INFORMATION SUPER OVERLOAD

By Ben Pedersen (c)2000

 

I'm an internet marketer. Like all marketers, I frequent

the various information outlets online. You know, the

forums, ezines, web sites and ebooks. With any luck, I'll

use the information gathered to hone my marketing skills

and further my business.

As for right now, I sit here, numb. The hands that

were once spreading magic across the keyboard now sit

useless in my lap. They're the product of an overheated

mind. One that has what I call, INFORMATION SUPER OVERLOAD.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD.

Internet marketing in the "old days" was rather simple.

There were only a few select strategies that yielded

fantastic results.

Some people placed tiny classified ads, some free and some

paid. If they did their homework about ad copy, they made

money. Some of them made a lot of money.

Others used banners. They placed their banners on web sites

that targeted the same audience as they did and got some

targeted traffic.

No matter WHAT they used "back in the day", there were only

a few options and those who used them were making some good

money.

But, that was then when the 'net was an "infant". Now it's

a teenage beast offering many more choices in it's maturity

than ever before.

There are thousands of different strategies and thousands of

different ways to execute them. It's enough to make any

online entrepreneur's mind meltdown.

So, you need to focus!

FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS

If you're like me, you're a busy person. In addition to

business that needs to be done, dogs need walks, kids need

care, you need time.

There's not a lot of time to allocate to any given task.

It is because of this fact that you need to FOCUS your

efforts.

Just think, for every hour you spend on your marketing

activities, you lose an hour to devote to something else.

That hour isn't available for your family.

It isn't available for your other business tasks.

It's not going to be available for YOU.

When you get to realizing this is when you know

it's time to FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS.

Realize your strengths. Your skills. Realize what works

ONLINE and..... FOR YOU.

Focus on that.

 

FLEX YOUR MUSCLES. SHOW OFF YOUR STRENGTHS!

There are tons of methods out there that work but only

*some* will work for YOU.

If you're good at writing ads, you're probably going to yield

great results with ezine adverts. If this is the case,

launch an ezine ad campaign.

If you're great with people and love to network, there are a

multitude of other marketers who are hungry for joint

ventures. (Myself included!)

If you think that you can write a mean sales letter, focus

your efforts more on writing sales letters.

For example.......

I love to write.

I mean, I can't wait to sit down and tap out my "brain food"

into the computer. I've always loved to write and

hopefully, I will continue to.

I write for my ezine and I write all of the copy on my

web site (with the exception of a few sales letters).

To me, writing's one of the highlights of my day, and my

business.

Given this passion, what's a great way to promote myself and

my business?

Well, some guru back in '98 told me that I can write for

other ezines and direct traffic back to my offer.

Hmmmmmmmmmm....

I LOVE to write so why not use it as a promotional vehicle?

With that in mind, that's EXACTLY what I do! I write

articles for my ezine. Not only that, I also submit those

articles to other ezine owners to use. Hopefully, a few of

them will publish my work.

With any luck, I'll get some traffic and recognition for

something I LOVE to do and It'll benefit my business.

Do you see what I mean?

Pick an online marketing strategy that plays on your

passions or talents.

 

WAX THE FINNISH ON YOUR PASSION.

Once you pick a marketing strategy that plays on your

strengths and your talents, you'll need to "polish it up"

and fine tune it.

You need to learn everything you can about your passion in

the online marketing arena.

You should begin to master your "art" but realize, it

takes time.

You need to move with it but understand, you'll never be

"perfect." There's always room to learn even more.

As for me, I STILL continue to write because it works for

me. Sure I hear of other tactics that work and... I'll even

try a few.

But, I'll always do what I love to do. I'll continue to

write my ezine and submit my articles.

BUT... Like everyone else, I'll make a few mistakes too.

This is where the polishing comes in.

Sometimes I'll get great feedback. Look at my site, the

forum and in my email. People have nice things to say. They

say I've helped them. They claim to have enjoyed my work.

But, I'm not bragging either. Along with the positive

praise, sometimes I'll get negative feedback too.

Sometimes People don't get what it is I'm trying to say (I

wasn't clear enough). Perhaps someone didn't agree with a

statement I said or maybe, I made an error somehow that

effected them.

The bottom line is, I'm continually "polishing" my talents,

passions and marketing tactics.

I learn from the mistakes I make and I move on.

I hope that you learn from *your* mistakes and move on too.

If you're not making any mistakes, you aren't learning

enough.

 

THE MORAL OF THIS STORY.

Internet marketing isn't the same as it was only three

years ago. The interment has matured from infancy to

adolescence.

Because of this fact, there are more and more internet

marketing tactics rising up everyday.

One guru will tell you that "this" method works and he'll go on

to swear that it's the *only* way to make it.

Inspired you may be, but not for long. You move on to

another web site and the webmaster tells you that her

"tactic" is the best way to go.

This is the kind of experience that leaves one confused and

even burned out.

I know, I've been there.

You have to focus. Yes there are a ton of online methods

that work. The variety is definitely there. The problem is,

not enough time (and sanity) exists to try them all.

It is because of this that you should pick methods that

play on your talents and try those.

It's okay to test new methods, actually I recommend that you

do. But understand that you should always FOCUS on what

works and feels best for you.