Duck Duck Guru To Increase Website Traffic Or Just Go Broke
Or When Do You Stop “Learning” and Start Doing?!
Unless you are in a position to inherit money, get continuous cash gifts from relatives, or win by chance in Las Vegas (after parting with your own money first on that chance), nothing comes to mind where a person can sit still and rake in money (okay nothing legal that is).
Not offline. Not online.
Even the money making programs out there that tell you “no this” or “no that” don’t really mean it at all. The fine print, if they even bother to put fine print on the page, would read, “But the more effort, time, and money you put into this, the more successful you might be.”
End of story.
Same goes for the ever popular “guru following.” Now I am not slamming gurus, they are actually some of the smartest people on the internet. They know. They share some. They anticipate you will return to get the next piece. And the next, and the next, and the… well you get the picture. Granted, information. But will you ever really get going doing what you need to be doing or will you fear you need more pieces and do nothing (and nothing could be further from the truth).
Very few people on the internet say, “Here you go!” and give you everything you need. Very few people will continue to give you even more information to learn more or stay current with rapidly changing online techniques without some expectation from you.
Some would tell you that it is because one person cannot possibly want (or need) to “know it all at once.” (Pure fabrication)
Others will never tell you outright, but the truth is if “it” is given to you in bulk, will there be any reason for you to return? They fear your fickleness.
And, to be perfectly honest, people are fickle.
Witness the statement made at the top of this article. Where else in the world would you really think to yourself, “Oh good, I’m gonna get rich by not doing a thing!” Go ahead, re-read that. Sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous.
That’s not to say there are not great programs out there to work. The emphasis, of course, lies on your willingness to become active and engage in the process to make it happen.
[A word of caution: If you are lazy and broke, do not exacerbate that condition thinking the internet will solve your problems.]
If you are able and willing, the internet can bring you wonders you never dreamed possible. No where else is it possible to meet and make friends with others from around the world. Friendships just as solid as if they were your next door neighbor (and maybe even more so in some cases).
There also are numerous methods to use when you’ve chosen a project to work diligently. Advertising and marketing online abounds, but again caution is in order. Throwing money at something, without a passion for that something, is no better than walking into a casino and handing your money to the doorman (if they had them), turning around, and leaving.
As you study your options online, all sorts of traffic-driving techniques may intrigue you. Many with (false) promises of the ease and viability with which it can happen. After a decade online, and in the marketing arena itself, I can with all honesty say there is nothing that does not require effort on your part - physically and economically - to make it happen. In particular - time and money.
Money is obvious, some services and methods are going to cost the green stuff. Time, however, and the concept of “I want it (or expect it) now” can be mind boggling. Ask yourself, do you get every job you apply for in the real world? Didn’t you have to prepare for the interview, dress the part, interact with others, and then wait for the phone call that might mean you got it? Time does not mean something else online, it’s just that… time. And being online means alloting proper amounts of it from all angles.
Okay, if you’ve made it this far (and I thank you!), then you deserve a reward. The key is to combine what you love with what you join and use both traditional and web 2.0 techniques to tell the world, “Hey here I am! Come visit me!”
Ah, there’s the rub. But it can be done in an amazingly short period of time - like visitors arriving today if you do it right.
Will they buy from you? Ask yourself instead, “Should they.” If you are willing to engage your visitor and give them a reason to come to you, really care that they do come, referencing to “time” above and the answer is yes.
Visitors arriving immediately. Staying and returning to talk with you. Yes the adage, people buy from people they feel they know is very true. You just need to help them discover who you are.
Yes, it really can be done and there are honest people out there willing to help you on the right road to doing something you love - now and forever.
Change fickle to “finally!” and learn the skills to get your job done.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Theresa Cahill and her partner Jeff Greer publish their OIMS blog under the pen name Diane Scott. They cordially invite you to see for yourself how to increase website traffic using a combination of how to strategies and you. Visit today, stay for life.
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May 14th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Hi Theresa — I loved this article. I jokingly tell my Mother all the time - having a business on the internet involves trying to get people to fall in love with you day after day. The only way to do this (that I know of and legally as you put it) is to actually love and believe in yourself and what you are doing.
I guess I’m lucky in some ways - my family owns a business and business has been a part of my life since my Dad quit his job and started working out of our garage when I was two. The same rules applied then as they do now. People will come back to because they know, like and trust you.
The relationship works both ways too. As a business person you rely on your instincts, you learn to know who your “people” are and you know that you can’t sell to everyone. Nothing personal. Just like the guy that drives through my neighborhood selling meat calls me a “bad hunter” when I tell him I’m a vegetarian, my philosophy, goods, services are not for everyone.
The trick is (as I see it) is to learn to work the money/time equation in conjunction with instinct. Only gamble what you are willing to lose, learn what works and use the bulk of your time doing more of that, and trust your instincts by surrounding yourself with people who have actually done the thing you wish to do.
I think you’ll agree - eventually it all takes on a life of it’s own, anyway. And in the end it all comes down to love. Oh, maybe I won’t love it every day. But I don’t always love to exercise… eat sensibly…. and so on.
One of my favorite writers H.D. Thoreau — says upon observing his friends living a ho-hum existence because they thought they had no other choices — “I went to the woods because I wanted to live life at the marrow.” I would amend this by saying I went to the internet because I wanted to make a difference and I know it’s all about smart choices…
May 14th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
@Laura - you are a marvel! Anyone taking pointers on commenting - if you’ve thought to date it’s not your cup of tea - take note
Pertaining to your comments, you are lucky to have a family background in sole proprietorship it most certainly comes in handy, especially online. When you are the only source, you tend to focus more I’m sure.
Every point you make is very appreciated, and we certainly hope you find the time to continue to come back!