OK, so I’ve been pretty darn sick the past week, which is why you haven’t seen a new post from me. Hopefully I’ll be well by this weekend. However I do have a treat for you today, a guest post by fellow female entrepreneur Nicole Dean. She’s a mommy herself and makes a full-time living working for herself online… as such I think she’s a spectacular lady to look up to and learn from. So I hope you enjoy the post!
As an Internet business coach, I see people making some serious mistakes. Actually “mistakes” is the wrong word. It’s more of a serious sabotaging – and it can royally screw up your Internet business.
Now I don’t want to be all doom and gloom. I’m a very positive person, in general, so let’s tackle these mistakes and overcome them so we can focus on making lots of money.
So, here are 4 common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Getting Stuck on your Own Blog.
Internet marketing has one important word in it. “Marketing”. Yes, it involves actual marketing, most of which is done “off site”. Yet, I find that clients tend to spend the majority of their time on their own blogs – writing, tweaking, comment management, and overall general futzing with it.
What should you do instead?
Instead, be sure to market your business by sharing your content on other sites, through guest blogging, article marketing, press releases, video marketing, interviews, etc.
Example: This blog post is an opportunity for me to do some Internet marketing off site. 
My favorite quick method of marketing is guest blogging. In fact, I spent an entire summer guest blogging for 15 weeks straight and it worked wonders for my business. It boosted my credibility and my traffic so much that I decided to teach my methods to others.
If you’re interested in learning more about this, check out my course at Mostly Sane Marketing. It’s especially effective if you have your own infoproducts.
Mistake #2: Don’t Use Shortcuts.
A second mistake that I see my clients making regularly is doing things the hard way.
One of my favorite shortcuts that I recommend for my clients is PLR or private label rights content. PLR may be any type of digital content. For instance, articles, ebooks, blog posts, or a number of other things. The thing that makes this type of content special is that you can purchase it with special rights. Those rights allow you to use the content in your business. I personally like to think of PLR as purchasing drafts of content that I can then use as I wish in my business.
The hard part? Finding quality content. Honestly, most PLR is junk and I wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole. Luckily I happen to own a PLR site that’s been in business since 2006 with a stellar reputation where you can load up on content for your online business. Check it out if you’d like at EasyPLR.com
Mistake #3: Do Everything Yourself.
There are a ton of tasks to do in your online business. Trying to do them all by yourself is not only difficult but it’s unproductive and it slows your progress significantly.
Outsourcing has increased my profits by helping me get through roadblocks and to push ahead progress. I work with several freelancers who help me to look good and get more stuff done. In fact, I’ve created a course to help others to outsource successfully. You can signup for my free ecourse at OutSource Weekly. I also offer a complete 52 week course on the topic of Outsourcing at that page.
Mistake #4: Passwords.
Please please do not use the same easy-to-remember passwords for most of your sites. If one of those sites gets hacked, the hacker will instantly gain access to many of your sites.
Example: Right now there’s a bad phishing scam happening on Twitter. What exactly does that mean? Well, here’s what’s going on. Scammers DM you with a link. You click the link. The link goes to a page that resembles another site. You log in. ZAM! The scammers just got your logins for Twitter or Facebook or your Bank – OUCH.
I actually wrote a report about this topic recently because so many internet business owners are gambling with the safety of their businesses. You can check it out here: MostlySaneMarketing/AvoidDisaster!
Nicole Dean, NicoleontheNet.com
Follow me on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/nicoledean
Nicole Dean is the Mostly-Sane Marketer. (Ask anyone who knows her and they’ll say that the “mostly” part is up for debate!) Nicole is an expert in Affiliate Management, Affiliate Marketing, “Lazy Marketing” for passive profits, Outsourcing Effectively, and Marketing with Content. But, she’s got a secret. She uses a LOT of shortcuts, including hiring brilliant helpers who make her look a lot smarter than she really is.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
RT @k0zm0zs0ul: Miz Nicole Dean.. this weeks featured guest blogger.. http://su.pr/2jEx8m Rt's and comments appreciated!
RT @k0zm0zs0ul: Check out my latest Guest post via @NicoleDean http://bit.ly/bIz2kF Please RT & comment! <- Thanks for inviting me.
RT @NicoleDean: RT @k0zm0zs0ul: Check out my latest Guest post via @NicoleDean http://bit.ly/bIz2kF Please RT & comment! <- Thanks fo …
Well I can't disagree with guest blogging because the reason I am here is because of a great article Cori wrote on problogger. My blog is relatively new and I do find it difficult to wear every hat, but it is no where near profitable enough to justify outsourcing. At what point during your blogs/business maturity did you feel it was time to start delegating?
I teach my students to start outsourcing anything that is standing between you and profit so that you can get past any roadblocks in your way. However, I always recommend that you automate wherever possible before delegating.
I'm not sure about your business since I don't know what your monetization model is, but outsource anything that can help you to do the profitable activities faster and easier. If that's helping you to submit your content then so be it. Sometimes you might be amazed at how a task that takes you 2 weeks to figure out could have been solved by someone else in 15 minutes. It was a humbling experience for me, for sure.
But, because I don't know your financial situation, I couldn't give specifics. I certainly wouldn't want to encourage you to outsource unless you 1. had a proven business model, and 2. could do so without ringing up a bunch of debt or jeopardizing your finances.
Hope that makes sense!
Warmly,
Nicole
Okay, I may be biased (I'm Nicole's Mom) BUT… I also happen to know that Nicole is no internet marketing schmooze that's going to steer you down some unsavory path. Nicole is the genuine article. She works hard for her money… duh dum duh dum… (okay, that was fun)… AND she gets the results that she keeps telling everyone THEY will get if they follow her lead.
I should know. I left a dead end, unsatisfying, j-o-b more than 2 years ago and never looked back. I'm not in the same fast-paced world of internet marketing that Nicole is in (I'm not runnin' with the big dogs, nor do I want to) but I have an incredibly satisfying business now, I'm respected by others in the field, I am learning a lot, and my income is growing.
In other words, I did everything Nicole told me to do, and it worked! My little blogs are growing, slow but sure, and I'm HAVING FUN! That's the main thing. I'm doing something I enjoy AND I'm making a living doing it. It's a great place to be at my age, don't you think?
Thanks for this wonderful opportunity to see Nicole on BigGirlBranding. Great sight! I've heard about you before but never stopped in until now! Very fun and interesting. Thanks again!
Awww.. well thanks for stopping by Patti and thanks so much for the
compliments! I agree, Nicole knows her stuff and ranks up there with some of
the best role models, IMHO.
And it's wonderful that you're doing well too and having fun while doing
it.. I totally agree, the having fun part is essential. It makes the long
hours you may initially have to put in feel like playtime rather than WORK.
lol Thanks again for stopping by hun, and I appreciate your comment!
Warm regards,
C
I'm thinking I need so much help that I'm needing someone to read these great posts for me… and then give it to me in outline form. Not lazy, just overwhelmed sometimes. ^.^
LOL…
It happens. Try reading just one thing a day that you can take
Thanks for commenting
action on, and write down any other ideas you have for another day… then
cross them off, day by day as you complete them.
hun!
How did you get the opportunity to guest blog? Did you meet these fellow bloggers through blog groups or forums? If you could share a few examples of how you landed various guest blogging gigs, that would be very helpful. Thanks so much!
Hi Cathy,
Yes, I network with a lot of great people. I don't spend much time on free forums, but do like to hang out on paid ones where I tend to find people who are serious about their businesses. I also network on Twitter/Facebook, and in real life. I've focused on creating quality relationships in my field which has been a huge component of my success online.
That combined with choosing a field to become “known” for, and offering unique quality content makes it pretty easy to get guest blogging opportunities. Plus, I make it known that I'm interested in guest blogging, so people know that it's ok to ask.
In fact, I currently have a waiting list of blogs that have asked me (or sent me interview questions) that I'm trying to work my way down.
I hope that gives you some ideas.
Best wishes.
Warmly,
Nicole