If you search “how to succeed in internet marketing” (give it a shot – I did) you’ll get a bunch of gobbledygook about SEO and optimization, analyzing data, and other digital related tasks. And there is a good chance you won’t be able to do most of these things yourself. While there may be value there, that’s not necessarily why others are finding success and you are not.
You can do all those things, and even pay others to do it for you. You can “know your niche” and “have a consistent brand message”. The honest truth of it is, you will still fail.
Sorry to be blunt.
The reason others find success has less to do with fancy websites and social media and SEO, and more to do with a few basic working principles.
The good thing is, you can start now and learn what you don’t know and begin developing habits that will lead to success.
Here are the 7 Reasons Why People Succeed:
1. They Allow Themselves Time to Succeed
This is a biggie!!
How long does it take to become a doctor or lawyer, or even a hairdresser? It takes hours of study and practice to learn any craft.
There are two elements here:
- Many of those starting in internet marketing are under the delusion that you can “get rich quick”. That is almost never going to happen. If you listen to the most honest online marketers, they will tell you they worked at it for years, gradually growing a following and a business.
- Most who start in internet marketing don’t take the time to learn how. There are literally thousands of programs, books and webinars that lay the groundwork with some very good basic learning principles. But these principles are ignored.
Most newbies join a program and start promoting it, without knowing what they are promoting. They don’t take the time to learn, read, watch related videos – sometimes more than once – so that they can make an appropriate judgement on whether they should even bother going on with it, or find something else.
Instead, when it looks like it things don’t work out right away, they ditch it for the next thing, never taking the time to find success in anything.
2. They Have A Strong Desire
This one is simple. Most people wish they were successful or wealthy, but they don’t really want it badly enough to do all the things that are necessary to achieve their dream.
And, what’s worse, they lie to themselves about it.
Successful people never lose that desire – that inner spark – to achieve their goals. They find something that they can really enjoy and stick with it long enough to have success. (There’s #1 again – time)
3. They Have A Plan
“Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth”.
– Mike Tyson
Successful people don’t just go through each day without thinking. They outline and plan their time. They know where they are going and how they plan to get there. That doesn’t mean there won’t be bumps in the road, or times when they have to pivot.
They simply avoid times of procrastination in favor of getting things done.
PS I do my planning right within my Google account – no fancy planner is necessary.
4. They Believe in Themselves and Their Business
Belief is so extremely powerful that it can overcome just about any obstacle.
Most people don’t believe strongly enough in themselves or their opportunity. Somehow they think it is just about getting money. But it is more than that. It is about knowing that you and the opportunity that you are putting forth are worth it.
By the way, yes, I said “Business”. Internet marketing – or network or affiliate marketing – is a business. As soon as you treat it as such, and not just a “sometimes” hobby, you will begin to have more success.
5. They are Teachable and Willing To Continually Learn
“Fools learn from experience. Wise men learn from the experience of others.”
– Otto von Bismarck
Top people read books, listen to tapes and podcasts on achievement, and they attend seminars and webinars. They also have conversations with other successful people to formulate ideas that will help them improve.
There is no reason to stumble over yourself trying to learn things on your own. Begin reading and listening to others.
Every single free webinar contains many nuggets of information that you can use.
6. They Show Enthusiasm and Find Ways to Stay Motivated
“Nothing great has ever been accomplished without enthusiasm.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Enthusiasm is to success as yeast is to bread. It raises the dough!
Need I say more?
How a person stays motivated varies from one individual to the next. For some, it is taking frequent breaks to walk the dog or sip coffee or tea. For others, it is just making sure they get started on something everyday. Find what keeps you motivated and ignites your interests.
7. They Work Hard and Smart
Achievers work hard and smart, keeping their eye on the prize. They also have fun doing it because they have desire, belief and enthusiasm.
It’s too bad that many people tire out, becoming apathetic, negative or lazy. They are missing out on some of the greatest riches in life.
Please, keep your momentum going. Set up a plan for each day that will keep you moving forward. Smart people don’t quit.
The Bottom Line
You are worth it and you can do this. Just keep your eye on the prize. If you are lying to yourself, know that you are not alone. Everyone does it sometimes – even successful people. There is a world of people out there just like you.
The difference is, you are going to do something about it right now.
Start with this free training on affiliate marketing. No matter your interest, you will learn some things to get you started on the right path.
Keep learning and growing, friend, and you will find success.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
– Thomas Edison
There is some great advice in this article. Keep motivated, have a plan, remain focussed and be prepared to put in the work. There aren’t any get rich schemes out there. Having an end goal is very important and so is keeping you eyes on the prize.
The thing that works best for me is to have a plan – a daily one and a monthly one – this keeps me on schedule and stops me from procrastinating in favor of getting things done.
Continually reading and learning is also a must. It is the only way to grow – not just your business but personally.
I love this article, very motivational. Thank you
This was a very interesting article for me. When it comes to success, some people prefer the easy route. That, however, is not how it works. To be successful online, as you stated, one must put in the effort, time, skill set, focus, perseverance, and so much more. I only do one thing: I study and act for long periods of time. This allows me to learn new skills and become more successful. I’m not yet successful, but it takes more than a few weeks to see results. Thank you for writing such an informative article.
Thanks for your comments and insight, Kiersti!