Thousands of ordinary people, just like you and I, are taking huge steps toward pursuing their passions, quitting their jobs and learning how to make a living online.
There’s a lot of ways to make your dream of living your passions come true, but the most lucrative way is to create and sell your information products.
The Internet is overflowing with people from all over the world, searching for information on an infinite number of topics. From golfing to gardening, making money online to making hats, the subjects are endless.
That search for information includes an abyss of eBook recommendations on how to create multiple streams of income online.
Almost all of those eBooks about making money online have one solution in common: In order to success online, you have to create and sell your own information products.
It really is that simple. Whether you are a small business owner, lifestyle coach, MLMer or solo-entrepreneur, you can write your own eBooks and sell them. Best of all, you can get OTHER people to sell them as well. Take about leverage!
There are several benefits to creating your own information products. The number one reason is that it can bring you a steady income for a very long time.
How is that?
What if you are an expert in your niche, you can use your information products to drive traffic to your other products, services and sites?
What if you are able recommend other products for which you earned a commission on (affiliate links) just by placing those recommendations in your eBook?
What if other people were sharing and selling your product causing it to explode across the Internet?
Are you getting the big picture.
eBooks are easy, fast and inexpensive to create. All you need is an idea that you’re interested in,a word processor, a computer with Internet access, the ability to search for information on Google, and a strong plan of action.
It’s a well-known fact that 95% of the people with a good idea for an eBook or online business do absolutely nothing about it. The fact that you can take action automatically puts you in the top 5%.
So you may be asking yourself…Can I really create something good enough to sell? Will people actually buy what I write?
Absolutely!
When you sit down in front of your computer ready to write the first sentence of your eBook or online course, or audio series…you may be a little scared or intimidated. you may doubt that you can actually pull it off. In fact you may put it off because it seems like an overwhelmingly daunting task.
One word of advise…
Relax!
Don’t panic. There are specific steps you need to follow in order to get you ready to create content.
Your Info-Product Plan
There are thousands, if not millions of people online searching for information on any given topic. You just need to know the strategies behind picking a profit pulling topic. This includes finding a niche that is full of hungry prospects and buyers.
Any successful project, regardless of what it is…building a business online, building a home, painting a room, or even creating an eBook…starts and ends with a plan of action.
That plan is a series of steps that take you from and idea to the launch of a successful information product that pulls profits into your bank account.
No plan, no success.
Look at any successful marketer online…I guarantee they had a plan. Without a personal success plan, there is no way to build a full time income selling information products online.
That is where you want to be right?
Well it’s time to work out your own personal info products action plan.
Success is at your fingertips…it’s time to take the next step to a profit-pulling future in info products.
So you say you want to be an internet marketing coach? You say you want to help people build successful businesses using social media and other online marketing channels?
But do you really know what it takes?
As tempting as it is to get online and call yourself an internet marketing coach just because you know how to set up a facebook business page, its essential to learn about what it is and what it entails before jumping into the fire.
When I first began establishing myself and my business online, I would come across “gurus” who said — just get out there learn a few things within your niche and bam — you’re an expert.
But as I quickly found out, saying you’re and expert and having people actually believe you are an expert are two totally different things.
So this article series is geared toward moving you beyond the title of internet marketing coach and into the realm of well-respected-I-know-what-the-hell-I’m-talking-about-internet-marketing-coach.
We are going to be addressing some the more common roadblocks that stop potentially fabulous internet marketing coaches, consultants and trainers from being, well, fabulous.
What Does An Internet Marketing Coach Do?
An internet marketing coach devises a comprehensive strategy for how businesses and entrepreneurs can use social media and other online marketing strategies to get more sales and leads. Bottom line — it’s about showing other people how to put money in their bank account. Period.
They may advise you on the many technical aspects of social networking sites as well as help you use the internet as an effective marketing channel. Some internet marketing coaches will write content, monitor your blogs and pages, create marketing campaigns, or even get your ebook published on Amazon. Others may do something totally different.
Your job as an internet marketing coach is to define your skill set and what you have to offer small businesses or solo-entrepreneurs so that you can communicate it clearly and effectively and in such a way that moves potential clients toward a buying decision.
What is your philosophy on social media marketing and the Internet?
What do you feel the role is of internet marketing in a small business and what are some realistic results that your clients’ business could have from an online marketing campaign?
Also do you have previous experience that can boost your clout level? If you are a new internet marketing coach who may not have nabbed their first client yet, persuading people to give you a shot can be a risky business. Not only for the client but for you as well.
People can’t afford to “TRY” consulting out, they need to know it’s going to work, and you can’t afford to get a bad reputation because you don’t deliver as promised.
How do you overcome this obstacle?
Showcase the results you’ve achieved yourself if you don’t have enough clients to get a testimonial. Refer people to your own personal case study. Show them what you’ve done with your blog, your social media profiles, your ebook, your email marketing campaigns, your leads, your sales, etc. That’s what makes the Internet so awesome, is that it’s public domain and anyone can see what you’ve already established online.
If someone Googles you — what will they find?
Will they get the feeling that you are a well-respected, they-know-what-the-hell-they’re-doing type of internet marketing coach or some wanna be this-looks-kind-of-shady type of internet marketing coach?
Look everyone starts at the bottom but if you want people to trust that you know what you’re doing before they hand over their hard earned money for coaching, you have to be able to show people you are someone that can get them measurable results and positive changes.
Which means you must study all types of marketing and advertising…and not only know it but know it well. Internet marketing is more than social media and online marketing methods. A lot of people approach the Internet as a hobby and think it makes them an internet marketing coach.
It doesn’t.
If you don’t know what you’re doing or not confident in your skills try interning or doing an apprenticeship with an industry leader or even a social media agency. Gain the experience you need and understand all the required marketing and promotional aspects you’ll need to know to truly be effective as an internet marketing coach.
Now this next one is a doozy and it can prevent you from growing your business if you try to get too greedy.
The lure of becoming an internet marketing coach is that to some degree you can set your own rates, work hours and clientele.
However, this is an obstacle that may prevent you from ever getting your business off the ground…
Price!
I’ve seen this time and time again, and have learned from personal experience as well, that you cannot and should not, get online demanding to make the same amount of money as an established internet marketing coach. Not only do you not have the clout, you don’t have the experience, referral base or demand.
While there may be exceptions to the rule, because you have a skill set that is extremely rare, more often than not you are going to have to work yourself up to a “guru” status pay rate.
So what should you be charging for your Internet Marketing Coaching services?
This is an area that is extremely varied. You can find internet marketing coaches starting at $100/hour up to contracts for hundreds of thousands of dollars if you are working with a large agency.
But word to the wise…
You will be better served if you went after businesses that are comparable to your business. So if you are an Internet Marketing coach that works a home, by yourself, with no outside help, you will probably want to target small business owners, solo-entrepreneurs and network marketers. If you have a small team of people that can handle the demands of a medium to larger sized company, go for the large fish. Just make sure you can deliver.
Setting Clear Expectations As An Internet Marketing Coach
Not only is it important for you to be realistic about the growth of your internet marketing business, your clients must have clear expectations so they know exactly what to expect from you and the consulting process.
Open your mouth and ask potential clients “what do you expect to achieve from working with me.”
If you cannot meet those expectations you either need to be able to clearly communicate to your prospect that those expectations are not realistic or they need to find someone else who can help them achieve those goals if you cannot.
Once you lay everything out, its simple to see if goals are being met throughout the consulting process.
How To Combat Leaches
One of the major challenges you’ll come across as an Internet Marketing coach are leaches. They suck up your time, try to get you to consult them for free, and when you nicely tell them the price for sharing your knowledge and expertise with them, you never here from them again.
This has happened to me on more than a few occasions and there is a fine line between lending a helping hand and being taken advantage of. Here is my advise to you:
Get some balls!
Don’t be afraid to cut people off, shoot potential prospects your price list or tell people you have to get off the phone.
When I first started consulting, I would find myself taking on people’s problems and helping them without being compensated for it…opening up the door to resentment and frustration.
But to be truthful, it was no one’s fault but my own and letting people take advantage of your time and skill will be no one’s fault but your own.
Tell people up front what your worth, that you don’t have time to play games and if they are serious about getting some coaching…
Choose a package!
Finding Your Ideal Internet Marketing Coaching Clients
The best clients in my opinion are those that tried to implement some social media or online marketing strategies on their own but have not yet seen great results. These are the people who know the value of leveraging the Internet but realize they need some outside help to get to the next level.
There are also many business owners that can do it on their own but don’t have the time, or the will to do it.
These clients are everywhere. They are in your church, in your neighborhood restaurant, in the same social networking circles, they are already online searching for coaching and consulting. It’s your job to let as many people as possible know what you do and how you can be of benefit to them. PROMOTING your Internet Marketing Coaching business is the key (but we’ll talk about that in another training).
So hopefully today I gave you a lot to think about. If you are really looking to become a legitimate Internet Marketing Coach, that helps business owners and entrepreneurs get tangible results, do it the right way. There are people waiting to be helped, waiting for solutions and waiting for someone like you to improve their business growth and profits.
Internet Marketing Coaching can be a game-changer for many small businesses, home business owners, network marketers and entrepreneurs. Improve your skills, educate yourself in all aspects of marketing and advertising and be ready to deliver. Success is imminent.
A few months ago, I was asked to pitch Essence Magazine, a fabulous editorial geared toward the black community, for an article about the “rules to success”. I grew up reading Essence and am still a huge fan today. The impact they’ve made is beyond words and they continue to strive for excellence as they share entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle tips.
While my guest post submission didn’t get picked up for the April issue, #1 I was still super excited to have been recognized as a successful entrepreneur and # 2 I thought what I wrote was actually pretty cool, so I wanted to share with you what I wrote…
5 Rules To Success For Thriving Entrepreneurs
Play The Game To Win
Make the decision to go after your dreams 100%. Create your own niche, dictate your own path, be a trailblazer. Don’t follow a standard template but find out what works for you. When you play by your own rules you create a life of zero competition and endless reward – You have no other option but to Win Big.
Know Your Definitive Purpose and Passion
Have a connection to the work you are doing. It’s not about a paycheck and earning a living it’s about doing what you love.
You don’t want to suffer your way to joy and financial freedom doing a job you don’t want to do.
Think about what you want to create and what community you want to serve so you have a crystal clear destination. Decide what you’ll give to the world and go after it with unwavering passion and conviction.
Don’t Go At It Alone
If you want to make your business work have a mentor or a community of people who can support you.
When you try to go at it alone you are forced to make up everything as you go, with zero guidance – you have no one to verify, motivate or keep the fire under your feet when you feel like giving up.
Why reinvent the wheel?
When you rely on your own skills you are left guessing and it means you have no one to hold you accountable. Who are you surrounded by? Are the people surrounding you contributing to your success. Success breeds success, so always make sure to surround yourself with greatness.
Give People A Reason To Need You
In a world where people have more than one choice you have to give people a reason to need you. Show off your skills, showcase your value and have a unique point of view.
Businesses that provide solutions, are accessible and over deliver on what they promise are capable of building brands that attract the masses.
Your goal is to service your audience in such a way that others are willing to advocate for you and your brand.
This leads to viral growth and massive momentum in any business.
Don’t Second Guess Your Talents
You are meant to do what’s easy for you. Business owners fail because they go against their nature as entrepreneurs – trying to live up to expectations of others instead of embracing your talents.
Whatever your genius is, stop second guessing yourself. Stop second guessing your gifts, your talents – stop betting against yourself.
When you embrace your talents and use them as the foundation of your business you’ll find you’re capable of winning bigger than you ever thought was possible.
Want more tips for becoming a successful entrepreneur? Sign up for the go-guide and get our secrets strategies for success.
Why must you become the go-to authority in you niche or industry?
Simple answer…
If you don’t someone else will…so it might as well be you, right?
Absolutely!
” When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are!” – Oprah
If you’ve been scraping along in your business and find you are not respected, not getting the attention you deserve, or making the money you want to make, it’s probably not because you don’t know you stuff…it’s probably because you are doing a poor job of putting yourself in a position of power and authority.
Why Must You Become The Go-To Authority In Your Niche Anyways?
1. More Influence:
Who doesn’t like to be influential? Who doesn’t want to pay attention to the authority in your niche? It is much easier to make an impact when you can be heard and people take action as a result. Imagine having a platform to reach hundreds, thousands or even millions of people with your words, your ideas, your message?
2. More Recognition:
When you are everywhere, on Facebook, on blogs, in media, in magazine, at LIVE speaking events, on webinars, etc, etc, your reputation precedes you. People begin to equate your name as a successful authority in your niche even before they’ve heard you say anything. The just automatically think, if this person is everywhere they must be in demand!
3. More Clients:
When you are recognized as an expert, chasing prospect becomes a thing of the past. Your ideal client will be hunting you down…They will be the type of client/customer/prospect that can afford your services or products and will happily pay the fees you command because they feel comfortable investing in you because you know your stuff.
If you are consider yourself an”expert” in your niche but not getting the clients or money you should, take a look at your marketing message. A clear message = money. Making sure you can communicate your message to your target audience will immediately attract the type of clients you want to work with.
4. Less Selling:
If you are an entrepreneur, consultant or marketer, you are in the game of sells. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You are not only selling your products and services you are constantly selling yourself as well to potential clients, but as an authority in your niche, you are more teaching, less selling, but probably making more money than the sleazy, manipulative, salesman going for the hard close all the time.
When you are an expert, you don’t have to force people to buy. Your job is to educate them, so they can make the best decision. If you become great at educating people, showing them the benefits and the transformations that will come as a result of investing in you, you’ll never have to sell again.
5. Less Work:
As an authority in your field you don’t have to rely on gimmicks, tricks and magic bullets to build a successful business. As an expert you have the confidence that your systems and strategies are going to for the most part work as well today as they will 2, 5, 10 years from now.While technology and trends change, an authority can adapt because their foundations principles and concepts are timeless.
This leads to less work. You don’t have to keep reinventing yourself or wasting your time trying to figure out the latest gimmick. You create info-products, programs and systems that stand the test of time.
6. More Money:
Charges less money than the gurus or lowering your fees to compete is not the way to build your business. In fact, it’s the fastest way to work yourself out of business. As an authority in your niche, clients expect to pay more. Own your worth. If you want to be paid your value, be confident in your expertise.
Low value equates to low-quality and is often an indication of an inability to deliver.
7. More Success
Long term success comes from happy customers. Happy customers mean more referrals and more repeat transactions. It is important to nurture your leads, continue developing relationships with your subscribers and following up with buying customers.
These 7 reasons should give you a better understanding as to why you MUST become the go-to authority in your niche. It begins and ends with you, having the courage to step out in confidence and own your expertise. You are unique and no matter how many people may be in the same or similar niche, no one can do your business like you!
Ready To Claim Your Expert Authority and Get Fit For Success? Get Access To Our FREE Marketing Tips
Are you looking for more ways to build a better blog? Maybe you are tired of constantly comparing your blog to other industry leaders? Perhaps you’re just done with having a blog that sucks!
Well it’s time to get rid of the blog shame?
There is a lot more to blogging than writing some words and hitting publish. In today’s post I am going to show you 47 ways to make your blog the best in your niche!
Set Yourself Up For Success
1. Get your own sexy domain name.
2. Host your blog yourself and use WordPress.org.
Think Big With Branding
3. Get a logo and professional header designed (try Fiverr.com)
4. Get a customized theme (I recommend Woo Themes)
5. Personalize your colors and fonts giving your site a unique spin but making sure they are easy to read and professional looking.
6. Make sure your text links show up as different color and/or underline them so they catch your readers’ eye.
Bulk Up The Background
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of a well run, functional, money-making blog…and it starts with having the basic blog settings in place.
7. Add copyright, privacy policy, and disclaimers to your footer
8. Install social sharing plugins like SexyBookmarks or DiggDigg to make it easy for reader’s to share your content.
9. Install Disqus Comments plugin
10. Focus on making sure your site is easy to navigate. User experience has a great impact on whether or not you get repeat visitors.
11. Add a search box
12. Activate the Akismet plugin to make sure you’ve got the spam under control
13. Create an attractive “About Me” Page. Open up, share your story even if you think it sucks and tell people why reading your blog is fun, cool and educational.
14. Add links to your social networking sites such as Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.
15. Can your readers easily contact you if they have questions, requests or need help? Don’t forget to ass a contact form.
Get Ready To Write Great Content
If you want to have the best blog in your industry you have to deliver high quality, actionable content that is fun, entertains and helps readers get results.
16. Get a schedule for writing content and publish fresh articles often. At least 2-3 times a week consistently.
17. Use eye-catching images in your blog to posts that grab attention and help with SEO.
18. Mix up your media – Instead of just text, try video and audio posts.
19. Invite guest bloggers and leverage their networks and promotion to drive more traffic to your site.
20% Content Creation, 80% Promotion
It does you no good to create content that no body reads. Let people know your stuff is out there by promoting it.
20. Spend time commenting on other blogs
21. Automate your social sharing with sites like Hootsuite and Onlywire.com
22. Participate in forums or facebook groups to network
23. Share posts on social bookmarking sites like Stumbleupon, Digg, and Delicious
24. Pin your blog posts on Pinterest (another reason why you want to have a cool image)
Build Backlinks Baby
25. Make sure to add links to other posts and pages on your blog.
26. Use free services like Ping.gm and Pingler
27. Promote your blog on Alltop, Blokube, BizSugar and Technorati as well as any other niche specific sites that allow blog submissions.
28. Get lists in directories.
Work Your Virtual Relationships
Relationships are the new currency and if you are not connecting, engaging and nurturing your relationships with your readers and subscribers you might as well quit while you’re ahead.
29. Make it easy for readers to comment.
30. make it easy for them to comment.
31. Respond to every comment if possible.
32. Encourage interaction, sharing and commenting. Yes get in the habit of asking for feedback and comments at the end of your posts.
Optimize Your Performance
33. Install Google Analytics to keep track of your stats.
34. Track your most popular posts with a plugin to see what types of resonates with your readers the most.
35. Get acquianted with some SEO.
36. Test of various headlines that include your target keywords.
37. Proofread, spellcheck and edit your posts before publishing.
38. Pick a handful of superstar bloggers and study what makes their blogs rock. Here’s a list of my top 10 superstar bloggers.
Build Your Fans and Followers
39. Make it super simple for your visitors to subscribe (opt ins in sidebar and at bottom of each post)
40. Add your Facebook FanPage to your blog
41. Become a guest blogger
42. Add Twitter and make sure you tweet new content
43. Get your blog listed with NetworkedBlogs
44. Make sure your free offer is awesome
Protect Your Work
45. Sh$t happens and you want to make sure you don’t lose tons of hours of content because you are too lazy to backup your blog. Install a backup plugin and regularly backup your work.
46. Use a security plugin to prevent you from getting hacked.
47. Keep your blog well maintained and current
While this is a great list of the essentials things you need to do t make your blog the best in your niche, it is by all means not exhaustive. Share with us any tips your have for making your blog the best!
As we quickly approach the mid-point mark of 2012 it’s about that time to assess our accomplishments thus far. Are you on track? Have you achieved any of your goals? Are you still trailblazing toward success?
Most of us have no problem feeling motivated when we first set our goals, but that inner fire has a tendency to die pretty quickly. It might be due to an intimidating obstacle that stands in our path, or a sense of impatience when we don’t see results as quickly as we’d like.
How do you regain your motivation when you run out of steam, and can you do anything to KEEP yourself feeling motivated? Yes!
Motivation is a state of mind, just like discouragement. And like all mindsets, you can choose which one you want to focus on. – <a href=”http://clicktotweet.com/LfhGa”>Click To Tweet</a>
Here are some great tips for staying motivated, even if you’re not yet seeing the results you want:
Remember Your Dream
If you haven’t already, write a detailed description of your ultimate dream. Pull up a mental vision of your dream, your goals, what you desire and consider how it will change your life for the better. Write down as many details as you can. What type of person will you be? How much money will you have? What will your home look like? What will your relationships be like? How will you FEEL on a daily basis?
Write it all down– and read it to yourself every single day.
Yes…every single day!
Download the Success Map Kit here to get started.
When we are confronted by fear and frustration, it’s easy to forget what we’re fighting for. It’s easy to let the importance of our dream dwindle away, and hope that maybe “someday” we’ll have the determination to make it happen.
Don’t let your dream die! Keep it sharp and clear in your own mind. Honor it and vow to keep moving toward it, no matter what it takes.
Reinforce the Benefits
If you find yourself losing steam and feeling overwhelmed by obstacles, take a sheet of paper and write down the benefits of your dream.
Make a list of the BENEFITS of your dream. A “benefit” is something you stand to GAIN.
So, for example, if part of your dream description goes something like this, “I am happily working for myself, doing work I love, and earning $100,000 per year” – then add these words to your list of benefits:
- Happiness
- Freedom
- Abundance
- Passion
- Fulfillment
Keep going until you have a long list of everything you stand to GAIN by continuing to work toward your goals.
After reading through this list and comparing it to how you feel right now, you should be more determined than ever to keep working toward your goals because acceptance of anything less is unthinkable.
See Obstacles as Temporary Detours
One of the most common reasons we lose our motivation is because we feel overwhelmed or intimidated by unexpected obstacles. We can have the strongest motivation in the world, and suddenly one little thing will throw our plans off-course, and we freeze. We let our dreams fall by the wayside. Or worse, we view obstacles as “signs” from the universe that we’re not “meant to succeed.”
Rather than allowing this to happen to you, simply CHOOSE not to let it bother you. Say to yourself, “An obstacle is nothing more than a detour on my path. I’ll find a way around it because I’m NOT giving up!” Just thinking a thought like that can empower you to begin moving forward again, even if you were initially intimidated.
Hint: a funny thing about obstacles is that they are usually as daunting as we CHOOSE TO MAKE THEM. If we moan and groan and fall to the ground in hysterical tantrum, the obstacle seems to grow bigger and more intimidating. If we instead shrug our shoulders, roll up our sleeves and put on our battle gear – the obstacle shrinks to the size of an mustard seed, and we can sidestep it gracefully.
Affirm the Possibilities
Another way we might lose our motivation is by beginning to doubt that our dreams were ever possible in the first place. When we first set our goals, we are convinced we can do it. But if results don’t show up right away, we might start to doubt ourselves, or doubt that our dreams are “realistic” enough. After all, if it was meant to be, if we were meant to be successful, it would happen quickly and easily, right? Logically we might know that’s pure BS, but emotionally we might feel like God is just toying with us.
If you feel your conviction begin to dwindle, blast the doubt right out of your head by reading success stories of others who have accomplished the impossible. Seek out written stories or tv programs about people who have overcome immense personal challenges to achieve success, and affirm that if they did it, you can too.
Better yet, WRITE YOUR OWN SUCCESS STORY! Here’s a good opener for your story:
“___________ (your name) never believed he (or she) had what it took to be successful, but that all changed when he decided to begin believing in himself. He decided to stop listening to the limiting beliefs that others tried to instill in him, and he made it his mission to rise above doubt and fear. With an iron determination, he went on to accomplish what others believed was impossible.”
Make your success story as long as you like, and customize it to your unique situation. Read it whenever you need an emotional boost.
Avoid Burnout
Sometimes we get SO motivated that we might take on too much, too fast and end up feeling burned out. You’ll know when this happens to you, because you start feeling stressed and overwhelmed, and irritated by even the littlest kinks in your plans.
You start feeling annoyed about having to work on your goals, and decide you’d rather take a nap. HONOR that feeling. Go with it. Climb into bed and have a good rest. It’s ok to take a time out. Go see a movie with a friend, or curl up with a good book by yourself. Go dancing, take a cooking class, go to the spa.
Do something completely unrelated to your goals, and feel good about it. We all need rest, recreation, and a reminder that there is more to life than pursuing our goals.
Hopefully these simple tips will make a huge impact in keeping you motivated as you pursue your aspirations as a successful online entrepreneur. Don’t forget to check out our FREE Business Success Mapping Kit.
Now let me know what you thought about this blog post by leaving a comment below.
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How to begin to build relationships with your target audience online.
You have to build a relationship. You have to build a relationship. You have to build a relationship…
If you want to grow online and actually make sales you have to build long-term, meaningful relationships with your target audience online.
You need their names and their email addresses.
This is why I consistently continue to grow online. It’s because I’m building relationships with people. I’m letting people get to know me. I’m taking calls and answering emails when other “gurus” are telling you you have to pay for their time.
You’ve got to be honest and open. You’ve got to let people know when they suck, when they aren’t doing things the right way. You have to let them know that building a business online is not a cake walk and it’s going to take them rolling up their sleeves, facing disappointment and fighting for every lead they get until they get the hang of things. You also have to let them know that if they work hard, the rewards are great, and that there are people out there who can help them, encourage them and put them on the right path to success.
While not everyone is comfortable with honesty, for fear that they’ll lose a sale or deflate the fluff and hype, its part of the overall relationship building…and it will mean more to your prospects to be honest and willing to connect than just grabbing after their pockets.
In the long run those that make the most money online are the ones that have good information, good content, good videos, good social media and most of all good intentions.
Learn more about the building relationships with your online audience. Get our EPIC SOCIAL MEDIA STARTER’S KIT – It’s Free!
How to build your online audience..
You have a great product, your services are top-notch and the clients and customers you do have love ya!
But how do you make everyone else understand your value as well?
To grow an explosive business online, you must build your online audience. Not just any audience, but targeted people who want what you have. How do you do this?
With focused lead generation and list building. Building your fan base is not as easy as many make it out to be…let’s keep it real, but if you consistently follow a few simple strategies you can go from zero to thousands of raving fans fast!
I have over 15,000 subscribers to my social media lists, email lists, youtube channel and facebook fan page. By using some of the strategies that I’ve put in place online and offline, you can have that many people and more ready to listen to you, ready to get to know you, and ready to share your message with others.
Nothing breeds success like a loyal audience. When you create something new, they grab it, they share it, they refer others.
You don’t have to spend years building up an audience online…You just have to know:
- Who your target online audience is
- How to woo them and win them over
- How to convert them into raving customers
Learn more about the building your online audience. Get our EPIC SOCIAL MEDIA STARTER’S KIT – It’s Free!
How can you tell if your online marketing is effective?
When you are getting started online there is really no way to gauge if your online marketing is effective…you are in the first phase of building your ultimate online presence and it takes time to establish yourself online.
So instead of relying too heavily on marketing metrics and super-fantastic results, let me give you some suggestions on how to saturate your market with your brand.
- Make sure all of your social media network profiles are 100% complete. That includes Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google +, YouTube.
- Make sure you add your online website or blog to your email signature.
- Include your web presence on customer mailings and other print media including customer receipts.
- Have your website on your physical products, bags, containers or packaging.
- Point people to your site through your social media presence.
You have to aggressively put your business in a state of promotion by marketing it and putting it out there for the public to see. Saturating your market, your products, your services, your blog posts, your content, etc. will help you gain viral buzz and exposure. It is the best way to attract a new, fresh stream of people who wouldn’t have know about other otherwise.
While market saturation is one of the first steps to growing your business on the Internet, it is one step of many…
Learn more about the process of leveraging the Internet and Social Media to grow your business. Get our EPIC SOCIAL MEDIA STARTER’S KIT – It’s Free!
Who should you be following online?
Being a successful superstar online means more than just having a strong web presence. It means being able to deliver high quality, actionable content that actually helps people solve their problems, grow their business and move sales.
There are millions and millions of blogs out there in Internetland, many of which don’t get their due. If you are one of those online entrepreneurs trying to make it online, there are some awesome bloggers out there that you should be reading on a regular basis.
You may learn something from these powerhouse bloggers that will help you get the attention your deserve! These are blogs that I frequent regularly and have found to be extremely helpful in moving my online business forward. So check them out.
Hope you find something awesome!
IttyBiz
There is nothing itty about this blog. IttyBiz helps small businesses flourish. Providing practical solutions with a dose of LOL, Naomi Dunford, the creator of this blog, gives real kick-ass advise on how to grow and grow fast. Check out the store where you’ll find a strong collection of killer marketing products.
Social Triggers
Mind games? Derek Halpern of Social Triggers, knows them all. Let him show you how to get into the mind of your customers and potential clients to keep the cash flowing. Known for creating pillar blog posts that actually make you think, Derek has a knack for helping you tap into the psychology of selling. Not only will you become a better entrepreneur your customers will love you!
Amy Porterfield
Known as “The Queen of Facebook”, Amy Porterfield is a social media strategist that knows her stuff. Using video and webinars to deliver her content, Amy has built a loyal following of people all yearning to tap into the power of social media marketing. If you want simple step-by-step solutions to growing your web presence and generating leads with Facebook, you’ve got to visit this site or attend one of her webinars. It truly is social media made simple!
Think Traffic
I live this blog because it is straight forward, transparent and easy to navigate while providing unique ways to drive website traffic. It delivers advice that’s easy to understand and derived from real experience, not hypothetical hype. ThinkTraffic is one of many blogs from Corbett Barr, creator of Start A Blog That Matters.
The MailBoxMoney Blog
There are very few blogs that just keep it all the way real, but Nicole Cooper does just that with The Mail Box Money Blog. One of the very first blogs I cam across when I started my journey into online marketing, the personable and easy to relate to online entrepreneur puts a human face on the world of Internet Marketing. Also the creator of MLMPLRStore, Nicole leads with detailed content that is very hard to come by. Visit her blog if you want a dose of online marketing reality.
Smart Passive Income
With a loyal social media following to die for, Patt Flynn of Smart Passive Income, knows how to build an online business. The master of solutions, Patt goes out of his way to provide the most detailed content I’ve seen online, as you’ll see by downloading his signature guide – eBooks The Smart Way. I don’t know how he does it or where he gets the time, but his massive blog posts will get you driving more traffic, generating more leads and connecting with more people than ever as he shows you how to build a site that drives profits. While many people try to imitate Patt, he is one of a kind as you’ll see when you visit his site.
Social Media Examiner
Social media marketing how to, research, case studies, news and more, Social Media Examiner is the go-to site for any business, small or larger, looking to leverage social media to grow their business. The Social Media Examiner is a lifeline to keeping up with the latest trends, strategies and solutions online. Content is provided by well respected contributors, like Mari Smith, who are well-known in the social media community.
HubSpot
Hubspot is a massive, massive resource for business owners who want to learn how to grow online. Blogging, PR, SEO, social media, analytics, lead generation, list building, email marketing, HubSpot has you covered. The amount of free marketing resources HubSpot provides is unparalleled. They also offer tons of webinars that will help you cut your learning curve drastically.
QuickSprout
Need traffic? QuickSprout, created by online genius, Neil Patel, is a goldmine of traffic driving content. Recognized as one of the youngest influencers online, Neil has proven time and time again with his content why he is so successful online. Always one of the first to break the latest news and tactics to leveraging the Internet, you can spend days on his site soaking up juicy tips that help you become a better business owner.
Me?
I am totally in love with my blog…not only because it’s mine, but because I know that I provide some kick ass content. My goal is to provide the best actionable content I can, helping small business owners and solo-entrepreneurs gain the confidence and strategies they need to become superstars online. Hopefully I can continue to build up this blog and provide value too. Let me know if there is something you would like to read here or if you have any ideas on what direction you would like me to take. I’m always open to ideas, specially if they’re kind of crazy!
I’m sure there are lots of superstar online marketers and entrepreneurs with killer blogs that are delivering awesome content that I failed to include or don’t know about yet?
So why don’t you help me by adding your favorite blogs and participating in the discussion by adding in the comments!
Learn more about the blogging by downloading our free blogging guide – BizBlogBuzz. Did I mention it’s Free!
