Thirty years ago, I sold information via small classified ads in ad-sheets on how to make money teaching others how to make money. We sent out these packets of flyers called Big Mails. We sent them to people who answered out ads and sent us the postage or a self-addressed stamped envelope.
One of the most prevalent plans back then sold for $1. It offered to teach you how to make one hundred dollars a day stuffing envelopes. This plan cost you a dollar plus a self-addressed stamped envelope. When someone responded to your ad, you sent them a sheet of paper telling them to run the same ad and do the same things that you were doing. You also included flyers for other brilliant plans in the envelope :-)
Fast forward 25 years, and I found myself in that same world transposed online.
They were the same because in both cases I found myself in a world where there were tens of thousands of people offering to sell others information on how to finally break free of the rat-race and create their own outrageously profitable businesses.
They were the same, because in both cases, most of the people marketing this information had never achieved any major success at what they were teaching.
However, things turned out drastically different for me the second time around. I was actually able to achieve my goals, and Id like to share with you how and why that happened. Id like to share with you, some of my major discoveries.
First, the how and why...
The how is that a small voice in my head said, What youre currently doing is insane! The incestuous marketing of plans that were all pitching to each other just has us all running around in circles. That small voice, that you hear too, said, This is not the answer, so where is it.
Unlike many, I listened to that voice, stepped back, and looked around for those who appeared to have discovered the answer. Then I made a point of studying and analyzing everything they did. I read all that they wrote. I attended live events to meet, listen to, and question them. Most importantly, I used my own power of observation to SEE who was walking the walk, and who just talked a good story, but wasnt there yet.
I very quickly discovered that those who had uncovered some part of the real secret CHARGED you for teaching it to you. They had hundreds of people clamoring to be taught or given a helping hand. So they used their consulting fees to see who was serious AND as a means of allocating their most valuable asset - their time. So I became willing to pay for the guidance of those who could really teach me.
One of the first things I was taught was that I needed a radical shift in my belief system of what IS possible. Our belief of what we can accomplish is framed by what relatives and those around us have done. We need to frame it in terms of what those who have accomplished much more have done.
That re-framing occurred as I talked to online millionaires and saw how they actually viewed the world and interacted with it. My mentors and coaches had me feed my mind information and proof of what was possible. They had me totally saturate myself in the material, to the extent that even now I listen to it on my MP3 player while out jogging... it takes my mind off of the pain :-)
Heres the most significant discovery I made about whats happening in the online world... The real money online is being made by those selling real world products that solve problems.
The real money online is being made by those who educate their markets and then make it easy for them to buy. Thats the most effective sales technique. Teach them and in the process bring them to the conclusion that your product is the only logical choice.
Its a FACT that people use the Internet to research topics of interest and to comparison shop. Then they often buy the item that theyve researched offline. If your website is the one that educates them, and helps make the research easy, theyll flock to your website. Its that simple. While there, they may purchase the item of interest from you :-)
Another point that many online marketers are really missing is that people go online to buy ordinary tangible things! When one of my friend bought an motorhome (sight-unseen) over Ebay, that shocked me. When I heard that over 5 BILLION dollars worth of vehicles are sold over Ebay annually, that enlightened me.
People love to shop, and they get tremendous pleasure out of buying things for themselves and their loved ones. Offer them what theyre looking for and theyll purchase it from your website. They purchase everything from cars and clothing, to computers and software, to books, to pet supplies, to vitamins and supplements, to flowers, and even houses over the Internet. If youre offering these items, in the right way, you will do very well!
If you need proof of what I have just stated, read the book, Success Alert. It was written by my friend, John Evans, who interviewed over 60 people making up to eighteen million a year doing just what I described. Grab a copy today and devote an evening to absorbing the knowledge and business wisdom contained within these in-depth interviews. Get a copy from: ==>
The very powerful examples in this book will make a believer out of many. They will show you how people are quietly making millions providing people with tangible products that they WANT.
This book wont totally solve the problem for everyone. There will still be those who will say, Yeah, they did it, but I cant. Some even go as far as to imply that God doesnt want them to succeed in a big way. They believe that they are intended to suffer and never break out of the struggle.
Listen - we live in a world of unimagined riches! There is more than enough to go around. What keeps most of us from getting those things we want is that we arent open to receiving them. I dont want to get mystical or anything, but every major religion, and way of thinking in the world, teaches that if you ask you will receive. Theres just a correct way of asking that we often dont understand.
A good course for drastically shifting your thinking of what you CAN accomplish and what this world will give you is by Dr. Robert Anthony. This couse was life-changing enough that I devoted a full week exclusively to studying it when I first discovered it. Grab a copy, and begin to understand many things in a totally different light by visiting: ==>
So... it takes offering the right products...things that people want. It also takes believing that you can do it enough to really go for it. For many of us, it also takes proof... we need to see examples of people doing it.
All of these are right before you. Thats why I needed to have this talk with you. Im a little confused at to why so many refuse to see what is so obvious. Im a little confused, but not totally confused. I acknowledge that some people deep down inside dont want success. Theyre afraid of it, or dont believe that they deserve it.
If you want to know how to actually build a thriving online business, Ive just revealed it to you. I speak with numerous shining examples of those doing it EVERY week. They share with me things that I can probably never share with you directly. I treasure their confidence and thats a part of why they open up to me so. Ive probably already shared too much... well see if THEY stop talking to me :-)
Copyright 2004 Willie Crawford
About The Author
Willie Crawford has been teaching others how to build an on-line business since late 1996. Frequently featured in radio, magazine and newspaper articles and interviews, Willie teaches the average guy what the top marketers are doing but seldom talking about. Willie provides detailed how to information in his newsletter, through his personal coaching, and at his annual how to workshop. Subscribe to Willies free course at:
The internet and associated technology changes at a relatively fast pace. For anyone working in fields that make extensive use of IT technology, it is crucial to always stay one step ahead of the game. Keeping up the pace can be challenging and seem utterly impossible at times without the help of resources to pull from.
For instance, small online home business owners frequently rely heavily on search engines to produce quality traffic to their site. Because all major search engines strive to deliver highly relevant search results to surfers, index algorithms are in a stage of continual evolution. Resources for staying abreast of changes is a must.
(1) ClickZ News is one of the primary online resources for internet marketers. Part of Jupitermedia Corporation, ClickZ provides highly insightful news articles on topics ranging from search engine marketing, web host providers, email marketing, web site design, current spam laws, idea branding and consumer spending habits across a broad range of IT and electronic devices. Signing up for their newsletter entitles you to receive the latest news right to your inbox.
(2) Search Engine Watch is undoubtedly the top site regarding new evolutions in search engine algorithms. I highly recommend frequenting this site if you are like me and performing all search engine optimization (SEO) yourself. Search Engine Watch is also owned by Jupertermedia, Inc. The lead editor is Danny Sullivan, well known throughout the SEO community as an expert on search engines and ranking. He and associate editor Chris Sherman conduct interviews with sources at search engines on a regular basis and analyze SE news across the web.
(3) Search Engine Optimization, Inc ( ) is another leader in search engine placement. Founded by CEO Garry Grant, a leader with years of experience in web development, internet communications and search engine optimization. They offer a free periodic newsletter, InSites, packed with optimization strategies and current developments in search engine technology.
(4) Tech Review is the online version of MITs Magazine of Innovation Technology. Covering a broad range of new innovations in the field of information technology from software to major hardware platforms, this is geared more towards big business systems rather than small business owners. They do however, offer a free newsletter, discussing new advancements and applications, making this resource relevant to online businesses.
(5) Useit is the site owned by Jakob Nielsen of the Nielsen Norman Group, providing resources regarding human-centered IT development. Highly insightful, this site is wonderful as it addresses IT development from the perspective of the people who will use it. Useit also contains a nice compilation of other IT related resources.
What is crucial without a doubt is to keep current on ideas and ideologies that exist throughout the IT corridor. It is not necessary to know the explicit details or ins and outs. If you have the correct resources at your disposal, you will stay one step ahead of the game of current online trends. Use these resources to stay ahead of your fellow online home business owners. Striving for new and better ways to reach your target market will ensure that your business stays on top.
by Dan J. Fry, c. 2003-2004, All rights reserved.
About The Author
Dan J. Fry is an independent researcher and owner of , a site devoted to providing resources for small budget home businesses. He has a PhD in Physics and is married with two daughters and two cats. Subscribe to his free E-Zine on home business resources at or by visiting his Infopreneur site at . He can be reached at .