The most frustrating thing in the world for a new internet marketer is seeing no results.  Now, I’m not referring to “no results” after a couple weeks. No, not at all.  That’s EXTREMELY normal.  Especially, when you’re going the organic route of marketing (i.e. SEO, article marketing, etc).  I’m referring to when you’ve been doing internet marketing, whether it’s organic or inorganic, for 8 months or longer and seeing no results.  THAT’S what is frustrating.

In that case, you may need to rethink your focus.  I’m not saying you should give up on internet marketing, but putting it on the backburner or to the side might be a good idea.  A course correction, if you will.  Out of the thousands of internet marketers out there online, only a few are truly making enough to sustain a comfortable living.  So, if internet marketing is not working for me, what should I do?

Clients.  And not just clients- PAYING clients.

The good thing about having clients is you don’t necessarily need a lot of them to earn a good income.  The bad thing is that you need to have a steady stream of clients to maintain consistent income.  Now, I’m no expert on getting clients, but I have worked with enough agencies, from background screening agencies to advertising agencies, to know that the more steady clients you have, the better off your business will be in the end.  And since I’m no expert, I asked my good buddy, Robert Dempsey, his opinion on how to use the knowledge you already have to get clients.  Rob is an IMer who really knows his stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The IM Maestro- Robert Dempsey

” The amount of knowledge someone gains from being in IM – SEO, affiliate marketing, landing pages, sales pages, conversions, web metrics, etc – is knowledge that businesses can use, especially since everyone needs to have a website. That doesn’t even include blogging. So, if you can show that you’ve had success, not just ranking sites but making sales with your sites, you have a skill that businesses can use. But to get clients outside of IM, you have to start networking – that means getting out of the house and meeting people at business events, conferences, and more. That can be a scary proposition, but we’re in the people business, not just the online people business.”

-Robert Dempsey

More than likely, you’re an expert, or at least have extensive knowledge about something.  And I’ll bet that someone will pay for the knowledge that you know.  You know Twitter and Facebook better than most of the people in your circle of friends.  How about starting an online business as a Social Media Consultant? (And if you use the term “guru”, we will no longer be friends. Just sayin’.)

And if you decide to start as a Consultant, tell everybody.  Not just your friends.  Tell your family members, church members……tell anybody who you talk to.  Word of mouth, is not only free marketing, but in the beginning stages, the foundation of building your client list.  Get business cards done, too.  You never know where the next client may come from.

Doing client work may not be the passive income model you wanted, but it is definitely an option to pursue with an immediate return.  It’s a jumping on point.  Taking on client work will more than likely get you referrals that could lead to more work.  That’s the goal.  You will be able to control when you work with them and how to charge for your time.

If you have clients, let me know what you love about working with them.  Does it give you the freedom to not only be creative, but also produce income with which you’re happy?