harvest field with track and low clouds over itDid you ever watch that film ‘field of dreams’? where Kevin Costner started hearing voices telling him to build a baseball field in the middle of his farm? Everyone thought he was bonkers, but once he built it, then hordes of folks started turning up etc…

Well I hate to disappoint anyone, but that was a film/movie and as good as it was, it’s just a good story and stuff like that doesn’t happen in real life, especially if you liken the whole ethos behind the film to Internet marketing.

Many people seem to think that once they build a website/blog etc that will be it, they can sit back and wait for all that lovely lucre to come rolling in, often because they’ve been sold on the dream by other online marketers, (and it makes me angry).

Building a website is only a small part of your online journey, there is so much other stuff to consider and I’d advise anyone who is thinking of getting into this business to sit and consider whether it’s what they really want.

Lets have a look at a few of the ‘stories’ surrounding Internet marketing that folks get sucked into. 

  • It’s easy to set up

No it’s not, especially if you’re new to all things to do with IM, in fact it can be incredibly hard, especially when you have no skills whatsoever with either computers, html WordPress or any of the other tools needed to do with IM.

  • I’ve been told if I spend (insert whatever $ here) on Jo Blogs IM coaching course etc I’ll have a thriving business in weeks

No you won’t (especially if you are a complete newbie) because it’s practically impossible. There’s a lot to learn in IM (just like in any other business), be careful when being promised future riches from coaching courses for instance because many of them are absolute crap. (There are obvious exceptions of course).

  • Well I’ve bought the latest shiny new IM gadget, I’m bound to make a profit now

Sigh, I’ve bought many of those gadgets myself over the years and many of them sat unused and unloved on my hard-drive. It’s called shiny object syndrome and it’s a malady many of us suffer from. Stop buying the latest gizmo folks and concentrate on what you already have.

  • Ooh I can work a 4 hour week etc once I’m successful!

Good for you if you can get away with it (because I never could). IM is like any other job, (hard work) and mostly every other successful marketer I know works long hours especially when they have a launch for a new product due. I suspect many Internet marketers work longer hours than they ever did offline. The secret is (if it is a secret), they are now working for themselves and it’s something they are passionate about.

  • I’ve jacked my job/education in to concentrate on IM

Ouch please don’t do that. The times I’ve seen posts in the Warrior Forum where someone has taken the plunge and given up their job to concentrate on their IM career. I’d never advise anyone to do that unless they have at least a years worth of living expenses saved up. And please don’t give up your college education because you’ll regret not getting those qualifications later on in life.

  • I’ve maxed my credit card out and I’m desperate

Stuff like this makes my heart bleed. we had a guy buy our membership software once who let it slip on the desk that he was facing foreclosure on his house and buying our membership script was the last purchase he could make on his credit card. (I reimbursed him and let him keep the script I hasten to add). This was a man who was desperate and you should never rely on IM when you’re desperate like this. I often wonder what happened to him. You’re much better off trying to get yourself sorted offline first.

I’ve just looked through this post and maybe just maybe it’s a tad gloomy, (sorry about that), because of course there is another side to look out for and that is IM can also be fun as well as lucrative.  Plus you also get to meet some really awesome people. Many of my Facebook friends for instance are people whom I’ve met over the years through IM and many have become excellent friends.

What I’m trying to say is don’t fall for the IM that’s promised by so many people out there trying to make a buck out of you. If you are new the the IM game, then make sure you get your ducks all in a row before you start…


    4 replies to "Build it and they will come…"

    • Richard G M Taylor

      Another great post Kim, it only makes gloomy reading if you have your head in the clouds instead of your feet on the ground. It’s very sad, but a fact of life that some unscrupulous IMers deliberately mislead the naive in order to get them to buy their ‘wonder’ product. One of the things that impressed me about John Thornhill is that in his promotional video he is almost brutal in his honesty about the mindset and hard work necessary to succeed in this business. I’m sure he lost some sales because of that, but at least he can sleep at night.

      Richard
      http://richardgmtaylor.com

    • kimstanderline

      I agree Richard that John’s course is one of the excellent ones out there

      Thanks for reading and responding 🙂

      Kim

    • Keith Dean

      Hi Kim,

      Great post and it is good that you are pointing out the pitfalls to people. It really does make my blood boil when you see so called gurus selling shiny objects that promise untold riches for a few minutes a day!

      PTS is superb as we all know as it maps out what needs to be done and you never start out thinking that just doing a few blog posts will bring in the cash.

      Great to have met you in Manchester and we must have a dance together again sometime….lol!!

      Cheers
      Keith

      • kimstanderline

        Well I’m not sure I’m up for a flashmob dance again, my back went a few days after I got home lol

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