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Internet Marketing Is Stupid!
DavidJackson
subscriber Posts: 143 Silver Level Member
Are you familiar with the story "The Fox and The Grapes?"
It`s a classic Aesop fable that goes something like this:
One hot summer day a fox was strolling through an orchard when he came upon a bunch of grapes just ripening on a vine high off the ground on a lofty branch. "Ahhh, just the thing I need to quench my thirst," said the fox.
Stepping back a few paces, the fox ran toward the vine launching himself high into the air, just missing the bunch of grapes. Not easily deterred, he took a few steps back and again ran toward the vine, launching himself high into the air, once again missing the grapes.
Again and again he launched himself higher and higher into the air, coming up short each time. Exhausted and frustrated, the fox finally gave up and walked away muttering: "The grapes are probably sour anyway!"
The moral of the story is:"It is easy to despise what you cannot get!"
"So what does any of this have to do with internet marketing?
Well, a couple of days ago, I received a private message at one of the small business forums that I`m a member of. The message was from another forum member chastising me for trying to help other members of the forum.
In a nutshell, he said internet marketing was stupid and that you can`t make any decent money doing it because he had tried several times and failed.
Hmmmmm...sounds a lot like our fox in the aforementioned story."It is easy to despise what you cannot do!"
He went on to tell me that I was giving people false hope by encouraging them with my advice. Anyway, that message got me thinking.
There are probably plenty of other people out there who erroneously think the same exact thing about internet marketing, because of a negative experience they had. You may even be one of those people.
If you are, this is my message to you and the person who sent me that private message:"Internet marketing isn`t stupid. It does work!"
How do I know? Because I`m personally making my living online, as are several of my friends and colleagues. But it didn`t just happen by chance. It`s like anything else in life, you have to learn how to do it.
For example, people aren`t born knowing how to drive a car. You have to learn how to drive by getting behind the wheel and practicing.
Well, internet marketing is no different. You have to learn the fundamentals, and you have to practice them. Along the way you may fail a few times, but whenever you`re learning something new, you`re bound to make mistakes.
I failed at internet marketing many times, before that little light bulb finally came on inside of my head and I finally figured it out.
But I never gave up on myself and I never stopped learning. I read every marketing book, newsletter and article I could get my hands on. I still do.
You see, learning is the key."If you want to succeed at internet marketing, you have to learn how to do it!"
David Jackson
DavidJackson3/18/2009 9:20 AM
It`s a classic Aesop fable that goes something like this:
One hot summer day a fox was strolling through an orchard when he came upon a bunch of grapes just ripening on a vine high off the ground on a lofty branch. "Ahhh, just the thing I need to quench my thirst," said the fox.
Stepping back a few paces, the fox ran toward the vine launching himself high into the air, just missing the bunch of grapes. Not easily deterred, he took a few steps back and again ran toward the vine, launching himself high into the air, once again missing the grapes.
Again and again he launched himself higher and higher into the air, coming up short each time. Exhausted and frustrated, the fox finally gave up and walked away muttering: "The grapes are probably sour anyway!"
The moral of the story is:"It is easy to despise what you cannot get!"
"So what does any of this have to do with internet marketing?
Well, a couple of days ago, I received a private message at one of the small business forums that I`m a member of. The message was from another forum member chastising me for trying to help other members of the forum.
In a nutshell, he said internet marketing was stupid and that you can`t make any decent money doing it because he had tried several times and failed.
Hmmmmm...sounds a lot like our fox in the aforementioned story."It is easy to despise what you cannot do!"
He went on to tell me that I was giving people false hope by encouraging them with my advice. Anyway, that message got me thinking.
There are probably plenty of other people out there who erroneously think the same exact thing about internet marketing, because of a negative experience they had. You may even be one of those people.
If you are, this is my message to you and the person who sent me that private message:"Internet marketing isn`t stupid. It does work!"
How do I know? Because I`m personally making my living online, as are several of my friends and colleagues. But it didn`t just happen by chance. It`s like anything else in life, you have to learn how to do it.
For example, people aren`t born knowing how to drive a car. You have to learn how to drive by getting behind the wheel and practicing.
Well, internet marketing is no different. You have to learn the fundamentals, and you have to practice them. Along the way you may fail a few times, but whenever you`re learning something new, you`re bound to make mistakes.
I failed at internet marketing many times, before that little light bulb finally came on inside of my head and I finally figured it out.
But I never gave up on myself and I never stopped learning. I read every marketing book, newsletter and article I could get my hands on. I still do.
You see, learning is the key."If you want to succeed at internet marketing, you have to learn how to do it!"
David Jackson
DavidJackson3/18/2009 9:20 AM
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Comments
The skill is being able to see what doesn`t exist, then figure out how to make it happen. Anyone can tell you what`s wrong with stuff. But not so many people can figure out either how to fix it, or what`s right with stuff.
Good stuff as usual, Craig. Right on the money.
David Jackson
I agree with you Mr Jackson, what entrepreneur would say such a stupid thing? Internet Marketing does work, Their is alot to learn, it may take time, but when done right it`s awesome. Thank you! I visited your website. That`s a pretty impressive portfolio you`ve developed. David Jackson
No problem.
David Jackson
That`s incorrect, Craig. He was saying because he failed at internet marketing, it was a stupid way to make money and didn`t work. It was obviously a case of sour grapes on his part. That`s why I used "The Fox and the Grapes" story as an example.
David Jackson
DavidJackson3/21/2009 6:38 PM
Hmmmmm...I thought my article was pretty clear. Be that as it may...you`re welcome.
David Jackson
DavidJackson3/22/2009 9:00 AM
Nice article.Kia954.comKia9543/24/2009 4:25 PM
Thanks!
David Jackson
After reading everyone’s comments and your post David it reminds me of American Idol, some people just cannot see that they are not good at something and they truly do not realize it.
So, this person perhaps was learning and had not learned enough, or this person was going down the wrong path in their life and does not know how to change course, or this person simply can not recognize that internet marketing is something s/he is simply not good at and it makes her/him feel stupid, or this person simply is selling the wrong product/service and therefore cannot recognize that the internet marketing is working, or this person does not know how to receive and handle what comes from the internet marketing. Whatever the case, it sounds to me like this person needs better and stronger direction/guidance in their life.
SALESCONSULTANT4/3/2009 1:37 PM
You make an excellent point, SalesConsultant!
David Jackson
Craig, turns out you and I have something in common; the rock band thing. It was indeed a great feeling to get paid for doing something you love. Although my band days are behind me, I can relate to `Freebird` because for the longest time, the song was so overexposed, it became sort of "uncool" for a cover band to include it in a show. Besides, how many guitar players out there are actually good enough to whale on the solo at the end of the song? Not too many. So perhaps because of these factors; immediate disqualification and dismissal of `Freebird` as a selection.
Now let`s think about this: Hows about a completely different rendition of `Freebird`; one that would be, well, sort of "cool" again. I give you Andre Braugher and his rendition of `Freebird` from the feature film `Duets.` ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81TZhHWM7yc
Man, when I watched that movie scene for the first time, I was floored. Presented in this way, the song takes on a whole new form; fresh and alive with passion--not taking anything away from the original. What I`m left with is an openess to hear the song once again and not only that, a renewed sense of appreciation.
Relating to Internet Marketing, I can understand how many observers would quickly dismiss it as "stupid" and, or otherwise express their displeasure. I also believe that consumers eventually catch on to the gratuitous replication and apparent lack of originality proliferated by many online marketers. To that end, the consumer therefore becomes less approachable--even agitated. So in my mind, that makes the Internet Marketing question even more of a challenge. How do we separate ourselves from the ordinary? Maybe it boils down to our rendition.
David, great article, thanks man. Got me thinking. Hello Chuck: Thanks for the "props", man! David Jackson
Yes, Internet marketing is hard work. But like with anything else in life, the longer you do it, the easier it gets. Assuming of course, you`re the type of person who continues to improve and learns from your mistakes.
David Jackson
David Jackson
David, Using Aesop`s story was a great way to illustrate your point. The guy criticizing you fell short and perhaps to feel better about himself, he chose to be contemptuous rather than complimentary. His loss.
A while back, I had a chance to see a documentary-like show about the Bee Gees. There was a scene where all four brothers (on old tape) played their very first iteration of the song "Guilty."
All the notes, chords, and structure of the song were present. The words were there, the "tune" and so forth. All of it. The arrangement involved only 4 voices, 1 acoustic guitar.
And it pretty much was a forgettable song.
I had an epiphany, realizing that I`m not a musical arranger. I`d thought perhaps I might be, but seeing the original of "Guilty," then remembering the final recording, I saw the genius of real arrangers.
Over and over again, particularly when we first see radical new ideas or hear radically new concepts, business ideas, inventions, and so forth, the same thing happens. We see the raw information, but we don`t see (or hear) the final arrangement, rendition, implementation.
The problem isn`t that Internet marketing is stupid. It`s that various people can`t see the possibilities and potentials within the overall concept of The Internet. It appears overwhelming because it`s radically new.
Some people lead, and come up with totally creative new ideas. Other people can see into the "shell" of the idea, and envision the practical application, arrangement, organization----the "making sense of the idea" part.
The rest of the world has to wait for the idea, then the arrangement, and only then can begin to understand it and use the new "whatever."
Steve Wozniak is the creative inventor. Steve Jobs is the visionary arranger. More often than not, the two skills sets (or characteristics) don`t come in the same person.
What`s interesting about being an entrepreneur is that it requires both skills. And that`s an interesting conundrum.
Craig, Great insight... I have been "Guilty" of both. Bee Gees, huh? Just kidding. I see and appreciate your point and, the interesting slant relating to entrepreneurship; so true. Now I`ll let you get back to "Stayin` Alive!" (your arrangement, of course)
proactive13/28/2009 12:58 PM