What Kind of Internet Marketer Are You?
By Anna Johnson on December 1st, 2008People are attracted to Internet marketing, specifically their own online business, for a variety of reasons. Some see it as the ideal vehicle to help them achieve personal and financial freedom. Others are motivated to transform the world with the ‘next big thing’. And many fall somewhere in between.
While there are no ‘rules’ about who can or should get involved in Internet marketing, I do believe that some are more likely to succeed than others.
In particular, someone who is passionate about building an Internet business and delivering better and unique solutions to their customers is MUCH more likely to succeed online – AND achieve wealth and personal freedom – than someone who is focused entirely on making money online and couldn’t care less about how they do it.
That said, we all differ in terms of the degree to which we want to follow a tried and true path… or forge our own unique path.
On one end of the spectrum are those of us want to be told exactly what to do in order to build an online business. We may even want to buy an existing business, franchise or business opportunity or, at least, model another business that we know ‘works’.
On the other end of the spectrum are those of us wish to be as different and original as we possibly can. We don’t just want to start our own business or use an innovative business model – we want to create new solutions to problems people don’t know they have!
Again, most of us probably fall somewhere between those two extremes. But who’s right? Is it better to follow a tried and true path or to forge a new path?
Well, as you might suspect, it depends on YOU. The best approach for you… is the best approach for YOU. It’s NOT the best approach for me or anyone else.
In my experience, those who follow a more tried and true approach are more likely to have sustainable, profitable business. Simply because they are taking a lower risk approach i.e. they are modeling success.
But although those who insist on being different and original take a riskier approach (who knows if anyone will buy their newfangled widget!) – they’re also the ones who tend to achieve the MAMMOTH successes. These are the people behind the Googles, MySpaces and Facebooks of the Internet.
To use a softball or baseball analogy, it’s a bit like the difference between hitting the ball to make it to first base, compared with aiming to hit a home run. There’s a trade off between risk and return.
Once again, however, what is right for you… is right for YOU. If you are naturally more risk averse, choosing a ‘home run’ business strategy is probably a recipe for disaster. Whereas if you are naturally rebellious and inclined to do things ‘your’ way… you’ll probably sabotage yourself and your business if you try the ‘safer’ approach of following in someone else’s steps.
That’s not to say it isn’t helpful or wise for the more risk-averse person to be creative… or the risk-taker to model success… It’s just that a little self-awareness goes a long way. When you’re aware of the kind of Internet marketer you are, you’re better able to play to your strengths and neutralize your weaknesses.
December 26th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I agree with you in regard to internet marketing. I believe these two different poles are very important and have their own importance. As you stated what suits for me is the best approach for me. I feel no two persons think alike.