Back in December 2002, I attended my very first Internet marketing seminar. That seminar was sponsored by Dr. Bob Silber, and I attended because Dr. Silber invited me to be a speaker. Rumors had spread of how well I was doing in "Internet marketing" with a lead product of "a soul food cookbook" - of all things.
My presentation was on niche marketing, and was very well-received. That seminar also opened my eyes to how willing other marketers are to share their experience and knowledge with you... if you let them.
At that seminar Jonathan Mizel, Frank Garon, Fred Gleeck, Armand Morin, Marty Foley, Ramon Williamson, Bob Silber, and several others gave me so many ideas that I though my head would explode. Many of the tips that they gave me are still very applicable today, and add substantially to my bottom-line. One tip pertaining to having the perfect backend in place will make me a small fortune this year.
When I first released my cookbook, I struggled with the perfect backend product for cookbook buyers. Now, I know that the perfect backend product is... other cookbooks! So, the backend system for that website that I shared back in 2003 is now an endless procession of incredible cookbooks. The latest one that I've added to my line-up is a cookbook by the private cook of the late Alex Haley. This guy is such a great cook that Alex insisted he do the cooking when he had such distinguished guest over as Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier, Governor Lamar Alexander, and countless other politicians, celebrities, and friends.
That ONE tip, picked up at my first seminar, lead me to eventually adding Dave Frank's "Foods Of The Southland" cookbook to my line-up, and I hope to move hundreds of thousands of copies of that cookbook eventually. Incidentally, you can grab a copy of that cookbook today at:
http://Chitterlings.com/southland/After that first seminar was over, I sat around in the hotel lobby talking to fellow speaker Ramon Williamson, who would eventually become a mentor. As Ramon and I talked, one of the seminar attendees, whom I didn't know, walked up to us. Ramon recognized this guest and invited both of us up to his suite for a late-night brainstorming session.
That guest was John Reese, whose marketing genius I would really grow to appreciate. John Reese, you may remember really sprang on the scene when his "Traffic Secrets" course sold over $1 million worth of product in 18 hours.
Ramon, John and I talked until 4am. They did most of the talking as I sat in awe at their LEVEL of thinking. John mentioned that one of his long-term goals was to build a mailing list of over 1 million subscribers. I couldn't see that as even being possible!
John explained that when you're having trouble paying your rent, it's difficult to imagine earning $100,000 per year. However, to the person making $100k, it's easy to "see" making $200k. To the person making $500k, it's easy to imagine $1 million. As I reflected upon the truth in what John was saying I underwent a radical shift in my thinking right there... that night... in that hotel room.
That was December 2002. By April 2003 I was in the midst of hosting my very own Internet marketing seminar. That was four months from attending my very first, to hosting a live seminar!
I detail a lot of the transformation that occurred in my thinking and in my habits in my biography, "Git Off The Porch." I wrote that book in response to a challenge issued by Ramon. The challenge was to go from idea to a print book in three months or less. I did it, and you'll find that book at:
http://gitofftheporch.com/Today, I sit writing this article... on the beach in beautiful Navarre, Florida. I often go to the beach and sit in a shaded pavilion and work. I can do that since all I really need is my trusty laptop, and my Verizon Wireless Card. With that card plugged into my laptop, I can actually surf the internet or answer email from anywhere that I'm within range of a cell phone tower. I've even done it while driving down the interstate... my wife was actually driving. To me, that proves that so many things that many people consider only "dreams" are possible!
As I write and reflect upon the possibilities, I thought I'd share with you one of my goals. That goal is the same one that John Reese shared back in December 2002. I have a plan for building an email database of over 1 million subscribers. I'm doing it in phases, and will actually have several niche lists or sub-lists. When broken down as I have it mapped out, it's no longer such a major challenge!
My short-term goal is to add 100,000 new subscribers to my list by December 31st, 2007. Actually that's 100,000 new subscribers more than I would get from what I was doing before I implemented my master plan.
Building this relatively large list will involve using a number of techniques... some very simple, and others somewhat innovative. One of the simplest ones I've actually already shared with the world in a special report that I wrote called, "How I Boosted My Ezine Sign-Up Rate By 5200 MORE Subscribers Per Month - Virtually Overnight - And You Can Too!"
That short special report is at:
http://www.therealsecrets.com/5200/The reason that I can, and will, build a list of over 1 million subscribers is largely because I give myself permission to do so. The transformation in thinking brought on by the conversation with John and Ramon back in 2002 now allows me to see that anything is possible. Knowing that it is possible ends the procrastination in getting started on a task. Knowing what is possible if you just put in the proper effort also completely cures you of "excusitis."
You may even wonder if a goal of 1 million subscribers is worth pursuing. In the niches that I operate in, I earn an average of between $1 and $3 per month for every subscriber on my lists. So, for me, YES, it's a very worthwhile goal :-) NO - money isn't everything, but it does enable you to accomplish many bigger goals. My ultimate goals actually center around helping more people reach their dreams, but that's a topic for another time.
I'll close by issuing a challenge. Identify one of your goals today, and use your magnificently powerful brain to figure out HOW to reach it! It doesn't have to be building a huge list. However, many of the people that I deal with regularly use the excuse of, "I have no list" as a reason for not being able to grow their businesses faster. Many of them have been using that same excuse for 3-5 years. I contend that it's time that they stop! What do you think?
Copyright: Copyright © 2007-2008 Willie Crawford
About the Author:| Willie Crawford has taught thousands how to build successful online businesses since late-1996. His membership site contains over 40 interviews of leading online marketers sharing their views on "How To Break Into The Internet Marketing Inner Circle." You can access those powerful and shocking interviews at: http://TheInternetMarketingInnerCircle.com/insider.php
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