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The key to success is knowing how and where to start. Without the right starting point you will waste precious time and in the worst case spend a ton of money online rather than making any. Chances are, once you start looking into “make money online” opportunities you get overwhelmed by the endless ways and business opportunities that are offered.

I remember when I discovered Internet Marketing (IM) I was like a kid in a candy store:
There I had been online for more than a decade but somehow managed not to stumble upon the IM scene. I was amazed by the methods and promises. I signed up for every free offer and trial there was. Soon (very soon actually) came the point where I was downloading information and products faster than I could digest. Maybe it’s human nature maybe it’s just me with the pack rat gene. So, there I was filling up my hard drive with everything I could find and at the same time I was bombarded with all the newsletters I had subscribed too – most of which were urging me to get even more tools…

When you are at this point – also known as “information overload” – usually one of the following scenarios happens:

A) like paralyzed by all the choice you cannot decide which way to go – and end up not doing anything.

B) you keep yourself busy with downloading material and chasing the latest trends & offers. You feel you are working hard but are not  getting anywhere because you are not implementing anything – don’t take focused action. Unfortunately, I know this one very well! I was stuck in this phase longer than I care to admit…

C) you start with one method or program, don’t get the results promised, give up and jump to the next opportunity only to fail again. Eventually, you are so frustrated that you give up. I went through this phase too but never got to the point where I wanted to give up. If you go this route you probably invest a lot of time and money – which in return might lead you to believe that everything is a big scam. Part of the problem here are the hyped promises but often also the misconception that making money using the internet doesn’t require any work.

So, if any of these scenarios sound familiar don’t worry – you are normal

The solution to all this mess is easy – at least in theory:

1. Read a few select books or eBooks that give a good overview about the different ways of making money online.

2. Pick a method that you feel the most comfortable with. It doesn’t matter if it is using Adsense, eBay, Affiliate Marketing, creating your own product  – just pick one and implement. Once you are making money with that  method either duplicate it or if this sounds too boring, pick another method.

An excellent starting point is Holly Mann’s “Honest Riches” (245 pages). In fact, this was my first (and best) eBook purchase ever. Writing a detailed review is on my to do list.

Another common problem I observe – and experienced myself -  is that people get sucked into the internet marketing niche. This to the extend that they forget to take the methods used in the IM field and apply them to completely different niches. The IM scene is fascinating and attracts a large crowd but its safe to say that the competition is also much stronger than in most other niches.

I consider myself extremely lucky: the marketers and people I found during my first steps into the IM world turned out to be honest and for the most part gave great advice. Did I get cheated or scammed during the 3 years I am pursuing Internet Marketing seriously? Oh yes, and I am still mad – at the (former) big name marketer and also myself for falling for it.
But this is for one of the next posts…