Thanks for all the responses on the post below.
This is hugely beneficial, and really helps to give me an overview of where people are at.
What I’d really like you to do now is answer 2 very fundamental questions.
This is your chance to really get the best out of me, and the more you push me, the more you will get.
1. What do you find most difficult in your online journey?
Some ideas to get you going:
- focus
- information overload
- technical difficulties
- can’t find a niche
- don’t know where to start
- traffic
- offers
- etc
2. What would help you most to move forward?
Examples:
- step by step systems
- coaching of various sorts
- training on mindset, driving traffic, product creation, joint ventures, etc.
There’s a huge amount I can share with you, however we’ll get much further by knowing what some of the specifics are.
So bring it on guys, tell me what you want!
-Matt
© 2010, Matt Wadsworth. All rights reserved.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Matt
Firstly Thanks for being so generous, secondly thanks for being so inspirational.
Ok here are my 2
1. is it possible to compete with a topselling internet product if you try and create an edge by adding more value?
2. when ‘modelling’ someone elses success ie creating a duplicate product that has an existing high demand market, how important is ‘time’ factor ie beating someone else from modelling it – the sooner i create the sooner i can tweak it to make it slightly different( competitive)? or is it purely a question of persistance and keeping going til it is done ( personal)
Hi Matt,
First off, I wanted to say I really enjoyed your interview with Chris. I thought it was great information and really inspiring. Here are the answers to your questions
What do you find most difficult in your online journey?
In terms of technical difficulties, I don’t have that since I am good with computers, but I see that a lot of other people here do have those problems. My problems are:
-Finding a niche which has good quality products that I can enjoy making sites around and having affiliate offers that sell well.
-After this, the problem is creating good content, and since I absolutely HATE writing, I’ve outsourced this mostly now. But I’m having problems of finding good and reliable outsourcers. I’ve abandoned many sites simply because I feel that the content I’ve provided is not good enough and therefore I have trouble commit to something I don’t believe in.
-Traffic generation that is relatively quick, but wont bankrupt me. I’ve tried PPC before, and although I have money to put into IM, if I cant make a profit with it, there’s no point.. I’m trying SEO lately, but this is probably where I’m most weak at because I’m more of technical guy and most of SEO is creating content with backlinks. Therefore it costs a lot of money to outsource everything. Its also incredibly slow compared to PPC and with all the outsourcing and time wasted, its starting to rack up close to PPC. Also, I feel that SEO techniques are extremely tedious and all over the place; its hard to go create backlinks from so many places all with different rules and formats.
What would help you most to move forward?
-An outsourcing tutorial, with some common mistakes.
-A way to find a niche that satisfies the above criteria.
-A way to drive traffic that also satisfies the above criteria.
The problem with me is that I’m not that social, and am a very private individual. So I dont like promoting myself, either through social networking, JV partnerships, etc. I’m also very paranoid about privacy (a bad thing in today’s age, I know). I’ve come from a technical, geeky background and have trouble with the social side of things. I’ve found myself drowning in technical details or touching up the style of a website all because its fun to me, but I realize that that is not how I’m going to make money. I’m trying to focus now more on the things that will actually generate revenue, which is offer and traffic. But eventually I like to be able to remove myself from my business and have everything automated.
Thanks
- Jarvis
What I need help with the most?
Finding a niche and monetizing it in an ethical way.
What I would find most useful?
A step by step guide combined with coaching. I really need some feedback on my efforts.
Thanks for this Follow Through Matt’
Most Difficult —- Focus and Information Overload
What would help me most —-
A step by step program using Chris Rempel’ s Affiliate Genie
I really appreciate your sincerity
Cheers, Gerald
What I find most difficult is generating traffic and sales.
What would help me the most would be training on mindset, driving traffic, product creation, joint ventures, etc.
Thank you,
Dean
hi matt,
my answer would be traffic, traffic and more traffic both of your questions.
Issue:
What actually works?
Move forward: samples of working sites and the the comment and arrow: >>>>DO THIS… say create one for seo, one for ppc, one for email, etc… based on what someone likes. Perhaps a quicker way to begin to see success while building the longer term base and perspective. Mini successes help build confidence when the whole seems to be against your ideas.
Thank you for your time and insights,
Craig
Otherwise, its down the rabbit hole of distraction.
Main problem? Evaluating which IM model is most likely to meet my income/workweek goals, given my limited technical skills. I’d like to be able to establish and run a business which allows me to take 2-3 weeks off at a time, on occasion, yet will still generate $4-5,000 a month.
What would help most? Mentoring to help in the evaluation and to help establish and maintain a focus!
1) information overload
so much out there in the market, and some of it = trash
2) coaching of various sorts
definatley this within certain areas, like my challenge is the tachnicla side (redirects/etc)
Some long winded responses so I will keep mine short for you.
1)information overload, don’t know where to start and offers.
2)step by step systems and limited coaching. I say limited as one person can only mentor so much and I wouldn’t expect much.
Thanks bud
a good plr blueprint. how to repackage the content quickly, best way to do research, the most cost effective plr resource. best and most cost effective way to do graphics, etc.. From start to finish
Number one difficulty is BELIEVABILITY in many of the online offers leading to informaton overload and inability to pull the trigger on something that might REALLY work.
Somewhere out there I know there is a simple program that REALLY
works, is affordable, is laid out in 1-2-3 steps, and probably isn’t offered by one of the many greedy gurus. Where is that person or persons and program(s)?
#1 Is most defiantly FOCUS, my mind will drift when I should be “focusing” on a task at hand, (info. overload).
#2 where to start – I know what I should be doing, But can’t seem to “get it together”.
#3 is just plain lack of cash
A thorough, complete step by step action plan would really help! leave nothing out, even the seemingly simple, no brainer stuff, needs to be included.
Hi Matt,
Thanks again for all you are doing. You are an inspiration. I do suffer from information overload. I think for those of trying to get started would love detailed step by step systems to let us know that we can accomplish the hardest task: the first one.
Thanks again,
David
focus
information overload
technical difficulties
can’t find a niche
don’t know where to start
traffic
offers
etc
Matt -
Once again . . .very good questions they( items listed above) ALL matter, all of the points you made are intertwined
When one is “conquered / mastered”it may or may not help in the next step
It would be safe to say that most people lack in FOCUS. Myself included
Lack of FOCUS is a form of self sabotage / doubt about your
“internet journey”
It is my stance at this point, if the student can see some results in a fairly short period of time.
That the FOCUS problem will start to diminish
RESULTS = better FOCUS
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, is a major brick wall for many. It has been for me
CASE IN POINT
I like many have worked very hard to realize some level of results on the internet
For several years (more than I care to admit) with little to no success
As I made my way thru the internet jungle. I tried some things on Craigs List . . . . WHY??
My experience is that the RESULTS were fairly quick, which in turn helped me stay FOCUSED
An that the TECHNICAL steps on Craigs List is about as simple as it can be
I have been working Craigs List for almost 2 years . . .it is my so called “claim to fame” as far as the internet goes.
My average income is about at $2500 US
Yes it has it’s problems far from being ideal, that for sure!
Why do I stay with it?
RESULTS
Little to no TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES =Helps me stay FOCUSED
It is Internet Marketing in it’s VERY simplest form
In a nut shell
SIMPLE
FAST
Little to no TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ( if possible )
= Focus
= Results
= Consistency
= Belief in Self
= Determination
= All the above helps create INCOME
Hope I made some sense and was not too long in my point of view
Buy the way . . .I want very much to graduate away from Craigs List. I’m grateful however it’s time to move on, in a big way
Thank you Skye
Hey Matt-
I guess my biggest problem is fear of failure. I keep looking for someone to help me that will be there to help me all the way through. I have a good business providing a service for clients that provides for my family, but hate doing it. I want to make money without me having to break my back providing it. I want to do something once and have it continue to make money for me while I work on other projects. Right now, I get started on something and don’t follow it through because I don’t see results quickly and I FEAR that I am doing something wrong. I don’t want to waste my time. I guess I am afraid to fail, so I quit early to find help elsewhere. I don’t think I am alone in this either. My biggest help would be one on one coaching. Someone who will be there to guide me. I have paid a lot of money for this in the past, only to not get what I paid for.
Thanks for your inspiration.
Max
Hi Matt, here are the 2 questions with my answers.
1. What do you find most difficult in your online journey?
-information overload – although I have learned some practical steps and know the value of articles, lenses, backlinks, GREAT content, etc., it would be very helpful to have an honest, truthful map
-technical difficulties – well, sometimes it is the little things that can kill you. I’ve run into some technical questions with Chris Rempel’s affiliate genie and I’ll be following up with him on those – I just have to make the time to contact him. His product is great, but I’m just climbing over a few learning bumps with it. However, if you’re looking at helping people to address technical difficulties (and we know how broad that subject can be), I believe that a key factor to success is to create training material from the perspective of someone who has never done it before.
2. What would help you most to move forward?
-step by step systems – now THIS is of paramount importance. But I’ve seen step-by-step systems that occasionally leave one with unanswered questions about some of the steps. And I know it is hard to anticipate all possible questions, but having an accurate, simple step-by-step process that really presents a ‘do this, now do that’ approach (and WHY) is the key to getting things done and helping people to take it on themselves and learn how to do it on their own from that point on – and they in turn can then help others. Sort of a ‘train the trainer’ approach – but very simple yet comprehensive.
-coaching of various sorts – this is for those times when the step-by-step stuff either missed something or when someone just needs to know that they are on the right track and to keep going. I think that way too many people head down a path but aren’t sure if they’re doing it right, so after a time period of ‘work-work-work’ and nothing happening as fast as they want it to, they don’t know if they’re doing it right so they become apathetic about it or frustrated and stop or change over to something else. All it would take is a peer review type of approach or a buddy system whereby someone who has ‘been there, done that’ could reach out to help someone who is a little behind them in the game, and help them go forward.
Thanks for listening Matt and for being so open to helping people to change their lives – in my books, that is truly the mark of greatness.
Cheers,
Pat
Matt: thankyou for your intelligent, reasoned, and thoughtfull approach. Perhaps it’s my musician background, but I could really relate to your journey. People, check out Andy Bounds for a great insight into communication: he had a blind mother, and he learned to explain the pertinent parts of what he was seeing to her + discovered that this was a good skill for PR / Marketing.
Most of the IM world seems to be an online “pound store” at inflated prices.
1. profitable quality offers, and the strategy to sell, or finding offers that covert.
2. I’m a self starter. I guess I’m looking for more strategic / consulting type input, but that’s typically not very affordable.
Hi Matt!
Funny that I should get your email right now. I was JUST listening to Chris’ interview with you. (Great info. BTW!)
In response to your questions, I would say the most difficult thing is staying focused. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a LOT of improvements I can benefit from. But I think “focus” allows everything else to be accomplished.
What would help me move forward? Actually, I’m in a nice “groove” right now, so I think I just need to keep moving forward with what I’m doing. And, believe it or not, I think listening to your interview reinforced that.
I appreciated the fact that you said it’s important to find out what you CAN do, focus on those and get the rest done thru others.
Secondly, I like the idea you and Chris brought up about the fact that the Internet is a “medium”…relationships are what’s important. That reinforced the idea of what I need to do is focus on what PROBLEMS people have and how I can solve those. And approaching things with a spirit of being interested in helping, first and foremost.
Right now, I’ve carved out a nice little niche of helping companies get found on-line. (One client has 4 links, page 1 of Google for the keywords I’ve targeted, another has 2. Incidentally, they’re in different industries, so that has nothing to do with results whatsoever.)
Anyway, I’m going to need people to do a lot of the production end of things, which I’m TERRIBLE at! Now, I’m just going to focus on cobbling together what I need to get the next production out and then concentrate on hiring the rest out. So, right now, I just need to digest and continue putting into action what I have and know. But let’s stay in touch. Thanks much for the info and inspiration!
Hey Matt
Just wanted to say a listen to your interview a few times now and it’s caught me quite a dilemma. Trying to decide whether to release an e-book or report whether to charge for give it away for free. The information that it contains. I think will help a lot of people that are starting out in affiliate marketing. I’ve been online now since 1991. So actually before the craze started of Internet marketing. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go in programs some due well but, unfortunately, I’ve also seen a lot of people get ripped off, sometimes on purpose by websites. Sometimes unintentionally I guess, or at least that’s what I would like to believe. Saw too many people jump online, wanting to make money and jump into this program or that program start promoting this product or that product put in allot of time and effort and not make anything. There’s a few reasons for that.
So I guess my dilemma is when you decide what to give away for free. And when do you say, you know what this is beneficial and is worth something. I truly want to be able to help people however, also caught in the realization that sometimes when somebody get something for free, They don’t take it seriously evaluate its true potential. I’ve been in joint ventures with some very good people with some very good ideas. However, I have also saw them fall apart because of people’s greed. So if I can and I’m not sure if you agree with this. Even on the Internet, a one piece of advice for joint ventures is you still need documentation indicating what each individual person will do what their responsibility is and how any such profits will be divided. I have seen too many people just because it’s on the Internet. Not treat it like a real business and lose money and time. My question would be when do know when to give a gift. Or when to say. I’m going to give you something that contains information that I believe is valuable for realistic price. As I’ve been one of those people that see something and bought into the sell page to find out what I’m bought is not worth the money I paid. I think it’s absolutely fantastic that you’re offering people support and help. It’s too bad a lot of marketers don’t realize that this is a huge marketplace and we can help each other, the fact is millions of people on the internet and there will still be tons of customers for everyone to make money.
Like offer something here, and if you don’t think it’s valuable to please feel free to delete it from this post. For any new affiliate marketers. If you really want to take this seriously and make money. You need to treat it like a business. It will consume your time and your energy if you don’t think ahead. Your money and your time, and You get nothing but frustration.
1. treat it like a business
2. When you go to a site to sign up as an affiliate. You need all the details. It may be time consuming and even a little boring, but I find too many people that don’t bother reading and just clicked yes I agree to whatever terms and click submit and they can get burnt way.
3. Know your product or service take the time to get to know the ins and outs of that product or service
4. Believe in what you’re selling(if you really want to make it big reputation goes a long way. And if you’re putting your real name in conjunction with programs or services , beware We are judged by what were associated with.
5. Learn to set up small page (not necessary but I think a good practice if you can do it) that people go to and then are directed to the program or service. This way you can sign-up for tracking service and be able to track the number of people that go through the site to the program or service. This will help ensure, Or at least have an idea of the amount people that you actually sent to a product or service.
While this is way bigger than what I thought it was going to be just wanted to write a little note. And I’m rambling on. If there are grammar or spelling mistakes, I apologize to use speech recognition program to do my writing.
Best of luck everybody.
Sorry, just another note, the website that I have on a link is mainly for my off-line business for catalogue mail-order company, I run with my wife in Edmonton, Alberta.
Cliff
I think personal coaching would help me. I believe I have many skills and lots to offer but I’m having a hard time pushing through to the next level. You see, I grew up abused until the age of 15 when the person who was causing all the pain finally went to jail for what he was doing. I grew up feeling worthless and told everything I do would fail.
Well I haven’t given up and you would think I would have gotten rid of his “wisdom” about me out of my head by the age of 41.
If you go to my MySpace page and hear the song I have there you would understand how I feel. Also, there is a radio story about me you can listen to about me for something I do for most of my customers, I truly care about our customers whether they are for the company I work for or my own.
I poured out my soul to you. Why? I don’t know… it just felt like I had to. Whether I’m heard or not.
http://www.myspace.com/frankr
Frank
Hello Matt,
First of all thank you for sharing your experience with all of us. I think it is very inspirational to hear your story.
What is important to know in internet marketing is not only what works… but what does not work … I personally have learned more from my mistakes.
It seem s like a lot of the “big names” are happy to share the successes with you but keep the failures to themselves…. creating the illusion that somehow the road to victory is paved with one golden step after another when there is really a lot of trial, error, frustration and then eventually yes success.
1 – The most difficult part is weeding through all the information and finding the specifics that actually work from A-Z. There is so much info out there, and I’m sure it all works to some degree…
2 – But it is hard to find a step by step list of what to do. I know, we can test and find out what works for us. But none of the “experts” tells all. They just tell some. Which isn’t helpful, because you can’t build a business by skipping past steps.
Thanks.
Question 1: What do I find the most difficult? Believing that this can work. Yes, I’ve heard of all the success stories. You mentioned casually in your interview making some good dollars in your first month. I would kill for that, just the feeling that this works. My articles at ezinearticles.com rank highly within hours sometimes, traffic is growing , but I just am not selling and I am like the movie guy in the desert who’s dragging himself along with his few remaining ounces of strength. Something draws me to the net. I’m like the other fella. He talked of self-sabotage… I guess that’s me.
Question 2: What can you do to help? I have no idea. How do you start a camp fire in the pouring rain with wet matches, soaked wood and trembling fingers?
The most difficult part for me is not necessarily finding a niche, but making a decision on one. I tend to over-think things, and I start thinking things like someone’s already doing that, or there are already lots of people doing that and things of that nature.
Actually, I’ve been involved with online business for a very long time. But I’ve noticed for a very long time that my “head” and my thoughts tend to sabotage me. Or, I sabotage myself.
For your second question, I’m very knowledgable about IM. I already know how to do just about everything anyone would want or need to know. So as far as help is concerned, I think the most beneficial form of help would just be some guidance with choosing a niche and getting started with it.
If you’re thinking about creating a product or service to sell to us, not all of us are in a position to buy it. I would really like some kind of personal mentoring, but it has to worth your time. And right now, I’m not in a position to buy your time unless maybe you’d want to consider bartering. Or perhaps I could do something for you.
I read your interview with Chris Rempel, and I thought it was great. Of course I’m familiar with JV’s, but I learned a lot from your interview. It’s something I would like to do, as well, when I have a product together.
I actually prefer creating products rather than doing affiliate marketing. I like the creation process so that’s something that appeals to me quite a lot.
Thanks for your time.
problems = get started and lose steam.. shiny object syndrome… laziness, and then i lose faith in whichever path i start again.
help = coaching to keep to plan and i need to be sure that he really believes in me and the approach i’m taking – he really believes that i have picked the right direction and will be successful!
For me the most difficult thing is traffic. Though I can do good SEO and know lots about creating web sites, I really struggle from lack of traffic. And the countless e-books on creating traffic don’t much help, there are some good tips in most of them, but still it’s really difficult to get organic traffic that I need.
I have a web site with good content and nice design, around 3 months old, but to dominate in search engines, it takes so much time.
So, if I’d discover a way to get to the first page of google with a new web site in a shorter time (1-2 months for example), I’d be totally happy.
1. What do you find most difficult in your online journey?
– Information Overload
2. What would help you most to move forward?
– One on one coaching – I would like someone I can speak to and ask questions that are specifically relevant for my situation.
Thanks for the awesome content!
Amir
Amir Anzur´s last blog ..How To Build A Customized Facebook Page For Your Business
Hi Matt,
1) What do I find most difficult online?
Information overload – too much info that I dont know where to start and what to do with it all !! Also, Worrying too much about doing everything myself and spending too much time thinking about the HOW then actually doing it! I need to simplify things.
2) What would help most to move forward?
STEP by STEP systems. ALso, knowing what to do first – how to put things in place. Help simplifying things & having a process in place.
Thanks Matt for your help!
Harvey Glen
Check out my Blog – http://www.harveyglen.wordpress.com
Matt,
For me, the problems are:
1) Focus – By nature I have a butterfly mind, so staying on track and ‘completing’ something is my biggest problem.
2) Information overload – This is related to the lack of focus thing. I get distracted by a lot of different ways of making money that turn out to be a dead end.
To move forward, I would say I need:
1) Some sort of coaching – probably a Mentor or Mastermind Group, where I HAVE to be accountable for what I SAY and PROMISE I’ll do! Someone to kick me in the backside and keep me on track (as I write this, I’ve just realised how pathetic I’m coming across!)
Anyway, that’s how things are in my world.
But here’s the big admission: I’m a semi-pro Copywriter. I ALWAYS meet client deadlines, but when it’s something I want to achieve for myself on the Internet, I never seem to get it together. How weird is that?
Anyway, that’s where I am and hope that helps you Matt.
Warm regards,
Frank
Frank´s last blog ..
What do you find most difficult in your online journey?
staying focused and not falling for the latest scheme, system or ebook// this could be corrected with a quick start and scalable project
What would help you most to move forward?
a step by step system with support // either a moderated forum or email support
thanks
Ken
Matt
Your a great inspiration to us all, Your Interview with Chris Rempel was fantastic
thanx Matt
Davey
Hi Matt, here are the 2 questions with answers.
1. What do you find most difficult in your online journey?
-information overload
-technical difficulties
2. What would help you most to move forward?
-step by step systems
-coaching of various sorts
-training on mindset, driving traffic, product creation, joint
ventures, etc.
-Possibilities to translate some of the training into Dutch,
French and other countries for commercial reasons.
Thanks Matt, wait for your reply.
Regards, Bas