What is My Story?

I Can Create a Website - For Me, That Was the Easy Part

Having a career in IT taught me the mechanics of putting my websites together and the basics of SEO. But that didn't mean I knew anything about marketing. I had to learn the hard way, like most everyone else online.

I was able to get natural traffic with content and good keywords. I could test, place ads, and gather statistics. I included adsense on several of my websites and made a few bucks with it, but it wasn't enough to matter. After more than 2 years of trying things on my own, I did not master conversion (sales). I sold almost nothing - well a few rugs and golf clubs...

My Most Resent Attempt - and Failure

In the fall of 2007 I built a website so focused that it only had one product. I followed the exact instructions on the limited edition DVD's sent by the top affiliate of that product (who said he was ready to share his success - for $200). I worked fast and had my website up within 2 days with the given sales copy he said would bring me 4 sales per day. I know my website was ready earlier than others who got the limited offer.

I spent my daily limit on PPC until I got my test set of 100 clicks. I anxiously awaited and checked for sales during the 45 day cookie period. I still didn't get one sale! A dud - again. Either there was no room for competition in that market, or this top affiliate didn't really include all his tricks.

Once again, when it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. That website gets light traffic without PPC and I have a few subscribers - but no commissions.

See? I still keep trying things and getting nowhere. I was definately missing something.

It Is Confusing - Who Can We Trust?

I was still looking for affordable new ideas. There were only a few mentors that I had learned to trust after all this time reviewing them. It was time for me look to them and TAKE ACTION.

I decided to get help from one of the most credible experts I had researched. I needed to find the best affordable program before I gave up. It was time to learn from "the Best of the Best". Read what I am doing now.

This is a new one-on-one coaching program that is surprisingly affordable from the best expert whom I had learned to trust from my own research.

My mentors do not know they are my mentors. That is what the Internet allows us today. The anonymity of it. I like that cuz I'm an old geek and love sitting at my computer instead of dressing up and attending seminars.

Unfortunately we can easily get "sucked in" to the persuasive advertising used all over the place, but we have to opt-in or pay money to try something for ourselves.

I have tried a lot of "biz ops" - and failed at most of them. Then I learned who the "real" experts were and finally got focused.

On the Internet we can choose who inspires us and they don't even know it. We can follow the experts with their free autoresponder series and free teleseminars. We can read hundreds of ebooks and gobs of blog posts.

Eventually we need to stop looking around for better ideas, in spite of the intrigue, and follow through with a program from the experts we trust.

The Experts I Trust - A Short List

First Yanik Silver told me early on (in a teleconference) that everyone has to start somewhere. He IS inspiring! I started. I still follow Yanik and I know he believes in the "long sales letter" methods. I studied the AWAI copywriting course which teaches how to write effective sales "copy".

My first sales website was a product sales model. I loved programming the design for the holidays. I still didn't learn much about marketing it. Then I got scammed (fake check scam), had product issues, got discouraged, and finally closed my Yahoo store.

Next I found Rosalind Gardner built "theme park" affiliate websites full of content and she was successful. So, I built several websites about my favorite subjects. I loved working on them actually - I still do! (This site is one of them.)

Rosalind Gardner said theme park websites made her nearly a half mil in a year. Ros was the mentor I chose to follow after I closed my Yahoo store.

After dismal sales from several different "theme park" websites, I did some more research on this "method". In the forum I discovered something scary. Most every old post linked to websites that no longer existed. Really - not only were they not good affiliate website examples - they were GONE! I realized most people gave up and closed their sites. Of the successful forum members, I could see they had gone beyond the basic "theme park" model, and I hadn't.

I knew I could trust Derek Gehl and he recommended focused websites that sell one thing well. I learned to trust Derek and his Internet Marketing Center. IMC is a credible training resource that has taught thousands of people to earn a real income online. I have their "Insider Secrets" course - even though I have not followed it faithfully.

I had attended an IMC seminar where Derek said these flea market sites don't sell.. That statement certainly defined my websites and correctly predicted my dilemna. I decided to look to IMC for the help I still needed.

My Own Story

My personal story isn't so bad really. I've had more luck than some people, but I kept looking for the "formula for success". I usually focus on what NOT to do (scams) here at PlanBreview.

Personally, I don't expect to be rich or famous, but I do want to pay my business expenses and myself for my efforts (and it would be nice to get my roof fixed).

During my professional career I worked too hard and cared too much. I still work too hard, but it's here at my desk. Actually I had major stress-related health problems, but they are all fixed now due to modern science. Fortunately I had retired early which probably saved my life.

At first I had a nice nest egg and for a time, I traded commodities. I made money on coffee and unleaded gas and lost it on corn and soybeans. They say a futures trader will keep trading until he's broke and I think that is true. I stopped before it was too late. If I'd kept at it, I may have learned to be careful and would be rich now. But I was "out of my comfort zone" and gave up.

So, I started my own consulting company and got a few good contract projects. I billed out at a hefty amount back then. Then Y2K was over and became a non-event, as I had predicted. My contracting jobs dried up as IT outsourcing became global and the youngsters graduated with the latest technical educations. (I can't even get a techical job anymore - my resume has been out there for years!)

I took a pause from it all and babysat for my daughter's new babies for the next four plus years - AND had the BEST TIME of my LIFE! My granddaughters are my pride and joy!

Before I knew it, I had to bring my elderly father here to live with me. He has dementia and needs me. Now I have to work from home.

Time to Take Action!

I can literally play all day typing information into my websites and feel "busy". But that won't refill my IRA or pay my credit cards off. It's time to get FOCUSED!

I made plenty of mistakes and am now "under the gun". It's time to focus on earning real money and learning Internet Marketing, which is, btw, changing continuously.

What once worked in Internet Marketing, may not work anymore. It is a good idea to keep a look out for good new opportunities. When I find them, I'll try to get them on the home page here at PlanBreview.com.

Again....

"You don't know what you don't know until you find out what you didn't know"

I am still working on all my websites (closing or freezing some of them) and using the personal one-on-one advice from experts. I will keep coming back here to update "My Story" with what works and why when I have good results. Meanwhile...

To YOUR Online Success!

Sincerely,
Karen S Mueller
"Programmer Since the Dawn of Time"
[Updated March 2008]