Working online has its many challenges – one of the hardest in the early days being ‘information overload’.
No matter whether you want to make money from niche blogs, affiliate marketing, sales of a unique product, selling websites or anything else – there are a million guides out there telling you how to do just that.
Some of the most popular guides are the ones telling you to replicate the steps of successful internet marketers’ success, copying their strategy and ultimately earning money in the same way. These guides are great for people who don’t yet have the knowledge or experience to forge their own roads to success.
Sometimes A Blueprint Isn’t Enough
One thing newbies quickly realise is that even the most detailed step by step blueprint may not be enough. For whatever reason – maybe they still don’t know enough about keyword research, maybe they aren’t blogging with their own unique voice, maybe they haven’t given the system long enough – they give up and try the next big guide on the market.
Learning That It’s OK to do Things Your Way
After trying method after method I’ve come to realise that you need to do things your own way. These products are, after all, guides – there’s still room for manoeuvre. Just take a look at anyone who’s successful and you’ll see that they’ve tweaked the system to suit them, and to suit what they’ve learned along the way.
What they’re doing is following a combination of systems, alongside their own experience, their own values, and gut instinct.
This is the one thing that has taken me longest to learn in my web career.
Sticking to Your Guns
I’ve only just started to realise that doing things my way is, in fact, the only way for me to do them. Yes, I am still following systems – such as the Squidoo challenge I mentioned last week – but I’m also tweaking them, and fitting them in with an overall business plan that is uniquely mine.
In the short term my business plan and my way of thinking may cost me money. For example, I’ve decided to be very careful about the products I promote, which means I’m not going to follow the latest craze just because I know it’ll make me cash. And, instead of selling guides such as my eBook writing action plan, I want to give them out for free, and I also want to help people who email me individually.
I’ve struggled in the past with the fact that, if I’m not doing it 100% like everyone else, then I must be doing it wrong. But from now on I’m sticking to my guns, and having faith that there is more than one way to achieve what I want to achieve.
The bottom line is: it might not be the way everyone else does it, but it’s the only way it will work for me.
How do you feel about following systems to the letter? Has it worked for you, or have you injected a bit of *you* into the system to get it going?
~ Web Career Girl
Forest (4)
Kidgas (4)
Loren Jaslyn (4)
Des @ Affiliate P... (3)
Eric (3)
January 18th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
How do you feel about following systems to the letter? Has it worked for you, or have you injected a bit of *you* into the system to get it going?
Hi Ruth! It’s nice to be back here. I have the intelligence of a moron when it comes to internet marketing, but I do have the ability to establish a network of friends and observe how different systems work. I think that if there is something that provides good results, then it’s better to follow that rather than figure out everything by myself which takes a lot of time, effort, and energy. Going through that process alone is not cost-effective. A huge number of people have already mapped out the most effective techniques and all you need to do is find out which one suits your taste. However, if you are the type of person who likes to innovate, then you probably don’t mind the 99% perspiration that Thomas Edison mentioned while he was still alive. Hope this helps. =)
Peace and respect,
Ryhen
Ryhen | Mind Power´s last blog ..Do You Think You Are Special?
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 18th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Hi Ryhen, thanks for your comment. I completely agree with you – perhaps I wasn’t clear enough. All I mean is that we do things that we’ve heard work, but we all end up doing them in our own way, tweaking the process and also moving along as we need to. If it were as simple as copying a method 100% the same, then we’d all be rich by now. About your comment about innovation – that will come once I’ve mastered the systems I’m already following
January 18th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
I definitely do like having a blueprint to follow, but I’m not a complete slave to it. For example the current programme I’m following highly recommends outsourcing for both content and link building, it doesn’t really suit me to do that at present so I do my own thing.
I think the blueprint just gives me the confidence that I’m not heading completely in the wrong direction.
Des´s last blog ..Affiliate Marketing Trends 2010
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 19th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Des – I agree, I need the blueprints for confidence too. There’s no way I could have done much without them. I guess some people are different, but it’s taken me a long time to learn what I need even *with* the help of blueprints. Thankfully now though I think I have the confidence to diverge a little
Twitter: lbogaerts
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January 18th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
I think for starting out it’s nice to be able to follow a blueprint. When I got started in IM I followed three blueprints. First the one that is related to the super adsense themes (you can get the themes seperately, but there’s a program they are linked to too, and I followed that. Had some good information but didn’t cut it). That was April 2008 till July 2008.
In August 2008 I followed the 30 day challenge. That had great information and I made my first earnings during that month. So I think I learned a lot there.
When that month was almost finished Amy Bass started the Nicheblogger program, and I followed her own blog since May 2007 so I “knew” her and I was convinced this program would make me earn more money. I’ve never regretted it.
Those three programs where great to learn things and get started. I still follow basic steps from those programs. Things I know that worked but in general I have adapted everything to my own plans and needs, and I think that’s what’s working best for me at this moment.
Leslie
Leslie´s last blog ..Keyword Research
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 19th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Leslie – I can tell you have your own little ways of doing things and I really like that. The Niche Blogger has been such a fantastic program for me too – especially since I got to meet some great people!! I find I combine a lot of those methods with everything else I have learned along the way.
Twitter: ShaneRQR
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January 18th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Spot on!
I think this is one of the big challenges in this information age that we live in: You can get tons of information on anything. So much, in fact, that it can become completely overwhelming.
Somehow finding that balance between information-intake and action-output is absolutely crucial. And knowing when to stick exactly to a plan and when to give it a bit of leeway and try something different is also a part of that.
Cheers,
Shane
Shane´s last blog ..CRewriter – Free Article Spinning Application
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 19th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Shane – Yes, I feel like I’ve spent so long absorbing the information, now is the time to put it all together into something great!
Twitter: bluepop13
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January 18th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Ruth,
Honestly I think you have it right. Everyone talks about how their system works better, and it does, for them. Try out different systems and experiment what works for you but ultimately you’re going to customise it to fit your needs anyway.
Once it works for you, you’ll do the same. Hey everyone, this system works for me, check it out. They’ll try it and probably tweak it for their needs as well.
Great article!
Eric´s last blog ..Pop Posts
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 19th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Eric – Thanks for your comments, I have definitely had to experiment and thankfully I think it’s all worth it now
Twitter: lisanthemum
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January 18th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Although I’ve definitely created my own way of doing things, I still find myself NEEDING the direction of a blueprint. Sometimes I just get so overwhelmed, so I’ve created my own blueprint, which is basically a step by step list of all the things that have worked for me that I’ve learned along my journey.
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 19th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Lisa – I understand you on that one. It is SO much easier having steps to follow. I do the same, create my own little step by step lists to follow for different systems
Twitter: goldenkoi
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January 18th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Hi Ruth,
Found you via Dave Doolin’s website in a weekend.
My personal thoughts are that first you need to know the rules, then you decide which ones to break.
When I first started in IM I thought I had the smarts to develop my own system just by downloading all the freebie stuff (and some not so freebie). I soon realized that smart as I thought I was, I wasn’t smart enough to develop my own system. As a freebie junkie I was all over the map and nothing was falling into place.
Ponying up the cash for my first online course was the best thing I did – it got me thinking in a structured way. Starting my own blog was the next best thing as I was able to put to practice that which I learned. I found many holes and that was a whole new learning curve.
I subscribe to and often buy anything that I think might sharpen my blogging skills. Often the information isn’t anything new, but I like seeing it from a fresh perspective. I like to read and see how another blogger presented a certain way of marketing.
I also love visiting others blogs and am completely blown away by the quality that is out there – sometimes that intimidates me. I find that I am now able to learn as much from my “newbie” colleagues who are perhaps just a tad or two above me as I do from the super gurus … and yes, along the way I think I have tweaked my “system” outside the rigid lines of a blueprint … that tweaking I think will be an ongoing process.
Wishing you continued success …………….valentina
Valentina´s last blog ..Golden Nuggets for Your Blog Income
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 19th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Valentina – Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a valuable comment! So true about knowing the rules before you can break them! This is exactly how I feel about my internet marketing career. I like learning from all different levels too – especially because learning from those closer to my level helps me to understand better ways to work, and to process information, rather than just diving in too deep.
January 19th, 2010 at 6:37 am
Hi,
I agree with you and Eric. At the end, your market and what you do is different from what people producing blueprints or systems do. I think you can try different systems to build your own, taking the things that work for you and for your business.
Isaac Ben´s last blog ..How to use credit cards
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 19th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Isaac – Very good point there! And we all work slightly differently too.
January 19th, 2010 at 7:48 am
sometimes doing more and not following to blueprints results to more information and more flexible. I agree, sometimes doing your own way is the best.
jp manching @ beginners blogging guide´s last blog ..Long-term Keywords and Short-Term Keywords
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 19th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
JP manching – thanks for your comment, very true that flexibility is often needed. Especially since internet marketing is also ever-changing. Thanks for visiting here!
January 19th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I think this post should be mandatory reading for some of the folks on the Warrior Forum. I wish I would have followed similar advice when I first starting along my Internet marketing journey.
If you try to copy the same exact steps some guru has laid out at the same time a hundred or a thousand other people are, you’re bound to end up struggling to make any money at all.
Reflecting upon what Velentina said above, it reminds me of “financial IQ” that Robert Kyosaki (of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame) goes on about. In a similar manner, once you’ve read several Internet marketing blueprints, you begin to develop your own “IMIQ” somewhat, and it is easier to blaze your own trail once you get a sense of direction.
As a side note, I’ve really enjoyed your posts lately. I haven’t commented much; I’ve been lurking, but I think you’ve done a great job.
Twitter: webcareergirl
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January 20th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Jack – Glad to know you are here and enjoying my posts
And you are right about what you said, but if I’d given myself my own advice when I was just beginning I wouldn’t have taken it. It just takes a lot of time to get that confidence that you can follow a blueprint and also change it a little. Thanks again for the comment 
Twitter: frugalzeitgeist
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January 22nd, 2010 at 10:28 am
It’s taken me a few years to get to a stage where I am getting by online and can pay rent etc etc…. I really believe this year will see me earn a lot more and establish myself more comfortably…. However I have gotten to this stage mostly on my own terms and have tried methods here and there but am realising more and more that my own ways are working well albeit a bit slower than the so called ‘GURUS’ report.
Just takes hard work, focus and creativity….
Forest´s last blog ..Me My Debt and I
Twitter: TheHealthMonger
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January 29th, 2010 at 12:44 am
Each of us is unique in all the world. Further, we are on the planet expressly to speak to or interact with the world from that unique place of our unique gift or vantage point or vision or voice. No way the best system in the world will fit us all. Or should.
That said, we all have to start somewhere. Personally, I am shocked and appalled both by how much I don’t know, and how hard-headed and non-absorptive I can be about much of this material I need to learn. And I’m no Luddite, either. I have to learn the basics, and I’m supremely grateful there are some very good places and teachers like
TheNicheBlogger around to help. ‘Cuz I sure do need all the help I can get!!
A post like this is helpful to me, Ruth, reminding me there ARE things I know (despite how clumsy and ineffective I currently feel); that I DO have a unique bag of tricks or will develop one; that I will evolve beyond the basics — eventually; that others have done this (and elegantly!!) and I too will be able to as well. It’s a lovely, affirming post. Thanks very much.