Success In Your Online Business (1 of 4)

Never a truer word said, I was buying all “the latest” software and not selling… but now since September I changed my philosophy “Sold $1500 in September, $7500 in October and $25000 in November.

LOL! Thanks for calling me out! I love a good rebuking. I guess I just need to stop calling myself the worlds worst salesman and just start making sales.

Thanks for calling me out. I needed to hear that. I get so distracted by new tools and new systems when I already have what I need to really make it happen. Focusing on getting sales is what all business is about. I need to stop looking for the easy short cut and do it. Thanks John

that’s great advice….but how do we ‘make the sale’? I guess that’s literally the million dollar question! (Hopefully answered in the next video – can’t wait!!!)

Just like Mark said in the above comment, I needed to hear that too!

Jeanette Cates said something similar in Armand Morin’s premiere issue of his “Internet Marketing Newsletter,” in an article called “Reverse the Flow for Profits.”

She calls us out as the eager learners, obsessing over every new thing we can get our hands on in order to learn more about whatever it is we’re interested in learning about. She tells us the problem with that behavior is when we don’t step out of the learning mode and into the action mode.

It was a great read, and I mention it because your “bright, shiny objects” reminded me of this issue and how I need to step out of my comfort zone, and look at things from this perspective.

Thanks for that. Looking forward to your next parts to this series.
Mitch

Thanks John,
I always expect “straight from the shoulder” comments from you……. and have not once been disappointed!!
I realise that there are at least hundreds of thousands of us out here still failing at Step One……… so now I know I’m one of them and what I have to do about it.
So what are you waiting for?
I need Step Two……. lead on you smooth-talking-son-of-a-gun!!
John O’York

[...] Originally posted here: Success In Your Online Business (1 of 4) [...]

Great post, John. Very “in your face”, and that made it entertaining as well. I think you’re right on with both videos, and I’m looking forward to the next ones.

@Dave McElroy – Congratulations!!! That’s awesome.
I think people would be surprised at how many sales they make when they start concentrating on it.

John

[...] Make Sales [...]

John, I’ve really been thinking about this and it seems like the old chicken vs egg dilemma. At the mastermind you sponsored a while back in Lindon, someone asked what you would recommend to someone trying to get started in internet marketing. You suggested making a product and then start learning how to sell it. That was the first time I spoke up. I asked why you would have them create a product first rather than learn to sell by selling as an affiliate first. I believe your response was that the person would be more vested in seeing their own product succeed. Am I remembering this correctly?

So how much effort do you put into this new product – just enough to come up with an idea, then try to sell it, then create it? Is that what I am to understand here?

[...] Make Sales [...]

@Dustin – In The 4-Hour Work Week Tim gives the solution to this.

You have your idea for a product.

Create your sales page, create your order now button, create the page where they fill in their personal info (everything except the credit card info) and have them click submit. On the next page tell them “Thank you for your interest. The product isn’t quite ready yet, but because of your interest I’ll give you a free copy when It’s ready”.

Then you run adwords to the site.

When you’ve seen enough sales, then you create the product, and email the people who already tried to buy, saying “here’s the product – if you like it, please give me a testimonial about it. Simply respond to this email, or call this number and leave a message”.

Easy enough. You’ve actually sold the product, without even creating the product, or collecting any money. You don’t have any responsibility to these people. If you only sell 1 or 2, and you see that it doesn’t work, you don’t have to create the product.

Or…you could do a similar process with an affiliate product. Give people a reason to buy that affiliate product. Send Adwords traffic. See if it sells.
If yes, create your own product and sales process. You already have the marketing channel. If no, ok, fine, very little time wasted.

John

Thanks John. Yes I do remember reading that in 4 Hour Workweek. I’d go back and read it again, but my son dropped it in the toilet! I need to get another copy

[...] Make Sales [...]

Great Comments John. I’ve been through the “shiny object phase” like I am sure many people have and I’m constantly warning newcomers that this will be their biggest hurdle.

Like you said it simply delays taking action…speaking of which I’d better get back to it.

Cheers

It’s not always “shiny happy people holding hands” I needed to hear this. Thank You. happy Holidays folks. Here’s to sales in 2009, the right way !
Take action, add value, that’s what people want.

Yeah, it’s a good strategy, I learned the sell the “non existent” product from J Reese.

Franck

Thanks John for the great advice! So true! The most important thing really is to make sales and too often I either get distracted or my perfectionism keeps me from doing so.

[...] site online, and make ONE sale. Until you do that, NOTHING will work for you. Watch this video — Success In Your Online Business (1 of 4) In that video, John Jonas tells it like it is, and truer words were never spoken. Cheers [...]

I once came across an Internet marketeer that also sold the product before there was a product to sell – his name is Derek Gehl. I still cant get my mind around that, but it makes perfect sense, its quick to setup and test a market AND saves hours and hours of work…..Ha….I wish I knew all this 6 months ago.

Thanks for the advice John…..sincerely. Sam Power

[...] “it’s good for your business”), and you use it as a crutch/time waster to avoid make sales in your [...]

Hi John…
I like guys that are straight shooter like you…
You let us Newbies hear the message and give us a kick in the pants to react or watch others success… The magic in it all what I’m finding is “JUSY DO IT”…
Reg B.

John,
Since I found you a few days ago, I never want to miss a thing you have to say. Your site definately adds VALUE just as you preach. I put the things you say right up there with Tim Ferriss. When in the world are you going to write your book?! I’m serious.
To the subject of “Step #1″, there is sooo much information out there, so many shiney objects and so much garbage! It’s very hard to sort out what is valuable from what is a waste of time; especially when you’re in the early stages of developing your business. When you find someone who truly provides VALUE, that’s where you want to focus your time. Please don’t change who you are and what you stand for, John. Thank you!
Jim Vickers

I concur with Jim V. John I want you to take me by the hand and make me successful. Can you do that?

Yes, a lot of truths in the videos. Nothing happens until you make sales. But I think why people are buying the “bright, shiny objects” is because they are TRYING to make sales. They haven’t had any success yet and they’re looking for that one big solution to making those sales.

Great first video! Thanks for the reminder… it’s pretty easy as entrepreneurs to get sucked into the whirling swirling funnel of great products.

At the end of the day sales copy is what counts!

Twitter me @todd_herman

Hi John – this is THE best sense I have heard on the internet for a long time. Thanks for this. It is EXACTLY what I needed to hear – God bless you!
Steve

This makes no sense to me at all. Where does the traffic come from if all you have is a website. The first thing can’t be make sales. First thing is find a source of traffic. A website without traffic cannot make sales.

Somewhere along the line I think a key step was skipped.

Alen,

I think he means that you have to build a page that is centered around “sales.”

I’m quoting John here, “You HAVE to understand why you’re selling, what you’re selling, to whom you’re selling, and why they’re buying it, or you can’t make money online.”

This is true. Without this, the traffic would be worthless. So when you start with your sales page and focusing on the customer first, then when you start the flood of traffic it work.

John, this post is just the best thing I’ve seen from you. I have to quote Joey quoting you for emphasis… “You HAVE to understand why you’re selling, what you’re selling, to whom you’re selling, and why they’re buying it, or you can’t make money online.” That is achievable with a single web-page that is little more than a sales pitch and an order form.

This is making me question my whole web-presence. What am I trying to achieve? What do I want visitors to my websites to do?

Good video John. I like your style.

Ray

John,

You are one of the few internet marketers who say it like it really should be said – straight to the point like spitting on the face of your readers. I honestly believe this is what we really need. Because, everybody else is selling you just about every other method that they say will work for you. However, what people do not realize is that his next shiny object just takes away the focus on making sales and eventually moves us back to being an opportunity seeker.

Jon

John,

Thanks for this, it is a very good remainder for us to focus and re-focus on our business at hand, rather than to depend on ‘bright shiny objects’ for some sort of ‘emotional support’..I am also guilty of being distracted many a times, buying guru products and hope that with it, I have some assurance that the sales will come..

I guess I was ‘grasping at straws’ out in the sea of information/knowledge and not really looking out for a real float or even better, learning to swim properly…

With your 4 videos, I have gain a good perspective of what needs to done first and why..Its a good start to re-focusing on my business for the nest 2 weeks..

Rick

John,

Making sales is the ultimate goal. However, the devil is always in the details as to how to achieve that.

For example, do newcomers learn how to …

1) Analyse a potential market ?
2) Create a winning product ?
3) Write a sales letter ?
4) Design a web page / site that looks half-decent ?

In my opinion, all of the above will have an impact on sales.

The position of most gurus is, “Tell them what to do, but don’t show them HOW to do it.” That’s why the shiny objects seem so attractive to newcomers: none of the gurus are generously sharing the HOW of internet marketing because they are afraid of potential competition.

Hi John

I am so guilty of buying those ‘bright shiny objects’ that you mentioned. I buy them because I don’t want to miss out. Problem is, they’ve cost me a fortune and I definitely haven’t seen a return on the investment. I do actually take action, I don’t just sit here waiting for the next big thing to come along. I get busy and do the things that will hopefully propel me forward. I like to end the day knowing that I’ve done something constructive, it doesn’t matter how small the ’something’ was, as long as it’s a little step further along the road to financial freedom. It can’t come quick enough!

John O’Hara

Thanks John! You know it is almost easy to forget to pre-sell and see if there is a market for our product idea when the idea hits you. I’ve done that with websites in the past, you know create a website and “you” like it but no one else does. What a waste of valuable time!

Thanks for the wake-up call John. ^5

~Mark

[...] You look for clients before even starting, which less risk. (MAKE SALES!!!) [...]

@Dave that is Great! Congrats!

John, great video, bold and ‘in your face’! Love it. You speak truth. I don’t even know how many “shiny things” I have bought. I am at a point in my business where I am somewhat spinning my wheels. I have made sale before from a variety of sources. But lately I haven’t, perhaps I need to go back to the drawing board and start making some sales again…..certainly my biggest fallback has continually been getting distracted, sometimes by shiny things, sometime just life in general. Along with following the steps (starting at step 1) I think it is essential to organize and structure your efforts. Treat it like a real business, it will not be a real business otherwise.

Cheers!

Jeromy

Your great, ha. I always visit your blog and take your advice.
You dont mess around or waste time! ( and my time!) Thanks.
_ Ive been guilty of the “bright shiny object”

Your practice that you explained at the end of the first video is not legal. It is ILLEGAL to sell anything before it is actually created. Check it out with an attorney if you don’t believe me.

KJP, I believe that a sale is a contract and, in order for a contract to exist, there has to be consideration (money changing hands). no consideration – no contract. What is being mentioned is a tactic to determine interest which is not illegal if there is no payment

Ok, I do consider myself pretty blind at most times, so here we go…

How do we get people to that initial “rough draft” page to even “make sales” (whether that means filling out a form with or without payment collected)????

It seems you would need to run atleast a little adwords to get those first visitors….

I am new to IM an have experienced shiny object syndrome and all that other stuff and agree with you John. Yet for a guy who analyses stuff to much, it seems that you should mention atleast a tiny bit of adwords being neccessary to make those first initial “sales” (with or without payment)—-or are there other ways to get those VERY FIRST visitors/traffic to your “rough draft” page???

[...] Download the mp3 My post about making sales [...]

This guy is such a nerd LOL!

John,

Great point and information, I have extreme A.D.D. and seem to find Bright Shiny Objects all the time. I will focus all my energy on Step One, and then go from there, can't wait for the next videos, thanks so much.

- Nic Coventry

Just to be fair – I "met" you because of "One of those Shiny Objects!" and I usually am not available for webinars, but yours I managed to attend. So there is definitely something about you that "jumjps out" at me. And Why I Even took the time to watch yet another video, right? Your Video is Outstanding to me and very true. Thanks.

I can appreciate what you are saying in theory, but… how do you make sales or add value BEFORE you generate traffic? The 1st thing required is obviously generating traffic. You cannot sale anything without visitors. You specifically slammed traffic generating techniques which are required to get visitors to your website in order to make sales… It is contradictory logic and makes no sense. If you first do not learn to drive traffic to your website… you will NEVER be able to make a sale (at least not control the process as someone may accidently stumble across the site and buy).

excellent video. Most online business owners need to hear this. Many of us focus on learning all the traffic techniques before we actually set up a sales funnel on our sites. I know what I will be focusing on this week — getting my sales funnel in order. Thank you!

[...] Download the mp3 My post about making sales [...]

Great Post….I needed that….

Thanks,

Derrick

It's true nothing happens until someone sell something…..

I agree with this, ad value, how true this is.
thanks
great advise
Michael

nice videos. you really broke through the bs about making it online. people are so hungry for gain that they forget to give first, and in order to add value, you've got to be passionate or at least gifted in a certain area the you work in. everything else is another scheme.

We shall embrace life systems through mutual understanding to each other's fortune. Life is precious and can not be matched with anything on earth. Getting successiful or remaining poor is God's will. One out world's so called super class people have got important roles to change the ways other people live in this world. There successiful business people like other should be parsuasive in character to embrace precious life status as equal opportunity to all
Charles

We shall embrace life systems through mutual understanding to each other's fortune. Life is precious and can not be matched in with anything on earth. Getting successiful or remaining poor is God's will. One out world's so called super class people have got important roles towards changing the ways the rest of the people live in this world. Therefore, successiful business people like any other else should be parsuasive in character to embrace precious life status as equal opportunity to all
Charles

I tried to watch the video on my BBerry.What can I use to watch it?

Good reminder. I had already made up my mind to focus on creating websites first. So to put aside the distracting emails at this stage, I created a folder – email marketing proposals – and keep all the emails there for a later time after I have made sales. i consider you and Brian Johnson, the real article. You both have very sound advice for people who wish to succeed in online marketing. Won't be surprised you will be recommended by many.

Good reminder. I had already made up my mind to focus on creating websites first. So to put aside the distracting emails at this stage, I created a folder – email marketing proposals – and keep all the emails there for a later time after I have made sales. i consider you and Brian Johnson, the real article. You both have very sound advice for people who wish to succeed in online marketing. Won't be surprised you will be recommended by many.

Hi John,
This is really great stuff, but how do we make sales? How can we accurately find what people are searching for and give them a solution to their problem? Most importantly how do we make sales so we can use our profits to invest in outsourcing to scale up our businesses. Now if you have a course on the above I would consider that as an essential asset to our growth and not some shiny new object.
Best
Philip

Thanks for the reality check. The reality is, no sales, no money and no business. A fact that can`t be denied.

Very succinct…I'm assuming that this message is to those who know enough to get traffic, build a site & opt in page, create a blog etc, but just get lost right there!
Fair call. If you haven't been past that stage…how would you know what came next?
That's why some do wander in the wilderness for "40 years"…
Remember fear of the unknown, fear of not being good enough, fear of failure are all just lurking under the new comer's skin.
It is easy…when you know how…but until that awesome break thru'…it's a nightmare of sorts.
Thanks for these videos.
Kindest,
Poppie

Good Point. There's so many good ideas out there, but if it isn't followed by execution and sales, then it's not worth anything. I learned that on Dragon's Den and Shark Tank. My two favorite shows.

Thank you for giving it to us straight! Please don't hesitate to tell us just the way it is!
I agree, we must add Value to our products. And, I believe that we will do best when we are offering products that people are willing to buy from us off-line and we add value to the offer!!!

Hey Jonas, thanks for a wonderful, passionate and informative rant! I really enjoyed it. Ok – I'm going to go back to my website and focus on making sales. And since it's an affiliate website, figure out and make sure I'm adding value in the process. Wishing you much success, Samith.

I agree with everyone who thanks you for the calling out. These videos allowed me to see that I was constantly blinding myself with the bright shiny objects on my computer screen. Running circles around myself. At least now I know the starting point of the race which can allow me to get to the finish line.
So AGAIN, Thank You for your direction.

Very interesting content Jon, 100% motivational sound advice, I,m here commenting from a “newbie” perspective

and the one BIG lesson I’ve learned since starting out

in September 09 is this: Marketing online is a business

just like any other, and you have got to treat it as such.

What does that involve? In my opinion it primary means you

must educate yourself first in all aspects of your business> Learning how to run a successful business is never easy keep on persevering and learning and success

will follow

Hey John, I love your sobering wisdom! It's a gift. Thank you!

JOHN:
I SEE FROM THE TIME FRAME ON THE COMMENTS THAT YOU DID THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET STARTED SINCE THE COMPUTER WAS INVENTED (I'M 75) AND THIS IS THE VERY BEST ADVICE I HAVE EVER HEARD ON THE WAY TO GET STARTED….
I HOWEVER DON'T HAVE A PRODUCT, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BUILD A WEBSITE.

I REALLY NEED TO MAKE MORE MONEY BECAUSE I'M LIKE A FEW MILLION OTHER OLD PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ONLY HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY AS AN INCOME.

IF I/WE COULD TEACH THE RETIRED COMMUNITY THAT NEED INCOME AND HAVE NOTHING BUT TIME AND INTELLIGENCE TO ACTUALLY EARN MONEY TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS AND FEEL NEEDED WOULDN'T THAT BE GREAT???
I NEED YOUR HELP WITH THIS PROJECT!

ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

ART SMITH
artvsmith@gmail.com

Very good indeed.
Most people never make money, because they can't get started. They buy one product after the other, they try this system and that system, but they never, never, never really get themselves started.

Stop buying other people's stuff and start selling your own products. Period.

Hey John,
Thanks for the wake up call!
I've collected so many "bright shiny objects over the last 5 years that I think I'll start my own jewelry store!
Talk about throwing money away…And to make matters worse…I've had a lifetime in sales. I'm retired now however I'm bitten or should I say smitten by the IM thing.
It is back to square one for me…because of you telling how it is!
I have everything I need to do this…except YOUR "Replace Yourself " shiny object….which for now at least has been bookmarked for visiting later…after I've made some sales!
I really do mean "Thank You" for the slap in the face.
Ret Strat

Basic advice yet so brilliant and true