We have all read that we know that most people fail with online businesses. But less has been explained about why that is. The answer, I think, is due to information overload.
If you carefully examine all the posts on almost every website out there, you might notice new ‘gurus’ popping up everywhere every day, not to mention the new ‘hottest’ product hitting the market. If you’re like me, chances are you have quite a collection of eBooks and software that you’re proud to show off to your cyber friends.
But several things come to mind as I write this. Can you relate to any of the following?
1. Too many products and options: This leads to more confusion for many people.
2. The real problem is that the copywriters did a great job of selling you the product: all those promises and the benefits that will fill your bank account like a pig on steroids.
3. Most of the e-books or products you have are good. It has been said that if you only learn one good thing from an ebook or a product/service, then the product pays for itself.
4. Many eBooks are overpriced. Why would anyone want to pay $39 for an eBook when they could get something similar at Barnes & Noble for $25? Also, is the information really worth that much more for the price of the eBook? If you do a little research, you can probably get the same information for FREE on another website.
5. Have you noticed how all the gurus point to the other guy and say what cheap products he sells? Have you ever had the feeling that they are trying to tell you that their product is the only one you will ever need and that everyone else has rubbish?
6. SEO is in fashion. AdWords is cheap and some say FREE. Google slap? What’s that? There are better ways to advertise. Read on and I’ll show you FREE and better ways to advertise.
7. Have you noticed how many FREE videos there are to teach you how to do something? These videos are a great sales tool on their own.
There are more issues that press me but I think you have enough for now.
What most gurus and online entrepreneurs say is that all the money is in the list. So the real secret is not in building great websites and offering products that are superior beyond reason, but in building a list.
Look at how many gurus these days offer free products or services. They start with the carrot and stick and then move you to higher priced products, known as ‘back-end’ products. It’s all smart marketing and if you’re not careful; can fall for such grandiose schemes.
Here are my suggestions for overcoming information overload:
1. Only download and accept FREE stuff and skip the premium stuff until the product/service/guru has proven that it can put money in your pocket.
2. Sign up for a joint venture program that pays at least 50%. Try it (trade it) before you buy it, see if it really works.
3. Create your own product or service. With all the affiliate link hijacking, I think this is the only real way to do it. It is also true that you will be more successful in the areas in which you are more interested or educated.
4. Start with a FREE blog until you have made a sale. Don’t chase hosting companies or dream of cyber real estate until you make some money.
5. Offer something of value for FREE before charging a premium for a product/service.
6. Don’t think about business cards, office rentals, furniture, etc. until you have made some sales. In other words, don’t spend money unnecessarily until you’ve made some money.
And the main thing is to start and not give up. Like almost everything in life, you must plant and cultivate before you harvest.
Good luck and all the best in your business endeavors.