Why I think People Fail Online and How To Avoid It Yourself….
Hi Guys
A great guest post for you today, by a really great guy…. Taa Daa!! Barry Wells.
Barry is really clued up on all things in Marketing, List building and much much more.
Recently Barry has won some competitions run by Sally Neil and Dawn Kay to name a few, so Barry really walks the talk and just loves to share his great expertise and knowledge.
A really great thing that Barry does is make really neat bite size instructional videos that are really simple to follow 
I am a big fan of his video’s.
So lets get to it…over to Barry.
Why I think People Fail Online and How To Avoid It Yourself
When it comes to working online there are many things you need to learn to make a success of your efforts.
Article marketing
Affiliate marketing
Email marketing
Video marketing
Marketing from your blog
Marketing, marketing, marketing…..
They all have things in common but today I want to focus on the main thing that they all have in common.
Do you know what it is?
It’s you, the marketer!
So many people try making a living online but sadly most fail and I’ve come to believe that most of those that throw the towel in have been making the same mistakes over and over again.
They know they need a blog so they get one online, make a few posts and add a few affiliate links thinking they’re going to see it make money……
They know the money’s in the list, so they sign up for an autoresponder service and start pumping out email after email, thinking they’re going to see it make money…..
They know that resale rights are an easy way to make money without the “hassle” of creating products themselves so they buy the latest ones and put them online thinking they’re going to see it make money……
Over and over they try different things thinking they’re going to see them all make money……
Yet they make no money at all and end up throwing the towel, jumping all over it, kicking it across the floor and stamping their feet as they walk away from Internet marketing altogether, never to be seen again.
And it is a shame to see people give up on their dreams and aspirations, it really is.
Have you sussed why most fail yet?
They failed on the basic fundamentals, the one cog that connects the marketing wheels and make then all come together……..
They failed to build a relationship with their readers, followers and subscribers.
It’s as simple as that!
So how do you build these all important relationships?
Well to start with you need to be posting good relevant content on your blogs and try to include a little bit of yourself in the posts. You don’t need to tell them your life story but you need to show a little bit of yourself.
You also need to make sure that you have the tools in place for people to spread the word of your posts.
Plugins like:
Tweetmeme
Twitter @Anywhere Plus
Add To Any
SexyBookMarks
These help your visitors spread the word to their followers, friends and readers. The beauty of these plugins is that they allow you to edit the settings so as to include your relevant ID and in doing so you can then monitor who is helping you spread the word.
You then get in touch and thank them for the bookmark tweet etc. It doesn’t take long to say “thanks for the RT “first name” it’s appreciated. I’ll return the gesture very soon”.
You also need to install some plugins that offer benefits to your commenter’s and encourage them to leave comments.
Plugins like:
CommentLuv
KeywordLuv
Do Follow
They’re all free and really do encourage people to comment on your posts as they know that they’re gaining back links to their blogs and future visitors can simply click the commentluv link and land on their blogs. It’s a win win for both you and your commenter’s.
Once people start leaving comments for you it is extremely important that you reply to them personally and continue the conversation. There’s another plugin that helps with your replying: WordPress Thread Comment. This plugin is a real beauty as it’ll send your commenter an email with your reply, again helping to continue the conversation. It will also place your reply directly below their comment and allow others to join the conversation by simply clicking the reply link.
Then you need to visit your commenter’s blogs and leave comments there. Not stupid comments like “love your blog I’ll be back” but real comments that add value to the post or ask questions about something within the posts. Whilst you’re there make sure that you also use the tools in place to bookmark Tweet and like the posts. The blog owner, if savvy, will have their system set up to monitor who is using the buttons and they’ll get in touch with you saying “thanks for the RT “first name” it’s appreciated”. To which you reply and start to get yourself recognized.
Whilst you’re on other blogs read the comments and when you see one that impresses you click their link, visit their blog and leave them decent comments. Most people will then come and visit your blog, where the cycle begins again.
These methods work and really do help build online relationships. In the last 2 weeks alone I’ve received personal invites to join Triber and Google’s new Plus 1 network where I can build new relationships and bring new visitors to my blog, where the cycle starts again.
When it comes to email marketing people are more inclined to open emails from online friends than they are someone who constantly sends them promo after promo.
I have an opt-in on my blog, as you should have to, but I only have 2 follow up messages in place. The first one is to thank them for subscribing and contains a link to my download page where the new subscriber can download some free goodies. The second follow up message is an affiliated product but not just any old product, it’s an online marketing course that I took myself and has an excellent trial offer in place. I took the course, saw results and know that others can also get huge results from it so I inform my subscribers of it and I’ll earn a commission If they sign up for the course.
That’s it, no more follow ups at all. Every email there after is from me personally and some will contain news, views, tips, tricks and of course the odd new product to generate affiliate commissions. But when I do promote an offer I first check out what the product is and have a good look at the product itself.
I mentioned that I had received 2 invites recently to join Triber and Google’s new Plus 1 network. On top of that I have also been given a brand new product, before it was released, and I was asked to have a good look at it and if possible write a review for the Warrior Forum. I also received an invite to join a brand new membership website dedicated to online training and was asked to have a good look around and point out any concerns I had about it, my membership was free whilst others will have to pay a monthly subscription.
All of these came from my building relationships with people online.
I’m not rolling in money but I am seeing success and it all started once I realised that I needed to build relationships with like minded people. Come over to my Twitter page and you’ll see how much I tweet other peoples content, you’ll also see my replies to people thanking them for tweeting my content.
I don’t spend all day on Twitter, at most I think I spend 30 minutes there daily. I use Buffer to schedule my tweets and then get on with my work load. It really is that simple and it all starts to happen when you build online relationships with like minded people.
Related Reading:
Hi Zahid:
I liked how you have written a wonderful post. I hope this post is changing your perception as you have so much relationship because of it.
I said this because of the title of the post. I wish you a speedy recovery. Looking forward to see another amazing post from you
Keep up the good work.
Fran A
Fran the Online Writer recently posted..Health Awareness Interconnects with Self Recoginition
Barry
Twitter: barry_wells
Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 9:43 am
@Fran the Online Writer, Hi Fran,
Zahid is off sick at the moment due to an operation on his leg and his foot being in plaster.
Thanks you for the compliments on my guest post. As we both know Fran; it all starts to happen when we build these all important relationships online.
Zahid should be back soon Fran.
Take care my friend,
Barry wells
Hi Barry/Zahid
As you would expect another post full of common sense advice from Barry.
Although I am not involved in the normal internet information marketing sector and my blog relects this, I am still involved in marketing certain micro niche information to the public, if that makes sense, and I still smile when I see all these new blogs expecting to make money with a few Google ads on them.
Despite what many well known ‘names’ claim, for the majority it’s a long haul to make money in internet marketing and only the persistent and dedicated will do so.
Bill
Bill Murney recently posted..Broken Britain?
Barry
Twitter: barry_wells
Reply:
August 25th, 2011 at 10:41 am
@Bill Murney,
Hi Bill, Barry here mate
Zahid is off sick at the moment as he’s just had an operation on his foot and now has it in plaster. Mixed with his back trouble he must be in a lot of pain.
It is common sense Bill, but unfortunatley so many people still don’t get it.
Only last week I visited a blog, that took part in the 100 comment challenge, to see that it is now automated and the content looked rubbish and totally un-readable, with no breaks in the text and the HTML coding displayed. Obviously it’s set up to add the fresh content in visual mode.
Another feather in a guru’s hat: mugging people off, into thinking the rubbish works.
You do make sense Bill, I knew you were moving towards eBay and micro niches. I hope that it’s going well for you mate.
I see from your Comment luv link that you’ve hit on a subject close to my heart so I’ll be heading your way very soon Bill.
I’ve got a bit of a video challenge going on over at my blog Bill and have some fantastic entries with great lessons on a variety of online subjects. Pop over Bill, there’s something for everyone there mate.
Catch up soon Bill
Respect and Regards,
Barry
Good post from Barry, Zahid. I agree that relationships are key in IM. You can’t exist in a vacuum or you won’t make it.
Barry
Twitter: barry_wells
Reply:
August 25th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
@Pete Bruckshaw,
Hi Pete,
You’re so right mate we can’t exist in a vacuum. It’s just shame that people try to do so.
Hopefully they’ll meet people like us Pete and see the light
Thanks mate,
Barry
Hey Barry and Zahid…
You are so on the money with the revelation as to why people fail online, about the failure of want to be internet marketers wanting the success and money without securing the loyalty it takes from their repeat customers and readers…
by tending to their needs first through VALUE!
Great post guys….Ed.
Barry
Twitter: barry_wells
Reply:
August 26th, 2011 at 9:21 am
@Ed@ setting up an eBay business,
Hi Ed, Hope you’re well mate.
You make a very valid point, when we do make sales we should always over deliver on the customers expectations and give them true value for money.
Which in turn will bring them back to you time and again.
Catch up soon Ed,
R&R Barry
PS Thanks again for adding a video to my challenge. Great video on using eBay Pulse, thanks Ed.
Hi Zahid and Barry,
Zahid I hope as time goes by you get better and better. Hang in there my friend.
Barry your words of wisdom are priceless. You can know all rules and work it hard. Alone it is not an easy thing to do. Buliding relationships is priceless. Helping each other and having others tell about you and you doing the same is priceless.
Keep on keeping on,
Terry Conti
Terry Conti recently posted..Life- Live It All You Can
Barry
Twitter: barry_wells
Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
@Terry Conti,
Hi Terry, I hope you’re well mate.
Thanks for the compliment Terry, we know about the relationships built online and how they help everyone. We’re a great example of that Terry.
You’re absolutely right my friend, the relationships and help offered through them are Priceless.
Take care mate,
Barry
Twitter: johnmcnally54
on August 31st, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Barry, I keep bumping into you everywhere, which proves your point about relationships. You’re busy building a relationship with Zahid and his blog followers. I would add one other point to your post, and that is something you do naturally…..Activity. Keep active building relationships and success will come.
John
Leamington Spa, England
John McNally recently posted..Contact with Aliens by 2031
Barry
Twitter: barry_wells
Reply:
August 31st, 2011 at 5:01 pm
@John McNally,
Hi John, I hope you’re feeling better now mate.
Yes it does prove a point John
Zahid asked me to do a guest post some time ago and seeing how he’s suffering with his health I thought I’d help him out and ease his stress levels a little.
You make an excellent point John, once we start building these relationships and keep at it then success will follow. Like everything long lasting mate, it all takes time.
Thanks John, take care mate.
Respect and Regards, Barry
Twitter: Dawn_Kay
on September 13th, 2011 at 10:53 am
Hi Barry and Zahid
You’ve hit the nail on the head right there Barry as it is only when I started building relationships and implementing everything you’ve said to do in this post that I started seeing results.
Just before that I was heading down the throwing the towel mode and I’m soooooo glad I didn’t.
It can be really hard when your first starting out so if everyone follows your advice right from the start then I’m sure it wont be long before they start seeing the results.
Thanks Barry and I hope Zahid makes a speedy recovery soon.
Take care
Dawn
p.s Thanks for the shout out Zahid, lovely of you
Dawn Kay recently posted..My First In Front Of Camera Video And An Exclusive Bonus From Sally
Barry
Twitter: barry_wells
Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@Dawn Kay,
Hey Dawn, fancy seeing you here
I can relate to you thinking of throwing the towel in Dawn. It can be a lonely, hard slog when we try doing things without building the relationships we need to move forward.
Once we have started building them its pretty amazing how we can move forward, not to mention the support other bloggers offer in times of need.
As we both know Dawn, I’ve needed some support these last few days and the best support I had came from other bloggers that I had built relationships with.
And i don’t mind admitting that with that support I was fighting a losing battle.
Thanks Dawn
Respect and Regards, Barry
Hi Zahid:
This comment on this post is to see how are you doing now? Hope your leg surgery is healing and you are normally walking. Therapy makes it better faster and I am hoping you went through it. Belated Eid greetings and Zahid you are a young man, keep your eye on the positive side to enjoy life feel happy. Think good and prosperous and healthy and it will come to you. Make sure to take good care of yourself.
Fran A
zahid Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 10:00 am
Hi Fran
Hope you are well
Thank you for the Eid greeting, hope you had a enjoyable day.
I am improving, the Op went well, just recovering slowly but its positive….makes you appreciate mobility more
!!
Once again thank you for your best wishes.
Take care
Regards
Zahid
Hi Zahid:
Thanks for appreciating my wishes, but Be ready for a speedy recovery. Young people have lots of positive energy to come over health problem, you do the same and get better fast for a normal life.
Show you got what it takes a strong will, fill yourself with pride strength and power to win everything, you will overcome your health problem faster. Pay attention to all the positives you can find for yourself.
Fran A
Hi Barry, I’ve read your guest-post in detail, and there is one thing I don’t understand. You said that the people fail to earn money online because they forget to build online relationships, but then you say that you have a huge network of followers and subscribers, yet you ended the post with “I am not rolling in money but I am seeing success. What kind of success do you mean? Are you still earning money, or is it just success in creating a network? I am thinking about joining the internet marketing world, but this has put me off a bit. I hope you have good news for me.
Barry
Twitter: barry_wells
Reply:
October 20th, 2011 at 10:40 am
@Leonard Evenson@Employee Monitor,
Hi Leonard,
You say you read the post in detail yet comment on things I didn’t say.
I didn’t say I had a huge network of followers or subscribers and I’ve no idea where you got this from. I did say that I’m seeing some success, which I am.
Being invited to give my opinion on new products means the people that invited me value my opinion (because we’ve built relationships).
I am earning some money online but I’m not rolling in it. I don’t rate success on money earnt, I rate it on things I’ve done being received well and getting talked about on other blogs. My name is getting mentioned in a positive way and people are linking to my site.
When I said about people failing to build relationships what i meant was; some people put a site up and think their work is done. It’s not, there’s plenty more to do and it all starts with building these relationships.
I certainly don’t want to put anyone off of starting online, but when you start you need the right approach. Follow the advice in the post and you’ll start to see the important relationships blossom
I hope that has helped clear some things up for you Leonard.
Barry