The idea of this post is not to discourage you from pursuing internet marketing, but rather to give you an idea of what to expect on this exciting journey that you are about to embark on. By having a clear understanding of what to expect, you will be able to make more prudent business decisions and more accurately guide yourself on the path to success.
1) 95% of most internet businesses fail.
This statistic applies for offline and online businesses alike. If you do not have a clear goal or strategy of where you want your internet business to go, you will end up swimming in the pool of mediocrity along with the rest of the other internet marketers.
2) It might take a few months before results start to pour in.
Most internet marketers do not make a single sale till at least a few months. This few months are usually where the internet marketer learns the ropes of the online business world and equip himself with the skills, resources and knowledge to succeed in their field.
3) There are more internet marketers out there than you think there are.
The internet marketing niche is very competitive. Your business needs a unique selling point or USP if it is going to stand out from the crowd. Luckily, many internet marketers have discovered how to tap into small, profitable niches where the competition is low but returns are high.
4) There will be a lot of “shiny objects”.
Shiny objects are things like the next revolutionary software or “system” that will give you a short cut to success. While some of these systems might work for internet marketers, in the end of the day it depends on how you as an entrepreneur are going to use it in your business, and how much effort are you willing to put in to succeed in what you do.
5) The online business world is very different from the offline world.
You will be exposed to many internet marketing terms such as traffic, SEO, email list, pay per click, viral marketing and so forth. But fret not, a good understanding of these new concepts will help you to cut through your internet marketing learning curve and experience a breakthrough in your businesses.
6) You might end up working longer hours than your usual 9-5 job.
In the initial growing stages of your business, you might have to spend a lot of time learning, doing research, writing and getting your systems set up. This can be quite a daunting task if you do no have a true passion for internet marketing or business. However, many successful internet marketers opt to work longer hours despite already having all the time and money they want because they love what they do so much.
7) Coping with the lack of human interaction might be difficult.
Try staring at a computer screen for 18 hours a day without any colleagues to gossip or joke with. Internet marketers live very unique lives, and later on they might feel a bit bored with all the time freedom they have while they watch their friends slave away at the office. But who knows, maybe you can get the “job” of your dream such as a dog trainer or teacher which you gave up because your parents said that this career would not make you any money.
That being said, internet marketing can be a very fulfilling and exciting career, especially if you are sincere about helping others and enriching the lives of people around you. Are you ready? One great way to get started is to model what other internet marketers are doing to cut short your learning curve.