A Common Mistake New Online Marketers Make
ByI’ve been giving this advice to beginners for a long time. You may have heard me say it already. However, it’s so important to keep in mind, I’m saying it again!
“X amount of work” focused on just a couple of things yields FAR more positive results than the same “X amount of work” spread across many things.
This applies to many areas of your life. But it is especially relevant to Internet marketing.
When new marketers learn how Internet marketing really works, they understand there are MANY methods that different marketers use with great success.
For example, there are marketers who devote a lot of time to video marketing…and they do very well. Others may put their prime focus on article marketing or social marketing or PPC or simply SEO.
LOTS of stuff works…but you can’t do it all!
The worst thing a new marketer can do with a new site is to get distracted with too many shiny objects. I recently had a client who was doing all the right things with respect to SEO. He was creating new site content and also publishing articles. He did that for a few weeks. And then for some reason he decided he should ramp up his social marketing. His on-site SEO and off-site SEO ended while he was working on twitter and FaceBook.
I got him back on track, but I can’t tell you how common that behavior is.
The marketing methods I listed above ALL WORK. All you have to do is pick ONE and stay with it! Become an expert at marketing your site with ONE of those methods.
After you become an expert with that method, you’ve applied massive action for a significant amount of time, AND your site is doing well. THEN you may consider adding another method.
But don’t jump from this to that before things are working. If you do that, nothing will ever work for you…you’ll get frustrated…then you’ll quit. It’s sad, but that scenario is the most common situation most new marketers find themselves in.
Relentless Focused Action….on one thing at a time!
Steve I concur
255 pages of content and many ezine articles and other a few articles scribd etc.the ultimate break through has not occurred and I never wanted to be a marketing guru but I felt a little affiliate marketing would be a winner,
Five years of affiliate marketing banner ads posted and not one that is mark it down not one sale. Is there such a thing as some pirating from my site with sales being pirated without the affiliate knowledge and someone else gleaming some revenue from my site?
Of all the advice pertaining to Internet success this is THE absolute best! It’s so easy to get excited and interested in new gigs, and pretty soon you’re like a cat after a flock of pigeons who goes after them all and winds up with nothing. What’s the secret to success? Focus, Focus, Focus!
Hi Steve,
I love the “Relentless Focused Action” thing, I memorised those three words when I heard you say them in an interview (with Sterling and Jay) sometime ago.
All three are so important and their opposites: giving up, distraction and paralysis by analysis are probably the top three reasons people fail in internet business.
I was in a bit of a rush today checking my emails but as ever yours deserved a read and a click though to your blog for more reading.
I’m glad I took the time out as you made some very good points.
Many thanks,
Jason
Great post Steve! Thank you, it is so easy to lose focus!!
Hi Steve,
You’re right! Although I know this, I come up with so many “next big thing” ideas and always lose focus.
Lou
Hi Wiley,
I remember looking at your site in the past… I took another look.
I like to know how much actual traffic is resulting in no sales. Also I’d like to dig into the what, where , how long, what keywords were used, etc. for your current traffic. Also, having an “online store” as you do with nothing but affiliate banners is not the way to go. I’d target specific items and advertise for them on those pages. Not trying to sell you anything, but if anyone was a candidate for my “talk to steve” program…you are it.
Thanks Earl. I was gone all day yesterday and half of Tuesday and trying to catch up today. I’ll get back to you soon about our call.
Thanks Lou, Mark and Jason! ….let me know if I can help you with anything. Glad you like the info. Lou, just knowing you are vulnerable to “shiny objects” is the first step!
Wiley asked if it’s possible to be making sales and not getting credit. I have to say yes.
A few years ago I was writing credit articles for a gentleman who encouraged me to set up my own site to offer “free credit reports.” I did, and was excited to make a first sale in a relatively short time.
Then my son decided to sign up for it and he went through my affiliate link to do so. I never got paid for that, and the company says they “just can’t imagine why not.”
There never was a second sale credited to my account and I stopped adding content. When the URL ran out I didn’t renew it.
So I suppose the message is – be careful about your affiliations. Know you’re dealing with someone reputable before you go to the time and expense to promote their products.
There is a nifty name for this affliction Steve, BSOS or Bright Shiny Opportunity Syndrome. I know it well as do many of my creative colleagues and right brained clients. We are easily bored, tire of rinse repeat and chase all manner of opportunities, new tools, new learning, and new coaches. It also profoundly hinders success and sabotages steady results and returns. It is a battle I still struggle with, and guessing I always will.
Some have managed to overcome it with staff, think Sir Richard Branson, he is a classic case but as he creates each idea he turns it over for development so he can move on. Few of us have that ability yet, but some of us will get there if we just stick to one idea long enough!
BTW, where is your RT button?? Your FB like button? And your share option? I truly didn’t see it and those aren’t BSOS but one time installs that fuel your reach and your traffic :). LOL
Nice comments Melissa!….yep, I’m forever thinking, “I need to get those on there”….then they go to the back burner. But no more. Gona get them on there now!
Wow Steve,
It is like you wrote that just for me. You are so right. I’ve had my website for 7 years now and you have helped me here and there with it. But about a year ago I decided to start twitter, facebook, news letters, and making videos. I’ve added way to many things on my plate, and I’m frustrated. I can not give 100 % to any one thing any more including my site. So Great advise! It’s kind of like I knew it, but I needed someone to tell me… and yes, I’m going to print this and put it right next to my computer.
THANK YOU,
I love getting your emails and your advise.
Thanks again,
Judi
So nice to hear from you! I love your site…. http://www.lovetosew.com ….what a perfect example of a niche site! I did a bit of looking about your site. By far, the single most important thing you need to do is get some backlinks. I checked Yahoo Site Explorer and you have only a few still. You have about 800 pages on your site it said, but very low backlinks. If you start adding backlinks, your Google traffic will skyrocket in the coming year.
Here is an article you should read: http://wordpress-17920-39382-109004.cloudwaysapps.com/off-page-seo/
Morning steve
I have been listening to your advice, I’m Still a newbie and I will not give up,
with your help and the help with my other afffilates. I will get results I have been and always will teach about self improvement, my afiilates have been carefully chosen, everyone has been researched I want the best to represent so I can fill more confident to have I’m my site. I love to reasearch have many many books on self improvement now.I’ll always try to help others improve thier self esteem
anytime I can. about 20 years ago I gave this girl some advice seen her rescently and she told me that was the best advice she has ever gotten all I did was help her self esteem and get her going.keep up with your advice.believe me it helps and in return I will help others focus too.
Cool…sounds all good! Keep in touch and let me know if I can help you with anything ever.
This was a great post .. useful and informative ..i liked this ““X amount of work” focused on just a couple of things yields FAR more positive results than the same “X amount of work” spread across many things.” True !!
Hello Steve,
I have to say this is a great post especially for those new to the industry.
For newbies, it is only natural for you to be distracted and to lose your concentration and focus. When you have started on something, you have to put your fullest attention to it to be able to master it. If you don’t and instead you shift your attention to something else halfway, you won’t be a master in any. Yes, you’d probably get bits and pieces of Info here and there but you won’t master it. One thing at a time. Slowly, you’ll master more and more techniques and will be a master in every aspects. 🙂
Thanks Steve,
Such a solid basic principle, and yet so easy to overlook. I appreciate the reminder.