Someone needed to say, don’t you agree?
Ever wonder why you see all those “successful people” or “gurus” online who claim wealth and fortune and yet struggle to earn a lesser income… it’s all a myth folks? Snake oil myth. They say those things to get you to buy into their “funnel” or “system” or “program” and that’s how they make their fortunes.
Wow, I can see the hair on the back of their necks standing up! Don’t yell at the messenger: it’s the truth, whether you want to accept it or not.
I’ve been involved with online marketing since the year 2000. However, I’ve been on the Internet since its inception in the mid 90’s. I’ve seen it all: bulletin boards, forums, Yahoo groups, Ning.com, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Flickr (well, you get the point). I’ve had some success, and I’m very glad I had those experiences. behind me.
In the last few months I have had my AH-HA moment in Online Marketing and I would like to share it with you.
First: why are we attracted to or want an internet marketing or online business?
1. IT SEEMS to be easier, faster, and more efficient. Human nature wants the EASY way of doing things. We are ALL like this: we want the EASY way of doing things, it’s human nature.
2. We are drawn to what is BOLD and COLORFUL. Let’s face it, it’s boring to read a book. But it’s FUN to read a magazine! It’s FUN to watch TV with colorful pictures. So working online is FUN and appeals to our senses.
3. The way it makes us feel. We like to FEEL busy and if we are “busy” online, we make ourselves believe that we are being productive. Come on, you know it’s true! j
Over the past few months, I have sat down and evaluated my online marketing time, efforts, and OUTPUT compared to eye-to-eye, belly-to-belly, or even cold calling. It was amazing to see the number of hours I would spend EVERY day online “just to keep up” or connected.
I am embarrassed to say that the reason I started self-employment, to have more FREE TIME, was now taking all the time away from my family and myself. It stops right now.
And let’s talk about the results? Minimal, at its best. Let’s be honest here. Conversions would take MUCH longer, if they happened at all! More and more statistics show that sales/deal signup conversions are dropping significantly if done online. No more than 5% and sometimes as little as 1%. Not to mention the amount of money one can spend online (Google Ads, etc.). I know someone who spent over $50,000 on Google Ads in a year just to stay in the top ranking. This person was the number 2 producer in his network marketing company; however, he had to file for bankruptcy a year later due to the debt he created for online marketing. He sponsored over 65 people and only ONE person on his team actually did a deal and met that person face to face. Ironic, right?
MYTH:
There is no SYSTEM or PROGRAM or FUNNEL to connect with people. People are social “animals”: there’s a reason God gave us mouths and ears! Use them, use them! There is no funnel, no “magic pixie dust” that will suddenly make your business successful. Stop looking for the elusive Golden Ring – it’s not happening online.
You will increase your business with human interaction alone and that does not mean websites and emails. Sure you can sell or sign up a few people here and there, but let’s be honest. Has it been THAT effective?
I doubt. And if you are getting results, at what cost? Working 15 hours a day? How much money do you spend?
Are you and your loved ones worth more than that kind of “job”?
Would you allow an employer to make you work 15 hours a day and not get paid or “wait to get paid”? Why is it allowed to spend so many hours to have little or no production for months?
With all the strong business competition out there, do you want to be different? – be a person, not a website. Pick up the phone! Meet people at functions! Talk to a lot of people! Out of Social Networks! It used to belong to more than 40 networks.
What empowerment! I will always have my website, but I will no longer be a slave to my online presence. It’s done, after 9 years I’m taking my business back to the basics of meeting people and enjoying every moment of it.
My immediate benefits:
I have more time!
My business is better, because I am not exhausted!
I feel better – my eyes don’t hurt as much, my back doesn’t hurt
I’m not that tired!
I am interacting with more people than ever!
I found some great training and coaching to help me get back into interacting with people! I never would have had the time or energy to go through this training/training if I was online all the time.
I have more money! I stopped buying advertising online! Woo – hoo, saving money is always a good thing.
Stop hiding behind the illusion of a website and online presence. You create “attraction marketing” by being human and accessible to those around you. You distinguish yourself by being a PERSON. The general public craves human interaction.
Be different being YOU. You WILL NOT FAIL to be YOU. Trust me, that will draw people to YOU and your business by reaching out to others in a humane way – that’s how nature works! An online presence is just to support your real business – building relationships and meeting people. An online presence should never be the foundation of your business – it doesn’t work, it won’t work and don’t lie to yourself or others that it will work “eventually” or “in the future”.
Treat yourself and your time with more respect… you deserve better.
Those who have built successful online businesses (I won’t mention any names!) are RARE. It does not and will not happen to everyone. It just doesn’t happen. It’s not duplicable and if everyone else is doing it, then why aren’t you making the same amount of money? Why aren’t we all at the top of Google searches?
Join me, let’s get back to basics. Let’s connect with people on a human level. It works! You will be happy and your bank account too.
Friends, I gain NOTHING by telling this information. I don’t have a CD or Seminar or Book to sell. I have nothing to offer you but my experiences and in the hope that it will help others not to make the same mistakes that I and thousands, if not MILLIONS, of other people have made.
I want to see YOU succeed in your chosen business, plain and simple. The more successful people we have in this world, the faster our economy will spin.
(c) 2009 Charlene Ragsdale