a long time ago, that if I kept things simple, and just met those 2 critera (learn sales/sell what people want) I would be fine. Most marketers have a serious weakness in how they monetize their work. And a solid, well developed monetization strategy means a world of difference.

    If thats not in place, you'll spend so many wasted hours/days/months trying to attract people, but since you have no idea how to sell, nobody will be interested in what you're promoting. You'll start making threads like "3,000 impressions and no clicks". Or "150 clicks but no sales".

    If you really learn sales, it makes EVERYTHING you do both EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT.

    Find a crowd of people with a need that isn't being met. Learn how to sell them something they need. Then sell it to them.

    Do you think it gets more complicated than that?

    I can tell you that it doesn't. The only thing that complicates the process is people. They attach meaning to things that don't deserve meaning. They complicate things because they're always searching for the "secrets". "It can NOT be this easy!" you think. Even if you don't think it, you feel it. People always have to make things harder than they really are.

    I'm telling you, it IS that easy.

    Good luck - Red

    ps. If you didn't catch the undercurrent of what I'm recommending, let me organize my thoughts better so nothing gets lost in translation.

    1) Stop buying products.
    2) Go research a problem, that doesn't have a solution, innovate/create a solution.
    3) Microtest the market, to determine in real life, if they'd be willing to buy your solution.
    4) Depending on data, you either scale the process, or start researching / testing another market.
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    • Originally Posted by RedShifted View Post

      Here is the single most important piece of information I can give you.

      >> Learn how to SELL.

      And more importantly, learn how to sell stuff that people actually WANT.

      It doesn't get any simpler than that.

      You have to become a seller.

      This is basically how I simplify everything in life. You either learn how to sell, or you die. Life in a nutshell.

      I still don't know a lot about marketing.
      I actually am very good at selling. But, why oh why am I not making money with internet marketing? Mmmmh...let me think....maybe.....because internet marketing requires technical knowledge, which is a completely different skill in itself? You can be the best seller in the world, but it doesn't matter ,if no one knows how to find you. Because.....let me see.....there are good sellers who HAVE technical knowledge, and that's why I am being left behind?

      Duh.
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    • Profile picture of the author biotin
      Thanks for the reply. You raise an excellent point. I actually had a site that was getting 1500-1700 unique visitors a month, but I didn't get a single sale, and only a dozen or so opt-ins. I even rewrote the entire page, redesigned it, had it reviewed by marketers and graphic artists, etc. It's incredible the art that sales copy really is- and how its the keystone to conversions. At least in my very limited anecdotal experience.

      I'm reading through the sticky post about writing copy, which have been tremendously helpful. Do you have any other resources you've found helpful? Thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author Chri5123
    Originally Posted by biotin View Post

    I've been trying to make money online for about a year- with little success. I've purchased Lump Sum Profits and Freedom Formula 8. The former was very helpful, and the latter didn't provide much new information (though for someone starting out, it could be very helpful!).

    What do you experts suggest is the best way to learn SEO and IM? I've read lots of reviews for different products, but now that I'm $500+ in the hole buying programs, I'm very cautious. I've also read plenty of articles on SEO and IM, but in light of the algorithm updates, I don't want to get burned by anymore outdated info. What do you suggest?
    Stop buying products.

    You don't need them when getting started.

    Read up, and use the search bar to find a ton of information on SEO, IM and pick an area.

    Ask questions, but most of all pick an area and keep on working at it until you see some results.
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  • Profile picture of the author biotin
    Thank you all- this has been very helpful.
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  • Profile picture of the author cuzsis
    Market Samurai is a program for researching SEO, I found their *free* tutorials and training videos to be immensely helpful in learning about SEO.

    Here is the link to the tutorials: Noble Samurai - Dojo

    Go down to "Introduction to Keyword Research" and just start watching (they also include a transcript below the video, along with images, in case you can't do the video.)

    Yes, a lot of it is them showing you how great their product is (and they do have a good product, no I'm not an affiliate, just had a chance to play with it and have heard good things from other customers) but at the same time, the strategies they lay out are basic for any work in SEO and can be used even with google's free "keyword" tool.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikeac
    Hey biotin,
    I would like to suggest to you that if you want to start learning SEO, start watching youtube videos, and sign up for the challenge.co . That will get you started with the basics.

    As far as IM follow only proven industry leaders and start taking notes, and mostly take action. Find a niche or preferably one you already know about and write a ebook or create a video series to give away build your list. After you build a solid list that likes and trust you, you can start selling them products. Hope this helps
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