What Was Your Biggest Challenge When You Started Your Work From Home Internet Marketing Online Business?
If you work from home as an internet marketer, what was the biggest challenge facing you when you first started your online business?
I’d like to come back to that question in a moment. But first I’d like to share with you where I am up to in my internet business …
This blog has been somewhat neglected, partly because I’ve been building other websites in various niches, and partly because I wasn’t sure in what direction I wanted this blog to go.
It was always my intention that this blog would help people develop in some way, either mentally, spiritually, financially or perhaps a combination of all three.
Having learned how to build websites, drive traffic to them, capture visitors’ email addresses, convert visitors to buyers and make repeat sales to existing customers, I’ve decided to use this blog to teach others what I’ve learned about internet marketing and starting an online business working from home.
I intend to produce a comprehensive step-by-step internet marketing online business course. I will compile the course in my “spare time” while I continue to build other sites in other niches.
If you already know how to build a website, build a list and sell products online, my internet marketing course is likely to be too basic for you, at least initially. But if you’d like to see how it develops over time, feel free to subscribe to it using the box at the top right of this page.
And that brings me back to my original question …
It would be very helpful to me if you could let me know what was the greatest challenge to you when you first started your work from home internet marketing online business.
Perhaps it was finding the time … or finding a niche … or finding a product … or finding the will to live with all the information overload!
Whatever it was, I’d be very grateful to you if you could let me know by leaving a comment below (or emailing me if you’d prefer privacy).
I’ll then compile the results and share them with you in a post on this blog . You may find the results useful in your own internet marketing online business!
To your success and happiness
Martyn
I thought I’d start the ball rolling …
The biggest challenge for me when I started my internet marketing business was definitely “information overload”.
I signed up for everything and ended up dabbling in all sorts of things instead of concentrating on getting one thing done right.
I also wasted a lot of money.
I suppose that’s why I want to produce a free course emphasising the use of free and low cost tools and software.
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Hi Martyn, great question! My biggest challenge (and still is to a certian extent) was understanding the information I am being given. For example, some of the products you can buy assume a certain level of knowledge before you start reading. When you are starting out you don’t have that initial knowledge, and it’s really hard to find it because eveyone thinks you ought to know it already!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Thanks for that Mandy. My course will be aimed at a complete beginner and will assume NO prior knowledge.
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Hi Martyn,
Good question…besides information overload I found that my family and friends were constantly calling over because they knew I was at home. My wife was the only exception cause she knew what I was trying to achieve.
Good to meet you here at the challenge.
Cheers
Bryan
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Thanks for your input, Bryan. Time management can be a problem when you are working from home!
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Hello Martyn,
My first challenge was information overload. I tried out a lot of courses and free information. Some worked and some didn’t. I did take action on all of it.
I thought there was something missing. There was, I had no real idea of how to structure my business. That’s when I decided to get a mentor. This changed everything, I learned how to structure my business and manage my time.
My business now is going in the right direction. Thankfully.
Pete
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Thanks for your input, Peter, and I’m glad your business now has direction.
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Hi Martyn
I hope you are well
Knowing how good your eBay course is…your subscribers will be in for a treat.
The hardest thing for me when I started out was choosing the niche I wanted to work in. Initially I choose IM and it turned out not to be for me, so I got into golf and it’s gone really well.
The strange thing is that I have learned so much about IM and how to apply it successfully to my golf business, that I am tempted to get back into it.
I wish all the very best with your course
Cheers
Steve
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
I am well, Steve, thanks for asking. Thanks also for your kind comments about my eBay course. I think you’ve made a very good point about niches. The golf niche works for you because it’s your passion. So your “work” is really your hobby. I heard someone say recently: “Enjoy what you do (for a job) and you’ll never “work” again.” I emphasise this in my eBay course. It would be easy for you to turn what you’ve learned about IM in the golf niche in to a course if you wanted to, later.
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Hi Martyn
My greatest challenge was focusing on one thing instead of jumping from one project to another without completing anything. But to some extent, this is a bi-product of information overload. Like you, I signed up for everything but now I’m just on a handful of lists so there are far fewer distractions.
I’m looking forward to reading more steps in your course so I’m hoping it won’t be too ad hoc
Kind Regards
Lynn
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Hi Lynn. Thanks for your comments. Information overload seems to be emerging as the major challenge so far!
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Hey, Welcome back Martyn,
A really good question you posed, I suppose my challenge is time itself. I do an awful lot of research and tend to fall away from other jobs I should be doing. Info overload can be and is a serious problem, especially when starting out. I still suffer from it but at least it’s now more niche specific.
Good luck with your course, I hope it’s a great success for you
Keith
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Hi Keith. Thanks for your input. Doing “an awful lot of research” is probably a good thing if it means your activity is then more focused. I’ve been guilty of not doing enough research in the past, which meant a lot of wasted activity.
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Hi Martyn, I am starting a whole new outlook on internet marketing now that I have a mentor (John Thornhill) who broke me away from information overload. You can say I’m sort of starting out so with that said I will state my current challenge and challenges.
I’ve gathered and I am gathering a whole bunch of great knowledge, as you know great knowledge doesn’t overload, it makes you more knowledgeable and stronger. The right kind of directed knowledge is power.
Now my biggest challenge at the present moment is working the 100 comment challenge. I’m having a blast knowing my blog topic is helping myself and others.
In Life there are always going to be challenges. My next biggest challenge is the challenge I had before the 100 comment challenge came to being which is completing my ebook and sales page and continue writing blog posts about my experiences.
Once I get over these two challenges things will start to settle a down a bit. I’m sure there will be more challenges coming my way. Terry Conti
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Hi Terry. Thanks for your input. There will be more challenges coming your way. Having a mentor will help you overcome them. Every successful person I know have has a mentor.
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Same as you Martyn, ‘Information Overload’ was my problem, and worry. I thought my brain must have slowed up through ageing, because I just couldn’t take everything in.
There were 3 massive software programmes I wanted to learn, and they all had different menu indexes; Dreamweaver, Photoshop and Quark Xpress. I never did conquer Dreamweaver, but Xsite Pro is much easier (and I find it better) for website design.
After 18 months of Internet Marketing I have assimilated a lot of information and I now find it much easier to learn new stuff on top of my knowledge base.
It will be interesting to see what problem comes out top in your survey Martyn. Good luck with the 100 comment challenge.
John
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Thanks for your input John. Information overload seems to be the front runner so far!
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Hi Martyn,
Mine would be Traffic Generation. I know, there is tons of informatio out there, but seems most of them is very general. Here’s a few question I would ask…
From each traffic generation method.
(1)The realistic cost and also results one could expect?
(2)The time frame to get the traffic campaign up and running?
(3) What are other important points we need to know to increase our conversion rate?
(4) Can any part of traffic generation be outsourced? If yes, what , how and where can we get it outsourced?
(5)Perhaps some real life example of your most successful traffic generation campaign will help?
Thanks In Advance
Cheers
Jason Ser
[Reply]
Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Thanks for your input, Jason. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. It’s relatively easy to build a website and create a product (when some one shows you how step by step) because you are in control every step of the way. But when it comes to generating traffic, you can’t control the search engines – particularly as Google keeps changing its algorithm!
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Hi Martyn, again it was info overload.
I’d buy a product and get to a point that i didn’t understand and would then try to find out how to tackle the task. Which in turn would take me somewhere else and lead to more confusion.
In the end i must have looked like a dog chasing its tail, going round and round in circles.
I had to get myself a mentor to overcome it. But now i think it has benefited me as i know that the eBooks i write have to be cick by click instructions. That way my readers won’t have the same issues that i had.
Barry
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Hi Barry. We’ve all been there! I intend to make my course step-by-baby-step.
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Hi Martyn,
Boy, I could probably list a few of those type challenges! I think for me it had to be learning all the techie stuff. It is so frustrating to want to do something only to be limited by your techie knowledge.
I’ve come a long way even though I still have so much more to learn!
Good luck with the challenge Martyn!
Kathy
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 13th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Hi Kathy. Thanks for your input. I understand where you are coming from. The good news is you don’t need to be a “techie” to have an internet business. I can drive a car but I don’t know how an internal combustion engine works. I don’t know how electricity works but I can switch a light on. Likewise I can use a computer without knowing how it works. Much of what you need to know to run a business on the internet seems “techie” until someone shows you how to do it. As you say, you’ve come a long way. When you started you’d probably regard someone who is where you are now as a “techie”!
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Hey Martyn
Great question that you have asked and I can say yes to all the issues that you listed, finding a niche, finding a product and if I hear one more person tell me how they are making a fortune from their simple system I will be sick! Any one with some sense will soon realise that the so called internet guru’s promise the world and deliver very little. It sounds as though you have a realistic approach to your business and taking each step at a time. The most important thing that I have found is bulding trust and providing real value to the people that you know.
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 13th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Hi Stan. Thanks for commenting. It was yet another heavily promoted “guru” launch for a $1,997 product containing cleverly packaged information that is available for free elesewhere if you look hard enough that prompted me to produce a free course. The problem will be finding the time to produce it while also trying to make a living on the internet!
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Hi Martyn,
My biggest challenge STILL is to make my efforts profitable. I’ve been able to learn about the technical aspects required to build a business but I have not seen that translate into money.
Jose
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 14th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Thanks for commenting, Jose. You make an excellent point. Do you have any of your own products to sell?
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Hi Martyn,
Hmmm…the greatest challenge to getting my biz up and running??? Finding people to trust that would help me out! even the folks I paid!!
I bought a few ‘get started now’ items (or courses) and when I had questions about uploading to my site or finding a freebie to give away, I got no response.
Like I purchased a product that said blah blah blah hype hype hype and when it got down to actually implementing it, there was no support so I am stuck with crap I can’t use or don’t know how to use!!
So I guess I was really looking for honest people who actually stood behind their product! (and gave a little help along the way!!)
Good thing I found John Thornhill and Alex Jeffreys.
2 of the best marketers I know!!
Thanks!
Lisa~
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 17th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Hi Lisa
Thanks for your input. Its an interesting point you make. I intend to provide a free course, but if I’m not charging, I don’t want to be inundated with support requests as I need to work on my own business. I guess the answer would be to provide the information for free and offer support as a paid membership upgrade.
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Hi Martyn
Along with everyone else the biggest challenge was getting over the golden key mentality. There was no magic key to success to be found on the next website or course.
Once you realise that is down to persistence and focus, then you have broken the first set of shackles holding you back.
iogr
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 8:50 am
Excellent point you make, Igor. An internet marketing online business is a proper business, not a get rich quick scam. Unfortunately many beginners get seduced by each new product launch claiming you’ll make “squillions” of dollars at the push of a button! If only!
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It would be the simple stuff like copy and paste. WordPress. Hosting c-panels, uploading and transfering files. The fear of I might delete something or mess up so badly my info would never be recovered. I know about that stuff now but that is what intimidated me the most. That and not knowing any one else who was interested in an online biz. Your course sounds wonderful.
You will be very successful helping newbies.
Fran T
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Hi Fran. Thanks for your comments. I know what you mean. So often you buy an internet marketing online business course only to discover it assumes a level of knowledge that you don’t have. My course will assume absolutely NO prior knowledge at all.
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Hi Martyn,
God I struggled with a ton of stuff when I first started out as I was a complete newbie.
I think html and scripts or techie stuff was the hardest part to overcome.
I wasted hours trying to master that stuff.
But thankfully I joined a really helpful forum and came on leaps and bounds after that.
I have since learned that trying to do it all by yourself is NOT the way to work online, you need a support network so to speak, people who can help you.
I used to be a Jack of all trades and master of none!
It’s funny thinking back to how I started out, didn’t think I had came very far, but looking now, I actually have.
My first visit to your blog, but wont be my last,
Sally
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 21st, 2010 at 1:56 am
Hi Sally. Thanks for your input. What was the forum you joined that you found so helpful?
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Sally Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Hiya Martyn, it was a forum for Easy profit Auctions that shut down now, but I am a member of Randy’s more monthly forum now which is super cool,
Sally
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Hey Martyn,
Just came over to continue the conversation after your awesome comment on my blog, thanks for the feedback (love to make my header image link to the eboomk but have no idea how LOL)
To answer this posts question,
My biggest online challenge was manageing time I think.
Going to a place where I was accountable 100% was a new experience and it took TOO LONG to realise that I had to just knuckle down and get shit done (excuse language) because you can feel overwhelmed all you want, but just do one thing at a time, and pretty soon you are way ahead of where you even thought you might be.
I started officially in March this year, and already I have quit my fulltime job because of what I am making online. All you can do is stay focused and ignore the BULL
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 21st, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Hi Alex
Thanks for stopping by. Time management is important. We all have the same amount of time (24 hours a day). One of the things that differentiates successful people from unsuccesful people is how they use it.
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Hey Martyn,
Sounds like you are going through some really interesting times with your business.
The toughest thing for me is getting through the times when you aren’t making money but you are working hard. No money yet but with a good plan it and dedication it seems inevitable.
Good post!
Peace,
Darren L Carter
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Hi Darren
Thanks for your comments. I don’t think anyone gets rich quick with an internet marketing online business. Those who succeed are those who persist.
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HI Martyn, great post! I really enjoyed your thoughts on the direction you’re taking with your blog. The style or type of blogging that’s a “share as you go” is the best way to develop an “authority site” as opposed to an e-commerce or product specific domain, niche site where authority cred is secondary to the visitors attention to your offer and their intention to solve an immediate problem.
My biggest challenge when starting out was taming the beast of information overload and moving towards something positive and meaningful. I was pulled in so many directions at once and at the same time unsure of what it was that needed to be done first, second, and so on. I’m still dealing with the same beast today as are many others no doubt. I’ve tamed it in many ways by organizing my hard drive into a logical database for easy reference. I’ve also learned to say “NO” when the information tide start to rise.
I look forward to reading your mash-up on all the responses to an excellent question. Be well, Steve D.
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Thanks for your comments, Steve. The flow of information never seems to cease but I think as time goes by you are able to sort the “wheat from the chaff” and know what is of use and what will just get in your way.
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Hi Martyn
I guess the biggest challenge for me was finding a business model that actually worked for me.
The next challenge was mastering the technical skills required to set everything up.
Good luck with your idea!
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 22nd, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Hi Stuart. Thanks for your input. Yes, there are many ways to make money on the internet. There’s a danger of dabbling in too many without mastering any.
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Hi Martyn,
When I first started out it was definitely “Information Overload”. I would jump onto the latest new product look it over not sure what to do and then jump onto the next it was a very bad situation to be in.
Not really taking my business forward and achieving the things I wanted. Now I have goals and certain tasks to reach them goals. Having a plan of action and sticking to it has been the answer for me.
Ok yes I do buy new products but only if they relate to what I am doing at the moment. I assess them more now and look to see if they have a review by another marketer before I pull my wallet out.
I think every marketer goes through the process of “Information Overload”. It is a learning curve that we all need to understand.
Cheers
Craig
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:09 am
Thanks for your comments, Craig. Your method of dealing with information overload (only buy products after they’ve been reviewed and if they are relevant to your plan) is sound and something I’ve adopted in my own internet marketing online business.
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Hey Martyn,
I think your blog is on the IM money, I have yet to hear of any ‘Internet marketer’, who hasn`t had to evolve and adapt to stay as well as become successful in this game!
I know you`re becoming a great source of info for all budding IMs and I1m sure your course will ensble them to reach their goals, and I also think that transforming your blog into a membership site might be the way forward for everyones success!
Thanks for a great post Martyn…Ed.
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 24th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Hi Ed. Thanks for your support.
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Hi Martin,
I am on your list and a previous customer of yours so I assume your new course will arrive automatically, when it’s ready!
My biggest challenge, and still is, is the technical side of things.
I had never touched a computer up until 3 years ago, so I find this side of things extremely difficult. Younger people seem to have no problem with the technical side but as you get older it becomes harder to grasp this kind of knowledge, it does for me anyway. I have no doubt my grandchildren will be showing me soon.
Fortunately I have a great techie friend who does all this for me, leaving me to concentrate on my own product creation. Outsourcing I suppose you could call it.
Regards,
Bill
[Reply]
Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 24th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Hi Bill
Thanks for stopping by. Yes, if you have already subscribed you will automatically receive my course – eventually! (As its free it has to take second place to my other online money-making activity).
I’m very impressed that you are doing this with so little computer experience. It just goes to show that no experience is necessary as long as you have the right mindset. And, as you say, you can outsource anything you can’t do or don’t want to do.
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Hi Martin,
Motivation is my biggest problem and I feel it and always be. I have technical ability and marketing know how, I already have 6 online businesses and sometimes I just like doing nothing, but when I do I feel guilty! Not a good situation to be in.
If I could give any advice to guys in this situation is to plan and make time and don’t get lazy. Give it 100% and earn your rest don’t just take it!
Thanks Martyn
[Reply]
Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 24th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Hi Dan. Thanks for your comments. Like anything, its important to work hard AND play hard, i.e. when you’re working, focus on working and when you aren’t working, focus on enjoying yourself (rather than feeling guilty!)
[Reply]
Hi Martyn
My biggest challenge when I first started was learning all the tec hie stuff that you need to do. I didn’t have a clue what html was and all the techie jargon sounded foreign to me.
Step by step instructions with pictures is what I needed to make it easier for me to learn and I would like to see more step by step guides for beginners created so that everyone has a good chance of success and doesn’t fall into information overload.
Good luck with your course and it was good to meet you.
Warm Regards
Dawn Kay
[Reply]
Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:22 am
Hi Dawn. Thanks for your comments. Yes, as with anything new, all the “techie” stuff and jargon seems very complicated when you first start. The good news is that you don’t need to know how a computer works to be able to use one, just like you don’t need to know how an internal combustion engine works to be able to drive a car. The “techie” stuff you need to know to run an internet marketing online business is actually quite simple – once someone has shown you how!
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Hi Martyn, How familiar all of the replies on here are to me. I have suffered, if that is the right word from all of them.
My big trouble though is picking the right niche and I find it is a big challenge. All of the others like information overload, lack of technical knowledge, etc., seem to resolve themselves by experience but the niche selection is the big one for me. I am going into micro niches and even micro micro niches, but up to now I haven’t hit the “Aha” point yet.
I feel that I am right on the edge of it and when I hit it I will have the tools to make it pay off.
This is a good post and it has inspired a lot of good replies.
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Hi Brian. Thanks for your input. From your comments I presume you are on JT’s Masterclass. I did that course last year. My one criticism is that you are expected to find a niche and blog about it from day 1. That’s fine if you already know what niche you want to concentrate on. But if you don’t, my advice is to set up a separate blog in any micro-niche that has several Clickbank products available. Write some blog posts and articles based on highly targetted key-word phrases relevant to that micro-niche and set up an auto-responder sequence that gives content and sells those Clickbank affiliate products. Then repeat. You will then have a series of mini businesses, any one of which may take off. Eventually you might find one that you want to concentrate on and can then start producing your own products (or start teaching others to do what you now know how to do!)
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My biggest challenge was trying to put my free report online and link it to the autoresponder. I had a hard time trying to figure out how it all linked up with aweber and the follow up messages.
Of course now it seems so simple but at the time it was a nightmare.
Now my biggest challenge will be to make a video.
Sandy
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Hi Sandy. Thanks for your comments. Yes, everything is difficult the first time but once you’ve done it once, its easy – including video!
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Good luck with your course!
By sharing it free you will really be able to build an audience, get feedback on your thoughts and become much more proficient in your other projects.
And of course once you chose to monetize the course you will probably find a lot of money there to.
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 26th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Hi Daniel. Thanks for your comments. Yes, by helping others I will learn a lot myself.
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Hi Martyn
Nice to be in contact with you again
You reply to BR is spot on and that was exactly my problem.
Very best wishes
Mike
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Hi Mike. Thanks for your comments. I think this was a big problem for many on JT’s Masterclass, based on comments in the forum. My view is its better to spend time getting traffic to a niche site selling an affiliate product. If you are successful – THEN produce a product because you already have the traffic. There is no point spending all your time developing a product and then trying to find a market. Get the market first – then produce a product.
[Reply]
Hi Martyn,
First of all thank you for posting a comment on our blog at theequest.com.Pierrette & I are here from the 100 comment challenge.
Your post is what many look for.Pierrette & I are on the net now for over three years and still cannot find the way to make money.
I will sign up with you today and wait for the info.
Our biggest challenge is to learn how to monetize.
Thanks
Pierre & Pierrette
[Reply]
Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Thanks for your comments, Pierre. I think a problem with blogging for people who want an internet marketing online business is sometimes we get distracted from our main purpose which is to make money! Thanks for reserving a place on my course. It may be a while until its ready, though!
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Hi Martyn, reading all the posts I can identify with a lot of the comments here, when I started I already had an idea of the niche that I wanted to work in but only having had limited success there I am thinking that I really should widen my horizons, that being my other problem, I am too easily tempted off the straight and narrow. Something about promoting your products would go down well but not article marketing or giveaways.
Cheers
Rob
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 26th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Hi Rob. I think you should “widen your horizons”. My advice is to set up separate blogs in separate micro-niches that have several Clickbank products available. Instead of producing a product, spend your time writing a few blog posts and articles based on highly targetted long-tail key-word phrases relevant to those micro-niches and set up an auto-responder sequence that gives content and sells those Clickbank affiliate products. Just re-write existing content or outsource it. You will then have a series of mini businesses, any one of which may take off. Eventually you might find one that you want to concentrate on. That’s when you start producing your own products because you know they will sell and are already getting the traffic!
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I had so many obstacles….
I think my biggest obstacle was what I saw referred to as “Internet Marketing ADHD”. I learnt of so many new possibilities, I didn’t know what to do. Each thing I tried a little bit, and when it didn’t work immediately I would turn to the next method without giving the first method a fair enough try.
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 26th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Hi Deb. Thanks for your input. I’ve not heard it described as that before but I think I suffer from it!
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Hi Martyn,
My biggest challenge was actually convincing myself that I should take action.I knew I wanted to make money online but I just didn’t know the best way to do it and that’s what was holding me back.
After I did my research I decided that I should get some mentoring and that has given me the roadmap to work to.
Great to visit your blog for the first time in this challenge Martyn and I will certainly be coming back for more of your valuable advice.
Regards,
Brian
[Reply]
Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Hi Brian. Thanks for your input. Every successful person I know has a mentor. It’s obvious really. Why try to re-invent the wheel!?
[Reply]
Hi Martyn,
My biggest challenge? Well you face different challenges online almost every day! But one of the biggest challenge when I first started online (that I am even facing many times today) is … “Information Overload!”.
When you start trying to make money online you will discover HUNDREDS of ways and methods that you can use to make money online. I was bombarded with many opportunities.
EVERYTHING seemed easy and achievable and you could make instantly hundreds of dollars online! Well this is what happened to me (which happens to many people too). I lose a lot of my hard-earned income buying and buying all these amazing courses (that looked amazing) and I was jumping from one opportunity to another. I didn’t lose only money but lots of time too! All the information was too “heavy” and getting heavier all the time!!
Fortunately today I know right away if an information product or a course is garbage or not. I know the correct path to success and I am “running” now to achieve what I lost all these years online (8 years!). Thankfully I know if something is invested or wasted money.
Take care,
Andreas
[Reply]
Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Hi Andreas. Thanks for your input. What you describe is exactly the same experiences that I have had – and we are not alone!
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Andreas Spyrou Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Hi Martyin,
Well it seems that everyone goes through the same path.
Andreas
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:05 am
Hi Andreas. What is emerging as the main challenge seems to be information overload, then lack of focus.
Hi Martyn,
Boy that is a tough one to answer!
1. Information overload
2. Not knowing exactly how to begin
3. Not knowing the tools I really needed to prepare for upfront
4. Understanding niche and market research
5. Traffic Generation
6. List building and email marketing
I could continue with the list as I am still learning!!
Thank you for being an awesome contributor to the challenge. I am blog hopping at the moment checking on everyone’s progress. Hopefully over the next few days everyone will really start to comment on everyone’s blogs so everyone has the chance for success. Well that is what I am hoping!
See you back here soon!
Cheers
Jacinta
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Hi Jacinta. Thanks for your input. That’s a long list! But just think how far you’ve come! Thanks for organising the 100 Blog Post Challenge. I appreciate it must be very time-consuming for you.
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Hi Martyn,
For me, the biggest problem is starting with the end in mind. Creating a good plan. I have all the basics down, but seem to keep getting off track by buying this course or that product that will be the next big thing and I’ll make a million next week. I guess I’m kind of lazy in a way. I want the results but need focuss on good plan to acheive them.
Good post for sure and I’m glad to see you have some success from your business.
Good luck in the 100 comment challenge and see you next time around.
Take Care,
Steve
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Thanks for your input Steve. Like you, I make plans and then get easily distracted by something else and so don’t get things completed.
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Great post! My biggest challenge is traffic.
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Hi Amy. Thanks for commenting. Traffic is key. Without it, everything else we do online is pointless. I intend to concenytrate on free traffic methods in my course.
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Hi Martyn
Definitely information overload. This 100 blog challenge has shown me how much I still don’t know. Monetizing is a big question. What makes people click? Hopefully you’re filling a need. Traffic, I guess, would help a lot to find the people who need what you have. Lots of challenges.
Alex
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Hi Alex. Thanks for your input. Although you feel you still have a lot to learn, just think how far you have come so far!
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Hi Martyn
My problem as most of the newbie’s was (and sometimes is) information overload.
I have also spent a good amount of money on courses and tools – as you are newbie you go by the title of the product and don’t really read the underlying assumptions – like you could use this method only if you had a subscribe list. Now I know where to go to get this info.
Focus – moving your goals / jumping from one program to another or one plan to another. I have also started overcoming this by planning and sticking to it come what may – and hence keep my focus.
Not sure if traffic is mentioned – but getting traffic also seems like an issue but for future as I have not started posting blogs and working on my own product.
Enough I think of my rambling! But I wish I know about blogging correctly and a low cost startup, I could have saved a few thousand dollars
Cheers!
Abizer
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Hi Abizer. Thanks for your comments. All the things you mention are very common challenges. You are not alone!
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Hi Martyn,
For me it has been one challenge after another but information overload has got to be the biggest problem. One of the things I like about Alex Jeffreys mentoring is that he feeds the information to you in bitesize chunks rather than pilling all the information on you at once.
Very useful training – You have been tweeted
Enjoy the challenge
Michelle
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Hi Michelle. Thanks for your input and Tweet. I think step-by-step bite-size training is the best way. My course will be like that.
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Hi Martyn,
I must say that the biggest challenge was finding a mentor for one although I have been on JT’s mailing for some time, two was info overload and three is being hung up on product creation it was going to be about eBay but with my own eBay selling hitting the low point at the beginning of this year and still is I don’t feel so confident creating an eBook about eBay at this time. I am still looking for that fitting niche.
Enjoy the challenge.
Mike
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Hi Mike. My one criticism of JT’s otherwise excellent course is it expects people to create a product almost immediately. I think a better way is to sell other people’s products as an affiliate initially. That way you can enter a niche quickly and easily and try several niches. Then only commit to producing a product when you already have success and traffic.
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Martyn – I think my biggest obstacle so far has been FOCUS. When I started out I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of tactics and strategies available. Make my own product. Promote someone elses. Choose one niche. Choose 10 niches. Play in the IM niche. Stay away from the IM niche.
It was enough to make my head spin!
Problem is if you have your fingers in too many pies you reduce your opportunity for success. I’ve just set myself a challenge to focus on one strategy for the next six months and see if I can make it work for me.
I wish someone had set me that challenge on day one!
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Hi Clare. Thanks for your comments. I recoginise your description. I was the same.
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Hi Martin,
I’m still pretty new to all this, so my first challange is still fresh in my memory, and it was this – believing that I could do it.
Not from the point of view of starting a business or handling the technology, I’ve built and run a very successful technolgy business in the off line world.
But first, to get going, I had to overcome a feeling of vertigo and my advice to anyone in a similiar position would be go find the community (like this) and find out that everyone was a newbie once.
John
Author of ‘Sticky Memory’
http://johnedler.com/blog/sticky-memory-have-i-coined-a-new-term-/?/html
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Good point, John. Working from home sat at a computer can be lonely. Its encouraging to know you are not alone!
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Martyn:
My first biggest challenge was not knowing how and where to start. This problem lead to my second biggest problem which was information overload. This problem lead to my third problem of wanting what I was doing to be perfect before I actually did anything. For example when I first started my blog, it took me forever to figure out which theme I wanted to use. Through my coach and mentor Alex Jeffreys I learned that I just needed to get started and take action and then tweak things as I am moving forward.
I look forward to checking back in on your blog and see how things are going and learn something new as well.
Good luck!
- Rick
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Thanks for your comments, Rick. I’m a bit of a perfectionist as well but, as you say, it’s best to just get started and improve things as you need to.
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My biggest challenge was truly too much information… everyone said their method was the best and there were way too many to try (and fail at). There were so many things to know and so many people to listen to and so many things to DO. I’m pretty good at weeding through the fluff these days, so I know how to find the “point” that matters in all these ideas and schemes. But for a new marketer I know it can be very overwhelming.
Thanks for the post,
Gwen
via 100 Comment Challenge
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:55 am
Hi Gwen. Thanks for your comments. What you describe is emerging as a very common challenge for many people.
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Good question. I imagine there will be a lot of varying answers here… Initially, I suppose the biggest challenge was lack of information and inspiring role models. This was back in 2000 though, with the opening of my first website/e-commerce store. Since then, the challenge has resolved itself as the Internet naturally evolved. Now here’s info and wonderful examples everywhere!
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:57 am
Thanks for your comments, Lauren. There is certainly no shortage of information and role models. Unfortunately many of them are expensive.
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Hi Martyn,
Great question. I think I had too much information and too much to learn that choosing who, where and when to try out things was distracting. Thus, mentorship is one of those online things which you seek however, as you build relationships online, you learn that sometimes, all the overload of information was good for helping out those that don’t know thus, there’s an advantage. I just like being surrounded by good information. When you put that with good people, it really makes good sense and marketing.
Thanks for the discussion!
Thu
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:59 am
Hi Thu. Thank you for your comments. You’re right – there’s plenty of info’ available but it can be overwhelmimg at first.
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Hi Martyn,
I haven’t started an internet business yet but it is an excellent question to ask. I have bookmarked your page so I can refer back to it once I get going… Always helpful to learn from others who have had the experience so as to avoid pitfalls. Thank you!
Stopped by on my 11th hour visit for the 100 comment challenge.
Best,
Elizabeth
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:00 am
Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth. I hope I can be of service in future.
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Hi Martyn,
What a great question!! When I first started on the internet my biggest challenge was me. Do I, Can I, Will I, that feeling of uncertainty. I gradually moved on to the challenge of information overload. This challenge is huge but everyone seems to suffer from it. Signing up to lists, receiving emails about how you can make money overnight, have huge list etc. etc. Then the challenge of do I or don’t I need a mentor and which one. Thankfully I chose John Thornhill’s Masterclass. Choosing a niche and writing an ebook can also be a challenge but when you have someone to help and guide you, it’s easy to take one challenge at a time and work through it a day at a time.
I hope you enjoy the challenge, I will be back to visit again soon.
Take care.
Robyn
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:02 am
Thanks for your comments, Robyn. Information overload is a common challenge but you mention a very interesting one – uncertainty!
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Keeping focused on the most productive activity was about the biggest challenge when I first started out. I have mostly worked through that but it can pop up from time to time, especially with things like this 100 comment challenge
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 am
Hi Michael. Staying focussed is a challenge that I still struggle with sometimes – too many distractions!
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Hi Martyn
I have exactly the same freemium model – takes a while to build your list and then to get some money rolling in. Like many others information overload and actually getting started were my initial challenges.
Regards
Anne
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 12:12 am
Hi Anne. Thanks for your comments. “Freemium”!? I’ve not heard that one before!
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Hi Martyn
Thanks for a great post.
Like many of the commentators information overload has been my big problem. I am now focusing on a few proven techniques to build my business. I have stopped chasing the next best thing to a large extent. Although I must say some of the new stuff is so tempting or should I say the salesletters.
All the best with your business
Good luck
Eamon
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 6th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Hi Eamon. Thanks for your input. Unfortunately there is always yet another “shiny new object” for us to buy! You are right to focus.
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Martyn
Great post. I, like many, suffered through “information overload” – I was hungry to devour courses on everything and anything to braoden my knowledge. The upshot of this was that I was partly knowledgable in a number of things yet a specialist/master of none. More importantly I was all theory and no practice and the concepts I was learning were evolving and being superceded so I quickly learnt the need to focus more and actually take action. Learning from experience is really the best way and makes you more able to share and impart that knowledge with others. To our success
Tom
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 6th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Hi Tom. Thanks for your comments. I agree. The only way forward is to focus and take action.
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Hi Martyn,
For me everything was a challenge since I knew very little. Like Tom says what came next and is still present to some degree was information overload.
Vance
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Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Hi Vance. Thanks for your contribution. I’ll be compiling a summary of everyone’s comments and posting the results on this blog soon.
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Martyn Hi,
Thanks for going to my site. What did you think?
By the way, my biggest challenge when I started was to identify and stick with my niche.
It is so hard and you get so many opinions that you are consistently unsure of yourself. Once you start to master some skill something new arises.
My niche is fighting obesity from all angles, Body, Mind And Spirit.
Thanks for being there,
Pierre Trudel
[Reply]
Martyn Boaden Reply:
September 17th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Hi Pierre. Good niche! Unfortunately it’s a growing problem.
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Great site. Plenty of useful info here. I am sending it to a few buddies and also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks on your sweat!
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