This is a recommendation to a  report by the well-known marketer, John Thornhill.

The report is hard-hitting and straight to the point, so much so that a few people may be upset at reading  some home truths!

I think it is an excellent article and more to the point a wake-up call for many of us.

However, if the title of the post is a problem for you here is an excerpt from the first page, with my underlining:

“Wow! Did John just say that, is it true? Holy crap John, aren’t you supposed to tell me how to succeed online and become a success? Yet here you are telling me I?m doomed to fail, what?s that all about?
First of all it?s not all doom and gloom, but you have to understand that most people who try to make money online will fail, and not only that will probably have spent thousands of dollars on various programs in their quest for success.
In this report I am going to tell you what I believe are the main reasons people fail online and I?m going to give it to you straight, you may not like some of what you read but that?s the whole point.

I want you to get angry as you read. Hopefully this will help you avoid these pitfalls that most people face and hopefully you will learn what it takes to succeed online. So without further delay let’s get on with it”

John has been around for a few years now and like many other internet marketers has come from a modest background but more to the point has succeeded through HARD WORK!

Apart from successful internet marketing, John Thornhill mentors clients, and does it in such a way as to turn newbies into internet marketers complete with their own product online.

Many of his students do go on on to be successful marketers themselves, as by the time they have finished with his mentoring, they have the knowledge and confidence to create their own blogs, their own products, take on affiliates – and so on, and basically function as  internet marketers.

Without further comment here is a link to his free PDF – Why You Will Never Succeed Online!

Technorati Tags: Internet Marketing, make money online, mentors, succeed online

Matt Wolfe, a very helpful internet marketer has created a comprehensive set of video tutorials.

It is a series of video tutorials that teach you how to set up a Wordpress Blog, how to get traffic to the blog, and how to make money with the blog!

The videos are so easy to follow as Matt explains in a “look over his shoulder” way.

I have been using them since I started creating my blog.

Since then Matt has added more and more videos, and I have to say I go back to them frequently when I am doing something new with my blog or working on getting more traffic.

The Wordpress Classroom

I heard that only a limited number of spots are going to be given out in the classroom.

Matt Wolfe, the teacher, tries to help the students on a one-on-one basis whenever they need help which is very powerful, so I think he is limiting it to 200 spots or something like that.

I can thoroughly recommend this as someone who uses this Wordpress Classroom.

The following is a list of available videos:

The Setup – Start Here

1. Why Use Wordpress?
2. Purchasing a Domain
3. Purchasing Hosting
4. Linking Domain to Host
5. Installing Wordpress (With Fantastico)
5. Installing Wordpress (Manually)Optional
6. Installing a Free Theme
7. Wordpress Dashboard Tour

Getting it All Dialed in

8.Adding Your E-mail to your Domain
9. Editing Permalinks for SEO
10. Installing Akismet Anti-Spam
11. Installing Google Analytics (Wordpress Plugin)
11. Installing Google Analytics (Manually)Optional
12. Installing All-in-One SEO
13. Creating a Google Sitemap
14. Threaded Comments
15. Setting Up Automatic Backups

Adding Some Cool Features

16. How to Add RSS with Feedburner
17. Create About Me Page
18. Adding Comments to the About Page
19. Add a Contact Form to your Blog
20. Add an Avatar Next to Blog Comments
21. How to Cut Off a Post and Give a “Read More” Link
22. Add an Opt-in Box to your Sidebar
23. Linking to External Pages in your Menu
24. Using the Top Commentators Widget
25. Installing the Twitter Widget
26. Installing the Skype Widget

Blog Content

27. How to Find Pictures for your Blog
28. Adding a Picture to your Post
29. Adding Video to your Posts
30. Installing a Custom Theme
31. Creating Your Own Themes With Artisteer

Let’s Get Some Traffic

32. General Traffic Generation Overview
33. Using our Traffic Tool
34. Using Twitter to Generate Traffic (Guest Video)
35. Sending Wordpress Posts to Twitter
36. Commenting on Other Blogs
37. Commenting in Forums
38. Using Comment Kahuna
39. Angela’s Backlinks
40. Pinging Your Blog

Time to Make Some Money

41. Make Money Promoting The Wordpress Classroom
42. Installing Google Adsense
43. Promote Products From Amazon
44. Promote Your Hosting Company
45. Using Clickbank
46. Using Commission Juntion
47. Hiding Affiliate Links

Advanced Techniques

48. Outsourcing Blog Content
49. Scheduling Your Posts
50. Tweaking Text and Link Colors
51. Creating a Video Tutorial
52. Selling Your Blog For Profit

Quite comprehensive as you can see and just about covers all you need to know about setting up and running a Wordpress blog. I only recommend things that I have used and like and this one I recommend!

You can check it out here:

The Wordpress Classroom

Technorati Tags: google analytics, install wordpress, Internet Marketer, Internet Marketing, Matt Wolfe, SEO, Videos, Wordpress Blog, Wordpress Classroom, wordpress themes

I am sure that most marketers are aware that it makes sense to backup your computer.

Anyone who has stared at the BSOD, otherwise known as the Blue Screen Of Death, will know all about that sinking feeling that you get when you realize you may well have lost everything on your computer.

If it is not lost then it could be if you have to reload your operating system.

I have had that sinking feeling twice on two different computers so you may well understand that I like to backup. Lesson hard learned!

Problems can occur for any number of reasons from system failures to hacking so it makes sense to backup your blog as well where you may have lots of content which has taken you a lot of hard work, a lot of time, some frustration and so on.

I have been researching the options available so I can start taking backups regularly and get some peace of mind.

There seems to be three main options and these are:

• the built-in Export feature on Wordpress
• Wordpress backup plugin
• manual database backup

Option 1 is quick and easy and shouldn’t present any problems however there are limitations:

• will only backup users, posts, comments and categories
• will not backup links
• is limited to 64MB upload limit

You can do this by going to your blog admin, then go to “Tools” and click on “Export”. You will then be taken to an “Export” page.

There all you have to do is click on “Download Export File”. You will then be taken to your normal pop-up where you can open or save file.

Save file to  your Desktop or any other place that is convenient to you.

Option 2 is a downloadable plugin which will backup your entire site not just the database, can schedule backups and can also email the backup to you.

Limitations are:

• you can only restore manually using something similiar to PHPMyAdmin as there is no restore function in Wordpress
• a greater learning curve

NB. at the time of writing this there are some compatibility issues with the latest Wordpress update (2.8.1) which I am sure will be fixed soon.

Option 3 is a manual backup and would probably be more suitable to people who are comfortable with PHPMyAdmin via CPanel.

Not really for inexperienced people.

Having said that I came across an excellent video which may encourage you to have a look at manual backups. It is about upgrading your Wordpress blog but has a lot of excellent advice about backing up your blog first.

Well, that is the results of my research into backing up a Wordpress blog.

I hope it helps and I would welcome any comments which improve on this or otherwise.
Good luck!

Technorati Tags: Backup Option, Backup Users, Blue Screen Of Death, Bsod, Compatibility Issues, database backup, Email Backup, Export Feature, Frustration, Learning Curve, Manual Database, Marketers, Nb, Operating System, Option 1, Peace Of Mind, Sinking Feeling, System Failures, Two Different Computers, Wordpress backup, Wordpress Blog

Last Thursday was the latest (4th) of the Alex Jeffreys modules which was about Social Media and how to drive traffic to your blog.

Start time for me is at midnight and to make things a little more interesting we were out in the forest having a weekend family gathering (compulsory!).
So, a bit behind at the moment  but the boss said no computer business this last weekend (you know how it is).

However, with the help of my old laptop and the G3 “dongle”, I managed to make contact over the high trees and join the Live Coaching call.

And I am very glad I did as the content of this call from Alex was first class.

This call was all about getting traffic using Social Media.

As we all know no traffic means no list and no list means no business, so this was definitely worth listening to.

First point made was that blogs do attract Traffic.

Suggested ways to build traffic are :-

• Show an interest in people
• tell them what you are doing
• tell people how to do it
• provide good content
• leave comments on other blogs
• provide value on other peoples’ blogs and get some of their traffi
• JVs
• get involved with Twitter
• use Youtube
• review other blogs.

Alex used the analogy of oil rigs and fish. Man made structures(oil rigs) attract small fish, which in turn attract bigger fish, which also attract…………….and so o

This was used to explain that traffic building starts small and builds up over time.

This is started by taking a look at other blogs in your niche and making VALUE comments. By adding your signature to your comments, which should include a link to your blog, you will also receive traffic in return, if your comments are VALUE COMMENTS.

You can also add comments to the “big blogs” as well but you must, yes you’ve got it, add VALUE otherwise your comment will just be deleted.

Technorati Tags: Alex Jeffreys, Analogy, Blog, Boss, Build Traffic, Computer Business, drive traffic, First Class, Fish Man, G3, Internet Marketing, Last Thursday, Live Coaching, Niche, Oil Rigs, Old Laptop, Signature, Small Fish, Traffi, Traffic Building, Trees

This module centered around alex Jeffreys Profit Pulling Machine which is used to start creating a money making machine!

It is a series of web pages that added together become a sales funnel

He mentioned that websites don’t make money but the business behind the website.

The sales funnel consists of:

• an ebook to give away
• a squeeze page
• a download page
• an OTO (one time offer) video upsell to a backend product.

This sales funnel is aimed at getting people’s name and email address by giving away an ebook, video etc

Building your list and building a relationship with that list is the most important thing here.

No list, no customers, no money!

He also touched upon the subject of outsourcing which basically means if you cannot do some aspect of the process then get someone else to do it. Time v. Money.

Easier said than done, I know, but in the beginning it is good to do things yourself if only to understand what is happening but after you earn some money, which you will, then this is something to seriously consider.

Well, I hope anybody reading has gained some insight in to the ways things are done.

Technorati Tags: Alex Jeffreys, Download Page, ebook, Insight, Money, oto, Relationship, sales funnel, Squeeze, squeeze page, Upsell, Web Pages

The first webinar to start off Alex Jeffrey’s Marketing With Alex 2.0 was  called “Forward To Basics”. Yes, forward not back to basics.

This was great stuff from Alex and he had our attention from start to finish – and the finish was after 4+ hours, not the advertised 2 hours!
Talk about over delivering.

The basics are the basics of business rather than the basics of internet marketing.
He emphasized that organization is the key to greater productivity and better results.
He also gave a lot of sound advice about how to go about this which included:

• only check your emails twice a day (touched a nerve with a lot of us there!
• stop surfing!
• tidy your desk (I definitely need to do this)
• “go to work” i.e. close the door to your “office” and remove all distractions
• work to a schedule – for example in 1 hour sessions, then take a break- and so on.Use a timer for this.
• only drink water.

This is sound advice but perhaps more importantly he stated that you need to “manage” your business from the start and have a structured business.

In order to do this we need to start the following and plan ahead:

• create 3 plans – a business plan, an entrepreneur plan and a personal plan.
• create a 1-year plan.
• create a 90-day plan.
• create a 4-week plan
• create a 1-week plan
• create a daily plan and plan tomorrow today.
• also write a daily “did” sheet to see what you have done and keep you on track.
• get focussed on one thing only not many things as the chance of success is better
• take action

This is all good advice and I for one needed it as I am sure many other people do. So, a lot of time wasted before but now it is time to get organized.
I hope you find this advice useful as well.

Technorati Tags: Alex, Basics Of Internet, Business Entrepreneur, business plan, Desk, Distractions, Drink Water, entrepreneur plan, Good Advice, Great Stuff, Internet Marketing, Many Things, Nerve, Personal Plan, Plan Ahead, Plan Tomorrow, Productivity, Sessions, Sound Advice, Timer, webinar

Like many people I have been trying to start an online business. I have been trying for a year now and although I have some affiliate sites up I am not making a lot of progress.

I have also spent too much money buying the “latest and greatest” from the “gurus” and I now suffer from what is known as information overload. Does all this sound familiar?

However, there are a few pearls of wisdom I have learned along the way.

1) Don’t try to reinvent the wheel – follow success.

2) Get a mentor – all successful marketers have or have had a mentor.

3) Focus on one thing at a time

… and much more.

Alex Jeffreys came to my attention some time back, I watched the first coaching mentoring program which sounded like hell of a ride, and decided I had found my mentor. When the next mentoring program was announced I joined as soon as I could.

Last week I began my first coaching session with Alex Jeffrey’s “Marketing With Alex”.

The live coaching call started at midnight my time (GMT+1) so it was a question of keeping focussed as he went

through the module. I started to lose focus just after 3:00am as the two hour call was still in full flow!

Alex is definitely thorough and he stayed answering questions until everyone had had their say or queries were answered.

Thankfully, the call was recorded and within the next few days a recording of the call, the Powerpoint slides from the presentation, MP3 Audio and a module checklist was made available to the members. I’m sure students from some of the other parts of the world who couldn’t take part are grateful for that.

I know I am.

Technorati Tags: Affiliate Sites, Alex Jeffreys, Answering Questions, Few Days, Gurus, Hell, Information Overload, Internet Marketing, Live Coaching, make money online, Many People, Marketers, Marketing, Mentor, mentors, Much Money, online business, Pearls Of Wisdom, Powerpoint Slides, Queries, Start Business, Wheel