(Make THIS the year that Your Business FINALLY Takes Off….and Use These Simple Tips, Tools & Technologies to Make it Happen in a Hurry!)
Ready?
1 – Simplify! Less is more.
More focus…on LESS stuff means more brainpower and a bigger bank account to boot. ONE big idea is a FAR better path to profit than a zillion possibilities. Keep your eye on the PRIMARY prize.
How? Pick ONE thing to do better than anyone else…..and invest ALL of your energy on that, and that alone. Your chances of being successful will go UP exponentially….and your ability to be distracted by silly and shiny side projects, will go down. Make the BIG picture your masterpiece….& let everyone else chase the crumbs.
2- Build a blog.
Make it the central "hub" of your online business. Interact. Engage. Entertain! The key going forward is being open, honest ……..AND strategically social.
Be yourself and just be real. Blogs work to sell just about anything and everything under the sun…..and most importantly, regardless of what you’re selling, you’re ultimately really selling yourself. Blogs do that better than just about anything else……so if you don’t have one now, work on having one by tomorrow..:-)
Be Unique. Stand up and out in a sea of sameness. Say something different…..or don’t say it at all. Be bold. Study your competition…..create character (and creativity) in your content. Be adventurous – take chances and be willing to gamble that the road LESS traveled is the right path to profit. (because it usually is)
3 – Automate everything you don’t love.
Use technologies. Use software. Use tools. Be smart. Be savvy….and be MINDFUL of your time. Let leverage earn you REAL automated income….while you focus on the stuff you truly love to do.
4 – Free is often enough!
Free keyword tools, free publicity, free blogs, and free traffic can be used to build a massive business…..without breaking your budget, or bank account before you make your first sale. Stay AWAY from stuff you can’t afford……until you can. (and even then be careful about what you "need" to succeed….it’s often far LESS than you think)
5 – Be Passionate!
Love what you do…and let is shine through. Be enthusiastic about your work……and make it fun. If what you do does NOT excite you…..it’s time to find something else that does.
6 – Give up on the gurus.
They know NOTHING you don’t. For the most part….they are a contemptable collection of CLOWNS, chameleons, carnivores and COPYCATS. This isn’t discovering a cure for cancer. Or learning Hindu Evolutionary cosmology. It’s learning to sell stuff on the internet…..and it really ain’t all that tough.
7 – Read less stuff. BUY less stuff. But DO more stuff.
Get your hands dirty and your face muddy. Make mistakes….but make them your own. Stop listening to used car salesmen who’ve mastered NOTHING other than the fine art and science of manipulating the masses. There is NO genius in that – and nothing worth emulating.
8 – Links Matter.
To the search engines….AND your income. Get involved. Participate. Comment on blogs. Share your ideas…..and the wealth. Give back to get more. Be PART of the communities that drive your markets.
Stop standing on the sidelines and waiting to jump in the game. Express yourself. Have an opinion and a point of view. Be genuine, honest and ready to engage. Dedicate an hour or two per week to wading in the warm and welcoming pool of participation….and your bank account will grow.
9 – Lists, lists and MORE lists.
Yes…..the fortune really IS in the List. So Build one. (or build many) The rewards are in the relationships. PERIOD. And MORE than the money…..the value in your business rests in the hands of those who will REWARD you for your recommendations, who trust what you say, and will seize & swarm on that which you sell.
10 – Re-purpose your content!
An article can become a press release. A press release can be a blog post. A blog post can become a great piece of link bait. A collection of articles can make a killer ebook – or list building inducement. An article can become a VIDEO.….and distributed all over the web for pennies. Learn to create content that has value…..and then learn to distribute it all over the web in a multitude of smart, savvy and beneficial ways.
Note: Turn your ARTICLES into video and watch your traffic soar. It may pay off slowly……but it WILL pay off in a major league way….and often when you least expect it and NEED it most!
11- Ask BETTER questions of yourself
…..rather than of others. The power of "how" can change your business….and you bank account to boot. How is my time best served today? How can I get MORE eyeballs in front of this offer. How can I make this PDF more viral? How can improve this blog post – or this offer – or make my content more compelling. Ask better questions always…and you’ll become a smarter marketer, and a more resourceful entrepreneur as well.
12 – Create Systems for EVERTHING.
Have a process flow. Create systems for every facet of your business. The success is TRULY in the system – in the sequence of steps that segue your contacts into customers and your content into clients.
Understand this and you will be 90% of the way home. (systems can be copied…..you don’t need to create your own – and often this is one of the FEW things the Guru’s can teach – because most success DOES start here….and those who’ve gotten a taste – more often than not, have a system to thank for their success) (because you know they ain’t getting rich on their good looks)
13 – Attention Affiliate Marketers: Be SELECTIVE with what you sell.
Let the market tell you what’s selling BEFORE you sell it. And go with your gut. Look at what’s on your own shelves – your own closets, and in your own house. Pick products that have NATIONAL advertising campaigns that bring name recognition to your efforts…and piggy back off 10′s of millions of dollars of THEIR money……for your campaigns.
In the entrepreneurial markets? Focus on recurring billing. Sell stuff that pays you more than once…..on the initial effort. As an affiliate….find services, and offers that are complimentary to your audience, AND are the sorts of services that your customers need, and that pay you multiple times, for a one time purchase. (note – I’m not talking about "forced continuity" or turning trusting customers into victims like auto-ship diet products….I’m talking about hosting, auto responders, keyword tools, etc)
14 – Think long term!
Think in terms of massive success. Always think strategies of scale. Can this 300 dollar a month income stream become 3000? How about 30,000? If it can’t…..adopt a new strategy…because there ARE other ideas that can. (and will if you find them and focus there) Don’t chase your tail for pennies. be willing to risk immediate rewards for sustainable long term growth that really matters. Pick products…and promotions that can become an integral part of an overall strategy and ETHOS to build something viable, valuable and with enduring opportunity to expand.
15 – Leverage your relationships.
Think viral – always. How can you make your readers, customers and list members become evangelists for your business? How can you encourage your readers to spread your ideas to THEIR readers, their friends? Read Seth Godin. The art of the idea virus IS an idea worth investing your time, effort and energy into making. Start your own affiliate program. Be "social". Let the efforts of others drive your traffic and build your business….leaving you more time on creating content worthy of their efforts.
16 – Concentrate on creating (and delivering) value.
No more……..no less. If you simply think of your ideas as your BIGGEST and most valuable asset – and your ability to deliver them effectively as the only thing standing between you and the success you deserve, you will constantly create better content….and constantly have an army of evangelists willing, able and ready to spread your ideas to the universe that matters MOST to your success.
17 – You can be HUMAN…and a hero.
We all have warts……(I have more than most) and being an "expert" in something does NOT mean you are perfect, or better than others, or can afford to be a jackass. Don’t take it all so seriously. This is internet marketing….only ONE slender shred UP on the totem pole of tacky from selling water purifiers, cutco knives or knock off cologne like I used to do in college. (anyone here interested in some 16 year old "almost" Liz Claiborne for women……cheap?)
No one likes (or trust) a know it all….and you don’t have to have all of the answers to be liked, respected and admired. Have fun – and dive in, as you are. Don’t wait until you have every answer before you jump in – you never will…..and you never will.
Lastly…….
18 – Give your work meaning….and make your work meaningful.
Pick projects that you KNOW you’ll stick with…..because they mean something you on a personal level. Learning to parlay your PASSION….into profit is the highest and best use of your time, energy and effort. Believe in something bigger than yourself and serve that.
Feel a sense of PURPOSE that compels you to succeed and defines your journey. Look at the big picture – and where what you spend your day doing everyday aligns with that vision.
Be it a god – the universe – or simply a commitment and responsibility to the greater good…a sense of service can be an incredibly motivating thing – and a powerful way to get the MOST of yourself to boot!
These are bit and pieces of my own plan for greater success in 2010 – so I hope you find them valuable.
Feel free to share them, TWEET them or simply give them away to your OWN list if they match your own ideals for running a business that feels good, does good and is super successful to boot!
P.S. ==> Per the coaching questions many of you have asked – I still have a few spots left in my one on one MAKE YOUR MARKETING MEANINGFUL mentoring program.…the details are here, and the prices are low enough right now that just about ANYONE who is ready for bigger things, and is already investing in their online business elsewhere……should be able to afford them.
I wish you all a wonderful and rewarding balance of 2010 – and truly hope that you are able to accomplish all that you wish to achieve for yourself in EVERY facet of your life!
PPS – I feel privileged to have you as a reader, and it is only the kindness that many of you have shown me, in your blog comments and emails alike, that keeps me committed to creating more content that I truly hope you enjoy….and that helps you thrive and succeed in these otherwise difficult and uncertain economic times.
And I hope…… as far as “money stuff” goes – the above list helps you prioritize what’s most important, and profitable for YOUR business……..& allows you more time, energy and INCOME to focus on what’s truly important in life…as those things rarely are found near a keyboard!
Ian
I read it the first time and now again; both times it’s good. Thanks again.
I have followed your comments as well as others, including the PotPied
Girl for a year now, trying to learn about internet marketing. I have been able to augment my private practice as a counseling psychologist, but not made a dime directly form activities online. Seems I’ve chased a bunch of “CLOWNS, chameleons, carnivores and COPYCATS.” But I have learned (albeit the hard way) that much is true and how better to manage myself in his jungle.
Thanks, Paul….I agree!
Hi Ian,
You make it all sound so easy! For me the biggest obstacle is limited time. Although I accomplished a lot in the past year, it wasn’t as much as I was hoping for (when you read some of the “gurus” out there, you may think things just magically happen overnight). Unfortunately, it takes time. I have to remind myself that if I keep working on it, I will eventually accomplish my goals.
I have no choice – this is my true purpose and passion!
Hi Joanna – it’s NOT easy – but I DO believe you will accomplish your goals if you stick with them! (If you want me to look at your most recent stuff – let me know via email and I’m happy to do it!)
Excellent thoughts, Ian.
Many thanks for your gems of wisdom!
Thanks, Eldo!
I like your style of writing. It kinda gets the fire going under my ass again. I hope you don’t mind if I copy and keep this.
Thanks, Gary – please do!
Ian, you’re the best. This is *exactly* what I needed to read today.
Finding the work that gives voice to our purpose, that helps create the new good thing we want in our universe…that is where we need to focus our energies.
And I have to laugh at your “contemptable collection of CLOWNS, chameleons, carnivores and COPYCATS.” You captured my thoughts exactly. And nice alliteration to boot
I’m about fed up to here with all them.
Thank you. Really. Thank you. More please
Thank you, Carol – I appreciate it! (I had like 3 more “C’s” I was going to include in that……but I didn’t want to push my luck..:-)
I completely agree, the vast majority of gurus are shameless and unscrupulous louts. I’ve grown tired of spending $77 or $97 for the latest and greatest rehash of crap.
I think I’ve gotten far more value from the free stuff they offer than anything I’ve paid for yet (with just a couple of exceptions).
I always look forward to your emails…and your way with words.
Great stuff Ian.
Art H
P.S. I would have loved for you to push you luck with 3 more C’s, lol
Thanks, Art – much appreciated!
Thanks again, Ian. I saved your post for this morning, because i knew it would be a jump-start for my day. I was not disappointed. Now if i could just keep the momentum going…..
Ian,
Once again your words ring true. Thank you for a good swift kick in the butt that I needed. I have been focused on something that I should not have been for the last three months. Now I need to get back on track.
This post was confirming what I already knew
B
Thanks, B! Thanks, Ron! I appreciate it!
Any Ian, do you have any advice for getting traffic to these articles we’re writing? There must be some sort of technique that these other articles I’m seeing in the “most-viewed” section are getting their views (well, it’s probably marketers like me clicking on them
)
Also, I’ve been able to hit a 19% CTR on one of my articles. Not bad!
Do you have a favorite resource box you use?
Thanks!
Hi Jeff – sure – there are lots and lots of ways to drive traffic to those articles – many are outlined in the blog posts here – you can use feeder sites – flock posts – clipped content – etc, etc – what lots of those people do is artifically inflate the numbers with social site submission and promotion stuff – ( I’m not sure if EZA has tools now to stop that – but I know some strategies that still work well) – you can tweet your articles – and if you have a big list for example – you can simply drive traffic to your articles that way as well – I’ve done that here in the past – and it can take a poorly performing article and turn it into a “winner” in a hurry…..although I don’t do it often in this niche because you run the risk of looking manipulative and turning people off. (i.e. – if I make a post here – and LINK to one of my aritcles – and send an email to the list driving them HERE – which links THERE – that works very well – but you can only try that so many times before it gets a bit stale.)
The best bet is to set up linking strucutures using feeder sites, etc – which have the most long term benefit for the article – (rather than the artificial count from social stuff) as well as giving your feeder sites clipped content as well – which generates traffic on that side of the street as well.
Hi Jeff,
I have really have enjoyed your information. As we say in my BNI group, “Givers Gain”….I’m a “one man band” debt resolution company located Michigan. Do you do Craigslist ad design? or can you point to someone that does….and posting services.
Sincerely,
Mike
Your humorous and pellucid style has gained another follower.
But why, oh why, do you not have social sharing buttons so that we, you’re ‘evangelists,’ can easily spread you around?
Ang
Thank you, Angie! (I just removed the social buttons a few days ago….ONLY because this blog has been loading so S-L-O-W-L-Y for a few days – that I deactivated all but the most essential plugins. I found that worked a bit better than staring at the screen and yelling – C’mon a whole bunch of times – although only slightly) Will re-activate, thanks for reminder!