Where is Your Learning Curve
Talk about silly title, but the question comes to mind when I’ve been lurking around forums for a while.
People join forums to get information, how, why, where, when… etc. etc. Most of the forums I hang out in are mostly related to online business and working from home. This question always seems to pop up. How do I make money on the Internet? Might be worded differently but all meant to get to the bottom of the so called secrets of success.
Was reading one a few days ago, this very question was asked. Several people that had been online for a few years tried to answer the question in short form without a lot of long drawn out answers. Actually all the answers were good sound advice. Exactly what each had done to get to the point they were.
Problem I see with a question like that, it’s just to general to be answered in a couple of short paragraphs. Secondly each person that responded had his/her recommendations, what had worked for them, i.e. how they started, what they had done to finally see results. Therein lies the issue. Not knowing what level a persons knowledge is, their likes, dislikes, how much knowledge they have about computers, etc. It’s very difficult to suggest anything intelligently not knowing their background.
After reading this particular thread, several pages long, believe it or not, totally understood what each was trying to advise. Two or three years ago reading that, I would have been more confused than before I asked. I’m assuming the person that asked the question was either brand new to Internet marketing or had not been involved very long from the replies they made.
Certainly nothing wrong with the question nor the answers. Most of the answers pointed to the fact that building a list was probably most important thing to start with. Sound advice for sure… BUT….
Yes, I had ask those same questions when I started and was given the same advice. Then I got really confused because I had absolutely no idea where to begin. Hey, had joined all these affiliate programs, was advertising them, how come I wasn’t making money?
Didn’t own a computer until 1999 and for two years it was just an expensive way to play solitaire. Finally figured out how to create an email account. Do my banking online and email a few friends some jokes occasionally and that’s about all I knew how to do.
In late 2004 got interested in working online, read a few articles, joined some affiliate programs, more like 50 different ones and thought hey, I’m on my way now. Everyone was telling me how easy and simple it was, the money would just flow in automatically. 
After a year or so of absolutely no results, but spending tons of money on information packets and tools that would guarantee results, realized, I was right where I started. Well, almost had learned a little more about the computer and how to create email accounts.
That’s when I decided that if this was going to be something I continued would have to learn how, where, etc. Started hanging out in forums and asked some of the same questions that this person in the forum had asked. Boy, did I get confused. Build your list. Buy this book. Start an email campaign. Build a website. Advertise in all these places, etc. etc.. Just copy and paste this into your page. Get an autoresponder.
What? Who? Where? What is that? Ok, how do you copy and paste? How do you build a Website? How do I write follow up messages? What do I write about? How do I get people to sign up for my newsletter after I figure out how to write one? After they are on my list, how does that make me money? Lol…more questions as each new thing was presented.
Guess the younger generation that are more computer savvy have a head start, plus if they have experience with building websites, coding scripts, working with the technical side, things can and will surely be more understandable and easier for them.
My whole point to these ramblings is that everyone has a learning curve. No amount of information will help unless you understand it. Even if you’re technically inclined, have all the advise in the world, there is still certain aspects of online marketing that take time to develop and understand fully. Each person is different, instructions are great but you still have to adapt all this information to fit you. Only you can do that!
Lol, kinda of like buying a new toy or something in a box that has to be put together. You put it together first, then go back and read the instructions to see if you did it right. Trial and error, best teacher on the planet.
What I’d like to close with is this. If someone ask your advise on anything, you should start with a question. What are you trying to accomplish and what do you already know? In other words, where are you in your learning curve right now?
Where am I on this curve? Have no idea, learn more every day. Still technically handicapped but have those A’HA moments more frequently now. Don’t think the learning ever stops, always more to absorb. A day without learning something new is pretty much a wasted day.
Would love to have your comments.
Ray White – Proud Owner
Soaring4Traffic.com
August 13th, 2007 at 4:35 am
Good morning, Ray.
You make some excellent observations and points about the whole process of learning how to market products and services online.
To compound it even more, each of us has a different learning curve.
For example, for you, mainly, it was learning to use the computer and all the technical things that involves.
For me, I take to the technical things like a duck to water. In fact, it may be so easy that it works to my detriment. I get involved in trying different blogging platforms, content management systems, RSS feed generation and syndication, and all the other computer-related parts of online marketing.
I’ve gotten to where I can set up two or three WordPress blogs in a day without breaking a sweat.
Then, I realized that there was no point in doing all that. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t help me progress to my goals. So, I had to back-track and take down quite a few websites and blogs I had set up.
Of course, I learned in the process, but it slowed me down by taking so many dead-end paths and having to back-track before I could progress, again.
On the other hand, having little experience in marketing, sometimes the most basic things stump me. I understand the technical aspects of setting up a list, but I don’t understand the ways to use it after I have one. It’s the marketing strategies and systems I need to grok to progress further.
You and I (and probably anyone else who reads this) are heading in the same direction, but our paths are very different. They criss-cross, intersect, diverge, and – hopefully – we’re making progress, but if someone else comes along we might offer different advice on how they should get started.
To tell the truth, sometimes I’m not even sure what has helped and what has hurt. I try a lot of things just to see what I can learn.
The basics are pretty much the same, but how we learn them, and in what order, may be very different. To complicate it even more, what works for you may not work for me and vice versa.
So, as you said, it’s a learning process and each of us has to go through it.
I suspect we arrive pretty close to each other after two or three years, but I’m not sure of it. One reason may be that we’ve tried so many things that don’t work for us that we’re left with a handful that do.
It can be a confusing journey, but I love it. Working at home and getting regular checks in the mail makes up for all the rest.
Act on your dream!
JD
August 16th, 2007 at 7:18 am
I like soaring4traffic
I only use four to 6traffic exchanges presently.
What in your opinion are the very best traffic
exchanges with the most members?
Keep up the good work.
Perry J
August 16th, 2007 at 7:35 am
John and Perry, thank you both for your comments, really appreciate.
Perry, as for the best traffic exchanges? I have my favorites like everyone else. There are a few companies that try to rate them based off certain criteria. Only problem with rating is that for me or you they might not perform as well.
Each person has different results and a lot of factors play into that.
Currently, I am doing some of my own testing and soon another tool I’ve been waiting for will be ready so that I can do even more in depth testing.
As soon as I feel comfortable with my results, I will have a special link up on the home page of the blog listing my favorite performers. Hopefully within a week my first two months of testing will be complete.
The list may change from time to time, but we intend to post what has done well for us, at least the top ten or so.
Ray
August 16th, 2007 at 8:28 am
I learned so much about this site just from 1 good read of your news letters. i am a newbey at all this and now i knew a bit more thanks for soaring for traffic i am glad i joined it. i hope my site home for the poor gets lots of views from here
August 16th, 2007 at 8:29 am
i like a whole bunch
August 16th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Ray,
This was most helpful. I agree with the value of the 10 second timer. It seems to work for better surfing, but allows enough time to digest rhe site.
I wasn’t really aware of the text messages and will certainly utilize them starting today.
To our success together.
Howard Pearl
August 16th, 2007 at 9:25 am
The blogs are to long to much to read for me I am Swedish so English is my second language
Alfie the Swede
August 16th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Ray I must say that your question is pointed and looking directly at me. I say this because I am new to the internet arena and I’m trying to learn all that I can. The majority of the things that were mentioned by you in the post sounds just like the things that I am facing.
By the way I have learned quite a lot following the trial and error bit. I am still not where I want to be but I’m futher along than I was. Every day is a learning experience so I apply whatever I have learned on the internet, with the hope that this will be the piece of the puzzle I need to start making money.
I am optimistic and committed to the goal at hand and using the phrase of a well sought after guru, “I will see you at the top.”