An Open Letter to Internet Marketing Newbies
March 18th, 2011 | 
Author: Dear Newbie or Struggling Marketer,
You sent me an email that I’m finding difficult to answer.
I read every word. Every single one.
But…I get hundreds of emails every day – some are a quick “how to” question about something specific, which I can answer, and some are similar to your case – a person in need of guidance, reaching out for help.
I know what it’s like to be in your shoes. I once had no answers, either. Some of it, the technical “how to” stuff, I found out through a kind person willing to teach me.
But the broad, general stuff like what you want to know – topics like:
- Is this niche a good one?
- How should I choose a niche?
- Which domain is better?
- Where should I begin?
- Which business model should I follow?
- How can I make money fast?
Those are things I have difficulty answering. Oftentimes, people will send me a complete backstory of their situation – the personal details, the career obstacles, their strengths (like writing) and weaknesses (lack of money, for example) and then ask me a question like:
“So where should I begin?”
I can’t answer those kinds of questions. I don’t do personal, one on one mentoring for a reason – in order for me to guide someone in broad decisions, I have to take a ton of time getting to know them on a very deep level. Kind of as well as I know myself. Much more than a simple email exchange can harness. There simply is no “one size fits all” answer.
And what if I happen to say, “Write an eBook?” You get started and realize you HATE writing eBooks! It’s better if you research all the ways to do something and then pick your best option – go with your gut.
Even if it’s a detailed question, like:
“Should I get this domain or that one?”
It’s not fair for me to give you a quickie answer. To feel comfortable doing that, I’d have to spend a couple of hours digging into your niche – seeing what the competition is, the keyword search volume, and so on.
Since it’s not a service I offer, and it takes up so much time with as many emails as I get each day, I can’t make those decisions for you.
Right now, you’re not feeling confident. I STILL don’t feel confident in my day-to-day business. I’m constantly making mistakes with niches, keywords, business models, etc.
That’s part of learning and growing – and it HELPS you in the long run because you learned from DOING, not from someone just telling you to do something.
While I can’t give you specific help, I can offer some advice:
- Stop buying everything and start using blogs and forums as a way to learn initially.
- Alleviate the pressure you feel to launch this online business perfectly. Like the tooth fairy, there’s no such thing. I’ve had so many businesses and niche sites that have come and gone – some make money and I later delete them – it’s all part of finding what propels you with personal satisfaction!
- Realize that even if a program tells you to “do this, do that” or “use this tool, and that one,” it doesn’t mean you HAVE to. I much prefer to do things my own way and use free options many times rather than paid ones.
- If you don’t know something specific, or want more feedback than what I have to offer, go to www.WarriorForum.com and create a profile and ask your question. There are thousands of helpful people there – it’s how I personally learned and grew. And it’s how I give back to this day – along with my own blog.
- Remember that proverb: Fall down 7 times. Get up 8. (This one too – “Do it afraid – the courage will come later.”)
I am not closing myself off to you – I’ll be here if, for example, you run into a snag while doing a task and can’t figure something out. But I’m kicking you out of the nest for the broad answers you’re searching for and I want you to have the confidence to fall flat on your face a few times. It builds character!
Here’s what I do advise as someone who strongly believes in NOT having all your eggs in one basket:
- Start a service business first. That can be ghostwriting, backlink building, virtual assistant, or anything. Marketers who are already succeeding need help with the sheer volume of tasks they need to complete. The only product I have for this is Ghostwriting Cash.
- Then create your own product. That can be an eBook or your own PLR store or WordPress templates or whatever. I have two products in this realm – PLR ATM and Building an eBook Empire.
- Then add in the mix of affiliate marketing. Most people do all of this backwards. Not me. Affiliate marketing takes longer to get going in my opinion. But it’s worth learning. I like Bring the Fresh for this. But other products I’ve earned from have been One Week Marketing and Deadbeat Super Affiliate. Go to www.TiffanyDowReviews.com to read through my free reviews as I implemented the product completely.
Tiff 
PS – Do you remember your math teacher forcing you to “show your work?” Well keep track of what you’re doing so that if you DO get stuck, you can go on the Warrior Forum and say, “Hey guys, here’s what I’ve done and what I’m thinking – and I’m stuck. Can you help?”
PPS – I’m a member there and I often look for ways I can help, along with everyone else. But I do it on my extra time.
Share and Enjoy
Posted in Career
Hey Tiff! It’s a shame this post got boosted to the second page so quickly (I think you filled up the whole first page of your blog with new posts today). Maybe more people can be helped if you put a link to it from your front page? It was a great read
Yeah that’s a good idea Clefty! I did work my butt off today – too bad it wasn’t literal
~
Wouldn’t that be nice!! I’d work harder if I knew my butt would fall off.
LOL Sarah me too!
Excellent post! I love that you boiled down your advice in those bite-size 3 points. Thank you.
Glad you liked it Mary!
As usual, I learned a lot from this post. I have so much trouble focusing on one thing, even though I know intellectually that’s what needs to be done.
I know I’m guilty of asking some of those questions, especially when I started following you. Thanks for not booting me out of the nest a long time ago.
Do it afraid – the courage will come later. This is my new mantra.
Oh no I usually try hand holding but I wrote that feeling it needed to be said because on the domain for instance, it’s not fair to YOU for me to tell you what to choose really. I’m guilty of caving in and answering that question too when this is what I should have said to those people.
Tiff,
You are just easy to talk to and your responses are so right on the money I can see how any newbie would see you as a great port in a storm. That is a HUGE compliment to you and well deserved.
Thanks Sarah
I think you said as much as you possibly could Tiff. And in 3 bullet points too.
In the beginning we’re so confused we don’t know what to ask or how to deal with the answers!
UGH!
Things started to clarify for me when I realised that there were different business models online and all I and to do was learn one.
And only one!
Thanks Alex! Yeah I know the urge to ask someone willing to answer that big question but the answer they give you won’t be what you really need.
you’ve stuck with me thru all my “start-up” stuff, and been patient with me about learning the most important thing – it doesn’t really matter how you start out, as long as you start. Gotta thank you for that, and I will right here – thanks!
My advice? In a seminar years ago, the comparison was made between business and sand drawing – the materials are not what determines the product, it’s YOUR fingers that draw the picture – and you can go back and change the parts that didn’t work the first time. And no-one else can draw YOUR picture, they can only draw their own.
Have a great day!
Great analogy Hagar! I like that
I do always tell people to just get started – things can be changed later.
Thank you for sharing this letter with us. I will be putting a link to the page on my blog soon. Getting started and trying different things is the only way to really know what works best for you. The only problem is that when you are new, you don’t really understand what the different marketing techniques are and sometimes mix them up. I did that in mainframe programming once. Used one method to start a process and closed it with a different method. Crashed the whole system. Newbies do that sometimes with IM. I think maybe that is why so many get frustrated and quit before they make it. They are so confused, they get the methods crossed and foul it up. Best to learn one thing at a time, get to know it well, then learn something else to add to it to increase revenue streams.
Hey Linda! Yeah I did many things and deleted them before I found what works best for me and what I enjoy. I did dropshipping with a wedding site. LOL! I didn’t enjoy it at all.
Hey Tiff, I think this post is hugely important to people stating out. We don’t know what we don’t know… and YOU don’t know what we don’t know, even more so!!
But the points you make really do hit home for a lot of the issue people struggle with when they are trying to get started.
One thing I have found, is the self doubt… the longer you are working on things the bigger that grows… It becomes ‘the elephant in the room’, and it is no mean task to get over it.
Plus you second guess yourself all the time… “Is this really a profictable niche?” “Maybe I just didn’t research well enough, or maybe I missed something” “Am I wasting my time?”.
Staying motivated and focussed is perhaps one of the greatest issues… not to mention the ‘bright shiny object’ syndrome, and when you have not been able to make something work, well, you can understand why a person might think “perhaps this ‘next’ system is what I need”… (uaully not!!).
I think your advice is very sound, and really just finding someone, such as yourself is pure ‘gold’, and really the only ‘shiny object’ needed.
What I would have given to come accross you around 6 or so years ago…. Lol!!
Cheers for the post. I just hope the people who most need this get to see it!
LOL! Love the first paragraph. So true!
Hi, Tiff! I don’t post alot, but I just found out something really AWESOME and since my ‘DH’ and kids dont care, I knew you would, and I have to tell someone who knows what I’m talking about, and why this is such good news..
I actually started in IM 4 or 5 years ago, the past 1 or 2 I really started making $ with it. I about had a heart attack with the new ‘google farmer’ fiasco, I went and bought everything I could to see what I could do to stay making money.
I was totally floored when, without even knowingly TRYING, I am #1 in Google, #6 in Yahoo, and first page(I forget what #) in Bing for a keyword out of About 2,070,000 results!!!! I’ve been focused solely on articles, and will admit that I don’t work much.
Here’s the funny thing — I haven’t been doing anything with that site – really – at all. I have been totally focusing on my stop your divorce site!
I guess I really wrote this because at one time, I was alot like you, but I threw in the towel. I was, at one time, good friends with who are now ‘gurus’ – who were nobodies like me, and now they have their noses so far up each other’s butts I wish I could say I never knew them…. BUT… always stay the way you are. Always.
Take no offense, and I only hope that you know where I’m coming from with this – I will never consider you a ‘guru’. But thank you. Only through you have I found myself again, and have I wanted to try this again. Thank you.
PS)) I wouldv’e emailed you, but I had trouble before, and had to reach you via the warrior forum. so I posted here, you can catch it before it posts!
Thanks again! ~Haze
Hey Haze! Thanks so much for the reply. I approved instantly and then read it and edited out the portion you wanted me to with your keywords, etc. So don’t panic if you see an email to your inbox saying it’s been approved
I think I’ll take that non guru thing as a compliment! 
Just had a good day and wanted to share. I bought PLRATM several months ago and slowly getting packs added to it.
Well, today I added a new plr pack to my store and this afternoon just for fun I went to google and typed in the name of the pack.
There I was at number 10 all ready and it hadn’t been but a few hours. so, then I went over to scroogle and did the same thing, all ready at number 14.
Just wanted to say Thank You Tiffany for putting out a great product. I haven’t had any sales yet but I’m sure it want be much longer.
Yea Terry! That’s wonderful!
Hi,
It is refreshing to pop in and see the evolution that happens here- always changing and dynamic. I also like your newbie approach Tiff, a firm but friendly hand. The advice about starting a service was good to read. I have lot of products and still flounder around getting distracted. I’ve also started studying to become a real estate agent in New Zealand. Local businesses need a hand too with their IM so I’m hoping to combine the two!
Thanks Pamela. Some may say I’m unfocused (which I am at times) but I’m still evolving like you said – to see what I want my business to be. And it may ALWAYS evolve.
Dear Tiffany,
Many thanks for your straight shooting advice. Just a newbie here to your wonderful web site. You are doing the right things (#14,175 rating on Alexa)and I’m there with you. Many however, will hear your voice, only a few will listen and apply.
Thanking you,
Myles
Hey Tiffany.
I love your blog, and I’m one of the struggling marketers out there.
I really don’t want to offer a service first, because I want to get knowledgable in other areas, and test some things myself, and see that they work before offering some sort of service to someone. That means I’m opting for Affiliate Marketing first. But these are the reasons.
I have a lot of knowledge about how to rank websites, and I’ve seen services I can use for this matter (I’m a fan of outsourcing). But I need a system, or something that can teach me about how to structure a website, and make it so that it can make sales. I’m not good at sales, or at least it’s not natural in me.
It doesn’t matter if it takes me a couple months or 3 months to start earning a little bit of income. I know that the rest will be doing more of the same.
Would you think Bring The Fresh is suitable for me? (just the core version). Your review of the course is pretty much self explanatory, but just asking. I’ve also looked at the Adsense $100k Blueprint.
Thanks in advance =)
Well that’s fine too if the bill collectors aren’t at your door
What I’m talking about w/services are if money is an issue NOW, it’s the fastest/best way to make larger sums. Core BTF is great – go read my full step by step review at http://www.tiffanydowreviews.com – I do love it/.
haha, I’m not in a rush indeed… that’s why I’m telling ya.. I have time.. well a couple months lol.
I’ll probably go ahead and try BTF, seems like it’s worth the investment..
Tooth Fairy?
What do you mean, “It doesn’t exist”?
… and what do you mean by the phrase BTF?
Cheers
Alan
Hi Tiffany,
Your blog was recommended to me and I’m already learning a great deal. I would like to start up my own Ghostwriting business and am eager to learn as much as I can. I know that I’ve got the writing skills and drive to make it a success, but am a bit overwhelmed getting my name out there and reeling in clients. As soon as I can come up with the extra money, I’m going to purchase your Ghostwriting book, as I’ve read excellent reviews.
Thanks for all your hard work and I look forward to learning even more from you!
Best,
Kristyle
Welcome Kristyle! When you get it, let me know how it’s going – stay in touch on it.
Thank you…so now I know why you won’t allow me to pay for help and asking questions. LOL!
Ahhhhh….you just hit the nail on the head, Tiff!! There is so much information out there, it can be tough for us newbies to figure out where to go first. I’m so glad I read this post today. Some days the fear is paralyzing. Some days I just think,
“what do I do?” Some days I sit and read other peoples’ ebooks, blogs, forum posts, etc. avoiding actually “doing.” Today I am determined to just “do!” Thanks for the swift kick in the butt!! I needed that! <3
Glad I could kick Jodie! LOL
Hi Tiff,
I saw your article about on WF i got hooked! being an IM newbie, i will use your method and tips as my guide towards financial independence! God bless you dear!
Hey Tiffany,
glad that i discovered this site. I’m a newbie and I was looking for a review of a particular product i bought online, then i bumped your site. You have a bunch of useful tips here.
Thank you.
I’ll be coming back.:-)
Nice to meet ya Michael! Stick around and get to know everyone
It really is nice to meet you. I’m new online and finding my bearings. I already took your advice about the Warrior Forum and have learned a lot so far. Your PLR ATM course is great! I’m studying it now. You are so right, newbies need too stop buying a ton of courses and just settle down and focus. I was so glad to read a recent post by you regarding Click Bank. I was a bit suspicious of them in the first place.Your article on them was helpful. Great post! Your honest and honesty is a bit scarce online. Then again,with time I’m finding the right people.
Great post, Tiff. I know we ask some silly questions sometimes. I wish I could quit going for the shiney objects. I need to be firm with myself and try to work with what I have and not keep looking. I know my bead pattern design business and Squidoo are working well. Just want to add a few more things and get set.
Nothing’s silly – some just unanswerable
Hi Tiffany,
as I said by email earlier when I bought some of your PLR for a couple of my sites – I am a new fan! I am also one who is on your possible list of ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ plot lists. I like how you say it as it is but are at the same time truthful about what’s possible when one applies ass to seat and gets on with it. My own venture is Kindle as I have always wanted to be an author. I just do it now with the buzz of marketing it.
I also started an internet marketing blog as a part time project, for newbies as I think I went through every single idea out there and thoroughly researched lots of other ideas before i settled down. In my blog I aim to guide others by my mistakes and make recommendations (and I mean as many free ones as I found that would do what paid ones would) that might help someone along. Yes, from time to time I recommend something – only once so far – that I am an affiliate for but I take the same ethical approach as you do.
As regards my Kindle endeavours, I am kinda back at square one and am once again doing the forum, blog, backlink thing. This time I know why I am putting in that work.
I am curious though… when you say the affiliate thing takes a bit longer – would you say the same of affiliate promotion by Squidoo? I was thinking of using Squidoo to satisfy my wandering eye every week by knocking out a couple of lenses on other subjects without wandering too far from my own (and including backlinks to my books) – kinda like using it as my ‘bit on the side’…
I would like to get your opinion on that.
Anyway, I will wrap this up now.
Once again, glad to have found an ethical marketer like yourself to add to my (very) shortlist of Gurus!
All the best
Dave
Yes even Squidoo. I love Squidoo and I can create a lens and make sales that week – but it still takes long to build up lots of money making lenses than it does to get paid quickly for a ghostwriting gig. I would do it the way you described though – I do that to this day!
Tiffany,
I am still devouring your content. I’ve been here all day, reading and browsing.
I’m so new I didn’t know what a lens was (had to look that one up) and the reason I’ve taken so long to do anything is because I couldn’t decide on a niche. Nothing appealed to me except quilting and the market is saturated with experts already.
I flat didn’t know what to do. Now I do, thanks to you. Just as soon as I get the money I shall be buying the Ghostwriting Cash Special Report. I am on a fixed income and it only goes so far every month. I’ll start there we’ll see how it goes. I can write. I just don’t know if I can write for anyone else. We’ll see.
I am also a member of the Warrior’s Forum, but not a paid member. I see that I need to budget for that, also. Thank you.
No such thing as saturation Ruth
You can still be a leader in quilting. Everyone has different tastes about who they like to learn from.
Thanks Tiffany, you’re encouraging. I am a member of the War Room now and I’m slowly getting things together. One bummer…I can not become an affiliate for Amazon. Amazon does not have affiliates in my state. Something to do with the taxes. Anyway, thanks for everything you do and your mom also.
I’ll be discussing options for you Ruth! You’re not totally cut out of Amazon
Hang tight!
I bless the day I met you, Tiffany. Thanks.
Feeling’s mutual Ruth!
“Stop buying everything and start using blogs and forums as a way to learn initially.”
LOL, then you try to sell them your products and push them to the lions at the WF where they will find tons of WSO’s and spend more money.
If they choose to do that, that’s their prerogative Jim. I certainly don’t spend tons of money on WSOs and I never have.
Hi Tiff…what is a lens & where would that lady above have looked it up? I bought your GhostWriter course & started to read. It advised if you don’t have writing examples, one should try PLR…so I bought that too. Which course of the two should I read / execute first please? I’ve jumped on your back coz you are very honest & straight. Thank you for your help.
A lens is a page on Squidoo.com – it’s free to use. Go to tiffanydow.com and scroll down and you’ll find my 52 on Squidoo guide for free. On what you said “If you don’t have writing examples, try PLR” – that’s not quite what I said. If you don’t have examples, create some! Make 3 one pagers – health, wealth and relationships. But PLR is good – it’s a supplement to ghostwriting – one that creates a residual income, so you should be working on that simultaneously. Execute GWC first. It’ll help you hopefully make money more up front. Then when you get going, start the PLR on the side.