Oh my heart aches for this person. I won’t put their name in here, or their websites, but I will share with you my reply to someone who went about things all right but it turned out all wrong.

Scenario: A retiree, looking to launch a work-at-home career, invests money in products and tools to learn online marketing. Learns the technical skills like you wouldn’t believe. A real go getter – implements advice, doesn’t just read about it.

By all accounts, you’d think this person should be making bank by now. But no. Sadly, this person was guided by the people who teach it all wrong:

• The ones who emphasize picking a profitable niche (over one you want to be in).
• The ones who have you buy a fancy keyword tool so you can spend hours researching the exact right phrase to write an article on.
• The ones who advocate scraping and spinning and minor editing of other people’s content.
• The ones who teach you to SEO the ever living hell out of your website – because obviously, you have to GAME the system to BEAT the system, right?
• The ones who NEVER even mention the word “leadership” or “personality” when teaching you – because it’s all about making sure you have an exact keyword density, right?
• The ones who conveniently sell readymade sites and personal coaching you have to take out a second mortgage for in order to succeed.

These are not good people. These are scumbags.

So this person spent time reading, learning, applying – and finally came to me lost and confused as to why, with their slick professional site (one even I was envious of as far as looks), they had ZERO traffic? With 800+ pages indexed in Google – why no traffic?

I asked for a few examples of their sites. They were all over the map. Various health niches and other stuff. They had one great site (partially) – a blog with one awesome blog post on it. The rest – stuff I would scrap.

So here was my advice to this person, below…with sites and names removed. (Please see if it might also resemble what you’re doing – because this is why I’ve shifted my entire approach here from “Internet Marketing” to “Leadership and Publishing.”)

Hi (name removed)!

Okay I can only give MY insight Take it or leave it.

The sites LOOK nice. Real professional. Google has all your sites indexed. But take (one of his health sites) for instance – Alexa has it non existent, even though Google has over 800 pages indexed.

To be honest, if I go looking for health information, I automatically head to Google and when MayoClinic shows up or WebMD or something, I click on it. If I landed on your site, I’d think it’s wayyyyy too ad heavy and I don’t know who the expert is, so I’d leave.

What I read in your initial email is that you want to make this online career thing work, you’re definitely learning the ropes with those sites, but the overall strategy isn’t right.

You’re not being a leader anywhere – you’re just putting up the exact type of sites Google’s trying to bury right now with their algorithm changes.

You say you’ve paid your dues. You have. And what I’m about to say isn’t going to feel right – not yet. Not until you keep failing and finally either quit or feel like you’ve got nothing else left to try. Ready?

Scrap all the advice you’ve been given

All the SEO crap. All the article marketing. All the spinning and scraping or keyword crap. Scrap it.

That link I gave you to tune in for a day? I realllllllllllllllllllllly want you to try that. Just ONE day. I beg you. But I do NOT want you to have your “SEO,” “Keyword,” “Adsense” hat on, please.

Adsense is like a little side gravy or something. I make like $186 a month on Adsense – it’s just something to trickle in.

The MOST impressive site to me you had is the one that looks LEAST professional. It’s the (site removed) site. Why does this appeal to me? Well, the home page anyway – It’s YOU! There’s a person behind it – and he has a SLANT (slant removed because it tells who this is)!

How many people I’ve seen who stumble through (this process), and here you are willing to share your ups and downs with it!

But there are mistakes here, too.

1. It’s riddled with ads. There’s adsense flying in my face. There are ads above, to the side and below everything.
2. The rest of your site has ZERO personality. Only that first blog post on the home page (which has a broken image fyi).
3. You’re blogging about stuff as IF you’re an expert but you’re not teaching what you KNOW.

On #3, take this page for instance: (link removed)

1. Ads to the right. Ads in the middle. Ads below. All ads.
2. ZERO personality in there. It’s a cold, personality-less article.
3. You have no traffic (by the way many people look a site up on Alexa and if they see you have none but are teaching it, it looks bad).

A better way to do it:

1. Clean up those ads. Maybe 1 adsense in the sidebar. Off to the side. Not interrupting the article.
2. Only 1 G+ prodding, please. Some of your articles had them all throughout. There are ones that scroll with the reader if you want that.
3. Don’t tell me about traffic like this if you have no traffic yourself. Instead, write a blog post about a Traffic Test you’re going to do. Then blog about that traffic test. Blog about how you researched a keyword and why you chose one and where you put the article and how you wrote the article and how the tracking is going for it, etc.

It’s that real personality that builds an audience – that’s ALL you’re missing – personality and originality. Forget about “article writing.” Just be YOU! Like that home page. That will endear people to you and help people build trust in you. Blog about your setbacks. I did! I blogged when I felt like an idiot, when I had a breakthrough, etc.

Let me tell you something too niche wise. You’re in your 60s and retired. Yet you have set up some GREAT looking blogs! Do you KNOW how many 50+ people email me who are PETRIFIED of setting up a blog, getting a domain, hosting, etc? You could LEAD that niche. Take them by the hand, make step by step videos. Put together a course, etc.

Get a picture of you up on that website. The money will come naturally. Don’t force it. Instead, make a good tutorial on how to set up your hosting account and tell why you use Hostgator and screen capture it (Camstudio is free) and put it up there and make a PDF download with step by step screen shots and put your affiliate link in there.

Give the course away FREE to build a list. And watch that affiliate commission come in. I got a $2,000 hostgator paycheck one month just because I mentioned hostgator with my link and showed people how to set their PLR packs up with it.

I hope this helps. I know it’s sickening to realize you’ve been trying so hard and doing it all wrong – especially when you PAID for the information. But that’s why this industry is so seedy. They want your cash – they made money on you. Then they can email you with a “stop the presses” email and tell you about Google’s latest algorithm and why you now need their NEW product.

You have GREAT potential, (name withheld). I can feel it.

((hugs))
tiff

Tiff again – that was the end of the reply I sent to him. I feel so heartbroken for him. I hear this DAILY and not just once – several times a day. Many of you reading it will remember the similar emails you sent me. MOST people don’t even get as far as (name withheld). They buy, they read, they get stuck.

He even implements and MAN he implements GOOD and still can’t see success. I emphasize personality and sharing because that’s what works for me here. You read this blog – you see my comments – you KNOW I have a damn good relationship with my people. Why? I’m ME – inject some personality into your blog and quit worrying about SEO or keywords or commissions.

Blog about what you’re truly using and sure, use an affiliate link – and commissions come naturally.

I want to do two things when I see emails like this. Literally hug the person, because I know it is horrible to hear such news. And strangle the idiots who sold and taught this crappy strategy.

Tiff

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Hi everyone! I have to give you the backstory real quick about how I came to review Product Creator Pro – because it’s perfect timing and proves how GOOD people and GOOD products get rewarded.

I had emailed Nicole Dean (a great lady) about being one of the people I review in an upcoming PLR pack that reviews the top PLR providers. I love that Nicole asked me who was on the list to be included with her – because she didn’t want to be part of it if there was anyone seedy. Love that!

So I tell her who’s in the list, and what my requirements are (good quality PLR, ethics intact, and an affiliate program). She mentions to me that I should also ask Ronnie Nijmeh to be in it because he fit the bill.

I’d never heard of him. So I emailed him and after some discussion, it turns out he has a product PERFECT for where I’m at right now (and you too probably). It correct something I’m guilty of – putting out ugly document.

I’m sorry, but I don’t want to have to run to Oki every time I want a graphic done. And forget about do it yourself designs. I don’t like that – I’m too amateurish! So Ronnie made a video for me (it’s set to private) to show me how his product worked.

I loved the idea of it.

And it works for HTML, PDFs, and Kindle. My perfect trio of solutions for publishing and leadership! But anyway, I had to actually think about it…like always. And test it.

Now what I emphasize is leadership. We can build our website, put out viral reports and eBooks for sale, publish on Kindle, and more. That elevates our authority. But plain Jane means not so much professionalism. We need a nice look, period. And I have to quit being lazy.

Ronnie let me test drive Product Creator Pro. I did it. It’s a real point and click easy tool to use. Nothing made me stumble at ALL! Love when that happens.

I just tested it by taking a blog post and turning it into a PDF newsletter. Looked very professional!

Okay so I want y’all to go look at it and test it.  I think you get some free tests if I’m not mistaken.  But…of course I signed up as an affiliate (which I do when I believe in something).

I noticed inside there were two ways to link to it, so PLEASE use the best link for you depending on how you might choose to pay.

They have a $100 off coupon if you pay for the entire year up front. Here:

Product Creator Pro Discount Coupon

But if you only want to pay monthly to cut costs in the sort-term, use this link:

Product Creator Pro Monthly Option

I rarely promote “tools.” Why? Most suck or they’re too complicated for me to use. OR, the person behind it is a scumbag. I like this one. (the product AND the person LOL).  I’ve been looking for a publishing tool to beautify my ugly creations.

So now…what will I be doing with this?

I plan to test a few new things around here. I get tons of doctor’s offices buying my PLR to put on their website. I am thinking a newsletter about this to snail mail to a few test recipients might not be a made idea.

I also plan to Kindle it – and I might start with a newsletter there, too! Maybe in my Five Parts of Me categories?

This is a great way to differentiate the PLR you’re using. Make it into something that looks more like it’s YOURS.

Are any of you already using this? I know I’m never one to jump on any promo bandwagons, so I don’t even know how long Product Creator Pro has been on the market. But I likey.

Tiff

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Hi everyone! About a week ago, right before we got sick, I went to Barnes and Noble with my Mom and while I was there I picked up a gratitude journal for me and my little girl (Scarlett, age 7) to do every night before bed.

I chose to get her in this habit early on, because I’d noticed that when she got into the car after school, when I asked how school went, she focused on everything that went wrong.

I don’t want her to be a doom and gloomer. I want her focused on all the good her day held. She was very excited about the Journal – it’s pink and it says, “Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake.” (Because isn’t that what life’s really all about?)

So every night before bed, we each take up half the page. I write what I’m thankful for and she writes what she’s thankful for.

Last night, I read her entry. It said, “I’m thankful that I have a Mommy who isn’t grumpy – even when she’s sick.”

My little girl is just like me. Other people’s moods greatly affect her. I’m the same. If you email me short and snippy…well I might bite you (figuratively speaking) or break down in tears, depending on how strong or broken I am at that very moment.

I always try to be mindful of how my mood is so that it doesn’t affect others. My family talks about how I get over things fast. It can be a problem in some ways – because I can end an argument and smile and laugh immediately after. That’s not the problem – the problem is that I get annoyed when others can’t “get over it” quickly, too.

I feel like, “Why waste time in a pissy mood?” I’d much rather spend as many seconds here on this Earth as HAPPY as possible. If something’s over, it’s over! Celebrate.

My kids LOVE this quality in me. They never have a day where Mom’s in a bad mood. Mom’s never in a bad mood…except for maybe a few minutes while she gets onto them about something. Then it’s over!

I might scold Scarlett (that’s her to the right on Circus day – the same day Mommy dressed up as a clown) for spilling a drink and leaving it there not wiped up, for example. But as soon as she gets it up, it’s over! I then call her over to sit in my lap and get a big hug. I don’t want any precious moments with her spent in a way that leaves her with bad memories of me.

I just called out to my son as I was writing this and asked, “Shawn, do I ever have days when I’m in a bad mood?” He said, “No – just moments and then it’s over.”

So I don’t care if you have kids or not. Try to spend a day “getting over it.” Keep calm and have a cupcake.

I am NOT saying you shouldn’t get irritated, mad or even Honey Badger over stuff. But do it, and be done with it. Practice this and see if you have a happier mindset.

It’s sad to think that our grumpy moods affect those around us. I see it in the grocery store when someone takes their mood out on a cashier. Or in traffic when people drive crazy because they’re irritated about whatever else in their lives.

Calm down. Have a cupcake.

Tiff

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Hi everyone! I’m feeling so free and wonderful today – the big change here took effect and we’re now covering the Five Parts of Me! Well this part is all about the Career portion, so I wanted to focus on the ultimate career I wish I had: fiction writer.  However, the lesson I’m about to talk about works for normal marketing (non fiction) niches, too.

In fact, there’s quite a bit of crossover with fiction and non fiction, I’m finding. Because to be a non fiction niche leader, you have to know how to share stories – even if it’s yours and it’s real.

While I was sick (yes still am, but getting better!), I read one whole chapter of The Idiots Guide to Writing a Novel. Before I tell you about the challenge, I have to share something funny with you. Bet you many of you will recognize this IMMEDIATELY!

The author talks about how, when you tell someone you write, they come at you with the “Standard Offer.” I died laughing. I get this almost weekly. Even one of my doctors did this to me! The standard offer is this: They tell you their life story, which is extremely interesting – and you then GET to write it and you split the money 50/50.

Don’t ever do that to anyone. If anything, hire someone to ghostwrite your story – but that means upfront money, not “let me tell you my life and then hopefully we’ll split any money we might make.” It’s just as bad as those people saying, “teach me marketing and I’ll pay you back when I start making money.” Um, no.

Now on to the challenge…

On page 8, the author Tom Monteleone talks about being a “sentinel on the watchtower.” Our mission, he instructs us, is to “be ever vigilant and totally plugged into the world around” us.

Now this is what’s perplexing to me. I have ZERO trouble finding a million and one non fiction niches for people (including me) to go into. I’ve made video tutorials showing y’all how to even browse the checkout stands and use the covers of women’s magazines to see dozens of ideas without even buying the magazine.

But stick a pen and paper in front of me and I’ll be damned if I can’t come up with a single fiction idea that I seem to admire and want to build off of. Why is it seemingly so difficult for me?

When I got this email from a newbie marketer this weekend, I thought what a great exercise Tom’s instructions could be for BOTH of us – non fiction and fiction writers alike:

How do I build a business, I’m not an expert at anything?

You figure out what you want to be a leader in – and then you share information as you learn it. That’s all I’ve done here. That’s all I continue to do. I don’t know it all. I’m no expert – I’m a leader.

The challenge specifics:

Pick a day this week (I’m choosing Sunday because I’m tuned into social media, newspapers, and TV as well as chatting with people in real life on that day) and make notes of everything you see, hear and read.

Now for ME, in the fiction realm, I am also going to add a simple “what happened next” sentence to show what that incident or person might have evolved into from that moment on based on my storytelling abilities.

But for NON fiction, you can just look at everything as a problem/solution situation. In the Idiot’s Guide, Tom says you might hear a neighbor mention a weird nose, or read a paper about a hung jury, or see an odd character operating a ride at the Carnival.  That’s great for fiction, but how would you apply this to non fiction?

Let me give you a few examples of being plugged in for the non fiction leadership challenge:

1. See what products people check out with at the store. Is there a middle aged woman buying arthritis cream? It’s a niche. You might even open up your ears around the pharmacy to see what ailments people are buying things for if you would like to be in the health field.

But keep in mind WHO is buying it. Dissect everything about the situation. Sometimes health issues can be narrowed into a smaller niche – like pregnant women with diabetes, for example. See the total picture.

2. See what people are picking up in the non fiction racks at Barnes and Noble. This might be good for me, too. I would browse a book while watching a few racks where non fiction is stored in a bookstore. See what people are picking up and thumbing through. Look at WHO is picking up that topic and consider what their reason might be.

Remember how I told y’all about the time I had to write a Kama Sutra romance guide for saving a marriage – and I checked out like 10 books on Kama Sutra and Relationship topics at B&N? You might see me standing there and think about creating a romance guide for marriages that are in trouble.

Or maybe you could climb in a time machine and see me at 19, single and pregnant, standing there buying pregnancy books because I was scared and didn’t have the support of my son’s father. I didn’t hate anything about the situation BUT the stigma attached to it. Maybe you would have seen the way I kept looking at others to see if they were judging me. Niche idea? Single and pregnant and not ashamed. Or young and pregnant and making the best out of it.

3. Check out News media like CNN and Fox News. Look at the image below.

These are snippets taken from Fox and CNN. Niche ideas. You just have to look for them. And here I am, with a fiction hat on, seeing story ideas from all of this, too! That’s exciting for me. But like I like to do with idea generation, I don’t even click through to read the article. I just want the idea. I want to build from scratch.

4. Be a Spy. This sounds shady but really it’s just for research purposes. I want you to just listen to people you interact with or are just in earshot of – and be very aware of what they’re talking about.

I was standing in Walmart the other day (praying I didn’t wind up on PeopleofWalmart.com) and the lady behind me was having a loud cell phone conversation about how she was moving her stuff out of her apartment and her boyfriend had cheated on her and what bothered her…was how he didn’t seem to care.

Niche idea. Getting past the hurt when someone you loved shows they don’t care.

We’ve talked about looking before…

But how often do we actually pick an entire day and carry a pen and notepad with us and write down EVERYTHING we see, hear and read that has to do with possible niches? And write them down even if you don’t think you’d want to pursue them!

Sunday I’ll be doing that. I’ll listen to every word my family says and view it through the filter of fiction (for me – you should do non fiction). I’ll be looking at news stories. If I read about a 1,000 pound man who has to be cut out of his house, I will instantly think about his backstory and what led to that. Or how it will turn out.  You might read the same story and think about the overeating or binge niche.

We’ll regroup here Monday (a week from today) and share our insight about what we found – should be interesting! If you’d like to keep your super secret niche that you discovered a secret, like I will with my story idea I settle on, then go for it. We can share the other stuff we find, right? And it might even wind up helping someone else find their perfect niche.

Tiff

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