Listening to some internet marketers lately, I get the impression that a lot of people are feeling discouraged over the results they are getting (or not getting) and wonder if they should give it all away.

Usually, the first thing new marketers come across when starting out, is all the hype about how much you can make online – IF – you buy this or that e-book or course. There are so many sales pages, email lists/newsletters and sales pitches coming in to our lives on a daily basis. It is a natural tendency to believe everyone else can do it, and do it well, but we struggle by comparison.

If you are feeling like this, I can empathize. I have felt that way lots of times. Then I realized what I was doing to myself. I was comparing myself to those marketers in the ‘Internet Marketing’ niche. It’s a huge niche, but it is also very competitive. They are the marketers that are hitting me everyday with this or that offer of the latest and greatest way to make money on-line.

The thing is, they are mostly selling me products FOR the IM niche and unless you are really into that niche yourself, they are not the products that relate to what you are doing.

They show you pictures of stats, transaction details and testimonials to try and convince you that they know what they are doing, and how you can do it too.

But, does what they are marketing help you right now with what YOU are doing?

Comparing ourselves to these marketers is counter productive to our motivation and mindset. We don’t need to do any comparisons, because they are not relevant.

2008 is the year of Web 2.0, selling REAL products to REAL customers. It isn’t going to be an instant million dollar business that we build. Just like in the off-line world, it takes time to build a following, trust and respect from prospective customers. We need to look at branding ourselves, becoming the person-to-go-to for the particular advice, information or product in OUR niche. Using all the Web 2.0 tools and applications to help us establish ourselves in the on-line market place.

It really upsets me when I hear the discouragement of others who are really working hard to make a go of it. The Internet is a worldwide marketplace. In other words, it’s unlimited. We have the tools and knowledge to make a very profitable business with our own niches. Stop looking at what the IM’ers are doing in their niche and concentrate on your own business.

Stick at it, add quality content – people WILL find you if you are honest, consistent and have a quality product. Don’t get discouraged just because you didn’t make your fortune this week. Your business and customer list will grow in time if you work at it.

Too many people give up and leave a potentially successful business in the sandbox. Stay focused on what you believe is a good niche, add to it, grow it, develop it over time. Above all, DON’T compare your efforts to those of the IM’ers who are hitting your inbox every day raving about their results.

We all need and want help and advice. We all need to learn. Things never stay the same on the internet and this year is a new learning curve for all of us.

There are plenty of FREE learning resources out there – and tools too. Spend an hour a day learning or using something new and see if you can apply it to your marketing efforts. Then spend another 2-3 hours developing your products. Stick at it and you will be successful.

I want to start sharing some information about using the great resources that are out there over the next few months, so stay tuned. There are some killer (free) tools right under our noses!

Til next time,

Stay Cool,

Sharon