my cybernet life story, the life and
trials of an Internet junkie
I sat here this morning in front of a blank screen desperately
trying to think of a subject for my next article. It wasn't
only the screen that was blank, my mind started to wander away
from the screen and on to random thoughts about Internet life
in general and peoples names and the stories of how I got to
know them started to pop in to my head.
When I realised here was my article with out the people I was
thinking about my Internet experience would be less enjoyable
and less profitable.
So this is going to be my cybernet life story, the life and
trials of an Internet junkie.
I started the same way everyone else did bought a computer with
a modem.
(actully I bought it with money but it had a modem installed)
never used the modem for nearly a year figured if I
started to log on to the Internet it would end up costing me a
fortune in telephone charges. Only finally used it when the 12
months warranty was nearly up needed to make sure it worked
before the warranty ran out. Guess what it had a fault the
manufactures sent the wrong modem cable.
Got that one sorted out and then because I now had an ISP I
started to use the internet, well I surfed around aimlessly,
and I was right cost me a fortune in telephone charges.
Then I noticed my ISP allowed me to have my own web site
(free of course) so I built my first web page. What do you
reckon happened next,
got bombarded with spam about how I could earn 1 million in 2
weeks just by following a simple masterplan that would only
cost me $50.00 if I purchased it today right now.
Fell into that one several times, is all this sounding familiar
getting a feeling of deja vous.
Ok now we have set the scene, where does the making friends
come into it.
One of those emails told me about this super duper new hosting
company that would not only host my site but provide me with
products of my own complete with the sales pages for each
product. So I could start making money right away, plus they
would pay me, all I had to do was get other people to sign up
and I could earn a monthly income forever.
Wow lead me to it signed up right away uploaded the sales pages
they sent me started to send out free ads submitted to FFA
pages free classified sites. Zilch, nothing,
(accept a credit card bill)
I stopped in my tracks something was wrong here what should I
be doing that I wasn't, this was a good product great sales
pages written by experts it had to sell.
Then I noticed that one of the free extras you got was
membership to a marketing forum called the Internet Warriors,
in desperation decided to log in and take a look.
BINGO here was all the information on what worked and why.
What didn't work and why, I found people here who were willing
to take me by the hand and tutor me for free.
I found out that free classifieds and FFA sites used to work
but not any more, paid solo ads, and writing your own articles
were the way to go. Writing my own articles "phew" could I do
that, Yes I could well I could try at least.
Wrote an article around one of the many affiliate programs I
had joined "search engine commando" and called it the price of
spamming the search engines. Now where to submit it, I decided
to go straight for the jugular and submitted it to
Inside Office one of the premier newsletters on the net.
About two weeks later I got home from work turned on the
computer to check my email, and was totally gobsmacked there
was a string of emails from SEC with the subject line
"YOU HAVE MADE A SALE". There were 24 emails all telling me I
had made a $24.95 commission on sales of SEC.
There were another 10 emails in my in box asking me questions
about SEC and where could they get it, also in there was my
copy of Inside Office with my article headline in the subject
line.
I was in print, I had made money and I was hooked for life.
That article produced sales and enquiries for a whole week, I
actually got people signing up for my newsletter, I was an
Internet warrior.
So I wrote another article about another affiliate program,
submitted it to Inside Office again.
Nothing Zilch never got published. Annoyed but determined I
submitted it to Internet Day another high profile Internet
ezine.
Bingo not only was it published it made sales just like the
other one did, but best of all I got an email from one of the
biggest names in internet marketing Joe Robson.
Joe told me what a great article it was and thanked me for the
great tips in it (kept that email)
I replied to Joe asking him if I could use his comments as a
testimonial, he agreed and I proudly put it at the top of my
WebPages. Subscriptions to my newsletter tripled overnight
Went back to the warriors forum and started taking heed of what
was being said, even chipped in with a few comments of my own.
Now those people, who were so willing to help, people like.
Teresa King, Diane Hughes, Paul Meyers, Patty Baldwin,
Heather Coleman, Ian Noakes, Gary sergeant, Pamela Heywood all
know who I am. I get emails from them asking my opinion,
inviting me to participate in joint ventures. Thanking me for
info I have given them.
I am one of those people whose replies are read by the newbies
in the forum.
Is this just boasting on my part, NO I'm proud of that but the
reason for telling this story is to get you to realise you have
got to get involved, make contacts, make friends, make a name
inside the circle of people who can set you on your way.
Then give back that help to the people coming in later.
All those contacts and the people that listen to what I have to
say, make me money.
At least some of those names above are not only mentors they
are customers and business partners.
I guess what I am trying to say here is sometimes it's not what
you know but who you know that counts.
About the Author
Article written by Robert Puddy webmaster at
http://www.hotbobs.com
editor of the Affiliate Know-How ezine
subscribe@hotbobs.com
And CEO of the
Advertising Know-How ad shop discount club.
http://www.advertisingknowhow.com