Ask almost any Internet marketer what they wish they could change about their journey and it would probably be something along the lines of better planning. When you’re first starting out, it’s hard to consider your future.
After all, you’re not even sure if you HAVE a future in this industry. You’re still struggling to make your first dollar online. But you do need to have a plan for your business growth, regardless of whether you’re new to Internet marketing, or a seasoned participant.
Where do you see your brand going in the next 2-5 years? Do you even have a brand? Some people start off flitting from one course to the next, without ever considering whether they’re learning something in line with what they hope their future includes.
What if you hate AdSense site creation, but you plunked down $47 for a course that teaches it because it’s been said to help people make an extra $500 a month? That’s a waste for those who have very little intention of growing their business with that business model in the coming years.
You should sit down and plot out a path for your business growth for 2012. Have one year filled with focus and accomplishments. Know where you’re going so you can plan how to get there.
It’s important that you fill your journey with things you like to do. It won’t last long if you dread having to sit down and work on tasks that bore or frustrate you all of the time. This is one of the pleasures of working for yourself – you get to be the boss and give yourself the job titles you want, and delegate the ones that disgust you to someone else.
Some people will always scurry around trying to make ends meet. Put more emphasis on focus and planning. If you’re a leader, in any niche, you should be teaching this as well – leading by example.
Start with branding. How do you want to be known long-term? You can brand under your exact name, or by a pen name – or even a company moniker you create that has that special recognition factor built in.
Once you know how you want this process to unfold, work on identifying your key competitors. In which areas are they better than you? In which areas do you beat them when it comes to marketing? Being able to recognize your own faults and weaknesses helps you get ahead in the end if you’re willing to implement changes along the way.
Implement changes by looking for cutting edge tactics that are sustainable for the long haul. You want to steer clear of flash in the pan strategies. The year of 2012 is going to see an influx of small business entrepreneurs taking their ideas online. It’s vital that you have the motivation and enthusiasm to win over your target market.
