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Welcome To The First Issue Of:
Straight Talk with PotPieGirl
So, Why a newsletter and why "Straight Talk"?
Good questions!
First - Why a newsletter? Well, I think it's time so why not? Why 'Straight Talk'? That one is easy.... because I think it's time someone DOES talk straight about internet marketing and all the stuff that comes with it.
Most likely at this point in my online career, I have "been there, done that with many things related to our business - and as usual, I probably have an opinion about it...haha!
I've been at this whole IM thing for over 2 years - and been pretty successful by my personal definition. I've been working hard to help as many others find success, too. I figured a great way to talk to everyone at once was thru the power of a cool newsletter.
I hope Straight Talk with PotPieGirl will become an email you can't wait to get and a valuable asset to your online learning experience!
10 Things I Wish I Knew About Internet Marketing BEFORE I Got Started
This is a fun list I made the other day about things I wish I had known before I got rolling with IM.
1. I wish I knew what "upload" meant.
Seriously, I knew that LITTLE about online technical stuff. I remember reading some instructions early on in my online career and the instrcutions said, "Edit file and then upload to your server".
Simple enough, right?
Wrong! I had no idea what 'upload' meant OR what my 'server' was!
Just for the record, 'upload' is the opposite of 'download'. While download means to take something down from the internet and put it on your computer; 'upload' means the opposite - to take something from your computer and put it 'up' online.
2. I Wish I Knew Not To "Brand" My Accounts.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but whoda thunk this would turn into an issue for me? All my accounts were created with the user name or ID of "PotPieGirl". Talk about leaving easy to trace footprints all over the internet!
Nowadays, because I did this "branding" of my accounts, I have folks 'stalking' my online campaigns and copying them! Yikes!
Needless to say, I have spent a good bit of time UN-branding a lot of my stuff with anonymous account names and IDs.
3. The Money MIGHT Be In The List, But Having a List Is NOT For Thin-Skinned People.
This was the hardest thing for me to get accustomed to. Heck, I don't think I've ever gotten accustomed to it - I've just gotten a bit more 'thick-skinned' about it.
No matter what I do online, what emails I send, what products I talk about, what I type - I get "hate" email. We're talking f-bomb dropping rudeness!
I don't understand it. First off, if I had ever talked that way to someone, my Grandmother woulda popped me across the head! haha!
Secondly, am I not talking to people who are trying to build an online business? What happened to being professional - and POLITE in business dealings?
Regardless, this used to really tear me up. I'm not some guru or a faceless corporation, I am a real person who is trying really hard to help others - and yes, to make a few bucks along the way.
These days, I have learned the fine skill of the delete button and the unsubscribe button. If someone is rude to me, I do not hesitate to unsubscribe them from my list MYSELF.
If you're building a list, be prepared for this - and try really, really hard to NOT take it personally.
Trust me, your day will be MUCH better =)
4. This IM Thing Is Only As Hard As I Let It Be.
Yes, I said it. It took me awhile, but once I learned to stop over-thinking and over-analyzing that I also stopped talking myself OUT of trying things and getting things online.
Fear of failure, AND fear of success, are not traits we are born with. Somewhere, we pick them up. Today is the day to put them DOWN.
5. Free Auto-Responders Suck.
Ok, not exactly a nice way to say that, but it is totally sincere. If you are thinking of trying to cut corners or costs by using a free auto-responder service. Think twice and don't do it. Been there, done that. They are horrible.
6. Affiliate Marketing is NOT About SELLING.
Someone may have said that in my early online travels, but it never sunk in. My early works online are almost desperate pleas for someone to click and buy.
As affiliate marketers, that is not our job. Our job is to offer useful (but somewhat incomplete) info to readers and then refer them to where they can get their whole problem solved.
We are like the middle-man between the problem and the solution. When we solve problems, we get paid.
Not a bad job when you look at it that way, is it?
7. NOTHING Beats My OWN Testing.
Oh boy, I would spend HOURS and HOURS on keyword tools looking for THE "perfect" keyword. You know, the one that would -
a. brings loads of traffic
b. makes tons of sales
c. make me rich with that ONE "perfect" keyword
Guess what? Odds are good that THE perfect keyword does not exist.
If you find an ok keyword, or one that maybe looks good - try it. Nothing beats your PROVEN results from a keyword (oh, and research doesn't make you a dime - online content DOES)
8. Only Work On Projects and/or Campaigns That Prove They Are Worth My Time.
This was a tough one for me - I would all but beat an online campaign into submission trying to FORCE it to work. All that time spent trying to get something to convert that simply may NEVER convert.
Now, I get something out there, follow my own steps, and let it go. If it later shows ME some promise, then I will show it some time.
Time is the one thing we can't buy more of. Use it wisely.
9. Using THAT Button In My Email is NOT a Good Way to Manage My Inbox.(you know, the button that rhymes with 'ham'?)
I've done it, you've probably done it ...heck, I bet everyone has done it one time or another - you get an email, open it, start reading and don't like it. So, what do you do? Click the ol' button to make it go away. (Note: I need to type 'S' instead of the actual word or else you may not get this email....haha)
Here's a few problems with that technique of email management -
a) If you opted in and allowed that person to email you, it's NOT S. You allowed it. By clicking that button you are messing up that marketer with their email delivery provider. While it may sound tempting, remember - you gave permission for that email to be sent to you. Unsubscribe or just delete it.
b) If you gave permission by opting in and you usually like that persons email, but this ONE time you do NOT like it, clicking the button not only is wrong because you DID give permission, but it also hurts YOU in the future.
Once you click the button you won't see ANY emails from that person anymore. Then one day, you find out about a super cool f-ree gift that person is giving and you're mad because YOU didn't get an email. Think twice before sending that hate email (laugh) - it might just be your own fault.
10. This World Is SO Much Smaller Now That I Am An Internet Marketer.
It never occurred to me that I would end up having daily contact with great people from all over the WORLD. Whenever I look at my site stats and see all the places on Earth people come from to read my ramblings, I feel so blessed....and so HONORED.
Every day the world gets smaller - and that is such a good thing. I want to take this moment to thank YOU for being part of MY world!
Ok - let's get to some news, highlights, and special offers....
Keyword Research Video Series on PotPieGirl.com
For those of you that have already seen these videos, wow at my video skills, huh? Hahahahahhahaha!
I am totally NOT serious. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times - Thank GOODNESS you don't need high-tech skills to make it online!
Ok - these are great videos that I think you will really like. We talk about the basic outline of making m0ney online using free methods, the current effectiveness of Squidoo lenses, finding keywords - GOOD keywords - for your Squidoo lenses, and my super-ninja, totally top-secret way I breeze thru keyword research to find my hole in the market.
You can find these videos here (watch in this order so you know what the heck I'm rambling about)
(and hey all you 6StepNicheSite.com readers - don't think this doesn't apply to you, too! This is a GREAT way to get super ideas for your niche blog posts! )
Changing Your MindSet To Reach Your Goals
This is a post on another blog that I thought was EXCELLENT. So many people are looking for the "One Big Thing" that will change their life - and this puts unnecessary pressure on you AND puts unrealistic expectations in your mind.
A quick change of thinking can make everything SO much more do-able to you.
http://www.internetmarketermindset.com/blog/2009/01/24/true-marketer-mindset-adopt-this-principle-and-prosper/
Special Bonus Guide Coming To One Week Marketing Members
It's that time again - time for another f'ree gift from good ol' PotPieGirl. (note: I said "ol" .... NOT "old"...lol)
I am putting together a companion guide for One Week Marketing Members Only. I expect to send it out to everyone early next week (probably Tuesday). Only those that are active One Week Marketing Owners will receive this bonus guide and it will not be available again for f'ree.
I am slowly adding new content and guides to the OWM package in preparation to do a major update, and yes, a price increase. When will the update happen? I don't know yet, but it will be announced (don't expect it any time soon - I have a busy month in May. Son getting married, daughter's graduation ceremony, some minor out-patient surgery, etc etc etc).
However, this bonus companion guide will be released in the next few days. If you want a copy of this companion guide, you need to get in there and get your One Week Marketing Action Plan Package fast.
What's In The Bonus Guide?
Here's what's Inside the Soon to Be Released Bonus Guide
-- Problems Getting Lenses and Content Indexed...and what to do about it.
-- Finding Your Lenses and Content in Google (has anyone else noticed that it's getting harder and harder to do?)
-- MAJOR Problems I've Seen with Squidoo Lenses (and a big warning to all who participate on Squidoo)
-- Why Nicks' Campaign Was Profitable Right Away (ever wonder why? I'll tell you)
-- What One Week Marketing is REALLY teaching you (this might totally surprise you)
-- All About Test Lenses (my secret little 'test the market' technique. You'll love this - it's WAY less work)
-- Social Bookmarking and OWM Campaigns - yes or no? Which ones?
-- Other free to use sites you can add to your One Week Marketing Action Plan.
-- Very Cool Way to Monetize Your Supporting Blogger Blogs (or your own sites)
-- And knowing me and the way I ramble... much, more more than what is listed above =)
If you want this bonus guide for f'ree, you need to go ahead and get your copy of One Week Marketing.
I will mass-email a 24 hour warning for those that are interested in knowing. (If you're not interested, just delete the email...hahahaha!)
Special 2-Day Free Trial For One Week Marketing Personal Coaching
This was GREAT news from Jackie and Andrea and I am super pumped to share it with everyone.
I know there are some of you that would really like some extra help - even one on one help - with your One Week Marketing campaigns. You've heard me talk about the OWM coaching center, but have been hesitant to jump in and try it.
Now you can try the coaching for two days with no risk! Imagine how cool it would be to have someone with you every step of the way - awesome, right?
If you want to take advantage of this offer -
Go to the coaching center and pick the type of coaching you want to try out. When you get to the next screen you will see that your first two days are cost and risk free.
If you have ever even thought about MAYBE getting coaching, now is the time to do it.
Special thanks to Jackie and Andrea, my two OWM scholars, for offering this. You two are the best!
In Closing
Time for me to wrap up the first edition of Straight Talk with PotPieGirl . I hope you've enjoyed this newsletter as much as I enjoyed creating it.
If you have any feedback (good OR bad) please send it my way - just no 'f-bombs', please! hahahaha!
In closing, I'd like to share a little quote about exercising more compassion, kindness, and patience with people in our life (both our "real" life and our virtual life here in IM-land).
This was printed some time ago in our local paper and I cut it out and taped it near my monitor. I think it's great advice - especially when your patience is running thin.
I hope you get as much out of it as I do every day.
Charity
There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us
That it behooves ANY of us,
To find fault with the rest of us.
-unknown
Keep Moving Forward!
Jennifer
~PotPieGirl
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