Have you ever wondered why some online marketers seem to be so much more successful than others?
Or why one marketer bounces back from a failure within days, while another one gives up and begs for his old job back?
Or why you see some online marketers everywhere, and other marketers hear only crickets?
Here are seven clues on what sets some online marketers apart from others…
Believe in Yourself
Successful online marketers believe in themselves and their business.
When the going gets tough and when you make mistakes, it’s your belief that will pull you through.
You’ve got to believe that you are fully capable of building this six or seven figure business, that you are able to bring tremendous value to your customers, and that you can overcome any adversity that gets in your way.
Have a Plan
Some marketers don’t look beyond what niche they’re going to enter and what their domain name should be.
But you need to have a plan in place, a roadmap you can follow when you get stalled.
Who is your audience? What do they want and need? Are you going to create your own products? If so, what problems will those products fix or what benefits will they give the customer? Will you blog? Podcast? Make videos?
Your plan can be flexible and change as needed, but the importance of having a plan in the first place is unquestionable. Without vision and goals – both of which will be in your plan – you’ll get up in the morning without a clue of what you should be doing. And that is a recipe for failure.
Leave Your Comfort Zone Daily
You’re going to be doing things you’ve never done before. It’s going to be uncomfortable, and even scary. You might be afraid to take the next step.
And all of that is perfectly normal. The key is to embrace the fear and do the things you need to do anyway.
If you stay within your comfort zone, you will never grow, nor will your business.
But if you embrace the new and unknown, there is no limit to what you can do.
Think Big, Think Small
As an online marketer, you’ve got to think about the big picture. What is your end goal – to make $100,000 a year? Or maybe to build a million-dollar business and sell it? What campaigns will you use to reach your customers over the coming year? What is your marketing strategy for the following year?
But you’ve also got to think small. Are your customers getting their questions answered the same day? What should you do today to get more customers? Are you going to promote this product this week, or that product?
It’s easy to get so bogged down in the little stuff, that we lose sight of the big picture. But if all you ever focus on is the big picture, you’ll never get anything done today.
Habitize Your Success
Figure out the three things you should be doing every single day that will bring in more business.
And then no matter what, before you quit for the day, do those three things.
For example, maybe it’s writing and sending an email to your list to make sales, posting on social media to get new subscribers, and contacting 3 possible affiliates to promote for you.
Whatever your three things are, do them every single day and you are guaranteed to be successful.
Audience First, Product Second
Too many online marketers make the grave mistake of creating a product and then going in search of customers for that product. This seldom works.
Instead, find your audience, provide them with great content that they love, and build their trust.
Then find out what they want and need and sell that to them.
Repeat after me: “Audience first, product second.”
Honesty and Generosity
This last one is two-fold, and yet I find they are intricately intertwined.
Give yourself to your audience without holding back. Do you suffer from the same stupid mistakes they make? Then let them know that. Do you have an answer to your readers’ problem? Let them know what it is.
Want to make friends with other marketers? Give them something before asking for a favor. I know of one marketer who offers his plugins for free to fellow bloggers, and he makes all sorts of contacts this way.
You cannot go wrong by being generous. And you also cannot go wrong by being honest.
Tell them the shortcomings of the product you are promoting. The REAL shortcomings. Show your human side. Talk about your own trials and tribulations and struggles.
Hey, you’re not perfect? Your audience already knew that, but they’re mighty glad to hear you say it. It makes you one of them.
Post a card above your desk – “Honesty and Generosity.”
Master these seven keys in your life and your business, and you cannot go wrong.