Where do I begin and how can I trust reviews?

Clarity is a HUGE part of IM success. I hope this post brings some clarity. It's so simple when you know it -- and darn difficult when you don't! I owe my mentors a world of thanks for bringing this clarity.

IM is actually pretty simple: you can sell only one of two things:

1. Products
2. Services

That's it!

And selling products or services online happens in the same basic way for everyone, no matter what they're selling:

Traffic > Opt-in page > Autoresponder series (or e-zine) > Sales page

That's it! It's just that simple. (We IMers tend to overcomplicate things.)

But no matter what your niche is, or whether you're selling a product or a service, do you know what your business model is?

A business model is the framework or skeleton of your business. Essentially there are three types of online business models:

1. Membership-based model

A membership-based business model allows you to build a community of people (your members) who are as passionate about your subject as you are. Your membership fees can be monthly or annual, but either way, you're building recurring, passive income.

There are a lot of resources and information out there to help you build a membership-based business if you're interested in doing this.

2. Product-based model

Selling products allows you to maximize your time and effort by selling items over and over again. This can be hard goods or it can be information products. Information marketing is it's own business model under the product-based model. Information marketing allows you to take your brain to the bank by creating a product ONCE based on what you know and selling it over and over again.

Affiliate marketing falls under both models. You can choose to market either products or services as an affiliate.

3. Service-based model

Selling services can be great for 1) generating quick cash (as in the case of article writing or video producing) and 2) establishing your expertise and getting testimonials.

However, in the long run, your goal should be to offer services at a PREMIUM. The biggest advantage of IM is LEVERAGE. You're able to leverage your time, money and expertise exponentially online. We all have just 24 hours each day. Time to get ruthless about what you expect for those hours you spend in IM each day. Expect more of yourself and more from your business friends, clients, partners, etc.

What results are you getting for those hours you spend online each day? Ultimately, your services should be at the bottom of your funnel and cost the most since they involve your time and personal attention. (We all have a limited amount of time each day.)

The fun (and confusion) comes in with all of the endless mix-and-match possibilities of the above models. If you're just starting or still struggling to make money, keep it simple:

Pick just ONE!

1. Pick ONE niche. (Something you're interested in and know something about.)

2. Pick ONE target market for your product or service. (Who will buy what you're offering? The more specific you are, the more you narrow it down, the more successful you'll be.)

3. Pick ONE business model.

Now that you're clear about what business you're in, FOCUS! (And stop buying any info not related to your niche and target market, period!)

F -- Follow
O -- One
C -- Course
U -- Until
S -- Successful

And remember: build a list, Build a List, BUILD A LIST!

In IM, it's easy to put the cart before the horse. Take a deep breath, step back and consider what type of business you REALLY want. Don't worry about getting traffic or buying that expensive traffic product until you know 1) what your business model is, 2) what niche you're in and 3) WHO your target market is!

Successful business people will tell you that MARKETING is more than half the effort that's needed for success anyway. So pick a niche, target market and business model. Then spend most of your time and effort marketing it.

If you DON'T have a solid plan or system, THAT'S when it's hard. A good system will shave YEARS (and save you big $$$) off of your learning curve

That's why I recommend investing in at least one good, comprehensive IM course (or mentor who will give you such a system) instead of jumping from one $37 e-book to the next. A lot of people here complain about not being able to make any money. But neither are they willing to invest in their business. (Buying a random bunch of $37 e-books doesn't count.)

The best thing I ever did was invest in a comprehensive IM course aimed at REAL business owners, not just other IM wannabes. Yes it was $1500. (It's no longer available.) But it was truly some of the best A-Z IM info I ever bought. Everything else I've learned (from the $37 e-books) since has simply been plugged into this system.

My two best recommendations for phenomenal IM training programs are Ali Brown's Elevate program (ElevateBizTraining.com) and Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula (ProductLaunchFormula.com)

Get a solid plan or system and then work the plan!

Hope this helps!

Michelle

First slow down and take a deep breath. I can feel your anxious vibes in your writing.

Step 1. To start read through the threads in this forum (Free Education)
Step 2. Start asking questions for clarity, direction and mistake avoidance.
Step 3. Establish specific goals you plan to achieve.
Step 4. Create a plan of action to reach those goals.
Step 5. Take action ... Start where you stand.
Step 6. Repeat step 2 when needed.
Step 7. Persist until successful.

Note: Nothing I said in this post required money.


Success leaves clues. Read their past post, do they offer helpful advice? Google them? Plus, you'll learn to know the people and the reviews to trust with time.

Some people maybe in cohoots in some cases. For example, Warrior forum friends, associates or former customers, but that's nothing you can control. Just make sure they have a money back guarantee

As far as reviews, most reviews where there is any sort of financial payout are biased. Sorry but it's just true.

For example, look in our own Warrior Classified section. You'll see headlines like "Honest Review of XYZ Plus 3 Months Free When You Sign Up) or something similar where you KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that the review is going to be positive since they have their bonus already built in.

Mark

Come on man reach for bigger goals than this. I understand you're new and that's cool, but in this online world, you have to take what's your's. Nobody will hand anything to you - not even good advice. If you want *it*, take it.

As far as reviews go... go with your instict. For every product that you see or are interested in, do a google search about it, hang out in forums and ask questions about it, see how it's doing on affiliate marketplaces, and find user reviews. Not hard. Just go hard.

I couldn't have said it better,

OP, learn list building. Ask anyone.

Everyone relax, the "thank yous" are on their 'way as soon as the button appears...

The truth of it is, we all have different strengths and weaknesses.
We also accelerate at learning via different mediums.

So, when you combine these two factors, everyone is going to have a unique
take on a product.

If I sit here and tell you to do a certain type of work, guess what?
Some of you are going to like that work and be really good at it,
and therefor see results. And then some people are not going to like
the idea of that work at all, or can't even see themselves liking it, and
therefor won't excel and see results.

So, with that being said, I am of the opinion that you should just go out
there and find what your good at. And what that means is that you have to follow your gut and try a bunch of different things.

But once you find what your good at, and sometimes even by accident, by trying
different things, you can accidentally find a certain combination, or a certain personal
spin on the things your trying, and then run into results.

Another thing with that is, most people don't spend enough time on ONE thing.

And that's really one of the biggest tricks. Is to spend a lot of time on ONE thing,
until you know that it either works or it doesn't. One time doing the thing isn't
going to do it. 2, 3, 4, 5 times probably won't do it either.

You need to have skin in the game and be persistent in whatever your doing in
order to put yourself into a position where you will see results. Once you do that,
then YOU will be the one giving the testimonials... Or even getting them FOR yourself

The following may help.

I suggest to start by offerings services and virtual assistance and learn as you go.

To earn small money without investment, I try my luck with neobux and probux. Its free and the starting is very low. But you will definitely see money coming everyday.

Secondly, you can offer your service with other person out there by using your time. Virtual assistance is the best gig to start in odesk, freelancer, and fiverr.

Thirdly, once you earn some money in internet, focus on one method until you success. It is because most of the newbies always looking for the next, next and next shinning object. Good luck! =)