My aim in this blog post is to try and show you the reality of why so many people fail, even though they’re busting their ass for hours on end, day after day.
This isn’t a preach-fest, nor is it some obscure new-age theory. Furthermore, it’s not exclusive to newbies. We ALL “suffer” from these symptoms from time to time, no matter how experienced.
But this is especially important for beginners, as well as anyone who’s never seen any kind of REAL results from this business.
If you read this and actually take it to heart (and take action) - I promise you this - 2010 will be drastically different for you…
It drives me NUTS when I get emails from people who I know are honestly giving this their best shot within the context of their abilities and situation - and I know instantly based on the types of questions they’re asking (or whatever) that they don’t have a chance in hell.
And of course - I try to set them straight, put them on the right path.
But their mindset and “what they’ve learned” blocks it out. The wheat gets lost among the chaff, and it all becomes a big, confusing (disappointing) mess.
Which is truly sad.
Because the real way to success in this industry is far, far easier and simpler than most think. And that “way” will become clear to you as I go through the following 3 “failure symptoms”…
3 Symptoms of a Marketer Who’s Destined for Failure:
Symptom #1: Perfectionism
This is a silent killer because being a “perfectionist” can in many ways be a good thing. (It’s better than being a slacker). But it becomes a problem when the constant improvements, “setbacks” and bar-raising is either a subliminal fear of action/failure/success - or perhaps indicative of a deeper issue, like a lack of confidence in one’s self; and therefore your product.
Even though in most cases the product, or the site - or whatever - is beyond finished. (Just promote the damn thing already!)
We all know someone who’s been “working on their site” or whatever for what seems like forever. Sure, they’ll tell you it’s almost done. Just a few days left. Etc.
Ask them in 3 months, and you’ll get the same old song. And they’re still broke.
And chances are, most of us have been guilty of it as well (I have in the past, for sure). It’s funny how it’s more comfortable to keep things in “idea” mode or the development stage because you still have an “out” - isn’t it?
That is the root of perfectionism, folks: FEAR.
When I look back at all the stuff I’ve done in the last few years - all the sites I’ve built, all the crap I’ve tried doing, etc - the bottom line is that I ONLY got results when I finished something and rolled it out. Period.
And what’s ironic is that some of my biggest performers were things that took a few DAYS to put together and promote. 5 page sites generating double-digit sales transactions daily. Info-products that were assembled and produced in less than a week. And so on.
And inversely, I’ve also had stuff that took me forever to roll out, and by the time it was all said and done, I’ve probably made more money from my “simple and fast” strategies in the meantime anyway.
That isn’t always the rule.
But the mindset always applies.
And on top of that, there is no substitute for experience. The more you actually finish, the more you truly learn. And it’s a lot easier to springboard from one experience into the next, learning from mistakes (and leveraging profitable discoveries) as you go.
So if you catch yourself continually adding to your tasklist… ask yourself why, and answer truthfully.
Getting big results doesn’t require perfection. It just requires ACTION.
Just like our Canadian hockey-legend (Wayne Gretzky) was quoted saying, “100% of the shots you don’t take won’t go in…”
Symptom #2: “Space Pen” Syndrome
Back when NASA was trying to figure out how to get a man on the moon, they were obviously presented with an endless series of insane technological challenges - and for obvious reasons, given that at the time the average calculator was about the size of my desk.
One of the issues they faced was something really simple. Astronauts couldn’t use a conventional pen in a zero-gravity environment because the ink would simply “float” in the pen.
So what they did was develop the most technologically advanced zero-gravity pen the world had ever seen. The damn thing could even write underwater, since the ink was pressurized.
It took years and God-knows how much (tax) money to develop these ridiculous space pens.
The end result?
Astronauts could now write stuff in space, doodle, etc.
And guess what the Russians did…
They used pencils.
The end result was the same. Cosmonauts could do all the same things as the American astronauts (with the exception of writing underwater), without the months or perhaps years of development, testing and expense.
And I see so many marketers doing the same thing - over-complicating every single task and going way beyond the realm of necessity when it comes to building and marketing their sites.
Everyone’s so caught up with all the latest social media crap, “linkwheels”, spinning their content (which takes forever and has little, if any, benefit), widgets, plugins, etc…
…that they’re missing the POINT.
Make offers. Create content. Promote it.
Not rocket science, folks. Not even space-pen science.
And pretty much everything, with very few exceptions, still works today just as well as it did 10+ years ago. If you think it doesn’t - try it. The fundamentals have NOT changed. And it’s the fundamentals (converting copy, building good content, targeted offers, list-building) that build wealth.
Not “tactics”. And definitely not space pens.
(Hint: All those people out there clogging up the marketing forums with their SEO tactics, “new” strategies, etc… guess what? Chances are they’re broke or making a mediocre living at best. The big dogs are doing what they’ve always done. And it’s not hard to see what that is.)
Symptom #3: Always Looking for Shortcuts
Wanna know what’s funny about most people who are always looking for that ultimate tactic or shortcut?
It takes them 3 times longer (and they put in way more effort) to get the same results as someone who simply does it the right way the first time.
(And there’s usually no long-term effect, either. The guy who’s out there blackhatting has to constantly work in order to “stay on top”. In contrast, the guy who’s produced genuinely good content and earned his traffic, reputation, etc. will see effortless traffic & revenue for years. Which one sounds better to you?)
I’ve seen this repeatedly over the years. Both with my own activities and others. In fact, these days I don’t even care about “tricks” or “new tactics” for driving traffic, etc. I just don’t care.
And I really don’t think I’m missing out, because I’ve gotten to the point where my time is simply better spent working on my core business model (and enjoying my life) than staying up into the wee hours testing out some freakish tactic.
Anyway, let me give you a real-life example of why “shortcuts” are anything but smart…
My partner on the Affiliate Genie project (Matt Chitty) comes from a sales background, and a few years ago he was actually one of the top sales managers on a nationwide scale for a very large Electronics retailer up here in Canada.
As Matt puts it, there are two types of producing salespeople on the floor.
Type 1: “Mr. Tactic”
This is the guy who hard-sells, uses all the “sales tricks” and will basically tell the customer whatever they want to hear just to make that sale.
He typically does the most volume at first, but he also loses a lot of commissions due to returns, etc. Moreover, because he only cares about the sale, the customers can easily sense this and they’ll avoid him next time. He always has to find new customers.
This means that Mr. Tactic has to work long hours and hard-sell all day long to keep up his numbers.
And nobody likes him. All he gets out of it is the cash. (I’m sure about a bazillion people come to mind who fit this description…)
And, then - there’s the other guy.
The anomaly that Mr. Tactic can’t stand…
Type 2: “Mr. Truthful“
This is the guy who’s your typical down-to-earth dude who seems to have more of an interest in the products he sells than he does about actually selling them.
He doesn’t try and “close” every customer he meets. Nor does he exaggerate or talk out of his ass when customers ask questions about what a product does. He simply shares what he does know, and he helps the customer find exactly what they actually need. Regardless of his commissions.
He’s not as “high energy” as Mr. Tactic. And maybe he’s a little bit plain on the exterior. But over time, people come to know him as being someone you can trust.
Mr. Truthful will have regular sales levels for the first little while. His results at first won’t be anything too shocking, maybe a bit above average. But there will be next to no returns on his commissionable sales, since he’s upfront with the customer.
However…
As the weeks and months go by, something strange starts happening.
Happy customers come back, as do their friends, who specifically seek out Mr. Truthful. This slowly becomes a sort of “chain reaction”, to the point where Mr. Truthful is actually doing the same volume of sales as Mr. Tactic - with the difference being that it’s effortless and painless.
He doesn’t have to “trick” people into buying, nor does he have to “work” a prospect. All he does is basically just help people who want to deal with him all day long. And since his sales generally don’t generate any returns, at the end of the day he’s actually making more money than Mr. Tactic.
Even though he’s working shorter hours and, plainly speaking, not even ”trying”. It just flows to him.
Over time, this sets up Mr. Truthful in a high-paying sales career that he can enjoy and prosper with as long as the company stays in business.
But for the other guy - over time, inevitably, Mr. Tactic will burn out and try and make it big somewhere else, only to meet the same results over and over again due to the core issue - he doesn’t care about the customer, he cares about his results. (Sound familiar?)
——————————————————-
This “Mr. Tactic” approach is what plagues internet marketing.
I understand that we’re all in this to make money. And that’s totally okay.
But you have to realize that if you treat your visitors with contempt and don’t care about the fact that they’re spending money based on your recommendations, then every sale you generate will be a fight.
And you’ll have a never-ending slew of nasty emails, complaints, refunds - or worse.
On the flipside, if you come across as genuine with your visitors and genuinely try to help them - they’ll buy from you in droves! And they’ll love you for it. Then they’ll buy from you again, and again… etc.
That is how you build true wealth online, folks.
It’s not about “tactics” or the latest technique. It’s about building trust and influence.
That’s something you can’t simulate. No sales tactic on earth is going to make somebody trust you. The only way to “get” trust is to earn it. And you do that by publishing good content and providing valuable, honest stuff to your people.
And guess what?
When you have good content and genuinely cool stuff to offer - everything literally falls into place for you. Getting backlinks is easy. It’ll happen naturally. Getting JV’s is brainless. People will want to work with you - you’ll be the one turning down offers that don’t match (not vice-versa).
And of course - making sales is a breeze. When people trust you, they’ll buy stuff just because you recommended it. Some people won’t even look at the offer (literally, this happens). They just buy because they trust your word.
You think you can do that with some weird-ass “hypnotic sales trick” or something?
Um… no. I don’t care what anyone claims - you can’t. You only get to that level by establishing trust.
But it all starts with the basics:
1. Create Genuinely Good Content
2. Make Relevant Offers Prominently on Your Site
3. Promote Your Site
That’s the “big secret” folks. The ultimate tactic - and it’s all you have to do if you really want to hit it on the web, long-term. All of the sites I’ve created where I’ve actually catered to the visitor as a paramount concern are still running strong as ever, and many are several years old.
And on top of that, getting backlinks and stuff was a breeze. All I’d do is simply email all the other sites, show them some cool function or helpful article on the site, and ask for a link or a “story” on it for their readers. For one of my sites in particular, out of about 200 emails like that - 40 of them willingly did so. And one was even a PR8 news site 
In contrast, I’m lucky if my little “tester sites” and small conduit sites (which have a purpose of their own) see maybe 6 months of solid traffic before they fade down to a small trickle.
Value matters.
It’s been working since 1995 (or whenever the internet was “born”), and it works just as well today.
And it seems so straight-forward.
Just like using a pencil in space…
——————————————————-
Okay - now here’s how to take all that stuff I just said and make a crap-load of money with it this year…
First, you need to identify areas where these symptoms are showing up. Maybe you’re freezing up and endlessly delaying your sites because they aren’t “good enough”.
This needs to stop. Who cares if your sites aren’t perfect? Your visitors don’t. (And your bank account certainly doesn’t).
Just get them out there and marketed. Period.
You can make them better later.
Now I’m not saying that you take shortcuts or skimp out on value. But what I am saying is that you need to cut out stuff that isn’t an absolute necessity and just FINISH your sites so you can start building links, getting traffic, buying ads - whatever.
Or maybe you’re over-complicating everything.
You think that you need to “leverage” every available trick in the book to maximize your traffic. So you insist on setting up all the latest SEO plugins, developing a 300-message autoresponder series, having your site “drip” content automatically, you spin all your articles and submit them various ways, you set up peel-away ads and exit scripts, etc.
None of that stuff is necessarily bad (in fact lots of it is very profitable) - but if it’s causing you to be overwhelmed… or if you think that it’s all required - stop it.
Just start with the basics, and as your traffic increases, you can add stuff as you need to.
Remember that two complete sites with NO gimmicks will almost always out-earn a single site with EVERY gimmick. (And I’m talking about affiliate sites here, not authority sites or products which are a different animal and not something you dive into before you test the waters).
So if you feel like you have to build a “space pen”, just remember that a pencil will do the same damn thing, and you can always improve stuff LATER.
And finally - maybe the issue is that none of your sites are converting well (even if they get tons of traffic and you’re promoting proven, hot offers) because your content isn’t genuine.
You need to realize, then, that your product reviews, your articles, your presells - everything - needs to not only be truthful, but it has to be published with the intention of actually helping your visitors get the best solution for their needs.
If you’re honestly trying to help your people - it shows. Your visitors can sense that, and that’s how you become trusted.
You’ll sell more, you’ll get more links more easily, you’ll be able to do deals in the market easily - everything works better for you. And on top of that, it’s actually easier to do this since you don’t have to use “hype”. Just talk straight. And wherever possible, allow your visitors to lend their voice as well.
So if 2009 was a rough year, I can guarantee you that 2010 will be drastically different for you by doing the following:
1. Just Finish/Market Your Sites FAST & Improve Them LATER.
2. Keep it Simple & Stop Wasting Time Building “Space-Pen” Sites.
3. Be Genuine & Actually Give a Damn
A lot of people who read this won’t “get it”. They’ll be reading in between the lines looking for tricks, for things they can swipe for a quick buck, and so on. Those are the washouts, folks. Even if they do make a bit of money, it’s always short-lived.
Anyone who’s actually made real money as an affiliate (or any kind of marketer), and I mean well into the 6-figs, realizes that everything I’ve said here is literal. There is no hidden tactic or “trick” to making a pile of money in any viable market. It just comes down to getting sites up, creating helpful content and getting traffic (building links, ads & doing deals).
It’s that simple.
And it’s time to finally embrace that simplicity, rather than rationalize otherwise or believe the “hype”, which is being propogated by people with nothing better to do than rotting away on forums all day.
This is one of the main reasons I decided to package Affiliate Genie as a public offering.
Not only is it brain-dead simple for in terms of creating clean, effective affiliate sites - but it’s got interaction built right in. This allows you to be transparent with your visitors, and your conversions will soar if people sense that your content - and other’s comments - are the real deal.
And yes, it does support basically all the bells/whistles of any other WYSIWYG editor, scripts, etc - but that isn’t the focus.
The focus is on just getting your sites up, running and marketed as fast as possible with good, genuine content.
And that, my friends, is what “works” in 2009/2010.
Whether you choose to believe that is up to you.
All I’m saying is that it wasn’t “tactics” that has provided myself and my wife an amazing lifestyle (we’ve been to every continent), multiple revenue properties, a nice spacious 6-bedroom house for ourselves and a newly-acquired 2002 Porsche 911 Turbo (which I bought in cash - and yes it’s as fast as hell).
No, that’s the result of doing the FUNDAMENTALS. Building sites, building traffic and genuinely helping my visitors.
Just something to consider…
-Chris
P.S. We are days away now from releasing Affiliate Genie. Right now I’m just finishing the salesletter and completing the accompanying training materials. (Interested in promoting it? Email me at chris@chrisrempel.com)
P.P.S. Here’s a pic of my new (ridiculous) porsche:
The previous owner spent a small fortune upgrading it professionally through GMG Racing, and now it produces about 610 horsepower. When the turbos spool up (usually they really hit anywhere after 3500 RPM), it feels like you’re getting shot out of a big cannon or something… it’s insane.
Scary, actually. I’ve driven Ferraris, Maseratis, a Porsche C4S and my previous car was a BMW M3 (which was a very fast car as well)… but none of them come close to this car. It’s a monster.
The racing suspension package makes it pretty low, though I’ve already scraped the front end a bit coming out of a parking lot exit ramp (doh!).
I’ll post more pictures in a future post.
113 responses so far ↓
1 Daniel // Nov 13, 2009 at 4:27 pm
That’s my problem. Perfectionism. Partly because of fear I suppose, but I’ve always been like that. Everything have to be “just right”.
What I don’t get is how blatantly obvious everything you’ve said is, but some people still don’t seem to “get it”, despite how often it’s hammered into them.
I haven’t got to where I want to be yet, but I do “get it”, which I suppose puts me ahead of about 90% of every other affiliate out there. The knowledge in itself is quite liberating.
I stumbled across your Topic=Traffic email yesterday. I’d copied it into Notepad so I could refer back to it. Maybe for my next site I shall just go with some crazy competitive market, get my content indexed and see what happens.
-Daniel
2 admin // Nov 13, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Hi Daniel,
I can definitely relate, re: Perfectionism.
These symptoms are common to us ALL. The key is recognition and adaptation.
That Topic/Traffic email… I should post that on the blog. Very important stuff.
Thanks!
-Chris
3 5 Star Affiliate Marketing Forums // Nov 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm
3 Symptoms of a Marketer Who is Destined to Fail …
I just read a blog post that reminded me of so many affiliates I see on this forum, newbies especially.
Many are either stuck in analysis paralysis and never do anything OR they are so busy chasin……
4 Robert // Nov 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Reminds me of what Gary Halbert used to say: “You don’t have to get it perfect. You just have to get it moving.”
5 Rob 'the Genie' Toth // Nov 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Perfectionism cost me roughly 2 years. Average those 2 years to whatever you want since they were “beginner” years … but let’s say $100k net a piece. $200k lost.
And I agree with the fact that 4 of my big surprise profitable projects took days or weeks from concept to launch … meanwhile at least 1 supposed heavy-hitter that I spent 4 months on was a relative flop.
I’d also add that staying in “education” mode is also a pitfall… forum discussions, blog posts, articles, ebooks, teleseminars, free webinars, home study courses, etc etc … all the book-knowledge in the world won’t produce a dollar for you until you either act on the knowledge (recommended) or at least sell (consulting/info products) that knowledge …
I don’t recommend the later seeing as if you haven’t developed hands on experience, you probably shouldn’t be trying to teach it.
Anyways, great post Chris.
Rob Toth
RobTheGenieToth.com
6 Gavin // Nov 13, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Sweet Porsche man, the way you described the way turbos kick in after 3500rpm sounds AWESOME.
Which m3 did you have, e46?
I really can’t wait to be in the position to be choosing between 911’s and M3’s…
great advice as well btw, i’m really making an effort to move from ‘get it perfect then launch’, to well hell SEO takes weeks anyway so start building those links now and clean it up as you go along!
7 Tim // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Hi Chris,
Your right on as usual. The only thing I would add to that is those who plan and plan, but never take action. But you knew that too.
Nice car.
-Tim
8 Bill // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:01 pm
You’re absolutely right, Chris. The real key is actually helping people - the rewards follow automatically.
9 Gareth C Thomas // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Hi Chris,
I read your article and boy it was like looking into a mirror!!!
Everything you’ve said resonated with me in one way or another. I get sick of hearing myself say to my buddies “yes, the website (or blog or niche socializer site, whatever) will be ready soon. I’ve jumped from thing to thing, I know that. I’ve spent money I don’t have or shouldn’t have because the ‘hope’ factor is always there. It can get quite depressing sometimes and I hate to think how much I have spent on my ‘internet education’ so far!
I’ve even bought your stuff, “Confessions of a lazy internet marketer” or something (sorry, can’t remember the exact title) and I’ve never seen that through to completion either.
I can’t even say I have made $1 yet paid to my PayPal. My adsense revenue over the last 4 years has been laughable. I’ve never received a cheque from Google. So it goes on.
Now your product… I will take a look and see… and ask myself “Is it for me? Will I (or can I) use it?” Some of the solutions marketers put out there are so darned complex, you need to be a rocket scientist to make them work! Bring it out and then email me to let me know where and when I can take a look. 2010 might be a better year than this year and past years.
Cheers.
Gareth
10 mark // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Chris,
Excellent points, right to the core of the issues we have.
If you could only reformat your blog and get rid of all this double spacing, so we don’t have to scroll 100 pages to read it.
Thank you,
11 Mike // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Great article Chris and nice looking porsche!
Yea, we can sure get ourselves drained and delay the rewards by trying to get it right the first time. It’s also who you trust online and who do you listen. I like what you and D. Kelly are doing. Keep it up guys!
12 Greg Vining // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Great stuff Chris! I’ve been a victim of perfectionism my whole internet marketing life. And have very little to show for it. My goal for the coming year is to have a real affiliate business, and I will be following your advice closely. Keep it coming!
Greg
13 Brian Owens // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Thanks for the kick in the teeth =)
Great stuff, as always Chris.
14 Lynda // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Great advice and I’m certainly guilty of trying to get the site just right, especially as I have taught myself from scratch, but I just went ahead and did it and will tweak it later. No money yet but it’s early days.
15 Morgan // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Hey Chris
You are spot on, have been doing affiliate marketing for some time now full time, however in my experience one needs to build space pen sites also so that they stand out from every other tom dick and harry’s site that all looks the same.
IM guru’s love to promote their push button affiliate software sites which don’t really work, maybe works just enough to buy you lunch or something.
Like anything in business, you have to stand out from the crowd, and this works the same with affiliate sites, like you Chris when you create affiliate sites you stand out, so people need to create their own unique sites too, but to keep in mind key marketing strategies and that the site needs to look professional and simple.
If everyone goes zigging, then you go zagging, hence why top entrepreneurs are top entrepreneurs by being unique and different to everyone else.
Dont always follow the crowd people.
Cheers
Morgan
16 Daniel Brock // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Nice article Chris - I am finally starting to migrate from my small affiliate sites to more informative websites that actually provide value.
I agree with you 100% the results stick a lot better.
Nice Porsche. They are a lot of fun. I had a 2002 911 996 a couple years ago. It’s no 610 hp turbo, but it sure was a hell of a lot of fun
Take it easy Chris. Good to see you are still in the game.
17 Scott Harvey // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Dang…talk about being right on!
I’ve been following you for quite a while, and love your stuff. My partner and I were working on our “real business”, having the perfect application outsourced and built, etc. Since that was taking so long (well over a year…hmmm), we started to get involved in Affiliate Marketing to learn the online world while waiting for our site to be done (as in being perfect…)
Along the way, even though we are both perfectionists, we started executing, and had a $20K+ month recently - funny how execution works. And then Google cut us off for life for promoting Google Money Tree or one of those dime-a-dozen products on one of the CPA networks. Gotta love Google, but I digress!
Since then, although the “perfect” site is still in the works, I’ve built a separate site in Wordpress from the ground up, starting just a couple weeks ago, and now it is done and ready to be promoted next week.
I’m done with thinking it is hard, there is too much competition, blah, blah - I’m just doing it and somehow I know it will start working well since it already has (on a small scale) in a matter of a couple weeks.
Anyway, I guess I just wanted to babble a little to say that I couldn’t agree more with you. Some of this stuff you talked about is repeated pretty often and isn’t rocket science, but somehow - as usual - the way you’ve said it, and the different topics you’ve combined and summarized here just friggin’ WORK!
Great post, really appreciate your guidance and true caring for your audience.
Didn’t mean to go on so long, but again, thanks.
Viva la Progress over Perfection!
Scott Harvey
18 Ray // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Hi Chris
Great points! I am still in the earlier stage of Internet Marketing. I do not even know where to find all the products to promote!
Can you recommend any product / tutorial that shows you how to start affiliate marketing with REAL website examples, e.g., how to find a profitable niche, how to write contents/articles/reviews on this niche, and most importantly, how to promote the website?
Thanks.
19 Scott Harvey // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Oh, and by the way…of all the cars out there, my dream car since I was about 7 years old has always been a 911.
I too will only buy one when (not if) I can pay for it in cash. That tells me a little bit more about you, and makes me respect you even more.
Thanks for the great stuff and some good motivation with that beautiful picture.
Scott
P.S. I’ve unsubscribed from TONS of email lists over the months, and you remain along with only the 4 or 5 top dogs like Perry Marshall and John Carlton. Hope that helps let you know where you rank with me. But enough with all the flattery…don’t want it to start going to your head!
20 Matjaz // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Chris,can you tell what the price for Affiliate Genie
will be,becouse i realy want to get Affiliate Genie but i`m scared that will be to expencive for beginer like me.
21 Mark @ Get Back Ex Info // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Thanks Cris-
I hear what you’re saying… But I think the “quality way” is a slow game until it can be making any real money. At least I think that’s what attracts so many to the “hard sell” side of things.
Some of us are under tremendous pressure to bring in some profits quick.
mk.
22 Jeanette Cates // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Well said, Chris! You’ve done a great job of capturing the essence of what holds people back. For many, this may be THE post that gets through - so they CAN get to the level of success they crave. Thanks for sharing this!
- Jeanette
23 admin // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:30 pm
@ Morgan , #15:
I agree totally about the need to stand apart when it comes time to build a real presence in the market.
My target audience with this post, though, are people that are paralyzed as a result of over-learning.
People that don’t really have any experience because they’ve been too overwhelmed to start.
Keeping it simple and just getting small-sized sites out there isn’t going to build you a Fortune 500 company.
But it will get you started and seeing results.
And you can scale up from there - that is the key.
But you need to START, first.
Cheers
-Chris
24 Steve // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Hi Chris,
Boy, do you have a way! Hammer > Head > Nail
Perfectionism = Procrastination, that much I get. Fear of looking “chintzy” online by comparison to some of the “guru’s” can stop you dead in your tracks.
But contextually, when you read through the “Mr. Tactic” vs “Mr. Truthful” portion(s), I think it’s ironic that most of the so-called “guru’s” ARE “Mr. Tactic,” and they’ve gone to great lengths (and spared no expense) to convince would-be marketers to be just like them.
They even threaten failure if you don’t do it their way. And the more lists you subscribe to, the greater the “intimidation,” ultimately causing you to experience even more fear and loathing.
With this one article, Chris, you’ve turned the tables, at least for me (and in my humble opinion).
Thank you!
25 Internet Marketing Uncut // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Hi Chris,
you are damn right as usual. Often you just sit around and doing nothing but thinking about what to do next. Then you look outside and it is dark and you think okay then I do my stuff tomorrow. Next day checking emails and stats, NO Sales! frustrated and thinking what to do… and so on .. next day. This way you will never get any commisions or product creation.
By the way, nice car. I like BMW more
26 Jeremy // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Thanks Chris, I think it is crystal now. No amount of BS beats the truth delivered with care and empathy. The money will look after itself!
Regards
Jeremy
27 Marie Reynolds // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Hi Chris,
You are so spot on with everything you say. I have two sites up, started in May this year, not perfect or anything near it. That’s not my problem, and I think my content is OK and genuine, but I don’t know how to get traffic, or how to promote my sites. That’s what I have to work on.
I have just removed my opt in boxes because no-one opted in. I need to come up with new ideas. I had an offer of 5 articles in one, but that didn’t work. Seems like I need to offer an e-book or something. And my list is a big fat zero.
Anyway, I do believe that I will end up making my living online, regardless of all the setbacks and the sceptics. (I have decided not to tell anyone else what I am doing.) Six months isn’t long, really, and I am learning a lot.
Great post once again Chris, please keep them coming..
Marie
28 Stephen Bolin // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Really awesome post, Chris!
Just today I made a post on my blog “Unfocused and Broke.” 4 Critical Steps to Freedom.
Of course, the easiest things to write about are the very struggles I have had myself. Chasing the next Shiny Bright object has been my biggest and very expensive problem.
Great content will always beat out blackhat. And the more you write, the easier and more fun it gets.
2010 will be a great year! Thanks for the encouragement!
Stephen Bolin
29 Dima // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I’ve been guilty of all of those mistakes, and I’m being a little bit of a perfectionist right now on the project I’m doing.
But end of the day, the way I see it, marketing is a skill, and the only way you’re going to master it and create long-term, sustainable wealth is taking action and following things through to completion.
The lessons learned from experience are worth 100 times more than the stuff you read about from even the smartest marketers and copywriters.
I couldn’t agree more with you Chris, just get out there, get started and keep focusing on building sites, promoting them and adding genuine value to peoples lives.
With those 3 essentials, you basically can’t go wrong.
Oh and btw, love the Porsche Turbo =) Although with all the upgrades I’m a little scared to imagine how fast that thing would be!
30 Cynthia // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Hey Chris,
This post was right on. I do make some money as an affiliate marketer & have been for a little while now but it’s nothing to brag about. Perfectionism isn’t my problem. I think competition is. I’ll see a niche I want to (or have started to) go after, then I’ll see big “Guru’s” touting it as a good market & back out figuring I don’t have a shot at it now that everyone’s going to be jumping in. I have to get my mind around the fact that there’s room for everyone…especially because many of my potential competitors may never enter into the market anyway (because they’ll be suffering from perfectionism).
31 Paul // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:03 pm
I sure do appreciate the honesty and insight that you write with. I guess that’s what the whole post is about.
On sites that you outsource content for, how do you get across to writers that have been writing “seo optimized” articles for so long to just write naturally?
Thanks again.
Paul
32 Steve Averill // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Great great post. Spot on. Will come back for more.
33 Anthony // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Chris,
I’d like to add another species to the list: Do Nothings.
That is the group I belonged to until, literally, two nights ago when I re-read, mind you, your wonderful Reverse Niche Selection VIP Report. I’ve wasted valuable time because I did nothing but stockpile, peruse and vacillate. Balderdash.
I first discovered affiliate marketing two years ago, bought ebooks, downloaded ebooks, bookmarked sites and did absolutely nothing with the considerable knowledge I acquired. Was it fear? Honestly, I don’t believe so — I’ve never been afraid to take calculated risks. I think it was something else; something more insidious.
Three things come to mind:
1)Lack of focus.
2)Not breaking down a seemingly formidable task into bite-sized chunks.
3)Information overload.
Man, one of these items, alone, is a killer. Combined, you have a monster on your hands. I think about the lapsed time and where I could’ve been had I just placed one foot in front of the other and walked…it’s enough to make me crawl into my buttocks and start kickin’.
The three opportunities you outlined in Reverse Niche Selection are ripe. Frankly, I want to have sites in all three areas but, of course, will concentrate on, and, thoroughly explore one market, kick some butt there and move onto the next. With unemployment at 10% in the States, I think you know which niche I’ll start with.;-)
I’ve pared my e-letters to you, Rosalind Gardner — who was my gateway to affiliate marketing two years ago — and two or three others. Everyone else has been banished from my email account.
I’m anxious to see what Affiliate Genie is all about. Based on your history, so far, anything short of excellent would be surprising. Thanks for everything, Chris.
Regards,
Anthony
34 Simon // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Hi Chris,
Had a great laugh with the NASA space pen / Russian pencil story. Even my usually humourless girlfriend laughed when I read it to her!
Good post. You’re practicing what you preach.
35 Niche Marketing // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Great article Chris.
You have completely nailed it on the head. This business is not complicated and so many people act like it is.
Making money on the internet is no more difficult than how you break it down. Great example with the space pens… I’m still laughing at how ridiculous that is, but so true with internet marketing.
36 Anne // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Chris, thanks so much for your very insightful post. Holey moley I am guilty of everything you mention but am now making a promise to myself that things will change(are changing already)and 2010 will be my year of positive progress.
I may make one ‘last’ purchase though - I look forward to Affiliate Geni
Best wishes
Anne
37 Manon // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Hi Chris,
LOL this post was awesome and I have to be honest good thing you pre-warned about it being long…but I stuck it through and it was so well worth it. I will totally own up me me me me and me all over this post. But 2010 is the beginning and this article was sent to me in perfect time. On top of that, I will be contacting you to promote your new product…see a new me!
Manon
38 Hamant Keval // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Hi Chris
Wow You do have the knack of pinpointing the exact problems that people have and career off the path for which they originally chose this field of online business.
I certainly recognize many of those.
Incredible article.
Thanks
Hamant
39 Hamant Keval // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Oh and forgot - One awesome Car Man.
I love fast cars and I can see that at over 600BHP that is some raw power!
HAve fun !
Hamant
40 Make Simple Money Online // Nov 13, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Chris,
I really see myself falling into each of these Categories from time to time, and I think you are spot on in your diagnosis.
Thank-you for boldly proclaiming the truth.
Warmest,
Jonathan
http://www.ThreeMoneyMethods.com
P.S. Simon (a couple of comments above), are your seriously insulting your girlfriend in a public forum when it’s completely unnecessary and creates nothing but disdain? I’m no scholar on the bible, but I think somewhere in Proverbs it says something to the effect of “It is foolish to speak scornfully of others.”
41 Affiliate Marketing – affiliates marketing | SEO Mixer Blog // Nov 13, 2009 at 7:02 pm
[…] 3 Symptoms of a Marketer Who's Destined to Fail 3 hours ago by admin Since that was taking so long (well over a year hmmm), we started to get involved in Affiliate Marketing to learn the online world while waiting for our site to be done (as in being perfect ) Along the way, even though we are both …[ ] […]
42 Hil // Nov 13, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Admin post 23:
GUILTY AS CHARGED!
That is my problem over learning, I know an absolute shit load there really isn’t any excuse.
43 Camilo Buitrago // Nov 13, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I think that my problem is a combination of the three, and I specially realize them after taking action in my last project.
I realized that I used to spend a lot of time just trying to find the perfect solution for my blog, as an example I was spending more time searching for the “perfect” Wordpress theme that will save me hours for my future work… then add to it the perfect plugins… the perfect colors… after a lot of this kind of decisions is like having all the planning but not the real action.
So this post comes on the right moment, this time I decided to focus just on the minimal to make my projects work (the pencil solution) and they are working great! Is even easier to change things after you are getting results (because you know what is not actually working).
And the shortcut stuff, is highly related to the first one… you need the perfect stuff to make this work in the best way so you get more with less… but if it doesn’t work I will try the next shortcut leading nowhere.
So thanks for the post and thanks for the advice!
44 John // Nov 13, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Chris,
FU for talking about me like that, I’ll post my website address when it’s done around 2013…
45 Roy // Nov 13, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Nice one Chris.
46 Michelle Adams // Nov 13, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Chris thanks for expanding on the Mr Tactic and Mr Truthful profiles. Nice to know I’m on the right track by consistently putting out honest content and giving a damn about the people I help. There are quite a few Mr Tactics in my market and I know their poor ethics will undo them in the end.
Perfectionism and fear? Never looked at the two as connected before but I think you’re right and it’s something I definitely need to work on. Thanks for the push in the right direction.
47 Mike Gerke // Nov 13, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Thanks Chris, great advice. I’m guilty of perfectionism and it’s something I’ve been trying to deal with for a long time.
As far as all the widgets, I believe in simplicity because I’ve always thought all these extras can take away a visitors focus on what you want them to focus on. I hate and will never buy from a site with a pop-up I have to close to read the page and then makes me click 2,3 even 4 pop-ups to get away when I try to leave it.
Keep the good info coming, I really appreciate it.
48 Internet Marketing Tools // Nov 13, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Chris,
The simplicity and being transparent to your audience as well as providing useful content without fluff is what you do best. A good example of not being a perfectionist and keeping it simple is your site. Lets be honest it’s not the nicest looking site (plain) but it kicks as in content and your customers love you for it!
Hey, are you gonna drive that Porsche in the Snow or store it until spring?!
Cheers,
Andy
49 Kenneth Doyle // Nov 13, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Hi Chris…
As usual, you are right on the money… “Nothing happens if nothing happens!”
Love your work.
KennethD (Australia)
50 Don Davis // Nov 13, 2009 at 8:28 pm
From one Porsche guy to another…
“There is no substitute”.
Nice ride Chris.
Nike pretty much summed this one up years ago…
“JUST FREAKIN DO IT!”
51 Ferdy V. // Nov 13, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Great, practical information. Thanks for pointing out the “short cuts,” tactics pot hole. I have been known to fall into that which has proven expensive without results. So excited for the end of 2009 and the start of a very profitable 2010. Fundamentals always apply since we are dealing with real people and their real money in a very depresses economy. Those who care only about the money will be left with empty pockets. About that car, I’ve never been int0 Porches, but that is one sexy looking car. I may have to change me mind about it after all…LOL!
52 Daniel // Nov 13, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I’ve just noticed a typo in my first post. Argh =)
“That Topic/Traffic email… I should post that on the blog. Very important stuff.”
Yes. Do it. =)
53 Sunganani // Nov 13, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Right on the button but helpful. I am slapping myself wondering why I did not see it sooner because the three things are very true for my offline business as well!
Thanks
54 Sell Annuity Payments // Nov 13, 2009 at 9:06 pm
No one has ever accused me of being a perfectionist but I guess my problem is looking for the short cuts. I am going to have to work on that. Great post!
55 Michelle // Nov 13, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Hi Chris,
All too true- also program hopping is another downfall for many, myself included.
I recently started to realize this and have been working on it.
Thanks for the info :0)
56 Lawra // Nov 13, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Thanks Chris for another insightful post. This advice really resonates with me as I used to constantly fiddle with websites to try and make them look “professional”. This was until I came across a product that helped me publish a basic website with confidence, and make money too.
Good on ya, for telling it like it is!
57 Tyler // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Sound advice Chris… You’ve got to move before you’re ready (or at least before you THINK you’re ready), because then you’re a perfectionist stuck in your own fear of moving into action.
It’s pretty simple to understand… Robert Greene says it’s like when you feel that you have to work a lot harder to reach your goal when you know you’re not quite prepared, you become much more alert and inventive during the process.
I think what he’s saying is if you move before you are ready, and put perfectionism aside, then it will elicit a greater energy level and motivation direction to get where you want to be (in your bank account) without necessarily using EVERY available resource… you really can create an opportunity out of “nothing” with this mind-set, or close to nothing if you are speaking in terms of actually how little time and effort it really takes to launch one of those tester mini-sites!
58 World Internet Summit 2009 - Thistle, Heathrow - Internet Marketing Forum // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:24 pm
[…] with Kevin’s video ,above here is a link to "3 Symptoms of a Destined-to-Fail Affiliate " 3 Symptoms of a Marketer Who’s Destined to Fail….It is a bit of a long article for a blog yet coincides perfectly with the message in the video as […]
59 BusinessAdvisor // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Chris,
Great post. One of the most direct and practical pieces I’ve read online in awhile.
60 Steve // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Chris - great post (of course).
How about THIS version of the “get-going” problem:
Some of us really do take action… but not much happens in the way of positive results ($$) so, being inexperienced enough that we haven’t hit on winners yet - we lose confidence, think we are probably trying the wrong thing/market/promo, etc.
So we switch to another thing/market/promo and the cycle repeats - without positive results.
So THE question becomes focusing on the right thing/market/promo and achieving some ACTUAL success.
?????????????
61 Andre // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Mr Rampel,
this post came right in time.
I’ve already got some money with bum marketing, adsense and adwords. Perfectionism is not my problem but I’m the Always Looking for Shortcuts type of guy.
I’ve read your “confessions of lazy affiliate” 2 years ago. And now after trying so many different ‘hypest tactical methods ‘ I can clearly see that what you have said in that book was the easiest way to getting money as an affiliate.
But you have to invest time and links… and work smarter, not harder.
Congrats for the Porshe, man, you deserve that and much more!
62 Bryan H // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Great advice as usual, Chris. This is going to sound like a testimonial, because I guess it is. Chris is one of the few IM guys I actually follow - I’ve always been a ‘figure-most-of-it-out-myself’ kind of guy. I’ve tried a few of the ‘tactics’ the cutting-edge guys market, and quickly learned their stuff is just a fast trip to the sandbox. I’m a fast study, and except for my brief tests with creating too many links too fast, this is one thing I have actually gotten right from the get-go; not letting the perfect become the enemy of the ‘good enough’.
Your Lazy Affiliate \ Conduit Marketing products were the first I read, back in March, and the first website I ever launched was based on your review template. It nailed 4 sales of 2 clickbank products for me the first two days. Then I discovered Wordpress
THEN I discovered my current editor, which helps me get decent websites up fast; I now have 5 that are profitable, with 3 more that need backlinks and marketing, and 6 more in the works, with plans and initial research for the next 10 after that.
I’m doing about 100 sales a month that are pure profit on my 5 affiliate sites, as on my own I managed to figure out a nice advertising arbitrage strategy that makes my paid traffic, umm, free. And I’m getting solid organic traffic now as well.
Now that I have a business model that works for me, I am scaling it up and expanding my product offerings, to good effect - CPA, and goods and services beyond Clickbank stuff. My list is growing to the tune of 1500 - 2000 subscibers a month, and I sincerely try to help meet the need of my customer base.
It works, folks - just stick to the basics. In 2 months of full time effort and 5 months of weekends, I’ve *almost* reached the point of not needing a JOB anymore, and it fracking rocks!
Keep it up, Chris - You’re the man!
Bryan
63 Jeff Bode // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Hey Chris
This is very true, back in 2008 I learned to keep things simple and stop looking for the best tricks and tactics…
It literally had a huge impact on my online business
Now that I have my own good sized list of internet marketers, I get lots of emails about people going through the same problems you mentioned here, I now have a better understanding about how I can help them out with it.
thanks!
64 Mick // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Hi Chris,
I have read many of your posts and this has got to be the best one so far. Man, you are so right…I got several light bulb moments reading this. I am the perfectionist that you described…I know, it’s a disease!
I am also guilty of many other things you mentioned, several of which I have already realized are wasting my time on what I have to focus on to succeed.
I have already started to unsubscribe from many “gurus” lists, but not from yours - yours is a voice of reason amongst all the pathetic pushers of garbage that is polluting the Internet Marketing scene.
I salute you,
Cheers,
Mick
65 Joel // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Chris,
Your right about not doing anything.
However, when everything your looking at is new and you can’t see the path for the trees, it’s hard to make a move.
For example, you talk about emailing sites to let them know about an article on your web site. Where did you get the email addresses? How did you know which ones to send to? Some novices like me need to learn how to do these things. We often waste time and effort just trying to figure out what to do next.
Any help in finding the path would be welcome.
I am really pleased with the way you follow up and continually keep your clients posted and motivated. Keep it up
thanks
66 Rachel // Nov 14, 2009 at 12:03 am
This was interesting until I realized it was just an advertisement for Affiliate Genie.
67 A K Tripathi // Nov 14, 2009 at 12:22 am
Fresh and brilliant ideas. Thanks.
AKT
68 Mortgage News // Nov 14, 2009 at 1:04 am
Great stuff as usual I always like your stuff straight to the point and use my favorite method, KISS. Over complicating things is what can hurt you not only in online business in any aspect of life never over analyze things.
Thanks
69 Magic Squares Worksheet // Nov 14, 2009 at 1:11 am
Chris,
Eerily accurate!
I think the perfectionism stems from fear which in turn stems from both commitment issues and not wanting to make mistakes (or, probably more accurately, not wanting to be seen making mistakes).
Old habits die hard, as they say, but die they must, so thanks for a salutary reminder of what needs to change during the next 12 months (and beyond);
Mark.
70 Bernard Leonardoth Hoa // Nov 14, 2009 at 1:56 am
Hi Chris,
I like the way you describe about “Mr Tactic” & Mr “Truthful”.
In fact, in real life, a lot of people are in the “Mr Tactic” way of handling things. They are just trying to ‘hard-sell’ their stuffs, be it in online biz or be in real life scenes.
As such, this gives me an inspiration to be ‘Truthful” in my daily life, be honest and approach from a ‘down-to-earth’ approach, because end of the day, it will be with this sincere heart, people get to trust you and thus building a solid foundation.
When people have TRUST in you, what you say becomes of VALUE and as such you can build a long lasting relationship .
Thanks for the sharing!
Regards,
Bernard Leonardoth Hoa
71 Tony Kitson // Nov 14, 2009 at 2:17 am
As always you speak the truth. It took me a while to grasp the concept of not using tricks and just helping people, but since that eureka moment sales have started to come naturally.
72 Alex M // Nov 14, 2009 at 2:28 am
Very well said Chris. We absolutely need such reminders on and off to jolt us out of our slumber. I’m somewhat free from the infection of all 3 symptoms but the third one continues to hit me at the back of my head, reminding me of how important it is in order to succeed online. And I thank you for doing exactly that for me.
Alex M
73 Ian Cheow // Nov 14, 2009 at 3:40 am
Chris,
Thank you for such a great post. Personally, I have a problem with perfectionism… always trying to improve my site before i promote it aggressively.
Thanks for shedding light to us
Ian
74 Chris Cobb // Nov 14, 2009 at 4:18 am
Spot on!
That’s actually kicked my ass to produce more content for my subscribers as well…
Great read, great car. Thanks, Chris
75 Allan Ashton // Nov 14, 2009 at 5:15 am
Hi Chris
I’m a big fan of yours as you tell it like it is, I have quite a few of your products too. I think you ought to consider personal coaching. I’m sure there are lots of people like me who have in fact done things the right way, took action, got nowhere and don’t know why.
If you look at my site it may seem a rip off of your guitar site but this has been up for 8 months and not sold a thing even though it has over 350 click throughs to the sales pages.
This sort of thing is demoralising and maybe your affiliate genie product will show the error of my ways - lets hope so.
76 Gerard // Nov 14, 2009 at 5:23 am
Hi Chris!
Here’s a challenge I’d like you to take up.
All the Internet Marketers seem to think we Newbies are just dying to get our hands on the money they display in endless lists of income from Clickbank etc, and the cars, Mansions, and material things they display on their Blogs as you have here, with your car.
I may be in a minority but I’d rather see lists of cheques donated to Charities and worthy causes for people less fortunate than ourselves.
That is an aim worth its weight in Gold or Dollars.
Think how many people could have been helped in your own country and abroad by the money spent on a series of expensive cars.
How about it, Chris? Are you up to the challenge?
Be a trend setter. Help others now that you’re in a position to do so. You don’t need the expensive cars when others are hungry for the basics of life.
Best Regards
God bless you and yours.
Your brother in Christ,
Gerard.
77 Macelino Ferri // Nov 14, 2009 at 7:15 am
Hi Chris
I am a “newbie” spanish blogger who is very happy to read posts like this. Definitelly the best way to work in being “Mr Truth”. I am not sure if is the best way of monetizing, but obviously is the best way of living… so thanks for recomending it.
I am wining more friends than money, but my PR2 blog with 6 months age, is getting 1000$ each month for a exclusive publicity contract. Now I do not care about selling, the advertisers consider that my blog gives “a good corporative image” to their trademark
All in a month, and all beacuse I am a very bad seller, and I only can trust in my own truth
Tnx Chris
78 Daniel // Nov 14, 2009 at 7:59 am
Hi Chris,
Great post, I love it and it’s all so true.
I had and still have some times the problem of perfectionism. I can spend hours on web design because I want to make the site looks perfect, instead of investing this time in writing or marketing…
About building trust. I just can that it really works the way you said it in this post. When I started promoting other MMO products, I wrote reviews just to make some sales and promoted every launch. This produced a great income at the beginning, but the refunds have been in a high level too.
The I started to promote only the products I could personally review my self and write my honest opinion about it. Also about the bad points. This was less effective at the beginning. I made less sales, but also had less refunds in my affiliate account.
Now, since I’m doing it this way for the past 6 month, I earn much more from my honest and truthful reviews, with less work, then I had before, when I just tired to make some sales.
I started as Mr. Tactic and ended up as Mr. Truthful and my income even increased since then.
Daniel
79 Greg // Nov 14, 2009 at 9:03 am
Hey Chris,
Amazing insight to the world of selling….
The true state of things always comes out in the wash. If you build your career on lying and scamming people to make a profit, well guess what, you WILL reap what you sowed….FACT.
Better, as you’ve pointed out, to build credibility and trustworhiness with your customers and you will WIN……FACT.
Nice wheels……wear your seatbelt!!!!
Regards
Greg
South Africa
80 Mike Russell // Nov 14, 2009 at 9:22 am
Chris, you are spot-on and I’m guilty as charged.
I do think that Anthony’s (post #33) three points are definitely a factor though.
We learn one thing, with he associated workload, accept it as real, then are offered ‘insights’ that challenge that validity - often quite cleverly. So then it’s back to the beginning again, so we can avoid making ‘terrible mistakes’, which eventually wears us down to the point where we become too tired, disillusioned and distrustful to achieve anything.
It’s like you say - just do it, get the word out and do it honestly.
81 Anne // Nov 14, 2009 at 10:38 am
I don’t care for cars much, (glad you enjoy yours!) but I DO give a damn about what I market and how. Great to hear loud and clear that (even if slow to start) that IS the way to go; to still the little demon voices that tell me I’m wasting my time.
Thanks for a great post.
82 Colin Steele-Perkins // Nov 14, 2009 at 12:46 pm
As you say, get your site up with good content and then work on it more.
83 The Mad Webmaster // Nov 14, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Chris,
You knocked it out of the park on this post.
There’s another reason for “just do it” and don’t wait for perfection.
Even a blind squirrel gets an acorn every once in awhile.
I learn a lot quicker with failures and I get to practice getting better.
All the best,
Mad Guy
84 Bruce // Nov 14, 2009 at 2:15 pm
This was a great post, yet despite devouring it all a few hours ago, I just found myself trying to adapt a Wordpress plugin for 2 hours , & that I really have no business trying to do so, (with my limited coding skills)
I need to re read your post…
85 Master Mind // Nov 14, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Yep, it’s a nice post and I got a bit out of it but for most people, they aren’t going to change.
For years I was a perfectionist but I had a great reputation as someone who did high quality work. Then I discovered that things only had to be good enough to get the job done that you wanted them to do. It’s the same on the net.
Anyway, like I said, nice post but I don’t expect it will change anyone to much. What you are discussing are habits and the people you want to reach had those same bad habits before they started on the net.
The fact of the matter is not everyone can make money on the net. They just don’t have the aptitude for it and it’s these people the “Gurus” prey on.
86 Dan // Nov 14, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Please don’t promote urban legends. It’s bad enough that these idiots believe everything that comes into there inbox. We don’t need a well respected marketer like you spreading the “Space Pen” story.
87 Bruce Shilander // Nov 14, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Chris,
Super article, you hit the mail on the head of what challenges all of us at one time or another…
Read about Affiliate Genie last weekend, I am interested in promoting it….
88 Allen // Nov 14, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Cool post Chris… I’m still on your list for a reason : ) I also like you’re post on the $60K business plan… another nail on the head topic.
Thanks again and… happy cruising:)
89 Craig // Nov 14, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I was telling that ’space pen’ story to someone a few months ago and he pointed out that the Russians did have some trouble with all the flakes of graphite floating around…
But of course, great post, as usual. I have definitely been (still am, for that matter) guilty of all three ’sins’.
90 AJ // Nov 14, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Your NASA pen story is an urban legend. Although your advice in the post is decent it makes me wonder when you perpetrate myth as fact with such authority which is a problem rampant in the “make money online” niche.
http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp
http://history.nasa.gov/spacepen.html
91 Jeremy1st // Nov 14, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Great post Chris,
I’m guilty of looking for short-cuts and secrets, and thinking I need to learn everything instead of getting good at 1 or 2 effective skills.
If I may point out, remember to follow the 80-20 principle. 80 percent of your profit comes from 20 percent of your efforts.
Even more important is once you see the 20 percent that is making the 80 percent, keep repeating the 20 percent.
Example: I have 2 sites which always make me good money in adsense, high ctr, and high ecpm,
both of them together will make me $70.00 today.
Feb. 2009 I started 6 new sites paid writers to create articles, I got links for them. How much money are they making me, not much. I think I know why, but my point is which I only realized
within the last 7 days is.
I should be making more sites in the same niche as those two highly successful sites I already have, duh. How foolish, I did not see this sooner.
I do add articles to those 2 sites and get links to them.
Seriously today is my best single day for adsense
$70+ from those 2 sites, what if I made 4 more of each, that would be $700+ in a day. Mean while yesterday I was adding articles to those 6 other sites after spending $300 on new articles.
I could of started 8 more new sites in those 2 niches I’m already successful in.
This is human nature, we are always looking for the new thing, what is the next new niche I can find that will make me rich, instead of repeating what is already making you money.
80-20 success
92 Anthony Bule // Nov 14, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Chris,
Thanks for the article.
You’re right of course, but what surprised me was how many other people identified with the points of your article.
I thought it was just me wallowing in non productive perfectionism.
And the car is an inspiration !
Cheers
93 Dirk Poulsen // Nov 14, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Hey Chris,
I enjoyed your post.
I don’t get excited about Porsche’s though.
It does look like a screamer so be careful!
Cheers!
94 Shane // Nov 15, 2009 at 3:07 am
Chris,
What can I say… this post is priceless!
It’s also incredibly well written.
I’m pretty confident about my writing, but DAMN I wish I could produce posts like this!
Anyway, thank you very much for sharing this.
I think I’ve pretty much gotten over my perfectionism and the looking-for-shortcuts syndrome, but there’s still a lot of relevant, valuable information in this post, for me.
Cheers,
Shane
95 Brad Spencer // Nov 15, 2009 at 11:58 am
Hey Chris,
I really loved this post. I have to admit, I’ve suffered from “space pen syndrome” quite a bit recently. I had a written report I converted to video and I just kept reshooting the videos b/c as I learned things in Camtasia I reshot them. Damn me…I could’ve made 3 products if I hadn’t done that.
Oh well…lesson learned. Thanks for the great reminder…no matter how much money we make it’s always important to be reminded.
Cheers,
Brad
96 Alex @ Panic Attacks Causes // Nov 15, 2009 at 12:32 pm
This is great information Chris. The other thing I would add is don’t keep looking for the holy grail, it does not exist.
Certainly keep learning and stay focused, but don’t buy every Tom, Dick, and Harry internet marketing course offer that launches. Find 1 or 2 solid ones, take action, and implement it. All these internet marketers ,not you Chris : ) , bet that you will buy the next holy grail to come along. Don’t do it.
It is exactly the same way in day trading. People float from one strategy to the next, never learning anything well. They will go from course to course looking for the “one that works”. Find your strategy, keep it simple, repeat, tweak, and learn along the way. Take action with what you know, don’t chase.
97 Promoting Affiliate Products without Hype // Nov 15, 2009 at 12:32 pm
[…] also written a blog post that I have now made my required reading each morning! You can read that here and I would recommend it. Many thanks to Oz, one of the best creators of content I have come across […]
98 Michael // Nov 15, 2009 at 12:57 pm
@86 and @90
Urban legend or not, the space pen story is a great example and metaphor. What I really love though, is quoting a website covered with blinking advertisements and popunders and a US government site as proof that the story is an urban legend.
99 admin // Nov 15, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Well, I suppose I stand corrected on the space pen thing on a technical sense.
But the context of its usage isn’t about historical fact - it’s to illustrate a very real tendency that most of us have to over-complicate things.
Urban legend or not - I still think it’s the best metaphor for the cause.
Cheers
-Chris
100 hispanic affiliate marketer // Nov 15, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I can’t say my issue is perfectionism… it’s more so fear. Fear of making the wrong move and getting it all wrong. I guess that’s what you call fear of failure. Just can’t afford it these days! But when you get past that, it makes a HUGE difference. You can focus and have the kind of clarity you really need to get stuff done.
101 Howard at successful home business // Nov 15, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Great info!
I sometimes fall prey to the
Space-Pen Sydnrome myself!
Just need to keep it simple!
Thnaks!
Howard
102 zulhazmi // Nov 15, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Thanks for the informative input…..widening my view.
103 Ian // Nov 16, 2009 at 2:01 am
So true! Roll on the new stremlined me.
By the way - pencils do work under water. SCUBA divers use them all the time!
104 ben // Nov 16, 2009 at 8:35 am
thats awesome content right there, geniune and from the heart helpful words of encouragement, thanks chris for taking the time to put this up.
blessings in the new year 2010, lets get em guys and be less dependent on the JOB
105 Neil // Nov 16, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Great piece Chris!
I’d bet most of us can see a little (or more) of ourselves there.
These days we have a tendency to over analyse and complicate things - we live in a fast-paced, high-tech world, so things have to be difficult right?
Wrong….
106 Martoons @ Increase website traffic // Nov 16, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hi Chris,
Nice one for helping folks get clear.
It’s probably something something to mention often…
Good to see you went with the Porsche.
Difficult to stay under the speed limit?
Or should I say ‘what speed limit?’
take care bro
martin
107 tanksalot // Nov 17, 2009 at 5:13 am
Hi Chris,
Thanks for sharpening my pencil. There is a lot to be said for keeping it simple and getting two sites up that are earning $5 per week than never getting a perfect site up that might earn $50,000 per week.
To quote George Paton a man who could get things done..A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.
Regards
Tank Johnson
108 Day Trading for Beginners // Nov 21, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Hi Chris,
You have hit the nail on the head with just about everything you said in this post. My experience has been exactly as you describe it!!
I am the latter salesperson - always trying to help my potential customer, not looking at selling them the quickest and the most. I see a lot of people have trouble converting this in the online world, not sure of the reasons though - perhaps different expectations as to the anticipated speed of results obtained.
I think one of the biggest obstacles is that people see that they can create a home business for pennies on the dollar, so don’t take the business seriously - after all, it didn’t cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to start, did it?
Further, it is only a second-income (initially), meaning that people are usually too busy earning a living to make any real money.
Food for thought.
Kind regards,
Barry
109 A Wake-up Call – 3 Symptoms of a Marketer Who’s Destined to Fail… // Nov 25, 2009 at 7:12 am
[…] This is a blog post made by Chris Rempel, aka The Lazy Marketer which I think is relevant to most of us . The original post can be seen here […]
110 Former Blackhatter // Dec 5, 2009 at 10:05 pm
You’re right on this, Chris. Within a couple months of blackhatting, I made just under $10k in a month. Just about then… my aff accounts got whacked and I lost everything.
You’re way is better, and I’m working on it. Please guys, read this post again and do what it says.
111 William Beil // Dec 6, 2009 at 8:25 am
“Hey Chris…SIGN ME UP! I want to promote Affiliate Genie…”
Your blog post on November 13th (”3 Symptoms of a Marketer Who’s Destined to Fail…”) has to be the absolute best ‘free’ advice I’ve ever received when it comes to marketing online. I was blown away with your obvious integrity and down-home *honest* approach to this subject. It’s exactly what I needed to hear at this stage of my newbie development. Just like many, many budding wannabe affiliate marketers, I have become so overwhelmed with all the conflicting instruction and advice from big name “gurus” attempting to exploit my naïve understanding of basic marketing concepts solely with the intent of pushing their “latest and greatest” shortcut to success. I started to fall for every gimmick and trick, short of obvious Black Hat techniques, and have gotten so caught up in perfecting the ideal website for promoting affiliate offers that I never got anything launched.
I will be one the first to buy Affiliate Genie Tuesday…just please send me a reminder when it goes live. And if it is even half the product you say it is (and I have absolutely no reason to doubt you) I want to be one of the first affiliates to promote it. After all, I’ve purchased most if not all of your VIP products and am very impressed with everything you’ve produced so far. I look up to you as someone to emulate and learn from, and you’ve yet to let me down.
Thanks for listening. I look forward to hearing from you.
William Beil
wbeil48@gmail.com
112 Richard // Dec 27, 2009 at 1:20 pm
So true about the shortcuts…even if they work, they only work for a limited amount of time. People need to stay in tune with the big picture and remember that immediate results will never come, but long term results are sure to arrive!
113 Jason // Jan 15, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Great post very true well said. Stick to the basics content, promotion, and no trickery tactics as a base for a long term business that will prosper!
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