I’m a little flabbergasted at the fact that some people will jump into an internet business with alll guns blazing, burn through a ton of money and then blame everyone but themselves for having zero success with it all.
This is coming from a very recent personal experience with a client. Unfortunately this client spent a lot of money in all the wrong places. She was under the impression that if she just did this one thing really well then her entire business would be built.
Well six months, thousands of dollars and hundreds of articles later he website has not made a single penny.
Now she’s threatening to call it quits and cancel it all because she’s out of cash.
This is an all too common scenario in the internet marketing world.
It just makes me wonder why in the world is someone willing spending all their cash on an unproven business if they don’t have the extra cash to burn?!
As I say in my Dear Guru song you can’t just WISH for traffic and knock on wood! It just doesn’t work that way.
It’s SOOO frustrating as a service provider to see new business owner after new business owner expecting that they’ll simply get rich on the internet with a few thousand dollars and no business planning or experience.
Internet Marketing is NOT a Business Plan
You can not simply throw up a website, throw a ton of niche topic articles up, add a few affiliate links and then wait for the cash to roll in – ok?
What annoys me the most is when I tell people the truth they try to tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about, that there must be a simple way, an easy way (a GET RICH QUICK WAY????)
I know your reading my blog because you’re a smart marketer so I’m sure you already know this but I’m on a rant so please bear with me when I say:
The ONLY Person Responsible For Your Businesses Success (Or Failure) Is YOU!
Own up to it! Take Responsibility! Take Action and Get It Right!
As Dr. Phil says: “you can’t change what you won’t acknowledge”
Your business success is not the responsibility of your coach, your website designer, your virtual assistant or your mama! (lol) It’s all you!
Now that may be a hard pill to swallow for some, myself included.
So with all my ranting you might ask if I have any actual advice. How do you make sure you don’t burn through a ton of cash on the WRONG marketing or even the wrong business.
Well it comes down to two things:
1. Time
or
2. Money
1. Nobody wants to spend a lot of time to build a successful business but those who really, really want a successful business will do it. I have been at this for about seven years now. It’s not a short-term plan for me. I know that every day there are new stats to view, new customers to talk to, new blog posts write, new blog posts to read, new trends to keep up on, etc, etc, etc. I’m just fine and dandy with that and in fact I LOVE it. If you don’t have or are not willing to invest the time it takes to really understand your business, your market and your marketing then you should find something you really like instead.
2. If you have the money to try out new businesses then you’ve got to start out smart and ‘sample’ them until they are proven. I was watching the show ‘Shark Tank’ one night and one of the investors said he could take an internet business from zero to $50 million in no time. The thing he didn’t say was that it probably costs him millions to get there and that he’s probably lost a whole lot of money testing! Nobody knows exactly how a market is going to react and what exactly they’ll buy until they test.
As I like to say: “It’s all just a guess, until you test.”
I’ve heard many successful marketers talk about failed business ventures. Read any success story and you’ll hear it sprinkled with failures along the way. You HAVE to be willing and able to fail. You also have to be willing and able to TRACK!
It’s unbelievable to me how many people are actually oblivious to how many visitors they get to their website. It’s like some magical fairy is just going to tell them how to run their business?!
It just doesn’t work that way.
Ok, on to my advice.
Here’s the simplest plan I have for running a successful online business:
1. Work
2. Test
3. Track
4. Repeat What Works
5. Repeat 1 to 4
Basically I’m saying you NEED to figure it out. You need to use YOUR brain, not everyone elses. Yes, consultants and VAs and designers and great for advice but you make a big mistake when you rely on them to build your business FOR you.
Now if all my ranting hasn’t made you run for the hills I have a few more things to share with you:
1. Market From The Heart – it’s a free report all about marketing a business built around your likes, your personality and your true self. That way you attract a market that resonates with the REAL you and you’ll love your business when you do!
2. Free Marketing Tips – When you sign up for the free report above you’ll also get internet marketing tips as well as updates about new fantabulous blog posts right here on MarketersMojo.com
So if you’re looking for someone to teach you how to get rich overnight using the ‘magical’ internet you’re in the wrong spot.
If you’re ready to learn how to run a REAL business on the internet with real sweat and real rewards just enter your name and email below, I’ll take good care of ya!
Just enter your name and email here to get the freebies:
p.s. For the song version of this post, make sure you have a listen:
Yes! I couldn’t agree with you more! If you’re spending money on expensive “silver bullets” just stop–they’re not helping! If you want to succeed work hard and work smart!
I have no idea where this idea came from that starting an online business is any different from starting a real business. It’s not! The startup capital required might be lower, the sweat-equity on your part is not, and considering the endless competition, it might even be more!
.-= Marek´s last blog ..The Only Twitter Advice You Will Ever Need =-.
Twitter: AngelaWills
says:
I know it’s really time people realized it’s no different from offline as you say in terms of work. Business is business no matter what form.
Thanks so much for your comment!
How timely – I was just taking a break from writing a class for my Artist’s EDGE Membership – How to transition to full-time with your art/music business.
I’m saying almost all of the same things! Ha ha ha!
Business is business, right?
Debra
Twitter: AngelaWills
says:
They do say great minds think alike
I know you totally get this Debra!
I’m glad there are people like you out there teaching that business IS business no matter the format. It’s important that people get it, I just hate to see people going down the complete wrong path and following a fantasy.
I have to add I’m totally not against spending money on content, coaching, VAs, etc, but it’s got to be done smartly and with plenty of tracking. I look at my website stats on a daily basis and keep my accounting up to the date so I know exactly what I’m making at any time – you’ve got to in order to really know where you’re at!
I totally agree Angela. Anything worthwhile takes hard work and takes time. Even the magical “make from money from home” promise.
I think internet marketers are partially to blame though. Gurus and get rich quick sellers alike. Aren’t there way too many people selling “free money fast and forever?”
They give the rest of us a bad name. It’s become so common that I actually get people saying they LIKE the fact that I say nothing is easy and they’ll likely see no results for the first five or six months if that. (I teach a course on how to build an online jewelry business using SEO and niche marketing)
I wish everyone would tell it like it is instead of filling people’s minds with instant riches rubbish.
There! I ranted back
Good for you Angela, people in internet marketing don’t say it enough.
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Artbeads is Talking About Handmade Results =-.
Twitter: AngelaWills
says:
OH I totally agree that too many people are selling get rich quick programs and hype. Of course it’s also kind of a ‘chicken or the egg’ kind of debate where some people blame the marketers and others blame the market. I guess I figure they share responsibility. It is human nature for us to want it easy so it takes a lot of self-control not to be tempted!
I agree with telling it like it is. Some people won’t hear it though. But I’m happy to keep telling it like it is, the people who are ready will appreciate the honest advice without hype!
Good for you for being another smart marketer! I know we’re out there
Excellent formula for maximizing the likelihood of actually making money on the Internet.
I think people need to first create something of real value to real people, or promote such a product. Many of these “make money on the Internet” methods don’t fit that criterion.
.-= John Soares´s last blog ..Social Media Use Growing in the United States =-.
Twitter: AngelaWills
says:
Thanks John, I just made up that formula but I kinda like it too.
I totally agree that real value is really key.
Twitter: christinalemmey
says:
Great advice Angela! I haven’t spent money on any “silver bullets” but it sure is tempting sometimes!
Twitter: AngelaWills
says:
Oh I know it definitely is tempting. As I said before on this blog I never just talk ‘at’ my readers, most of the time I’ve been there! And I really was where a lot of new business owners are.
One time about four years ago I spent three days at an internet marketing event and the internet lifestyle was hyped up so much (with TONS of super awesome testimonials) that I actually agreed to pay $10,000 for a coaching program. I should say that I agreed to MAX out my credit card at $10K for a program. I came to my senses about a week later and got a refund but that was TOO close for comfort!
I’m just starting out and it’s people like you, who have an honest approach that keeps me excited for things to come. I know that building a business takes work, but when it’s work you love it’s worth it. Keep marketing from the heart. That’s where it all begins.
Twitter: AngelaWills
says:
Michaela thanks so much for your post, I really appreciate that feedback. Also I had a look at your website and it looks like we’re on the same track about making money doing what you love! All the best to you and it sounds like you’ve got a wonderful start in the RIGHT direction.
Twitter: lisamariemary
says:
Wow, girl – I spent some really dumb money in the beginning! Dumb! Luckily, it wasn’t thousands – because, I did not have that at my disposal. Had I – whoa – I just bet you I would have. You make some really great points – if I’d met you way back then, it sure would’ve helped!
.-= Lisa Marie Mary´s last blog ..I Dreamt That I Felt Beaten, Part Two =-.
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