This morning I woke up and found an email from a dear friend of mine. We have been talking quite a bit these past few months (boy, seems like we have known each other for years LOL) and I have been trying to help her set up a few blogs and explain a few things.

In her email at one point she mentioned she had bought some software to make videos that would bring more traffic in than any other program (heck, that is something all of us want right, more traffic!). I received that sales email yesterday as well and decided to have a look, but after a few minutes I closed the screen and went on.

She on the other hand, decided to go ahead and buy the software.

As I was responding to her email, I noticed that all the things I said to her, actually applied to myself and that is what caused me to write this post.

See… in my mind there is one big ugly beast that kills business for internet marketers and the only way to actually become a success online is to kill that beast.

That beast is the Internet marketer him/herself.

Not the person, but their actions or lack thereof…

Now the sales mail explained how to easily make “killer videos” to create a huge amount of traffic, sales pitches like “this video was created in 2 minutes”, “how many can you make a day”, referring to the amount of traffic each video surely was gonna get etc. So yeah, I could imagine anybody watching the sales pitch to start having visions of receiving thousands and thousands of uniques to all their affiliate sites per day, raking in the money as we speak. Besides, it was only a small investment, 40 or 50 dollar I believe, so hey, you would be crazy not to buy it, right?

I am sure that many people watching that sales video and listening to the voice telling he himself was technically challenged and all but with this software he was able to create a traffic monster video in a few minutes, would think they could do the same.

Please understand that I am not ditching the idea of creating videos in order to create traffic, nor am I saying that nobody should buy into the sales pitch, nothing like that.

What I am trying to get at is that before buying yet another piece of software, or yet another “big traffic generator” one stops and thinks about the reason they are not getting enough traffic as we speak.

I mean…there are just so many free resources online that will create targeted streams of traffic, as long as you are willing to put in the elbow grease and work them.

There is no magic pill, no magic formula, creating traffic no matter what anybody says, takes work, it takes time to do the research and find a proper niche, do the research and find proper keywords to rank, and it takes time to create links so that more and more people will find your affiliate site.

So as I was responding to my friend, saying that I wasn’t gonna buy that software because chances are, I am not going to use it, I started thinking about all the resources I already have at my disposal and am not using to the fullest potential myself.

See, after all this time online and seeing so many new launches, so many new products that would pave my way to everlasting riches, there is one thing that any product lacks. One big flaw that no product seems to be able to fix. And probably no product creator wants to fix that flaw because it would mean that any new launch would become redundant and useless.

The big flaw in any moneymaking product is the USER of that product.

And I am not referring to the lack of ability to actually use the product, rather am I referring to the lack of interest to really use whatever tools available already and keep working productively at creating more content and more links to websites to generate traffic.

Back to that video creating software, in the sales pitch it was said that it only takes 2 minutes to create that traffic pulling video, but really come on guys, anybody believes that?

Just a quick reality check here:

• You have to find the idea for the video
• You have to find the product to promote
• You have to find the text
• You have to find some images
• You have to find some background music
• You have to put the video together (which will take a bit longer then 2 minutes, especially in the beginning)
• You have to save the video (and then be able to find it on your computer )
• You have to upload it to youtube or any other video site

So yeah… it looks like a great piece of software, and probably if you are really motivated and able to figure out things really fast, work on caffeine and all you will be able to create one video in 15-30 minutes, maybe bring that down a bit the more you work with it and familiarize yourself with the how-to´s and short cuts.

My thought, chances are that after 2 or 3 videos, maybe some will even make it to 7 or 8, most people will throw in the towel or better said, get sidetracked by yet another new product that makes traffic generating even easier! My estimation is that only a very low percentage of those that buy the software will actually put it to the fullest potential and actually get to the stage where they see their hard work pay off, traffic streaming in, sales going up and get even more motivated to create more videos.

I actually made 40-50 dollars just by passing on and not buying the software cause I know that I belong to the group of people that would give up after a few videos, getting bored out of my head or just feeling it takes too long to keep going.

Acknowledging my flaw is one step on the right track, second step is getting back to work and be productive today, so I am off for now. I would really like to hear your thoughts on all this though!

Are you guilty of buying too many products and then not using them?

Are you guilty of having resources available and have them gather dust

Are you guilty of always looking out for the next best thing?

Are YOU killing your own business?

It is always so nice when things go according to the plan and even nicer to wake up and see money was added to your accounts.

I just knew that working on the One Week Marketing Plan would be the right thing for me when I first bought it and I was right. Yes it is work and quite a bit of it, but it is starting to pay off faster than any of the other projects I have ever started and sales are starting to trickle in.

Last week I actually built 2 lens projects, although I have to add here that I did outsource some of the writing work in order to be able to finish the 2 projects. I wanted to work ahead to feel guilt free if I wouldn´t be able to finish another lens project this week, because I have to be working a lot on 2 of the websites I have, writing a lot of content and making them upto scratch.

Instead of my normal attitude of “ok, I will just catch up later” I felt I had to stick to my one OWM project a week so I decided last week to work ahead. This way I will be guilt free LOL and it will give me time to do some refreshing on my lenses as well.

A friend of me asked me last week what I was writing about when I told her about this “new venture” down in to Affiliate Marketing Lane so I gave her some of the topics of my lenses. She got this blank stare in her eyes and actually looked a bit puzzled, … and then asked me if this was really what I enjoyed doing, writing about topics I didn´t have a clue about and really didn´t sound all that exciting.

LOL, I can totally understand her question, and no, the writing part really isn´t always that pleasant. In fact, it will be the first thing that I will completely outsource once the clickbank payments are in.

I do like the building lenses part though, making them look pretty, making sure all lenses are linked, following the other steps of the OWM plan and the bit that is called “Getting Your Cash!!!”

And even more today, seeing that my projects actually made 3 sales…

Thank you One Week Marketing Plan, thank you for being so easily digestible and easy to finish within a week, and thank you PotPieGirl for sharing this system you use to make big bucks… I am on my way!!!

The other day I came across a website on the subject of self-publishing I found interesting enough to share with your guys, so here it goes:

Self-publishing is becoming increasingly popular and in many cases even necessary  if you want to get your material out in the world. So you have had a great idea or even already written a book but after many attempts to getting it published in a very competitive publishing industry, you haven´t gotten a step further.

At this point there are several things you can do

• Keep pounding away at finding a willing publisher
• Give up all together and give up on your dream
• Self Publish!

The Self-Publishing Review offers very useful resources on how to go about self-publishing, whether you are looking for ways to create a dashing book cover, learning more about how to create an ebook or even have your book printed and distributing it to stores and libraries.

In a recent interview with the owner of The Self-Publishing Review Magazine, the owner explains the core reason for starting his site and it immediately shows his dedication and knowledge on self-publishing and why you should visit his site if you are thinking of becoming a self-publishing writer:

“I really do want to improve the attitude towards self-publishing – it’s not just a delusion to justify not getting published traditionally. I have been published traditionally. So I understand the difference between traditional publishing and not. I think the new wave of self-publishing opens up incredible doors that weren’t possible before and I’m fine with being an advocate for what that offers, rather than hitting it big immediately with a mainstream publisher.” – HB

Not only does he have the knowledge and experience himself, he is sharing it with anybody thinking of self-publishing books so if you are looking for ways to publish your own material you should definitely check out The Self-Publishing Magazine

Henry Baum´s rules for self-publishing:

1. Don’t expect to sell a lot of books.
2. That doesn’t matter because connecting with new readers – however many – is the goal.
3. There’s no shame or defeat in self-publishing if you satisfy #2.

Last but not least, when contacting Henry about something on his site, he mentioned to me that he was always on the look out for reviewers – of all genres, fiction and non-fiction – and other types of writing for the site, so feel free to contact him if you feel you can contribute in a positive manner.

In short, The Self-Publishing Review is the number one resource to go to for all your self-publishing needs!

As a result of drastically wanting to change my life, I have started to put all my time and effort into learning about blogging and working hard on improving my own knowledge and skills. Over the last half year I have been doing a lot of research online, reading material of successful bloggers and people who are only just starting out, but what I mostly found was posts on how rich and happy they already were or on how rich and happy they wanted to become, without really sharing what to do in order to become succesful.

Some blogs sparked the light of hope and wanting to achieve things for myself, other blogs actually got me down and discouraged, thinking I would never make it.

A lot of material I came across felt like yet another post on the same, over and over again. The funny thing is that, once in a certain circle, you keep bumping in to the same bloggers, the same comments and the same blogs over and over again, which is curious if you come to think of the amount of blogs out there and diversity of interests all over the world.

But last night, when I was just about to reach my cut off time and ready to turn off my computer, I ran into a blog I wish I had found before. A blog packed with so many great posts and original content that it had me up and reading till 5 am this morning. A blog so inspirational that it had me going back when I finally woke up today.

Going back to its first post, dating the 12th of February 2007, I realised it has not even been online for a year and when it was started, it kind of felt it hadn´t found its own voice yet, although I believe the owner of the blog, Courtney Tuttle had his vision and goals well worked out.

I was searching for mistakes newbie bloggers make, because earlier that day I had seen a post of a Blogger Biggy making fun of newbies with a patronising and denigrating tone to it, an attitude I can´t stand in people. In retrospect, I actually am grateful he ticked me off, for it was because of that post that I came across Courts Internet Marketing School.

If I could only read one blog, this would definitely be the One, for it goes way beyond other blogs, offering sound advice, inspiration, motivation and tools to improve and keep improving my work. His list of 102 Ways to Make your Blog a backlink Superstar should be obligated material to read for any blogger out there who has a true desire to improve their blog.

So, if you could only read one blog, which one would it be?