|
With_The_Right_Support_You_Can_Reach_The_Stars
| With The Right Support You Can Reach The Stars
Everything of any great consequence is built on a strong
foundation. The world's most enduring icons of power, prestige,
determination and success - the great pyramids at Giza - depend
as much on the bedrock beneath them as on the skill of the
stonemasons to survive. So it is with all of us.
Our bedrocks may not be made of granite but they have to be
every bit as solid.
"No man [or woman] is an island." Certainly, this truism applies
to every successful businessperson. And no businessperson needs
a solid bedrock, an efficient network of support, more than one
involved in Internet marketing.
Anyone can set up shop online. That's the problem. Books,
magazines, tapes and videos, 'courses', e-zines and web sites
all tell you how easy it is. How you just 'follow these simple
steps' and watch the dollars flow.
They don't tell you how discouraged you will get when the
dollars are only flowing in the wrong direction. Or how lonely
it can get staring at a computer screen in your spare bedroom
for fourteen hours a day. Or how to deal with the anxiety of
knowing you have to spend money to promote your business, but
not being able to afford a mistake.
Every business has downsides and problems, but offline there are
often people to turn to for help. Online traders may not be so
lucky. Who do they turn to when the 'failsafe' strategy they
read about fails? Who can they ask 'why?' when nobody buys from
their site? Who will hold their hand when they feel as lonely as
that long distance runner?
The answer is staring us in the face. The Internet is the
greatest storehouse of human knowledge and experience the world
has ever seen. It is also peopled by warm-hearted generous souls
from every corner of the globe who are more than happy to share
what they know.
Some will know less than you but think they know more.
Some will know more but will modestly hold back.
Some will wear their knowledge and experience like a badge.
Take counsel from all of them and then use your own common-sense
to filter the wheat from the chaff.
But where do you find these people? Where do you go to build
your bedrock?
Three examples of place I have personally found particularly
useful to gain knowledge:
Newsletter publishing: http://www.ezineuniversity.com/
This amazing site will teach you everything you need to know
about setting up and running an e-zine, absolutely free.
General help and advice: http://www.ablake.net/forum/
By far the best all-round forum for Internet marketing I have
come across. Very active and extremely helpful. I belong to
several subscription sites, but Anthony Blake's free discussion
group beats them all.
Subscribe to e-zines: If you are reading this, chances are you
already do, but search out more. There are thousands around and
many of them are excellent.
The key to all of this, however, is not to just join the
examples above and take what you need. True success, and vital
support comes from interacting fully. Share what knowledge you
have. Offer suggestions. Email e-zine publishers with feedback
or questions. Make yourself as busy helping other people (in
whatever way you can) as possible. I this way, folk will respond
to you. Friendships will grow. Other people in the same
situation as you will be drawn into your circle. Opportunities
that may never have seemed possible will begin to come your way.
I have proved this to be true time and again, and have developed
some wonderful online friendships that I cherish highly. But if
I hadn't been open to the idea of approaching and offering
support to others, I couldn't have expected others to be there
for me.
About the author:
Martin Avis publishes a free weekly newsletter: BizE-Zine - your
unfair advantage in Internet marketing, business and personal
success. To subscribe, and get 6 great free gifts, please visit
http://www.BizE-zine.com
|
|
| |