Stupid mistakes I've made during my Internet marketing career

Copyright (c) 2009 Marlon Sanders

I got in this crazy business of Internet marketing teaching and training (i.e. the Guru business) back in the AOL and Compuserve days.

I've been selling online ever since. And unfortunately, not every decision I've made or action I've taken has been a good or smart one.

I've enjoyed fabulous success online and still do. However, we all make mistakes, so I figured I'd share a few of mine with you in the hopes that you learn from my pain.

Here are a few bonehead things I've done:

Mistake 1: Using the name of my products as the title of my web pages. I still have web pages like this.

It's embarrassing actually!

For the record ladies and gentlemen, use the keywords you'd like to be ranked for in Google, Yahoo and MSN as the title of your web page.

Mistake 2: Getting into disagreements with other marketers.

I haven't had a lot of disagreements. But I've had a few over the course of my career. And I think every single one of them came back to haunt me.

You never know who the next superstar in this business is going to be. Your superstars are the ones who put on the big seminars and control public opinion.

The Internet marketing audience is very social proof driven. You may be top dog today and feel like you have the right to create a few enemies. Don't do it!

Mistake 3: Assuming you'll be as famous tomorrow as you are today.

The Internet marketing guru business is a celebrity business. Fame is fleeting, just as it is in Hollywood.

Mistake 4: Not having a coaching program.

Without a coaching program, people don't attribute their success to you. They simply see you as someone they bought a product from.

You need success stories from people who will attribute their success to your wisdom and guidance.

This is the job of a coaching program. You need one.

Mistake 5: Cutting down on my speaking schedule.

I'm human. My mom had Alzheimer's disease, so I cut down my speaking schedule. But once you cut down, it's challenging to rev back up. That's something I'm doing now.

But it certainly takes more effort than when I was being invited to almost every single event.

Mistake 6: Not supporting my friends in the business as much as I should have.

Everyone needs friends who will go to bat to their email list for them. I didn't do this with some of my closest friends, and I should have.

I regret not doing it.

Mistake 7: Not taking greater advantage of article marketing over the years. Articles are a great way to spread the word about your ideas and concepts.