Now that I’m a college graduate (unbelievable, eh?), there is time left in my day to do this internet marketing thing. And I am relearning something from years ago when my career first kicked off…
ELBOW GREASE.
There are marketers who have been kicking the tires of making workd for years and are yet to build a sustainable income. The most successful marketers in the world will agree with me when I say to them, the #1 thing you are missing in your business is elbow grease and hard work.
Allow me to clarify…
Checking your Clickbank account isn’t work.
Replying to emails isn’t work.
Picking the brains of other marketers isn’t work.
Hard work is writing good articles, building quality links back to your websites, creating opt-in email lists for your websites, and building healthy websites that solve problems of readers.
For example, this is the process that I take when building a site:
1) Get to know the niche.
2) Pick a few products to promote.
3) Build a basic website.
4) Test the market with PPC.
5) Write articles that link back to the site.
6) Build the SEO.
7) Scale.
This is it. There’s nothing fancy smancy about this process. There is no trick to how I do it, and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to do it. The problem is that most people think that there is some magic bullet to making money online. That, however, is not the case. It is all a matter of building, testing, and scaling what works.
If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again:
The biggest mistake that people make is trying to learn TOO MUCH and not putting into action what they learn. If you apply half as much as you learn, you will be miles ahead of the rest of the people who try to make it in this game.
Your assignment today: pick a niche. I don’t care what it is, but here’s a few that you could start with: singing, playing guitar, going “green,” fat loss, dieting, poker, pet training, gardening, crafting, marriage help, computer spyware, baseball.
Take your pick.
If you have been in this game for a long time and are yet to do any of the six steps listed above, pick a niche NOW and begin to research it. What are people buying? What are they searching for? What types of benefits are they looking for? What products would match well with the market?
I’m actually getting excited as I write this… this is why I’m going back to the basics. It’s not difficult to make money online… it just takes ELBOW GREASE.
Hey Ryan, this is good stuff. I’ve got to get cracking on my business. Thanks for the kick in the pants.
Its funny how stupid people really are though. Ryan your a smart kid for sure. But if people arnt doing this, there is a 90% chance that they will never go anywhere online. This is not for everyone.
Thanks Ryan. This is so true. Why do I get paralyzed in the details? I needed this. Thanks for posting!
Thnak You Bryan for all your great advice, I really do appreciate it!
Bryan, Imay be one of the people youre describing. I think things over too long and I spend ALL my time reading e-mails(Picking Brains) instead of applying myself to the program. One “monster at the door” is this PPC thing,no-one ever talks about the process of bidding and “How much” to bid. I’d rather start somewhere I could advertise for “Free” and see where that leads me.
Thanks For BEING tHERE!
I got sidetracked a little while ago, and just recently resolved to do just this. I’m about halfway through my site, and hope to finish it soon and start sending traffic. The hardest part is keeping going and not getting distracted, but I just keep reminding myself of why I’m doing this.
Hi Ryan,
Takpercaya from RJ forum here.
Thanks for the simple but effective way to promote a niche.
We miss u!
Ryan, your content is- as always- invaluable!
Those 7 steps are crucial.. To many people are so worried about building a fancy, flashy site. That takes up all of their time, they don’t focus on those 7 basic steps, but then they wonder why their site gets zero hits, sales, etc.
My site is only a few weeks old- I have my niche, product and basic site. I’m still working on keyword-focused content pages; once I have at least 20 to 30 pages I will start back-linking and adding other monetizing methods.
Keep these great vids coming!
Ryan,
You just hit it so on the head. I think I was looking for something that didn’t take that work and elbow grease you speak of. When I figured out it is like every thing else,As to you get what you put in, I was so much better off. Thanks for the reality check.
From The Office Of:
Keith Johnson
I agree and doing that is better then twitting or surfing
I just started writing articles as of last week and i’ve been in that state of learning buying and learniing more for the last 7 months geting nowhere but now i’am at that state of mind of taking action..
Thanks for the basics methods.
P.S. are you in your Boxers j/k
-Andre
Ryan,
I think everyone has to explore the world, but eventually they come home. They soon learn that what they have at home is just as good as what the rest of the world has to offer.
The same with internet marketing. Eventually we all have to get back to the basics, as you say.
Jackie
http://www.car-seats-for-baby.com
Ryan, again, you hit the nail on the head! Most of the people I talk to are ‘waiting for the right time’ – which we all know never comes. You have to “just do it”. Will you make mistakes? Most definitely! Will these mistakes kill you? Definitely not! I have been on both sides of the coin; I spent 6 months ‘studying’ – reading every ebook and such I could get my hands on and trying to ‘be ready’ to start. I spent more time reading my emails from a lot of lists I got on with everyone telling me their product was the best thing since sliced bread. I decided just to go ahead and do it and found that I pretty much wasted a lot of time as I thought I knew the answers, but I didn’t know the questions until I actually did it. One BIG piece of advice – go through all the emails you get and if they only try to sell you something, just unsubscribe! Ryan is still on my ‘good’ list as he does provide solid tips and information – way to go Ryan!
Thanks Ryan “Captain Obvious”!
Sometimes due to all the emails we get about “the next best thing since sliced bread” technique we get tottaly distracted.
Speaking of distractions…increase your squeeze page sales by having NO DISTRACTONS on them…just tell people what you want them to buy and why it is good for them..NO Adsense, no text ad blocks- just pure content (but not too much)..oh, and have an opt-in as well.
The work is not the hang up for me,it’s the knowing what to do.Like right now I am trying to understand this auto responder ,its all so new and un familar to me.I am sooo confused when trying to set up all of it ,such the adcopy how to set the follow up letters and such,I find myself reading and rereading the learing articles,frequently asked questions and directions so I never really do anytihing except read asnd trying to figure it out
A standing ovation AND a great big High Five for this post!
Well said, Ryan!! I hope we all take the time to read this THREE times!
Jennifer
~PotPieGirl
Holy crap.
Thanks, Ryan. Talk about telling it like it is.
So very true. There a lot of craps been offered over the net . I wasted a lot of time & don’t seem to get the results !
Ryan,
Luckily, I didn’t know of many other methods when I first started. I simply put half of the the best content I knew of on my site…and the other half I created I submitted to ezinearticles, squidoo, and huppages. About 200 posts on my site so far and about 200 articles on other sites pointing back to my site.
Result? Now, after two years my blog gets 6,000 visitors per day (all natural free traffic) and makes me a full-time income. Not quite to the 6 figure level, but will surely get there.
There is a lot to be said for hard work. I’m guessing that anyone could be a big player in their niche with 400 articles in 2 years. There probably is a faster way, but I know this way works.
Awesome post!
Rusty
I would like to hear more about “taking time to research a niche”. How can I find out what people are buying in the “computer spyware” niche, for example? Im familiar with a keyword search, but finding what is being purchased? Help me wrap my brain around that Ryan.
Otherwise, thanks for laying it out like that. A REAL 6 steps article. Awesome!
Yep you hit the nail on the head, searching on line for an easier way to make money will never make you money, build your business step by step, research your keywords and give good content , in time you will make money, and this will grow, forget the 20 grand a month..
It will happen eventually but you will start to see sales every week then every day, then a few times a day! It works…. if you work …. have a plan, tick things off the list as you achieve them, sometimes it will take a while of constantly working before you will see any results but don’t give up, have faith..
Forget the instant cash and over night riches…go for the long hall,
And cheers Ryan and best of luck “in the real world” ha… a new begining..
My two cents is build site (wordpress blog is easiest) then 3 articles a day, every day…
Great post
Derrayjac
Excellent post (as usual) Ryan.
Simple yet effective, find something that works and repeat it.
That’s the “secret” to online success!
Ryan,
Good post as usual.
Dear friends, I resonate with Ryan on this matter. It’s always easier to be in “learning mode” as compared to the “doing” mode. To ensure that you are in your “doing” mode, you will need to set a deadline for yourself.
Here’s how you can do it.
1. Upon completion of a training module, maybe module 1 or 2,
Take some notes and write your ideas down and how you can apply those idea.
2. Once you’re done, think of a domain name which will suit your niche.
3. Preferably, choose a domain name that has the keywords in it.
4. Promise yourself to take from within 30 minutes to an hour to execute your ideas.
5. If you don’t know how to execute the idea, you can create a blog at Blogger.com/Wordpress.com and blog about your thoughts as a start.
Then while exploring Blogger, you can use it as your first website.
6. Craft your next steps for the next day. A step at a time.
Sometimes you don’t need to create a website to get yourself online, by utilizing free techniques such as blogs, you are already amongst the top 90% of internet marketers that are taking action.
@KC Keeby,
Taking time to research a niche is a simple process.
But to understand that, you’ll need to know how to look for “buying keywords”. Don’t worry, I’m going to explain that in a bit.
Google “GoogleKeywordsTool” and search for your “computer spyware” niche.
As I’m a tech geek myself, the word “computer spyware” doesn’t mean much to me. If I get infected with spyware, I might be looking for “spyware removal tool” or “spyware removal software”
Then I’ll go to http://adlab.microsoft.com/Online-Commercial-Intention/
and type the keyword and look for commercial intent in that keyword. The higher the numbers, the most likely that the keyword is a buying keyword.
Sometimes, picking a more specific phrase is part of the challenge, for example if I knew that X Spyware and Y Spyware is infecting my computer, I would search for Remove X & Y Spyware Tool , that is a very very specific keyword. It is my real problem. I’d do anything to get rid of that X & Y spyware.
To be honest, Internet Marketing isn’t “hard work”. You only lift your fingers and use your mouse..what’s harder than that?
I would say, the effort that you must take to get things going for you is all you need to do to achieve your dreams and goals.
Hope you enjoy reading this.
Take care and talk soon.
Thanks for the email Ryan. You’re a real positive person. Your emails are always informative and uplifting. I’m still trying my best to get going and your email was really appreciated. You’re the best!!
Hey Ryan,
How’s it going. I just love your work , and how you do give back to your clients. It’s been a pleasure workn under u. keep up the good work and we all can be rich.lol
My problem at WA was that I had been in this business too long and knew too much. You are right. Clear your mind of all the crap and follow your steps. I’m tempted to skip the PPC step because I always get burned but I’ll do that too.
We were up in the Saw Tooth Mountains today and I thought about Mt. Moran and you.
John
This is exactly what I plan to do/ am doing on my first site. Testing is probably the biggest thing I took away as well as “elbow grease”. I really need to put in hard work and apply what I’m learning instead of trying to learn TOO MUCH.
You are one smart kid.Congratulations on your graduation. I am one of those who would like to make a living online and am getting lost in all the information.Thanks for the reminder. I enjoy reading your emails, etc.
Great content as always, more please
This is great advice. Im definetly going to use this as a blueprint.
I recently started working with a veteran IMer who is teaching me just this. When he revealed his methods I was kinda disappointed because it is work lol. There is no GET RICH quick train.
I’m $2,000 poorer for trying the fancy smancy keyword tools and spy tools etc etc yet have no real results to show for it. If I had spend the last six months building articles and working SEO I could be making a decent sum of income on the side of my normal job right now and possibly even be working from home already.
Advice like this is why I continue to follow you after more than two years Ryan. Keep up your honest ways and when you put your name behind a product people will buy it.
Thanks again,
James
Thanks Ryan, there is so much info out there,you just need to ignore most of it and get back to the basics!!
thanx so much Ryan – you are so inspirational and always seem to say exactly what I need to hear. amazing work, keep it up
cheers!
AHA AT LONG LAST!!! Hi Ryan, I dont care how long this is going to be BUT have to let you know! When I started looking at IM a couple of months ago, you were the 1st I “clicked” on-I clicked on something to do with “legit on line” or something to do with that? Needless to say I LOST MY MONEY THERE! TKS RYAN – BUT everyday read and made copies of EVERYTHING THAT CAME FROM YOU! Got everything to do with joels your friend (how is he) I hardly knew how the computer works let alone IM! BUT Im still here, lost MORE money now out of job and money but dont care JUST GLAD YOU STARTED THIS as I seem to understand your way of explaining better than even” sssshhhh the other well known one? Your buddy’s? ” But no they are good as well hey. Anyway INFO OVERLOAD AND BEING DISTRACTED is MY ONLY PROBLEM!!! And dont understand any of this mumble jumble BUT WILL KEEP TRYING!!!! Maybe the “old” brain “you guys are still very young” not working so nice anymore HAHA – ANYWAY I have decided: Going to DELETE ALL THIS CRAP ON PC AND ONLY LISTEN TO YOU!! AGAIN!!! Dont anybody laugh!! The first time I send Ryan an e-mail I send it to the Autoresponder AND WAS VERY VERY UPSET COS YOU DID NOT REPLY! OK thats funny you can all laugh what the h—. Ryan I think you great, even if I could be your mother-so tell your mother she has an awsome son and to teach us ALL for free? just makes a person realise that you have NOT forgotten your roots and know that in giving you will receive UNLIKE ALL THESE OTHER IM’S THAT whatever you do you have to pay and pay and pay. YES NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM – We dont ALL have to much money to spend but trying.
OK ENOUGH ! Thank you again and wishing you all the best with this journey specially WITH ALL OF US!!! Hey you lucky!!!HAHA
Chow for now – sorry all you others for taking maybe the whole page I like talking!
Well, I can say, I’ve finally kicked myself in the pants and done exactly what you’ve recommended here, except #4 and #7 (not sure what you mean by scaling). I’m strapped for $ so testing with PPC is a scary proposition. I’m studying everything I can to try an understand it before I’ll try it. But I will get there!
This post is spot-on in telling it like it is. This IS the next step for many new marketers. Thanks for sharing it!
~cj
For awhile I was wasting time reading to much information and taking very little action. I would spend long times in forums and wouldn’t get anything done. After I got over that phase, I would try to do to many little things of actions instead of just focusing on getting one going at a time which I am doing now.
I would also think that their was some process that was secret. It is just that simple process. All that is needed is to take action instead of spending hours learning the same thing over and over.
If it wasn’t for you Ryan, I wouldn’t be where I am today. As I keep plugging away one day I will be able to work at home just like you. Right now I work 40+ hours a week in someone else s dream.
Thanks Ryan for the affiliate god!
On the last webinar I asked if you focused your time on SEO or PPC more. Well, this blog post laid out your strategy. It was the strategy I was moving in before asking the question. Thanks for the input.
I felt a sting on my face, I think you just slapped me back into reality. Thank you !!!!!!! your article put common sense back in the game.
Thanks again
Marketing is just one pain in the ass after another…Waaayyyyy too much work and very little payout for the average Joe. Try stamp collecting or ping pong.
Hey Ryan, great post, love the way you put good succinct step by
step info out there for us all to follow. I am printing this out and
putting it over my computer and my refrigerator as a constant
reminder. Heck, I may even put it in my bathroom over the mirror.
That way I am sure to stay on point.
I hope you continue with some videos , this is a real winner for
anyone that tends to get bogged down with info overload , like me… lol
Looking forward to all future posts …
Thanks a bunch and keep ‘em coming…
BayAreaSteve
(I live in N. Calif ) visit sometime …
Hi Ryan,
Wanted to talk to you about doing affiliate promos of your stuff.
Can’t find anywhere else to contact you so far …
Particularly wanted to talk about some STRANGE STUFF around your sales copy landing page before I actually go ahead with any promo.
You can find me on Facebook via email I left with my comment here.
See ya,
Dave
Ryan, you’re the MAN! I get so sidetracked by all the email I get that I think I’m going to shut my mailbox down and only let YOU know my new email address. That way, I know I’ll only be getting quality stuff worth reading. Thanks for the dose of common sense!
And, yeah, keep the videos and webinars coming!
Sharla
You talk about SEO work and you cant even fix the url’s on your site?
Awesome post, Ryan.
Why do people expect a magic solution to Internet Marketing? There’s nothing glamorous, no big cool secret, you work you make money. The cool thing about Online Biz is that you can work smart, and you can make MORE money in LESS time. But it still requires… work.
Loving this series!
Wow, I needed this today. Thanks so much, Ryan.
Ryan,
Great post, but I have to strongly disagree with you about one item. And it’s probably one of the most important things that I teach.
Replying to email is probably the most important work you’ll ever do with your business. Done right, this is where you make connections, overcome objections, and help people see that you are the guy they should be purchasing from.
Anyone who takes the time to email you is a “very hot” prospect. They are basically putting up their hand and saying… “hey I’m really interested in what you are doing, but just not entirely convinced to buy yet”.
Not taking these emails very seriously, and considering them work is a huge mistake in my opinion. These emails are probably some of the most important pieces of work you could do each day.
After spending all that time doing the 7 steps you suggested, the emails are bound to pile in. And not taking the time and diligence to properly address those emails, and “WORK” on them is a big mistake.
Much of my income is due to the fact that I “work my emails”.
Hope that is helpful.
Take it easy.
Well said, J-Mo. If you’re working with customers and business partners and investing in them, then email can be part of your growth process.
I don’t know about you, but I find myself emailing unproductively and trick myself into thinking that I’m working. That’s different than what you’re suggesting, and I’m guilty of it.
Thanks for the reminder.
I hear ya bro. Emailing just for emailing sakes is a huge time waster. But careful and choreographed emails can be extremely powerful. Especially when you get to a status where people don’t expect you to personally reply.
I can’t tell you how many times people have been shocked that I actually tend to my own emails and don’t hire an assistant to do it all for me.
The downside is that I do miss alot of emails. But I always try to reply to the important ones or the ones where people have legit questions. I don’t get to them all, but I really do try as hard as I can.
I’m with you 100% on that. People are floored when I actually reply and don’t have an autoresponder or an assistant do it. On days where I get flooded, though, I have to reluctantly bypass emails from people who have questions that ask things that aren’t related to my business, or just want to shoot the breeze. I hate doing it, but sometimes I have to.
Still, at the end of the day, if all I’ve done is email, I don’t feel like I’ve gotten any work done.
I hear you guys (Uncle Mofo,Ryan) on this matter. I’ve personally emailed some internet marketing biggies out there like Ewen Chia or even Johnny Andrews and they actually reply..which floored me. haha
But it’s nice though to hear from them though I would completely understand that they are very busy themselves.
yes.. i am one of those not putting into action! need to see more of this buddy thanks
Hi Ryan I just want to thank you I have been doing this type of Internet stuff for a 6 years and never came across some one like you who really wants to share and I mean really help people succeed with this. As I read your articles Im begining to understand more and more what it takes I have like 4 website that havent made no money but I understand why thank you this Inspires me to continue.
Hey Ryan,
I almost gave up on internet marketing, because I tried several things out like one week marketing, wealthy affiliate and other stuff without making a sale, when recently I had another look on my clickbank account and saw my fist sale which was $44.37 from marketing with the joel method. Thank you for sending me this stuff for free. this really motivated me to keep it up.
thanks man,
Mike
[...] You Start: Elbow Grease Step One: Get To Know Your Niche Step Two: Finding Affiliate Products Step Three: Build A Basic [...]
Very sound advice and something I’m guilty of not following. I am taking to steps to just that though. Super post!
Ryan i came to your blog via potpiegirl’s newsletter today. from reading all the information you’ve shared, it looks like you genuinly want to help others out there make money online – i myself will be reading updates and subscribing, great site and awesome job!
Hi Ryan
your stuff is great and easy to understand,thanks loads.
I am new in online marketing. i have a home business (travel) and its an online network marketing business. the company opened for me a website which i give to people to check what its all about. i want to advertise it online. do i need to set a website for this or what, what do you advise?
Best Regards
Thank You, Ryan. I am a newbie and an impatient one at that. I appreciate your sound advice and will follow it.
Ryan, thanks for the sound advice. I too came through potpiegirl news letter and I am thankful that I checked you out today. I am a fan and will continue to be a fan.
Thanks for the updates to my email today..
Ryan,
I took came through potpiegirl’s newsletter. She’s terrific and so are you. Thanks.
Great info! analysis paralysis i say. the problem is you can spend all day chasing the latest fad but you learn the most from just doing the work!
Ryan, if I were just starting out, should I be looking at setting up wordpress (should this be static or a blog?) and choose great keywords and promote products via clickbank or should I set the site (or should it be a blog?) up and put adsense ads on the pages?
What is ‘scaleing’?
Thanks Ryan
great post my man. any time I need some encouragement I come to your blog. Bam there it is.. thanks a million. Keep posting the great article dude you rock.
your friend
Pierre
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