Your Problems Solved in 2010
The past week or so at DavidWalker.tv has been very revealing in terms of what my readers need help with to take their own online businesses forward.
I asked what areas you were struggling with and a lot of answers were left in the comments section.
I want to thank everyone who took some time out to let me know what they needed help with because that will shape the content you will see on this blog for the foreseeable future.
All the responses have been collated and here is a full run down of the problems you are experiencing and I will do my best to resolve them over the coming weeks and months with brand new and cutting edge content!
Where possible, I have linked to previous posts on my blog which may help you out in the meantime!
1. Getting a Blog Going
There were several different problems which I have categorised under a more general “getting going” umbrella. A number of people want to get a blog up and running but don’t know where to start and are put off by some of the technical requirements.
Others want to know how to go about choosing themes and layout for their blogs while some want to go a step further and add both squeeze and sales pages to their blogs.
Monitoring blog statistics and visitors was also mentioned.
- Make Your Blog Count in 2010
- Five Steps to a Successful Blog
- Five Blogging Delusions Which Will Doom You to Failure
- Five Ways to Blog My Way to Success
2. Lack of Focus
Focus is a problem almost everyone who runs an online business encounters. I would say a lack of focus, time wasting and procrastination are my biggest downfalls and why I have not made the progress I would have liked since starting this blog last June. People are also having problems developing a regular blogging schedule and it is a shame to see blogs which started so strongly becoming stagnant through a lack of new content.
- Six Ways to Get More Done in Less Time
- 10 Secrets of a Successful Online Business
- Why You Never Get Anything Done
3. Traffic
I don’t think this problem will ever go away because people starting an online business will always want to know how to get traffic which is a) ideally free and b) plentiful.
There are lots of ways to get traffic but where I am going to focus from now on is obtaining traffic which will also build your authority and credibility within the marketplace, so those visitors want to opt in to your mailing list!
- How I Will Increase Traffic to My Blog
- You Sphinn Me Right Round, Baby!
- Outsourcing Articles for Huge Traffic
4. Traffic Not Converting
An almost equal problem to not having traffic was being able to drive traffic but those visitors were not translating into opt in subscribers or customers. Attracting blog readers who interact and leave comments could also fall into this category.
People only buy from other people they like, know and trust, so it’s possible you are not conveying that on your blogs or sales material. I have written about authority and credibility extensively on this blog and the links to my best material are below:
- 10 Steps to Creating an Authority Blog
- Find Your Passion and Success Will Follow
- How to Become Famous Online
- How to Enter a Niche as an Expert
- Gaining Online (In)Credibility From the Start
- Positioning Yourself as an Expert
5. What to Blog About
A blog is always started with great intentions but after the blogger has gone through the “bat out of hell” stage it can sometimes be hard to come up with new content.
Fortunately, I resolved this problem in the blog post below which shows you a way to come up with an unlimited supply of fresh blog post material. In fact, you will come up with more ideas than you can realistically use!
I am going to use this exact same technique to brainstorm new content ideas to solve all of the problems discussed in this post!
6. Choosing a Mentor
It’s encouraging to see people realise the value in having a mentor. For too long I tried to do everything by myself but everything changed for the better when I asked for help. I have written a little about my own mentors and other people within this industry whom I look up to.
- The Dust Has Settled, Fire Up Your Engines!
- How Rich Schefren Saved My Business
- I Do Not Know as Much as I Used to Think
7. The Rest…
The following topics have not been addressed properly on this blog so it will be new territory for me to explore as well!
You also need help with:
- List Building. Like getting traffic, adding new prospects to your list is always a constant battle online business owners face. Make sure you register for my free list building webinar taking place on Wednesday 17 March!
- Monetizing your blog. I am surprised I haven’t covered this yet. You will notice I don’t have advertising banners on my blog but it does make me money!
- Evaluating which products to buy. There are so many new products being released this year, from high ticket items in the hundreds, or even thousands of dollars right down to those being flogged for a few bucks on the Warrior Forum. I can see why people have difficulty separating the wheat from the chaff.
- An alternative route to success without “getting in with the gurus”. This was a great ‘problem’ and one I would love to explore further. Is it possible to ‘make it’ online without ’selling your soul’ in the process?
That’s a lot of potential content to get my teeth into over the next few months and I hope you will find it useful!
Let me know if any of the posts linked here have helped, if you need further clarification on any of the topics or even if you have a problem with your online business which hasn’t been addressed in this list via the comments section below.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Adrienne Lee (1)
Lesley "Wes" Wils... (1)
Mark Geisler (1)
Mike Bell (1)
Russ Davis (1)
© 2010
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26 comments… read them below or add one
Dear David Walker; You like many others have missed the boat and you are all left behind in all of your efforts, because if you skip and ignore the most important basics of teaching someone how to get started properly and I mean properly without missing out on the most cruecial parts of getting started on the basics alone; you are wasting the students time and money as well as your own.
I do not know how to sell an Article of my own, let alone someone elses, I do not know if my Click Banks account is properly set up, I do not know if my Pay Pal account is set up properly, I do not know if I need any more other ones like Alert Pay or some others I have never heard of or know of etc. and much, much, more. You can call me at 1-780-603-2242 if you truely wish to know and I would be happy tell you what has been holding me back for the past year or so. I just got rid if two of my biggest headaches and that is ViralURLS and SafeListXtreme.com who have hurt me very badly and I know now and have stopped them in their own dirty tracks from overloading my email boxes and setting me backwards instead of ahead and people like them are the biggest reasons why so many fail in this business and I can show you why.
Let the power of the Internet be here for us little guys and knock these so called gurus down to size from hurting so many like me. Do not get me wrong; it is also for the big guy if it is used properly, but abuse; prepare to suffer what the Internet can do for you or what it can do to break you down to size. The Internet can make you and it can break you and YOU have a CHOICE which way it will go.
I will step on those that abuse the purpose of the Internet to the best of my abilities; because I know the POWER OF THE INTERNET. The Internet is a fair and just identity because it does not know or care who you are, how powerful you are or even abumm off the street, the Internet treats us all equal and we all have the very same chance and equal opportunity to achieve whatever goal, adventure or endevout we all wish to go on.
Think Great, Be Great Do Great. What Is Your Goal and Purpose?
What Is It That You Wish To Achieve? Get Happy And Meet My Challenge To YOU!
Hi John,
Thanks for leaving me a comment. I can tell you are frustrated but you will achieve little in attacking me on my own blog. How exactly have I “missed the boat” when I have made a living exclusively online for four years and have over 1,200 comments on this blog – the vast majority in praise of what I am sharing (for free, too, I may add).
In some ways you sound a lot like I used to be, chasing one thing to the next and pinning your hopes on some faddy, band-aid solution like Safelists which promise the earth without having to put in any work.
You need to go right back to the beginning and decide what you want to achieve online. Work out a real plan of attack to create a proper business rather than just a way to ‘make money online’ and you will succeed.
Read my blog from the beginning to see how I shaped my own online business and I believe my forthcoming Blog Not Slog Breakthrough report will also help you immensely.
But, for the time being, take a deep breath and sit quietly in a darkened room for a few hours and have a good think about exactly what it is you want to “do” online.
David
I am very sorry you got the wrong impression of what I wrote to you, but I was talking about the big guys and gurus who have already made it and had all their basics done, otherwise they would not be where they are to-day and some people like me need the help in those areas that is necessary and needs to be done; as I said to you in the second paragraph which is where I am to day.
I was talking about the basics which they are all missing and what people like ViralURL and SafeListXtreme has done to their very own AFFILIates of overloading their Fellow Affiliates with way too much emails, setting them back and not ahead. Heck, I never had any time to read any one of those emails, because I was way too busy sorting, filing, deleting etc to be able to read them and my time was being stolen from me to be able to do the things I was supposed to be doing etc.
When I talk about the basics, I mean the basics befor you can go to the next step or level. When you say I am unfocused! I say; you got that right because of what I just told you and what all that excessive amount of email was doing to me.
I know the steps, but I am not getting the steps I need done, Due to the lack of Instructions and I will need the ability to be able to proceed to the next step or level as some would referr it.
You are still one or two steps ahead of me and I am not able to and cannot go to the next steps that you are talking about untill the steps I am on are completed.
I told you in the second paragraph, because if you do not know how and when you are going to get paid and especially when you haven’t completed the required steps that need to be done before going to the steps you mentioned; you will shurely fall and have to start all over again as you have said in your reply to me.
Tell me and show me how to complete those steps I ask for and I will keep my yap shut, but untill I get the answers I so desperately need answered and done I will continue on with this very big problem for me which you do not seem to absorb what I am talking about,because you know what has to be done in each and every step, where as I do not.
Sometime weather you like it or not; you have to speak up in order to be heared and some times they cannot hear you for some reason or another. It is not a nice thing to do, but sometimes you have to do things that you do not like doing yourself in order to get the results you are looking for.
If you do not speak up for yourself, no one else will do it for you. This is a hard part of reality when you have to do that. You ever hear the expression! Speak Now! and forever Hold Your’ Peace. ( which has a meaning for a peace of Mind).
Mr.David Walker, Mr.John Adams
First of all I would like to commend you Mr. David on a wonderful blog. I do believe that you provide much needed information to them that are without. I do not always agree with your approach but I do feel that your information is solid and useful.
Now in commenting on the civil discourse between you two gents, I feel that it is a true testament to the power of the Internet and I commend the both of you for conversing like the gentleman that you both are. We here, in this vast cyber kingdom need fresh feed back on the things we do and try and the fact that both of you were able to express your selves in a dignified manner shows that the fast fading art of communication is not lost…Thank you both …Terry
Hey David.
Great post, you hit the nail on the head really.
With regards John’s comment – he is focusing on pieces of the jigsaw, things that eat up your time and make you less productive. I would say the he has lack of focus and hasn’t yet got a mentor. If he had those – he wouldn’t be using safelists and worried about his other points.
Take note of this post John and read it again – you will see what I mean when you do!
Thanks
David
Hi David,
Thanks for the comment. I agree entirely, John doesn’t have a plan or any real direction. He’s probably ready that X, Y and Z can help him achieve “fast money”, a “massive list” and goodness knows what else, but those products alone do not create a sustainable business.
David
Thanks David for the post. Great info here. Too much to get through in one read. I am still learning the basics and applying. I am bookmarking your blog and tweeting for you. I believe if we all help one another along great things can happen. I really do believe that a passion is signifacant to success and staying focused. Just finishing a task a day can have a huge impact.
Have a wonderful day,
Scott Kelley
Scott Kelley´s last blog ..Are You Happy With The Direction of Your Future?
Hi Scott,
Thanks for leaving me a comment and also for tweeting/bookmarking.
I firmly believe you need to be passionate about what you are doing online if you are to succeed. I have attempted to succeed in areas online I had zero interest in and failed spectacularly.
A coincidence? I think not.
David
Hi David – Excellent post. I agree with Scott, lot’s of reading, but all great information. I read through some of your previous posts. Right now I’m working on improving my blog and driving traffic to it. I’m just starting article marketing. I totally prefer to outsource them because writing an article takes forever for me. I’m waiting for my first set to get done so I’m excited to see how it goes. I’ve heard of Sphinn, but haven’t really tried it yet, only the other social sites. Sounds like you had some good results from it.
Take Care – Heidi
Heidi Passey´s last blog ..7 Simple Website Traffic Promotion Methods
Hi Heidi,
Great to hear from you – it’s been a while!
I have put my article marketing efforts on hold for the time being but when my income is at a higher level I will return to outsourcing it.
I wouldn’t recommend to anyone to tackle article marketing themselves because after writing your own blog content and any guest posts, you are likely to be burned out by then and are unlikely to be able to produce articles of sufficient quality.
David
How can I utilize a Blog to promote and Securely Sell an eBook without having it high jacked and provided by someone else free or sold losing my advantage? I currently have it on PDF.
I have tormented over this problem and saw your BLOG today, asking “How Can I Help” and thought I’d like to pose my question to David, he’d be able to help?
Kind Regards, Tom Green
Hi Thomas,
You are never going to remove that problem completely. After somebody has purchased your PDF and downloaded it to their PC you cannot control what they do with it afterwards.
There are third party software prducts which can secure your download pages to a certain degree, such as DLGuard if you sell using Clickbank.
I hope this helps.
David
I am reading your report to try to do something with my blog, IT SUCKS I have really tried to avoid it, but know I can’t anymore, I must make the effort…..I must make the effort…….I must make the effort……I must make the effort…….x100
Gillian
Good post David and lots of resources in your links.
One thing that I think frustrates many beginning bloggers, is not focusing on a niche of their own. If everyone is fishing in the same pond, it stands to reason that those with the most skill, the best bait and the experience to know where the fish are, will get the best catches.
Most new Internet marketers and bloggers go for the Internet Marketing Information/how to start a blog/ how to sell ebooks/ market. Sure it’s where the big money is, but also the most competition.
Finding the right niche for your own values, skills and passions will overcome many of the problems mentioned by your readers.
So try finding a smaller pond to fish in by identifying your own niche. There are marketers making great incomes by blogging about: coffee, health and fitness, horse equiment, sports equipment – thats just for starters.
Peter Wright´s last blog ..Blogging Inspiration and Noise
Hi Peter,
This is a great comment! I am a keen advocater of creating an online business based around a niche you are knowledgable and passionate about. If you don’t know how to “make money online” then you can’t teach others how to!
Contrary to popular belief, internet marketing is a very small niche. There are far more lucrative markets outside of this niche, such as weight loss, self improvement, dating, gambling etc.
David
Fantastic info. I have bookmarked and will be reading each section as I need it. Thank you.
My problem is I have a great opportunity. I am on the 2nd level of a brand new Health & Wellness company, launching in coming weeks. How do I get people to optin on my Notification list?
Great Organic Products for men and whole family. No Selling – website does that. All I have to do is get people to sign up for a no charge membership. EASIER said than done.
Any suggestions and direction? Thanks in advance. Dan
Hi Dan,
List building is one topic I could write numerous blog posts on and I can’t really tell you “how to do it” within the confines of a blog comment.
If you are getting the traffic to your site, you need to make sure your opt in form is as visible as possible and make it a “no brainer” for people to opt in. Do this by giving away a free report, free membership etc. and surpass the “what’s in it for me” expectations your visitors have.
David
Nice post David – Your headings knock the nail on the head really. I have no idea was John was going on about (1st comment) – as David Chamberlain says it seems that he is getting caught up in the wrong parts of the puzzle and needs a mentor to put him straight.
The thing that I find that trips me up more than anything else is setting too ambituous a plan – I have just re written my Mind Map (that previously had me doing all sorts of things but never seeing anything through). Sound familiar?
So my approach from now on (based on the fact I know what I need to do) is to keep a simple plan with a small number of topics and build each thing then improve it incrementally.
After all the thing that Alex pointed out last year was to stick to tasks that move you forward – ditch or outsource the rest
Peter Davies´s last blog ..Ad Swapping and Honesty
Hi Peter,
Nice to hear from you! You make a great point about only performing tasks which move you forward. I used to waste a lot of time on tasks such as link building which while, important, do not make me any money.
I’d like to get to a stage where the only thing I need to do is create content and everything else is completely outsourced.
Only a matter of time…
David
Great post David!
I like the way you broke the post down into sub categories and then linked out to provious posts you have written. This is a great way to re-use past popular posts, especially new followers of you blog like myself.
I really like what you are doing on your blog.
- Rick
Rick Byrd´s last blog ..5 Blogging Mistakes to Avoid
Hi Rick,
Thanks for the kind words.
I believe you should link back to some of your older content because new visitors are unlikely to trawl through your archives so you need to put it in front of them!
Plus, doing so makes for creating an easy blog post!
David
Hey Dave.
Great post and a great idea in linking to your older posts with the topics headings.
I really don’t know where John is coming from in his post either.
To start with his style of expressing himself is too jumbled and is difficult to understand but it’s obvious he’s not a “happi chappi” and I think most people know that the opposite to “backwards” is “forwards” not “ahead.” I’m surprised he didn’t say “aheadwards.” lol.
John should indeed get himself under a mentor such as Alex Jeffreys to gain focus. Alex’s writing skills aren’t the best either but he has an excuse and I’ve never come across a better advocate or example of persistent focus and determination.
Sean K´s last blog ..About the Nostalgia Page.
Hi Sean,
Thanks for leaving me a comment. I don’t want to be too harsh on John because he is obviously feeling a lot of frustration.
A mentor, focus and a plan of attack in a niche you are passionate about is the key to success.
I am glad you are getting good results from Alex’s coaching program. He teaches the basics very well and it is from these foundations you can really grow a successful online business.
David
Hey David! I’m thinking about to attack a niche I’ve myself have been engaged in 27 years now. It is water and waste water. Perhaps those houses outside the rural areas. Alas instalations more or less made by the inhabitants them self. I’ve tried it on google and found out it could be quite a lot of hits on that. But do you think it is to peripheral?
Sven
Hi David
I’ve just finished your email course and this iss the first time I got to look at your blog. I’m just finishing mine off and should launch on Monday.
I read with with interest Mr Adam’s comments. It seems he’s a victim of the buzz word at the moment ‘viral’. I find it difficult to get my hwead round that because it conjures up pictures of doctors and hospitals. I have been looking into subliminal keywords. Also I think he’s a victim of membership clubs that demand a monthly premium and then turn out rehashed PLR products that you are supposed to make money from. Been there, done that. I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone who wants to start their own online business, regardless of niche, should have a blog first. Wether you like writing or not you need to hone those skills for your sales pages and email follow ups when your list grows. Also it’s good practice for organising your time and resources. And more for branding yourself
Thanks for you time putting this information together, I will come back and read the entries in the 7 steps you have listed.
Hi David,
This is my first time on your blog and I must tell you that I am impressed by the value and knowledge you are sharing. I have 2 blogs but they are pittyful to say the least. I have learned that one cannot make a business from a free hosted blog. I have an idea for an ebook and I am slowly brainstorming to come up with the various chapters. I have bookmarked your blog and will spread the word about you. I have seen many “gurus” who say they want to help struggling newbies like myself but you have to pay them an “arm and a leg” for a useful “how to” manual. I will be purchasing my 1st domain name shortly and hosting account. I am also learning how to build a list.
I do get frustrated sometimes but I have learned that I can control my response to situations and come away a better person. Because in everything we do, there is a lesson to be learned. One is never a failure until one chooses to accept failure and remain in that position.
I am not a failure, because I intend to learn and improve my skills, so I can intern help others the way you are helping me and thousands of eager individuals with your rich and enlightened content.
I wish you continued success in all your endeavours.
Sincerely,
Dean Wong.