I get approached by people every day asking me what's the quickest way to launch an internet marketing business that will put them "in the black" in the shortest amount of time.
I tell them to sell something that lots of people want and are willing to pay for.
That answer seems almost sarcastic, but it's not. It's actually what I've had numerous people that I've coached do. These were individuals who came to me deeply in debt.
Let's expand upon the things that I teach them.
The first thing that is obvious to me is that desperate people often make BAD decisions. When we have our backs against the wall, and the world seems to be crumbling all around us, we simply see the world through a different set of glasses. It's during those times that you need someone who is calmer, and less stressed, to serve as a voice of reason.
The first question to be answered is often "how do I generate immediate cash, and stop the hemorrhaging." My answer is often to sell a product that pays instant commissions, and I recommend products that also pay a high percentage commission.
An example of such a product is the ebook, "20 Ways To Make $100 Per Day Online" (
http://20Ways.org). This ebook sells for $27 but has a customer-only affiliate program that pays 100% commission. So I have these cash-strapped clients buy a copy of the ebook so that their data is in the system as an authorized seller and because this is a very powerful ebook.
Next I have them spend a few hours actually reading the ebook. As they read the ebook, they usually get an idea of what they should personally be selling and they share with me their roadmap for recovery. Naturally that makes me smile because for $27 and a few hour reading, "I solved" their seemingly insurmountable problem :-)
After they've read 20 Ways, I have them write a review of the ebook, in their own words (nothing hypey). I have them post this review on their blog, and also send this review out to their email list or personal contacts.
They are usually SHOCKED when the sales come flooding in, but I have literally seen people make $3000 in sales in under a week using this simple system. "The secret" is that when you write a review in plain English, and it comes from the heart, your readers can sense this.
Authenticity and honesty sells like nothing else.
The objection that I sometimes get from clients is that they don't have a big list. I point out to them that they don't need a big list, they just need a list of the right people. Most marketers that I know with huge lists have horrible conversion rates (as a percentage of their total list). That's because on those huge lists, probably less than 10% are true followers.
So, if you build a smaller list, but it's comprised of people who actually read your email, blog posts, "tweets" or Facebook posts, you can out-market many "gurus."
One of the most successful "up-and-comers" that I know is Craig Beckta. Craig doesn't have a huge list, a busy website, or even a well-known name. So, Craig had to figure out how to be where people who are looking for what he is selling are at.
Craig does that using "Web 2.0 Sites" and "below-the-radar" marketing methods that most of the big list owners don't even notice. Craig quietly positions himself so that as the large list owners whip the market into a frenzy about a given product, he is right where those excited buyers are when they are ready to purchase.
Craig calls his system "The Secret Affiliate Code" and it's actually something that I both teach and use. In fact, Craig recently released a very inexpensive course called "Secret Affiliate Code 2" and included an audio interview of me and my stealth tactics in it.
As I read through Craig's course, he used numerous examples of what he had observed me doing to make various points. I was actually somewhat honored.
The key for someone with their back against the wall IS to initially find low-cost or free ways of getting the word out. One example that I'll mention is Twitter, at
http://Twitter.com.
Twitter is the fastest growing phenomenon that I've ever seen! If you're not there, you need to sign up today.
Craig mentions Twitter in Secret Affiliate Code, and even shows his method for accumulating "followers" at "the speed of light." His methods are completely ethical, don't spam, and quickly build a following of people who actually like and connect with you.
I mentioned Twitter in particular because that IS one of the places that I point clients who are in a desperate financial bind. In some ways, your Twitter following IS "a list." It's a group of people who tune in to your posts (your tweets) as long as you keep them interesting. If they find your posts boring or spammy then they simply click a link and "unfollow" you. In that respect it's no different than an ezine subscriber getting off your list.
The biggest difference between Twitter and building a regular opt-in email list is that I've seen relative unknowns build a following of over 1000 in a week and of over 3000 in a month. These are 3000 people who will read what you post, and check out products and services that you recommend, if you do it properly.
To learn the intricacies of tapping into Twitter and several other social media sites, I do recommend that you get and study Secret Affiliate Code 2. Get a copy at:
http://SecretAffiliateCode2Exposed.com
I've studied Craig's teaching at length, and do use them. At the same time, I really understand how to harness the power of social media. In-fact, I was recently listed Number 9 on the list of "The 50 Most Powerful and Influential Men in Social Media."
Craig's methods work :-)
You may ask, do I actually recommend that cash-strapped individuals get both of the products above. My answer is yes, and it's for a very important reason. It's very important that they have an investment in their own success. They get rid of excuses when they do.
It's something that parents understand intuitively, and why we often have our children invest in the purchase of their first car although we could just give it to them. If they spend their hard-earned money on a car, even if you help them with the payments, it has more meaning to them. It represents their sweat, and they'll drive it more carefully, and take much better care of it.
It also instills a bit of pride, and gets rid of that feeling of being a victim.
We're strange creatures who can experience MASSIVE mood changes in mere seconds. Knowing that we are not curled up in a corner whimpering, but proactively working to solve a problem, shifts our moods dramatically, and causes us to be willing to take massive action.
When you are over you head in debt, it does often take massive action to dig out from under. Without the proper attitude, most of us will not dare to take that massive action. We need to see just the tiniest bit of progress, and then the light at the end of the tunnel becomes so much clearer.
That's why I have them get, read, apply and start selling "20 Ways To Make $100 Per Day Online" first. That ebook shares 20 simple ways that very ordinary people earn a full-time living online. It illuminates the path. At the same time, as you implement one of those methods, writing a review and making dozens of quick sales causes that rapid, massive mood change that we often need.
When you sell copies of "20 Ways" the payments are made directly to your Paypal account. Seeing immediate cash flow will shift almost anyone's mood :-)
We'll continue this discussion in another article since this one is getting long. I hope that this article shows you that it is possible to pull out of debt, even in a recession. There are dozens of proven roadmaps already waiting for you. All you really need to do though is print this one out and get started.
It is possible to turn thing around VERY quickly. That just requires not over-analyzing things, and instead getting in motion!
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Willie Crawford is a 12-year veteran of Internet Marketing, founder of The Internet Marketing Inner Circle, and host of "Willie Crawford Teaches Real Internet Marketing," an internet-based radio show. Listen to live shows and download archived MP3's of past shows where guest share very detailed how-to information at:
http://BlogTalkRadio.com/WillieCrawford/ 
