I see and get a lot of people asking me the same question over and over again, so I thought I’d post my thought on the subject. The question is, which niche should someone new to Internet Marketing target for their first website. My reply to this? Start with something you know about or are passionate about.

Actually, I replied to this exact question on a forum and was a little frustrated that the next response after mine was someone telling the OP (original Poster) that I was making a newbie mistake by giving the advice of going after something you are passionate about and not a money niche.

Well, I am no newbie, and the reason I gave my answer was from my own personal experiences. So I want to write a post about, at least in the way I see it, why telling someone new to internet marketing to go for a high money niche is a bad idea. And why I think you should be going after something you either know a lot about, or have a passion for.

I got into internet marketing because I actually owned an ESL cram school in a country where I didn’t speak the language. I was often hiring teachers and I realized that the person who owned the site I was using was making a killing doing it. But the site was absolutely horrible! So I thought, heck, I can do much better than that.

This was about 4 years ago. So I proceeded to hire a programmer and create an entirely new hand coded job board from scratch. It was a horrible experience, but I finally got the final product. So I threw it up on a domain and waited for the traffic to come pouring in. Which of course, it didn’t.

I was getting really frustrated and this brought me to the whole concept of SEO, list building and on and on. My first real introduction to IM.

I was fascinated. And started trying a bunch of stuff to start getting rankings. But I was still doing terribly. But along the way I read similar things to “go for the money niches” and started to try to make other websites myself and earn money from AdSense.

It took a while to learn how to use WordPress correctly, and actually I started out using Drupal sites. I was soooo happy when I discovered WP.

So I was going after things like weight loss and other highly competitive niches as a total newbie because they were suggested to me just like I see here. Not smart at all in my opinion. I didn’t really understand SEO, I only thought I did. I didn’t understand a lot. And I again had terrible results. So I quit. I was so frustrated with everything, that I just packed it in for a few months.

It wasn’t until I needed to use the job site again that I got angry at enough at myself to try to get that site to rank again. It was something I really knew about and could really see the potential in. In addition, as I learned more about what it took to really succeed with a site, I realized actually being in the industry allowed me to create really useful and unique content others couldn’t duplicate unless they copied mine or were also in the industry. Plus it was easier to reach out to others for links, ideas or ask them to use my site for free.

So the more I learned about how to get my site ranked and making money, the more I learned about other marketing opportunities. And that is how I got to where I am today.

The reason I am telling you this is because, if I had just listened to everyone and tried with the “money making” niches as a complete newbie, I would have given up long ago probably never to return. It was only because I had already built a site I was passionate about that I stayed in the game. If I didn’t have that job site, I wouldn’t be writing this right now.

When you are a complete newbie there is so much to learn. It really is a lot. And whether you want it to or not, it’s going to take years to learn everything for most people. Long frustrating years. And worse, most of what you need to know is only really going to be learned after you start actually doing something.

So if you are new and start trying to make cash with a site on a topic you have absolutely no understanding of, no passion for or no clue of who your competitors are, what makes a great site, conversions, etc…honestly, what do you think your success rate will be?

On the other hand, and this is where I think the “myth” of going after money niches comes from, if you create a site and pour your heart into it and it makes you no money whatsoever, what good does that do? You just wasted 6 months of your life, right?

Well, no! Unless that is the way you look at it. The way I look at it is, I just enjoyed creating something that is helpful and informative to others. Not only did I enjoy the process, but now I know how to build a site, rank a site, help tweak my bounce rate and get readers involved. I know a bit about SEO, list building, affiliate sales and networks, and on and on.

And you’ve just learned, not read somewhere or heard from so and so, you know what it is really going to take to succeed. And you have a foundation to build upon. But most of all, you know in your heart you have the stamina to keep moving forward. You know you can stick with it and not give up because the site failed to earn what you thought it would.

I guarantee most marketer have built sites, products, whatever and have failed or their stuff didn’t come close to their expectations as far as cash made. Is that a failure?

Again, depends on how you look at it. If while trying to get the site to generate some revenue you stumbled on to list building techniques and learned how to effectively build a list, that skill can be adopted to anything you do online. Or maybe along the way, out of necessity, you learned what a Facebook fan page was and figured out cool ways to use it to drive traffic or sales. Or maybe you posted you question on a forum and just found a new friend.

Everyone will have failures. It is part of success. But you need to go the distance to have the success. And from what I see, most new marketers quit due to frustration. And they are frustrated because they are trying something totally new to them in a niche they know nothing about against people far better suited to the niche than them.

You don’t ask a kid to get his MBA in the 2nd grade. You give him tasks you know they can learn. Build their confidence. Let them graduate to harder and more complex things as their skill become stronger. Why wouldn’t you do the same for a new marketer? Give them a taste and the experience of an accomplishment before sending out to the war zone against the big guns.

Start off small with something you know well or are passionate about. Build a small site. Post every day, or every few days. See what it takes to be persistent. Then learn what needs to be done to get to the next level and then the next. Make it a journey of learning and awe and you will be so much further up the food chain than most other marketers.

And just a quick disclaimer, yes…I am making some generalizations here and yes, this is my own personal experience, but I think these are the best kind. I’d love to know what you guys think. Am I wrong? Right? Or you’re still unsure which view makes sense? Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

So I was recently in a discussion on PLR – Private Label Rights. It had to do with someone finding out that a “guru” they followed made a product from PLR. This person felt slighted and a whole thread became heated with debate on whether it was acceptable or not to create a product using PLR.

The problem was, the person who owns the forum does a lot of PLR in the way that was complained about. And I wonder if the truths weren’t a bit skewed. So I am going to write about it here and hope the people reading this can give some feedback.

So here is my reply, unedited, I too was a bit unsure how I should reply. I don’t want to burn bridges, but at the same time I have very strong feelings of what and what does not pass for a “product” in the IM world. Or any world. So here is my reply…

Okay, I should probably walk away form this one…but something keeps drawing me back. And now I am most likely really going to put my foot in it…but here goes…I think PLR should be for freebies, list builders, not a product.

I will be launching a PLR product on the 26th for various reasons. So I am not against PLR. I just feel PLR has its place. And as a product, for me anyways, that isn’t the place. Here is why…

If I have a client that buys my SEO course that I actually used PLR and just changed a little bit around, then that client later buys the same book without knowing, what are they going to think? What would you think?

If I bought something from anyone on this forum and they didn’t explain it was PLR and I found out it was, I’d feel a bit cheated. I was buying you, not someone else. And whether you tell me I am stupid or short sighted for my feelings, it is the way I feel. Stupid or not. No rational is going to change that.

When I buy a product from you, it is your insight that I want to buy, believe I am purchasing. Truth is I don’t even condone ghost writers if you are not involved in the product. But at least there is only one source of the information. I think ghost writers should be used to help non-writers create good readable content. Not create an entire product for them.

I guess if you are not truly adding additional value, then I don’t think you should be selling it as if you were. if it is PLR with a lot of value, then why not just sell it as such and say, “this great product was created by so and so”…if it is really great, then people will still buy it. If they don’t buy it because it isn’t your product, then aren’t you cheating them on some level to say it is?

I will always create new and unique material for my products. If I don’t, what additional value am I adding? A cover? A pretty graphic?

I never want my clients to ever feel they could have gotten the same thing they got from me from Paul, John and Henry. And to later find he could have gotten it for free from Pam for opting into her list. I just don’t feel in my bones that is the way to a long term successful business. And I am getting so darn tired of buying product creation WSOs telling me that is what I should be doing.

But I am probably wrong on a lot of levels. And to be very open, I know that this has a lot to do with the way I feel rather than rational thought. But I can’t help the way I feel . It just is.

I hope no one feels I am jumping on them for using PLR. These are my own thoughts. But no, I’d never use PLR as a product that I would promote as my own.

In fact, as a first point of entry into my funnel, I want to have a $1 offer so I can build a list of buyers. And I want to do a “how to be a great affiliate” product for the $1 product. So I really thought about PLR. I mean, it’s only a buck. And it would save me a ton of time. Why not, right? But I just couldn’t do it. In my gut, I just don’t think it is me. And that is what’s important to me. But it is me, no one else. So find your own path to success.

Now…let the BBQ begin…I know I am most likely in for a roasting…

I received a lot of comments. And one person who I respect wrote this…

People place very little value on free. So it probably won’t get consumed nor will the end user take (prolonged) action with the content.

Meaning if I gave it away as an optin or what ever, the idea that people wouldn’t value it. The problem I see with this rational is that people buy a ton of products regardless of value and never so anything with them whether they cost $1 or $100. so I am not sure if this statement holds water.

There is also the the faction that states if it isn’t PLR, there are a lot of people that would never see the original. So by allowing PLR rights, there is a way that it adds value to the world because it is so widely distributed. Again, I just don’t agree.

So now that I am writing for my own personal website and I can say what I really think? Honestly, I would use PLR stuff for certain list building activities. But I would improve it and try to make it my own. But as far as using PLR, just slapping a new cover graphic and start selling it as a product is totally bullshit.

The only way I can see anyone creating a serious business in the IM niche selling an information product is to add value in some way. Can you buy PLR to teach a parrot to talk and make money, yup! Without a doubt. But in the IM niche? Doubtful.

The IM niche must be one of the most competitive niches on the whole web. It’s one of the reasons I love it. It forces you to be on your game at all times. It also forces you to push the envelope to succeed. To find ways to stand out, stand above, to stand on ground others never had. And that equates to value.

If you can’t add value and you are just copying or regurgitating what has already been said, why should anyone listen to you. And why would you feel good doing that at all in the first place?

I will screw up a lot and say a lot of dumb things. I will undoubtedly make an ass of myself multiple times. And what I say today may change tomorrow if someone is able to show me something that is not obvious to me at this moment. But there is something I know in my soul, I I will push the envelope further than most to find something worth sharing. And I will add value somehow or I’ll just shut the hell up.

So I think my stance on PLR is obvious. If you use it to get started on your product but make it 99% your own and you are adding new stuff to the world by doing it, fantastic! If you are just slapping on a new cover and adding your name to it, I hope you never optin to my list. You’re simply not the kind of person I want in my tribe.

But don’t get the wrong impression. I do use and even produce PLR for mass consumption. If I want to break into the dating niche and I need an optin report, I am not going to write it. I will find PLR. And that is the difference.

I will find PLR because I am not passionate about the dating niche. I will not take the time to create a report neither from experience nor researching the topic. I am simply trying to make a buck. So I am not adding value. I am simply looking for a short cut. And I don’t even see that as wrong. As long as I am giving it away for free. It is when I sell it and say I will answer all your problems for $20 that I feel it crosses the line. Or worse, telling you I personally have all the answers to your questions and then selling the same PLR report.

See, the web is an unforgiving master. It doesn’t forget either. So put out Private Label Rights as all of your products and sooner or later people are going to realize it. How long do you think it’ll last? Not the way I plan on building a long lasting and sustainable company.

I had PLR for an optin when I first started this blog. It’s gone now. Why do you think that is? You are what you produce in this business. Produce value, and you’ll be seen as valuable. Copy, and you’ll be seen as ….you get the picture. Or am I dead wrong? Let me know your thoughts.

Have you ever sat down and really thought about what it is you are trying to do as an Internet Marketer? All of the things you either need to learn, know, do or outsource? It really is a lot of stuff. And to make matters worse it is changing all of the time. How are we supposed to keep up with everything? Is it even possible?

I feel bad for the people just coming into Internet Marketing. The longer the niche is around, the more confusing it is becoming because so many new faces are creating information in the marketplace. A lot of it is either dead wrong, misleading or taken out of context. The only real way to know which is which is through at least some experience. For instance, if you are reading this now, how do you know you can believe me? Or trust me?

One thing I’ve learned is a lot of people will tell you, “not to have all of your eggs in one basket.” Or that diversity is the key. I can tell you from experience that both online and offline that this is bull dung. Why? Simple really. How can you ever become better than your competition at something if you never learn more than 10% about the subject? You can’t. Or at least very few of us can.

Let’s look at IM for the moment. Some people say you should have affiliate sites, AdSense sites, products, offline services, the whole gambit. The only problem is, to learn how to actually implement all of those strategies with any effectiveness would take years of hard work. And even then you most likely wouldn’t be effective in more than one area anyway.

From what I see, the people that focus on one thing and one thing only seem to make the biggest money. For example, if you are into AdSense there are two people that you should know that have products and reputations. I’ve seen one of them sell just one website on Flippa for more than $1000,000. The guy also makes $20,000 plus per month from AdSense as well. Which to others is chump change. But do you think anyone makes that much money because they also spent their time learning affiliate marketing and product creation? Or are they focused on one thing and one thing only?

I really struggle with focus. I know that is my personal enemy. But when I am able to focus just for one day on one task, I can get so much more done that when I am trying to see what the latest SEO technique or software is today, which affiliate program to promote and what the WSO of the day is.

But focus goes deeper than this. To really bring value to the world, you need to pick one thing and be the best at that one thing. It could be creating great products, doing SEO, creating AdSense sites, website flipping, whatever! But pick one way of making money and get to work. And then keep at it until you make money at it and really have a handle on what you are doing.

Something that I think a lot of new Internet Marketers don’t get is, once you begin making money with one technique, doors will open all around you that you’d NEVER have seen before unless you became successful first. What do I mean?

I hear people always saying they can’t come up with ideas for products. Well, how can you if you’ve never done one single thing in your life pertaining to anything job related? Get this idea of free money out of your lazy ass head! I ain’t real!

Then others complain they don’t know what they like or where to start. Of course not, because you haven’t done anything but read and complain. Get stuck in something and then you’ll see what you are interested in or what you may have a natural knack for. Then ideas will pop into your head on all sorts of things you can create or improve upon.

But you can’t get anywhere until you do. And you’ll never be great or rich if you don’t specialize. The longer different systems of making money are on the internet, the further apart they will all grow. So just pick one and shoot for being the master. How much do you think the top people in anything make? The top 1% of AdSense I bet make a million plus per year. Products, top 1% most likely 10 million a year.

And what do all of these gurus have in common? They are all know in the Internet Marketing industry for ONE thing. Of course there will always be flukes. Always be that one person that can do a lot of different things.

But it isn’t the norm. So do you want to play the lottery with your life and try everything? Or choose one thing and know there is a beginning and an end? And at the end there is a big cha-ching:)

What do you think? Should you specialize or do it all? Let me know ad leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.

So I haven’t written anything informative in a while. Truth is, I’ve been really busy trying to get a few of my own information products in the pipeline. I’m hoping the first one should be coming out in the very near future. It’s actually a piece of software that I believe will give its users a ton of value. But I guess we will see soon enough.

But right now I just want to give you all a peek to what it is like to do your own first product. Actually, for my first product, I only need to do half the work. I chose to do a piece of software, but I am not a programmer by a long stretch. So I partnered up with an amazing guy, Jake, who is going in partners with me on this one, and hopefully a few more. Kind of like a Jason an Will team.

So you’d think that I’d have it easy being that I really don’t need to even build the product. Actually it is my idea, and all I need to do is sell it. Should be easy enough…that is until you sit down and start writing a list of all of the things that need doing.

I want to be very clear, all of these people who tell you product creation is easy, well, they might be right. I know without a doubt I could sit down and make a decent MP3 that had value to people and have it ready to sell in a few hours time. Maybe less. The product is the easy part, sometimes anyway, depending on its size and complexity. The really hard part is selling the darn thing! It’s also the part that a lot of people don’t seem to talk all that much about. So that is why I’ll be posting some tips and things to help you along.

First off, there are many ways to skin a cat. And there are even more ways to sell your digital product. The bare minimum way is the quickest way and can be very profitable from what I hear. I still don’t know, this is my first product. But I’ve studied a few courses and have a basic understanding of what needs to be done. I could go the dead simple route using the Warrior Forum and having a WSO. Pay your $40, create your sales page and place a PayPal button and your off. But for what I am doing, I need a bit more.

So I am also enlisting my forum friend, Ed, from earn1kaday to give me some pointers when I really need an insider’s edge. (Ed already has a few successful products out there) We are actually going to use my experience as a first time product creator and seller as a great case study that we’ll sell as a WSO cheaply to help out others. It will go into super detail and have a lot of step by step instructions to help other first timers break that cherry!

So what are the things you need to be thinking about? Since my product is a piece of software that can be used in any niche, I want to branch out a lot further than just the WF. So that means I need a website. Not only do I need a website, but I also need a bunch of other things like a great theme for the website so it looks professional, my sales letter, affiliate pages with swipe files and banners, a way to host videos both as sales videos and instructional videos without a YouTube symbol on them, a way to get paid other than just PayPal, a way of delivering the content to the user that is safe and can’t be hot linked and I get ripped off, plus a host of other things that you’d never think of until you actually sit down and start doing it.

And here it is, in the details, where I think a lot of people fall to the wayside. To look at the above list is intimidating as hell. And it will make a lot of people quit. Or just choose to be an affiliate and leave the product creation up to people like me. But there is an interesting thing I heard Tony Robbins say that I think is perfect here.

“Rich people do what poor people aren’t willing to.” How perfect is that statement? Don’t believe the hype as Public Enemy would say. It does take work. But actually it isn’t that hard once you sit down and make up your mind that you are going to do it. One step at a time.

So tip number one, if you are thinking of your own product, the first thing you need to understand is who is your customer? If it is a short quick report and you want to just sell on WF, your job should be pretty easy. You know exactly the who, what, where, now you can systematically find out the how. First place I’d start with is http://warriorplus.com/

Then look at some successful WSOs for ideas for your sales letter. Write a few if you can and ask your friends for feedback. Don’t expect to get 80% conversions your first go. But do place effort into your sales page and try to get as much feedback as you can before it goes live. You can just paste it on WF and ask for some feedback. But don’t listen to idiots that comment just to comment.

Yes, I do have a course for you to buy as well if you are interested. The reason I am mentioning it is that I just went trough this course and it really helped my figure out my sales funnel, squeeze page and just about everything else you can think of as far as your back end. The product is by Lee McIntyre.

If you don’t know who he is, you really need to find out. One of the few real gurus and real honest sellers left. He created a massive product in 2009 that he was selling for a long time at $497. And once you get it, you’ll believe it was worth it!

But what’s really cool is he wants to update the program, so he is selling the 2009 version for less than $20. Seriously, an absolute steal!!!! He shows you his real earnings, how he messed up, and things differently, better, worse. A real eye opener and amazing information you will NOT get anywhere at this price! It’s 2 years old, but I have no idea what he’d update as I think it is still 100% relevant and effective right now as at anytime. Grab it, really great value for a change:)

Are you looking to get a information product or any kind of product  out there? Let me know, maybe I can help in some small way. Just leave a comment below.

This is a quick rant because I need to blow off a little steam right now! I’ve finally had it with many of the services and even many of the WSO’s offered on the Warrior Forum at the moment. Here’s the latest situation that made me blow my cork today.

I had a writer create some simple content and also spin it. I ordered 10 articles + 10 spins of those articles. Upon ordering on the 22nd, I received this,

‘I’ve started the work. I’ll send it in 24 hours (max).’

Great I thought, someone who cares about customer service. Then I waited a day with nothing in my inbox. So I sent this reply,

‘I guess the 24 hours won’t happen. Can you give me an idea when they will be done?’ Very polite of me I thought.

His reply, ‘Sorry, I almost finished it. I’m gonna work throughout the night. Had some problem with my software…. hmm can I send the 5, so you know I’m doing it? I’ll finish everything in 3 hours tops. Please tell me if thats ok.’ The time on that email: On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 10:20 PM

On Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:07:16 I received this reply with half of the order,

‘Hi,

I am so sorry about the delay. I’ve attached the first 5. I’m working on the rest. I’ll send them soon. It was an unexpected problem. I hope it doesn’t make me look bad. My other orders were delayed too. I’m finishing yours first.

I usually finish it well ahead of the deadline, I’m really sorry. Hope you are not angry.

Thanks.’

And to be honest, I wasn’t angry at all. I know things happen and not too much time had passed. But this isn’t the first problem I recently had with freelancers on the Warrior Forum. Read the second story for the real one that made me seriously angry. This is just the one that I lost my patience with. So again I waited for the rest of my article. 3 days later I was starting to get pissed off.

On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 7:38 PM, I wrote a reply,

‘Hello,

I would like to know when I will get the rest of my articles?

Thanks,
Bill’

His reply,

‘Hi, Sorry for the late reply. In 1.5-2 hours. All problems were solved, I wanted to send the work, and not an empty reply, thats why. I’ll send it in maximum 2 hours. Thanks.’

Finally, 2 days later on Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 12:36 AM, I wrote this,

‘Hello,

I am getting really tired of being lied to. If I do not get my articles in 24 hours I will lodge a complaint with Paypal then go onto Warrior Forum and explain how you have lied to me a few times now. Enough! I want my articles. It seems being nice was stupid of me!

Bill’

And guess what miraculously happened? I received the rest of my order in a matter of hours. So why the F%%& couldn’t that have been done from the beginning? If you know it’ll take a week to get me my articles, then tell me the truth! If you don’t, you’re only burning bridges.

But this isn’t the real reason I am fuming about all of this. The real reason is that I ordered 5 articles from this thread on WF, here is the first email,

‘On Mon, May 30, 2011 at 1:06 PM, ****** wrote:

Hi Billy,
The order you have placed, is perfectly fine with us. Pl. send in the Transaction ID, to enable us to begin working for your order.
Regards, Thomas’

That was the last email I received. No emails to my Paypal email or any other emails. I placed a message on the WF after he explained to the thread that he had some sort of problem. I had no idea as it was 2 weeks already and no word. I sent a mail through WF but never received a reply. So after he explained there was a problem I left this post,
On 6-29-2011
‘It would have been really nice if you were able to send an email updating that. A little professionalism goes a long way. ‘

On 6-15 after not receiving anything from him I posted this on the thread,

‘Any word at all on this? Have you just run away with my money? ‘

In reply he wrote,

‘Whats your transaction ID? who are you? whats your email? Please give details instead of saying things like these. How am I suppose to know whats going on with your order with your warrior ID?’

Great, he doesn’t even know who I am! So I replied with all of the information he requested. I got my articles on 6-23-2011. That is more than 23 days after I placed the order!!! And what really burns my ass is that people seem fine with this! Here is a reply after my comments,

‘Thomas doesn’t deserve all of these negative reviews, as running a service on a forum is very difficult, but on the other hand, the customer support and turn around times do need some adjustments, but that’s nothing too hard to fix.’

Are you serious!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an idiot as far as I am concerned! If you keep swallowing this kind of crap, then that is what will be constantly fed to you. If you were in a restaurant and the waiter said your food will be out shortly and after 3 hours you didn’t get you food, how would you feel, react? Why is being online any different?

To be honest I am really getting tired of this shitty service and BS WSOs coming out right now. If I give you my money and you tell me I will get XYZ in return for my hard earned money, then give me XYZ! Want me to buy from you again, give me XYZ in a timely manner. Want to make me someone who helps spread the word of your awesomeness? Give me XYZ and just a taste of A. It really is that simple! DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU WILL DO!

I think that is the end of my rant. Tell me what you think. Am I being an ass? Or do you agree?

I just thought I’d update the blog with some personal observations. I just messed up one of my Adsense sites that just made its first click. It was $1.20 so I am pretty happy and hope many more will follow. The problem came when I started messing around with the URL structure. To make a long story short I locked myself out of my site and couldn’t get back in. So I needed to go into phpMyAdmin and play with some settings. I’ve done a few other things where I also needed to go into phpMyAdmin.

At first I was petrified. I am not an engineer in any way, shape or form. I was an English major in university. But over the years I have learned quite a bit. Still can’t code though. So when I need to dive into databases, I get scared. But that ‘fear’ of messing things up is slowly passing.

My number one recommendation to newbies as far as websites go? Get a decent hosting account like a $7 a month account at InMotionHosting.com. Place a CMS like WordPress or Drupal on the server and play. Play a lot! Break things, then red how to fix them. Un-install and re-install a few times. Use auto-installs and htp installs. Push all of the buttons. If it all breaks so badly you can’t get it going again, un-install it and do it again!

See, I used to be so afraid to do anything because I thought I might break something. But truth is, so what? Now obviously you shouldn’t do this on a money site, but just get a cheap domain to play with and do just that, PLAY! See what all of the buttons really do. If you do what I am saying, you’ll be farther than most others whether they be new or old timers on the net. So play, have fun, and don’t break everything!