30 replies
Hi everyone,

As I keep reading about Internet marketing, I'm reaching the point of oversaturation. I've read about PPC, article writing, blogs, forum posting, classified ads, etc. What I'd like to ask of those of you with experience and have made money on the Internet is, if you had one thing that you could focus on, which would it be? PPC is out for me because I don't have the budget right now. What I want to do is just focus in on one area like a laser and do it the best I can.

Thanks in advance
#information
  • Profile picture of the author Harry Behrens
    Every person is going to answer this question different... because everyone has different skill sets and risk-tolerance. So the only real 'right' answer to this is "whatever is best for you", but that sounds like a cop-out... so here's what I would consider the core of *my* online activities...

    First, practice and get good at finding people who are sharing their problems with other people and asking for solutions. Get good at telling whether this type of person is willing to spend money on solving that problem. This is a skill. Forum-diving, google search, magazine reading, etc. Example off the top of my head: college-age girls who just discovered their fist cold sore opening up.

    Second, learn and practice finding the solutions to those problems. Ehow, Clickbank ebooks, google search again... just because the information is free and out there doesn't mean these girls actually know how to find it.

    Third, learn how to put these solutions into a PDF or video. This is straight technical knowhow that you just sit down and learn. Learn how to set up a paypal button and a download page.

    Fourth... learn how to get in front of your market and show them what you made. This is where articles, blog posting, PPC etc come in... But this is not the core. The stuff that comes before this is the core. So for me, if I were starting out and had the wisdom and ability to focus on ONE area before going on to the next, I would take it in this order. You'll find the later steps become a lot simpler once you have the first ones under your belt.
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    - Harry Behrens

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  • Profile picture of the author JoMo
    Start with article marketing. It is free [it only costs you your time I mean], and it is a good/easy way to learn the ins and outs of IM.

    The important thing is to do something. Pick a path and walk it till you find a better 1.
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  • Profile picture of the author Colin Evans
    I agree with JoMo - get stuck into some article marketing - pick a product, do some keyword research and write articles targeting keywords which people wanting solutions to their problems would type into the search engines.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan Shaw
    article marketing is great; ;much cheaper than a newbie doing ppc; like I did . Squidoo is great. Take one thing at a time. I'm constantly fighting information overload with all the offers out there
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Article marketing is great but content marketing takes things to another level.

    You can take your article and paste it up all over the internet in high traffic areas not just the article directories.

    TL
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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    • Profile picture of the author gnajnik
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      Article marketing is great but content marketing takes things to another level.

      TL
      Hi TL,

      What is the difference between article marketing and content marketing? Don't you need good content in an article for it to get noticed?

      Thanks
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      • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
        Originally Posted by gnajnik View Post

        Hi TL,

        What is the difference between article marketing and content marketing? Don't you need good content in an article for it to get noticed?

        Thanks
        Sure, you need quality, keyword optimized content titles and also keyword optimized content to really get noticed.

        Content marketing consists of creating articles for the article directories and also posting them all over high traffic sites like Squidoo, Hub Pages, Blogging & Pinging with the content etc.

        Checkout a product name SE Nuke for a listing of lots of high traffic places to also post your articles/content.

        Hope This Helps!!

        TL
        Signature

        "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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  • Profile picture of the author k8spy8
    It's obvious that you will find a lots of information in IM. It's a vast area. BUt if you are newbie here and don't know how to start with than I will suggest you to go with article marketing. It's a lengthy and time consuming process but once you know the juice about it you will be on a smooth track.
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    • Profile picture of the author Shannon Herod
      This is a symptom that most new Internet often worse go through. I call it the "Information Paralysis Cycle"

      It is a hard cycle to break but you must break if you want to be successful online. Unfortunately, it is very common in new people. There is so much information available that they get overwhelmed with information and do not know which direction to go.

      Sometimes, I believe that it would be better if there was not so much information freely available.

      The best thing you can do to help yourself is learn to focus.

      Once you can learn to focus that energy and actually do one thing you will be much better off.

      Do not try to be an expert at everything.

      Find what you like to do and get extremely good at. Once you master that task, then you can move on to other things in your business.

      But, if you do not know how to master at least one task you will be constantly spinning your wheels.

      Unfortunately, I know this from experience. I spun my wheels for years online. Finally, once I decided to focus and only do one thing I became successful.

      Hope this helps,

      Shannon Herod
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      • Profile picture of the author Waterways2k8
        Hi there

        Like many other fellow warrior members have said, everyone has something or a skill that they are good at, so utilize what you excel out.

        The article marketing idea suggested by everyone else is certainly a good way to start in I.M. but this is dependent whether you like hammering away at the keyboard all day long and posting on various article marketing sites. If you have a talent or am a natural for writing, then yes, this would be great.

        However, if you don't, then that's alright too as you can buy pre-written PLR articles with rights to edit and modify for your own use and upload them. Just make sure that if the original author ask that you put their signature or mention their name, that you do so. If that is not up your street either then you can hire ghost writer or get somebody to write them for you for a fee.

        Now, if article marketing is not your thing, then you could try list building with Giveaway sites and email promotion. The only problem with that is that: it too still involves a lot of writing, build trust with potential customer via email and have to a lot of affilaite products in line, spaced out at certain intervals. The process can be slow or fast, but its quite complicated, as it also involves building and setting up web pages, autoresponders etc....

        So, personally I couldn't recommend you the ultimate best type of marketing to start with, as everyone is different and all of the major types of Internet marketing methods are valid, so just go with the one that you will enjoy the most and will motivate you daily.

        And Stick with one idea and keep at it until its successful. The key difference as to why so many fail or complain is that they either buy too many products and take some or no action, they lose faith halfway, or they buy too many ebooks, gudies, products etc... and get information overloaded and spread themselves too thinly.

        If you only concentrate on one idea at a time and then slowly build upon it, then your chance of success is greater.


        Hope that helps and Good Luck with whatever you decide to choose and run
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        • Profile picture of the author Eric Transue
          Originally Posted by Waterways2k8 View Post

          ...just go with the one that you will enjoy the most and will motivate you daily.

          And Stick with one idea and keep at it until its successful. The key difference as to why so many fail or complain is that they either buy too many products and take some or no action, they lose faith halfway, or they buy too many ebooks, gudies, products etc... and get information overloaded and spread themselves too thinly.

          If you only concentrate on one idea at a time and then slowly build upon it, then your chance of success is greater.
          Excellent advice from Waterways2k8!

          Find something you enjoy and are interested in, even without being paid. Once you find a passion it's easier to turn it into a business and become successful with it.

          When you try to make money without having any passion about what you are promoting the early obstacles may deter you from future success!

          Good luck,
          Eric
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      • Profile picture of the author gnajnik
        Wow, that was quite the response! I sure appreciate what everyone has to say and thank you for your time in responding. Article writing seems the way to go. For me, that's not a problem. I do get caught up in the "paralysis by analysis" syndrome somethings but your guidance has given me the one item to focus on. Thanks everyone.
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      • Profile picture of the author JoMo
        Originally Posted by Shannon Herod View Post

        This is a symptom that most new Internet often worse go through. I call it the "Information Paralysis Cycle"
        ...
        Shannon Herod

        My father had this exact same issue. He was researching IM for about 10 years as more of a "hobby" but never pulled the trigger on anything. I moved back to my hometown a few months ago and we have been doing a whole lot with IM in that time, and that is because I just picked a direction and went with it. I knew nothing about IM before that.

        The problem was that his hobby became reading about IM and buying little programs and how-to books, but once I gave him that little push he has been running with it. I have to say it has been fun figuring this stuff out.


        - joel
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        • Profile picture of the author gnajnik
          Originally Posted by JoMo View Post

          The problem was that his hobby became reading about IM and buying little programs and how-to books, but once I gave him that little push he has been running with it. I have to say it has been fun figuring this stuff out.


          - joel
          That's exactly the situation I've caught myself in, Joel, and I had to stop and get some help here. I'm grateful for everyone's post because it's given me the push to do what I need to really get started. Now the thing for me is to not over-analyze article writing methods and just put some stuff out there for starters...unless someone tells me otherwise.
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          • Profile picture of the author flattop
            Originally Posted by gnajnik View Post

            That's exactly the situation I've caught myself in, Joel, and I had to stop and get some help here. I'm grateful for everyone's post because it's given me the push to do what I need to really get started. Now the thing for me is to not over-analyze article writing methods and just put some stuff out there for starters...unless someone tells me otherwise.
            You got it... Take action and you will build confidence, don't forget to follow through! Just like in baseball or golf or bowling or any sport you can relate too, follow through man, and you will be ok. I was where you are about 6 months ago. I have unsubscribed from all the lists and started focusing on my business. My first business that I am branding is me... check out my website, gonna have lots of additional posts out there to get you through. We are all rootin for you!

            To Your Success,
            Clint Anderson
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  • Profile picture of the author hbkh55finance
    why dont you appreciate the advantage of getting information so spontaneously?Im a beginner here but really grateful to this forum for its huge collection.
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    • Profile picture of the author gnajnik
      Originally Posted by hbkh55finance View Post

      why dont you appreciate the advantage of getting information so spontaneously?
      Huh? :confused: Are you saying I'm not showing my appreciation adequately enough or appropriately enough? Are you serious?
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  • Profile picture of the author JoMo
    I'm not sure what he meant by that either.
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    • Profile picture of the author gnajnik
      Originally Posted by JoMo View Post

      I'm not sure what he meant by that either.
      Maybe he's a troll and I just fell for it, hook, line and sinker.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nigel Greaves
    I found that simply choosing one area and then focusing on that I was able to break through my own paralysis by analysis.

    As Ryan (traffictipsnow) said in post#6 Squidoo is great and you can get things moving on it very quickly and easily with no expense.

    Nigel
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  • Profile picture of the author spilksch
    Hi, I'm new to WarriorForum. What drove me here was a meeting with a client of mine a few days ago. He's 24, a whole 3 years younger than me, and I got to know that he has a savings account with more than 100 times what I have in mine. As we spoke, I found out that he makes money "selling ebooks and software" on ebay (he makes like $10k a mth or more, but the banks won't loan him what he wants for his apartment because he doesn't have proper income documents lol!)

    As I read through topics filled with internet marketing strategies and ideas, one thing hits me.

    How, where, and with what, do you start?

    There's a lot of content, but as a real newbie I have absolutely no idea what to begin with. Well there's article writing, but do I sell these on ebay or a website?
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  • Profile picture of the author gotteeth
    Most excellent question...

    I've asked it of myself recently, here is my conclusion and why.

    Let me preface my comment with my feelings about internet marketing. First, I'm 50 years old so I can remember when direct mail marketing and the cool little ads in the back of magazines that had the same "need to know what that is" effect that IM products have today. Back then, the information on how to be in that field wasn't as easily found as it is today.

    Fast forward 25 years...in my opinion...the reason your suffering from overload is, by choosing to get into IM you've basically decided to get a masters degree in marketing...really. Look at all the topics you covered in your post, you have to be a jack of all trades to make this work. You don't have to be an expert, and you don't have to know how it all works but, you have to have some depth of knowledge so you can do it yourself, farm it out, or just be able to separate the "wheat from the chaff."

    So...what did I do...and what do I recommend? Pick one task and follow it to completion. Don't allow yourself to be distracted by the next bright shiny object. You see, one thing about IM that draws us all in is curiosity, and I have to say, this field is saturated with really GOOD ideas and products. We are at the frontier of internet marketing folks, right now someone with a good idea can create one heck of a good product for the internet. Look at DLGuard as example, if I'm not mistaken that was created by a very reputable Warrior Forum member, he saw a need and created the product. This is 40 acres and mule time Baby! Anyway, chose one thing and finish it! You'll reap many rewards besides financial.

    I decided to focus on making affiliate sites for products on Clickbank. Soon I'll diversify into other areas...the ones that looked all shiny, and distracted me for days, weeks months

    Cheers!
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  • Profile picture of the author spilksch
    What would be a recommended starting point for a newbie? something that would be able to sustain our interest and motivation.
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    • Profile picture of the author gnajnik
      Originally Posted by spilksch View Post

      What would be a recommended starting point for a newbie? something that would be able to sustain our interest and motivation.
      Based on what I've read in this forum, what you want to do is find a product that is interesting to you. If you just grab something and hope to sell it but it isn't of interest to you, you'll have a hard time making your business grow. And if you can't make your business grow, you'll definitely lose the motivation to stay involved. Hopefully others who have more experience will chime in, too, but for now, I hope that helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author JoMo
      Originally Posted by spilksch View Post

      What would be a recommended starting point for a newbie? something that would be able to sustain our interest and motivation.



      Writing articles for article/content marketing is a great place to start. It is also a good way to learn the basics of IM without a huge money investment.
      1. Find a niche that is of interest to you and you know about.
      2. Find affiliate programs that would seem to be profitable in your niche.
      3. Do the research to find good key word phrases.
      4. Do more research to write good articles based on you your key word phrases.
      5. Get your articles in articles directories and web 2.0 sites.
      - joel
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  • Profile picture of the author Igor Kheifets
    Hey Gnajnik,

    I would recommend either to go with
    what FEELS right for you, following your instincts.
    Or you might wanna get a mentor who will
    walk you step by step through the whole
    process.

    Igor
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    • Profile picture of the author gnajnik
      Originally Posted by igorhelpsyousucceed View Post

      Hey Gnajnik,

      I would recommend either to go with
      what FEELS right for you, following your instincts.
      Or you might wanna get a mentor who will
      walk you step by step through the whole
      process.

      Igor
      Hi Igor,

      The problem is that at this point, I'm just really confused so I don't have any instincts to go with. The thought of article marketing doesn't really bother me and I know I can do it but I do spend a lot of time writing at work so having to think about going home and writing more isn't very exciting to me. But, writing is a strong point for me so I go with that.

      Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author JAIDEEP2959
    PPC, article writing, blogs, forum posting, classified ads,video marketing etc. all are whitehat methods and works only if you put hard work.

    My suggestion will be outsource articles creation work for submission to Ezinearticles.com and go for video marketing first.
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  • Profile picture of the author zoobie
    Well do one method at a time.. but to start you need an autoresponder a squeeze page and a free giveaway stuff to build your list. That is very important to online marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author PANASSERY
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author reapr
      Article marketing is the way to go ... some refer to it as bum marketing. I have done PPC off and on and though really never lost at a campaign found article marketing just 'more up my alley'.

      You may want to consider the 30 day challenge that is suppose to preseason launch this Monday and actually start in August. It is free free and free ... a lot of good has been said about it.

      When I say bum or article marketing I suggest writing many articles and submitting them to the better directories such as ezine and goarticle(go approves right away) keep the best for your site. Make sure all articles are truly unique. Point those article links back to your page such as at squidoo or hubpages or better yet your very own domain (wont go into the reason here) once this is all done submit your rss feed to rss aggregators and then submit your sites to social bookmarking sites and other web 2.0. If done all right with with some decent research in a hungry niche you should see traffic within a few hours no later than a week!
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