When Internet Marketing Gurus Sell Their Souls

If you're just getting started in Internet Marketing, you may be awed by the amount of "Internet Gurus" out there, each one making millions of dollars (or so they claim) and for some reason seem more than willing, for a fee, to teach you their biggest, most intimate secrets.

Well, I believe in one thing - "If it sounds too good to be true, it most probably is!"

While I have no doubt about the specialized skills and techniques used by these gurus, it can get a little too frustrating simply getting tangled and lost in all their hype, and find almost no value at the end of the day. Hype - that's one thing I agree these guru's are really good at. For some of them, unfortunately, hype is the only thing they're good at.

So the question, for those who are trying to master Internet Marketing, might be:

1) Can I learn anything from these gurus without paying money?
2) Who's real and who's not?
3) Whose Internet marketing methods should I follow?

Question 1: Can I Learn Something for Free?

Most Internet guru's have opt-in newsletters on specialized subjects like website marketing, Pay-Per-Click advertising, search engine optimization or whatever specialized skill they have "mastered". Almost all of them try to convince you to subscribe to their newsletter in return for some kind of "breakthrough" report, and promise to deliver "valuable information" weekly or monthly to your email address. Sounds great...

Here's what happens 2 weeks later - You realize that the "breakthrough report" is the same old regurgitated information which you can find almost anywhere. You might also realize that the "valuable information" almost never comes without any hidden agenda. The "valuable information" usually turns out to be a soft-selling ad (sometimes even blatant advertisements) for the guru's latest products or paid seminars, or even worse, some other Internet marketer's products.

I'm not trying to shoot down any marketer here, but the irony is in their teaching. Almost all internet gurus would advice you to offer valuable, free information that benefits other people. Profits, as they say, is secondary to actually helping people and making a difference in their lives. Give before you take....what a load of BS!

How come they don't practice what they preach? Of is that how the "Internet Marketing Game" is really played? Surely, nobody minds receiving ads and promotions, as long as there is a fair deal of free information being offered.

Fortunately, not all Internet marketers are the same. There are still some jewels to be found, and they offer some great information in their newsletters, which they unselfishly offer for free, such as:

1) Vishal Rao (http://www.home-based-business-opportunities .com) talks about starting and managing home based businesses.
2) Mike Cheney (http://www.magnet4web.com) talks about building an effective and efficient business web site.
3) Jill Whalen (http://www.highrankings.com) talks about Search Engine Optimization.
4) Allan Gardyne (http://www.associateprograms.com) is the authority on affiliate programs and affiliate marketing, with an award-winning newsletter.

Of course there are many more good marketers out there, and you'll have to get through several bad ones first before you get to the good ones. It is not necessary to subscribe to every Internet Marketing newsletter just to hope for nuggets of gold that may never come. Instead, give the gurus a "trial" month, and if you don't find anything of value from them, just unsubscribe from their mailing lists.

It will only be a loss to them, not you.

Question 2 : Who's Real and Who's Not?

To answer this question, you really have to "get around" the Internet a lot. Take part in Internet Marketing forums where you will definitely find topics on info-products, seminars and software offered by these gurus, and see what others are saying about them.

Forget about all those blaring testimonials that the gurus compile on their site. After visiting several guru websites, you may start to find the same faces and names, helping each other out by giving testimonials which are seldom backed by proof. Forums are where the real testimonials are.

If you find yourself browsing the Internet a lot, trying to find good value for money, then you'll need the Alexa toolbar. What this toolbar does is that it gives you an idea of the popularity of the website you're visiting. Secondly, it allows you to see who the closest competitors are, giving you more alternatives to choose from. Besides that, it also displays reviews and ratings given by others who have visited the website or used any product being sold via the website. This is where you'll find the "not so beautifully polished" opinions and testimonials.

- Alexa Toolbar : http://www.home-business-association.com/r d/alexa/

(Alexa is owned by Amazon.com. If you're concerned about installing toolbars on your computer, make sure you adjust the privacy settings accordingly)

You may also want to consider this site:

- GuruDaq : http://www.gurudaq.com

Taking on a Nasdaq-like approach, this site lists all gurus according to ratings and 'stock price'. Although I would advice you to take it more for its entertainment value than actual recommendations, perhaps this site will allow you to get a glimpse of "who's who" in Internet Marketing.

Question 3 : Whose methods should I follow?

Honestly, nobody's. At least not word-for-word of what is thought in their newsletters or ebooks. The important thing to realize is that you need to develop your own technique to be really successful. The guru's don't teach you everything, anyway. They almost always feed you the crop but keep the cream for themselves. In other words, no one really tells you the "hot money-making secrets". They only teach you their not-so-secret money making facts.

There are many places you can get reviews on internet marketing ebooks, but be warned that most will be biased in one way or another. Here's a good downloadable PDF resource on ebook reviews, distributed with the permission of the author:

- "Web Promotion Products Exposed" by Mike Cheney:
http://www.magnet4web.com/WebPromot ionProductsExposed.pdf

Its really up to you to learn some tips and tricks of the trade from Internet gurus, but set out on your own course. In order to be successful in anything, you need to do your own thing. Be original in your approach, whether it's writing sales letters, doing email marketing, writing articles, pay-per-click or search engine optimization, and the world will take notice.

It is also important to realize that before you go around shopping for all kinds of "how-to" material and software, you need to get a good grip of what your business really needs. You'll need to develop a strong, specific and detailed business plan before you set out on a quest to improve your knowledge on that are critical to the success to your business. Here are some good resources for writing effective business plans:

- http://www.home-business-association.com/ rd/bplans/
- http://www.bplans.com

When you know what your business truly needs, you're more likely to recognize the exact type of internet marketing method you'll need to study and master. Don't just look to someone who has sold their soul a long time ago to guide you to the path of success.

That's just wishful thinking.

About the Author

Gobala Krishnan is an internet marketer and home business owner with SFI Marketing Group. Visit his site at http://www.sfidreamteam.com to start your own Internet based home business today, and get a free kick start package, one-on-one coaching and a clear, proven system to earn a six figure income. Article reprint info available at http://pub.gobalakrishnan.com

---

Internet Marketing Online: How To Eliminate Your Competition Without Bloodshed

Business thrives on competition.You've to be aware of your competition... Read More

To Make the Most Dollars, Make The Most Sense

The world of Internet marketing isn't all it's cracked up... Read More

Guaranteed Sign Ups-What Are They?

Every business needs customers that's axiomatic.When you work on the... Read More

Kaizen in Online Marketing

Many people throughout the life of online marketing have utilized... Read More

How Do You Make Gold Online Without A Database?

That is a great question!We all know by now that... Read More

Seven Strategies To Make Money On The Net Regularly

You can attract 1,000's of prospects to you. You only... Read More

Using Ad Boards in Your Marketing Campaigns

Are free advertising boards a waste of time?Not if you... Read More

Creative Offline Website Marketing Techniques

Although the vast majority of website traffic is the direct... Read More

Guru... Schmooru... So What! The Internet Gurus Unmasked

The word "guru", in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as:1.... Read More

Online Business Mistakes

Everybody makes mistakes, but nobody likes to talk about them.... Read More

The Seven Secrets of a High-Sales Marketer

If you want to boost your website sales to the... Read More

I Hate Asking for Referrals! ? 6 Proven Methods for Getting a Flood of Referrals Without Asking

Yes, I admit it - I hate asking for referrals... Read More

Its All About The Leads: Publishing to Capture Profits

All online businesses are nothing more than lead capturing machines.... Read More

Yanik Silver Asked Some Questions That Peaked My Curiosity

It's so simple! I wish I'd discovered it a year... Read More

Growing Your Business On-line: A Fresh Perspective

Rather than thinking about the web as technology, let's consider... Read More

Getting Some Good Ol Internet Real Estate

Real estate has made many people large amounts of money... Read More

Online Sales: 10 Magical Online Sales Tactics To Sell Your Products Faster

There are certain magical tactics that work so well that... Read More

8 Things I Have Learned As An Internet Marketer

I started as an internet marketer, like I am sure... Read More

Discover How To Find The Gold Online

Finding the GOLD!!!G'Day from the kitchen table of Scott WilsonTime... Read More

How Do You Live the Internet Dream? Automate, Automate, Automate!

There's no doubt that one of the things that excited... Read More

So What If You Dont Have A Website?

Gasp! Choke! Gag! That's how people react when you tell... Read More

What The Internet Owes Me

What does the internet owe me for all my hard... Read More

Streamlining Internet Marketing

With each new Internet Marketing (IM) Guru, there comes a... Read More

The ABCs of Online Customer Support

Want to provide great online customer support? Want to provide... Read More

Find Your Niche

If you haven't heard the word 'niche' being batted around... Read More

Discover Which Sales Triggers Are Most Effective When Mixed With SEO!

We all know the importance of gaining top visibility to... Read More

Website Marketing: 10 Proven Uncommon Tactics Ways To Accelerate Your Profits

Would you like to accelerate profits at your website?Here are... Read More

Joint Ventures: Five Powerful Tips for Building JV Relationships

One of the best and fastest ways to build your... Read More

Making Your Money Work For You ? And Not The Other Way Around!

Most people spend their entire lives working hard for someone... Read More

Triple Your Profits Easily With The Right USP

Convinced you have a fantastic idea for your online business... Read More

Internet Marketing Online: 10 Breakthrough Secrets To Heat Up Your Sales

If you desire to heat up your sales online, then... Read More

Internet Marketing Online: 10 Flaming Hot Ways To Fire-up Your Sales

Why do some websites sell more than others?Why are some... Read More

Website Sales: 10 Exploding Ways To Intensify Your Website Sales

Are sales at your website weak?Have you tried different types... Read More