Last year, I went to Frank Kern’s “Mass Control” seminar and brought my brother Daniel with me. He’s 25 and I thought he’d have a good time. We *both* had a fabulous time, and he walked away from it bitten by the internet marketing bug.
He watched a number of speakers present, in particular he loved Ryan Deiss’ presentation on creating and earning passive income from membership sites.
When we got home, he wanted to dive in and I helped him set up a niche site using the exact process I teach Crowd Mountain members.
With a new site, it’s important to create some unique content and post to your site every now and again. He was on the first page of Google, but as his “seminar high” wore off, so did his work ethic. He stopped building links and stopped creating content, and the site slowly drifted further and further down in the rankings until it couldn’t even be found in the top 100.
(Once your site and backlinks are established, it’s not necessary to do maintenance on your site every day or every few days, but in the beginning, it’s an important indicator to Google that your new site is trustworthy and cared for).
He was seduced by the lifestyle – having gone with me to Mass Control, Daniel was able to meet (and party with!) the top guys in our business. He thought it’d be cool to throw up a site or two and come to the next seminar ballin’ as hard as those guys were.
And if you’ve been in this business any length of time, you know it’s not quite that easy, despite what salesletters tell you.
There is work.
When he stopped with his site, about 6 days after starting it, I asked why. He said it was too much work to write new posts and build links.
(You may have felt this before too… I know I’ve heard it from lots of people).
Fast forward about 9 months. Daniel decides that he wants back in. But he knows better now – it’s not all Crystal and Amex Black Cards. There’s some elbow grease involved too!
He started working on his site again. Every day he adds a new post to it. I watch him do it. It takes all of 20 minutes. Usually he just finds an image relevant to the topic of the site and adds 2-4 sentences using the keyword phrase he’s targeting to make it unique. Sometimes he does the same but with a video.
His link building is set up on auto-pilot using the techniques described in Crowd Mountain Bootcamp Module 5.
And with this 20 minutes a day, the traffic to his site has TRIPLED. It’s slowly climbing back up in the rankings for it’s main keyword phrase as well – from not even being in the top 100 to being on page 2. Long tail keyword rankings are coming out of the woodwork. He’ll be on page 1 for his main keyword phrase within 2 weeks, by my estimates. Google just wants to know that this once abandoned site is actually being cared for and updated before it’s rewarded with page 1 rankings.
Since this site only uses up 20 minutes a day of Daniel’s time, he’s working on other projects within internet marketing as well.
But that’s they key,, ya know? He *is* working.
That’s what you have to do when you get started.
Put in the time. Once you’ve got a bunch of sites ranked and earning, yeah, you can take the vacations, pop the champagne. But to get to that point, you do have to do the work.
And it’s really not that hard. 1 site takes Daniel 20 minutes per day and it’s producing results.
If it’s “too hard” or you “don’t have the time” ask yourself why you’re making it so hard in your mind. Because to execute, it’s 20 minutes.
Daniel’s on track to be earning a full time living – but only when he stopped looking at the glitz and glamour and decided to put in the time (20 minutes a day!!! That’s it!!!)
Don’t be sold by the lifestyle, the flash, the cars and not be willing to make it happen for yourself. You deserve to have anything and everything you want in life, but it won’t be handed to you. You do have to get out there and make it happen for yourself. Once you’re fully responsible for yourself, you will begin to reap the rewards.
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{ 40 comments }
Great article Michelle,
Ed talked about this at his seminar last week. How this is Business not a website. So true
Hey Michelle,
this is so true – there actually is (!) work!
But if your brother keeps going – also through the “does anybody read my stuff?” phase – he’ll make it! 
Send him greetings! 
André
A timely reminder – there is work to be done to be successful, but it’s much better that other “work” I’ve done in the past! Maybe that’s why it’s hard to view it as a “job”; it’s too much fun!
Agreed – this “work” is, to me, much easier than schlepping into a J.O.B. everyday!!!
This is a great post Michelle. Thanks for sharing your brother’s story. I’ve discovered that many people are not prepared to work online. They want to make money online – but they don’t want to work for it.
The faster people realize that the money comes from working, the better off they are.
I’m delighted to observe a shift in the Internet Marketing world, where we are all acknowledging it requires applied work.
As for too long I was thinking too many of the key influencers were suggesting it happened by the push of a button or the taking of a magic pill.
Action does equal results – I see that time and time again with my own sales results for my niches.
I do think there is working smarter, rather than working harder. But the key is that you do work for it. And that passive income is a misnomer. You still have to set up the business system and like a garden, water & tend to it, occasionally uprooting it to plant a stronger variation in the garden bed.
Even if you outsource everything – and work on the business rather than in it – you’re still working!
Caro
Hey There,
I enjoyed the post.
He is lucky, having his sister mentoring and helping.
There are no secrets in any profession and also here
the requirements are simple: learning and working.
Not more than that.
Good luck,
J.
I met Daniel and agree with @Caro, he is so blessed to have you in his life and directly mentoring him.
My sister to this day calls me asking advice with regard to business.
I think your article hits home with many many people and most certainly with me.
Many people ass-u-me Nepotism plays a huge role with a great many of the “other” gurus family members.
Your article is the real deal on explaining, everybody has to work to get results, there is no easy road or silver spoon… etc..
Thanks for sharing.
Sincerely
@Tanya – I hadn’t even thought of it from the nepotism angle, but you’ve got a great point. I don’t know what other successful marketers do when they’ve got friends/family who want to try this biz, but I know for me if I just did it for him, well, I’d just be creating a job for myself!
I also think when someone is new to the biz that there are so many ways one can go about it – blogging, Adwords, social media, etc. and that we all have unique strengths and talents. What I’m inherantly good at might not be the best business model for a family member.
When it comes down to it, we all have to find our own path and work it!
Great points, Michelle… Consistency is key and turning certain marketing tasks like link-building into habits, just like brushing your teeth daily. When a few months go by, the snowball can turn into an avalanche. This is exactly what happened to me in a couple niches.
Then, I began to leverage what I learned from you and some others at MC2 and became more strategic and resourceful. Even many of clients always talk about having the nice things from the “internet lifestyle” but few are willing to do what it takes.
Let’s face it very few people get rich or retire millionaires as online entrepreneurs. A select few are the exception, while the rest play the game and reap little reward if any. The promise of easy money quickly fades.
The tools make the road easier, but at the end of the day success only comes to those that are committed, willing to work, and can easily brush off the set backs and roadblocks encountered.
There are always new strategies, but the one strategy that works time and time again is publish great content, cross promote it and rinse – wash and repeat…… visitors and the search engines will reward you and overtime it may just turn into something tangible.
You know people don’t talk about this enough. I recently removed myself off of every GURU’s list because they do just this …sell you on the affiliate lifestyle. They rarely send you any good content in itself. I’m happy to let you know that I did not remove myself from your list because you send me good stuff about real life frustrations just like your brother was going thru. You keep it real and don’t churn out the affiliate offers.
This is funny … you sent me InstantIncomeSite offer yesterday and I started to watch the Video… and He started to do that same BS about the affiliate lifestyle and I almost turned it off because I’m so tired of it. The video kept going on and on with little about the actual content to see if I could use it ; there was no fast forward button ; you could imagine my frustration. You know why I didn’t Stop Watching it? Because You sent it. I was like… I know my girl Michelle and gonna send me some Ol’ {insert explitive}. So I finished watching it and thought about using the system that he talked about.
Thanks for the good content. Oh BTW you’re good looking.
@Yvon – Thanks for bringing up the InstantIncomeSite mail I sent yesterday – lots of folks didn’t like it! I do happen to know Jay personally and have reviewed his program – I review anything I mail about.
This is kinda similar to the long copy / short copy discussion we had on the blog a while back – a lot of folks don’t like the “look” of long, traditional internet marketing salesletters. They think they’re scammy.
Now as these types of video become more popular, there’s a similar reaction.
But the truth is, it WORKS. Period. And doesn’t it make sense to buy marketing training from someone who’s using proven marketing methods?
I don’t care for videos with no controls either on a personal level – but I watch them and buy from them. And that’s what matters in the marketing biz, eh?
Trusting @MichelleM as I do,
when you Michelle state you review before you mail out, I believe that states it right there. The proof is in the puddin’ (have no idea what that means
Anyway, I too reviewed Jay’s stuff and it looked really cool. And how can you possibly beat his guarantee…
I personally also have come to prefer video sales presentation.
Too many things going on for me to even want to take the time to read a long spiel (unless it is something I am so genuinely interested in, I want more, more more
Thanks for the story I really need that
I think that’s what you might call the power of metaphor ….
Great post – very well written and bang on the money with the message. You’ve inspired me – I’m off to do some work now !
Hi Michelle, I have been subscribing to your mail list for quite some times. I have also implemented some of your teaching. Frankly, I like the work that you had done because you are honest in telling us about your program and internet marketing as a whole. I totally agreed with your brother’s story because yep, there is work need to be done. If all IM is easy, there should be a lot of millionaires already. Just that some marketers make it sound too extremely easy, hiding the truth behind it.
Thanks for the great post and looking forward to your next posting.
Frank Kern is the master when it comes to selling the ‘dream’
I hope your brother realizes just how lucky he is to have a sister like you to guide him in the right direction. People pay thousands of dollars just for a couple days of knowledge what you give him for free.
Don’t waste this incredible opportunity, Daniel. We are all witnessing incredible times right now where anybody of any age with a computer can literally change their lives for the better if they just continue to work at it. Just think how hard it is to deal with a “real job” and put that kind of work ethic into your sites.
We are still in the “wild wild west” of the internet and you know more than 98% of the people out there.
Kind of funny… the timing of this post. I just spent two hours on the phone with my brother yesterday, coaching him on how to get links to his new site. He is pretty sly- he was trying to get me to do the “work.” But, as you mentioned, his model and approach is very different from mine.
Thanks for your brother’s story. I’m a little curious (and honestly, suspicious) of why you didn’t post a link to his site. It would be fun to check out what he’s up to and learn more from you/him!
@Reid – I don’t give away my money niches – I certainly wouldn’t sabotage my brother’s by giving it out to tens of thousands of people!
@ michelle – I figured so. Thanks for your reply and watching your back
Thanks Michelle for a very timely article.
I received a phone call yesterday from a person in my downline wanting to know why they had not been paid yet. I asked if they had been working to bring anyone into the business and she said “no”. She didn’t feel comfortable doing that until she got paid.
I reminded her that any business on or off the internet takes actual work. You must take action. No one is going to build you business for you. I asked her if she would build someone else’s business for them and she immediately said “no!”.
I then said that I would help if she wants to learn but I will not do it for her.
Your Life = Your Choice. Period
Thanks again Michelle for all your guidance over the years!
Good post Michelle, I always use the old saying abbreviated which is
Y.D.G.B.S.O.Y.A.
I saw a bloke with a Tie Pin with those letters on it
Translated it means
You Don’t get Business Sitting On Your Ass
I have lived by that rule now for 50 years and it is a rock solid FACT.
This is really a great article. Truly encouraging too! You are right, no matter how hard you teach a person if that person does not have the passion in him. It’s useless. No once can help you but yourself. Not everything is handed down on a silver platter. The labor is bitter but the fruit is sweet.
Hi Michelle – good to be here, having heard you lots of times in August .. and it’s good to hear your story with your brother – it’s consistency and persistency .. and evaluating for ourselves the best route the one to the $s, to security .. and if we have enough temerity we can learn that route .. I’m sure. Due to major illnesses with my mother and uncle .. I haven’t had the time to commit – but I’m starting again on Monday – subject to new illness challenges – but my intention is to get on with it ..
So I’m pleased I’m now subscribed to you .. and I can absorb your thoughts via the blog .. thanks – Hilary
I really enjoyed reading this post, thanks.
Sometimes it’s hard to rember to “take Action”…..and keep taking action! everyday.
I’m obviously a minority of one when I say:
You godda put in the elbow grease. He’s putting in 20 minutes and day and on his way to a full time income…
“that’s all it takes… really… just 20 minutes per day… yea really.
Gimme a (fill in your word of choice) break.
I do love Disney but where are we fantasy land. Let’s get real everyone.
@Russ – I’m talking about taking 20 minutes a day to update a site with a new post. Lotsa folks think updating their sites is “too hard” – it’s really not, you just have to buckle down and do it.
Great advice, the article stuff is the hardest for me because I keep thinking I need to do a chunk of them at once, but 20 mins a day is perfectly doable. And keeping going is the main thing. We have a product that’s going to help millions of people and it can be offputting if you think those millions are all going to hear about your stuff all at once but they can’t because you don’t have traffic, it’s a question of getting up the rankings one keyword at a time!
cheers,
Kerry
I enjoyed your article, and thanks. It makes me think of two very true sayings, work smart not hard, and the second if it’s to be, it’s up to me. Thanks again Regards Paul
Michelle,
This is a great article. I can totally resonate with the points you have outlined in two ways. One from personal experience and two from seeing others go through this as well from a beginners stand point.
They to building is a business is building a strong base or foundation. This does not happen over night and takes “work” to build. If you’re truly in this for the long haul then you need to work and be consistently building each of our online markets
Whether you are spending the time updating, backlinking, split testing, , etc or outsourcing it… you need to commit to it on a daily basis.
Thank you for sharing and reminding us how important this fundamentals are to online business building and development.
James
This was right on time for me. A kick in the pants. I found it from a link on the 30DC. I’m making less than 10 dollars a month. I could be making more, but, I’ve been lazy. I got many sites but I’m not using them to my advantage. It takes work to make money even if you have auto blogs. You still have to drive traffic to the sites. So thanks to this post, I’m getting back on my grind and make things happen. Keep writing excellent posts. I’m definitely gonna bookmark this page. It’s work revisiting.
As Caro says I’m so glad that people are talking about this stuff nowadays. I like her use of “applied work” as well as opposed to “hard work”. I’ve found that most of the time the work required isn’t hard – as in difficult – but it does require discipline, patience and consistency. Not things I’ve been famous for in the past. But, finally, I’m knuckling down and keeping on keeping on. It’s taken me 6 years or so to get to this point and heaven knows how many thousands of dollars, but at least I didn’t give up!
Watch this space . . .
Gillian
Just something I noticed here. You talk about creating backlinks to your web site and yet all the comment links in your blog are nofollow. I won’t know if you moderate your comments until I hit the submit button but if you don’t won’t you consider changing this so you can give a little link juice to your followers?
Having the right mindset is crucial for this business
Very great stuff. This article really got me into getting into internet marketing! Just putting it out there, if you ever need to ship a car anywhere, and I mean anywhere, look up Auto Shipping Network. They worked wonders for me.
Thank you so much for this article. It has renewed my spirit a little, because it is really hard to keep a site going.
There is an interview series that you might really enjoy, and should probably contribute to, of social media experts discussing various aspects of social media production and trends.
http://www.ourblook.com/topic/social_media.html
thanks very much .I received a phone call yesterday from a person in my downline wanting to know why they had not been paid yet. I asked if they had been working to bring anyone into the business and she said “no”. She didn’t feel comfortable doing that until she got paid
An excellent reminder to all of us.
Hard work always pays off. We won’t be succesful unless we commit to our projects and work everyday.
A Very inspiring story that one of your brother.
Cheers!
Alex Wilde
Hi Michelle, Great product launch. I especially like the clarification about the different ways to look at social media. Glad your Bro is doing great online!
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