Confessions of a Six Figure Professional Blogger

The Downside Of Self-Inflicted Ignorance

December 1, 2009 | Advice, Ramblings

I had a small exchange over on Twitter this afternoon that moved me to write an impromptu blog post. This post is NOT an attack piece or anything personal AT ALL. It just brought to mind an idea I feel is important.

I have been working on tightening up the funnel over on PCMech.com. My goal is to drive more readers onto the email list. This is, of course, always good for business.

One of the many things I did was create a simple squeeze page to drive people onto the list. I sent out a tweet about the squeeze page. In response I get this on Twitter:

Hope you’re not trying to turn into a gimmicky internet marketer! Saw your tweet yesterday about Product Launch Formula!

Yes, the day prior, I sent out a single tweet about Jeff Walker’s Product Launch Formula. I did not use an affiliate link. I just really like PLF. I consider PLF to be a must-have for any serious online businessperson.

So, the fact that I talked about PLF and made a squeeze page puts me into the same category as a “gimmicky internet marketer”, apparently.

Then, I got this tweet from the same person:

Well, I respect you as an expert of sorts, but not for using "internet marketing products"!

Huh? So the fact that I learn from those who came before me is a bad thing? A gimmick? By using “internet marketing products”, I have managed to almost double my business in the last 2 years. I’m on track to break the $200,000 mark in revenue for 2009 – as a BLOGGER.

Put more accurately, as a BLOG MARKETER.

The knowledge to do that doesn’t come through telepathy. That knowledge doesn’t spontaneously combust into my head while I sleep. Of course I study other people’s teachings!

What motivated me to write this post, however, was my strong belief that this attitude of natural distrust is one of the most concrete barriers to one’s success that you could ever have.

I have no idea if this person has an aim to build a business or not. But, the attitude exhibited is one of an employee. A person who will always be an employee.

That kind of knee-jerk reaction is one which keeps you from learning new things in life. It effectively bars an entire field of knowledge from you, which you know nothing about, all because you’ve concluded that it is all a big bunch of BS.

The Important Message

Always be willing to learn new things.

The moment you write off entire subjects that you have never personally inspected, you are just sealing your fate exactly where you are right now.

The moment you take somebody else’s judgment of a subject (one which they probably never inspected either), you’re just allowing THEIR stupidity to rub off on you.

The opportunities lost because you jumped to a conclusion rather than personally inspected something could be mind-boggling.

And that is why I decided to write this post. Small things lead me to a larger idea. And, like a good little blogger, I thought I’d share with you. :)

Peace out.

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  • dude ur so gimmicky. haha. stop selling stuff and making money. be broke like other bloggers. that'll show em!
  • Wow you hit the nail on the head David. Until people make that mind switch they will never see the big picture. I really don't understand my people don't open up their eyes and see that countless employees no longer have "Jobs". Maybe they think it can not happen to them. As Jim Roan said "Work on yourself harder then on your Job". To me your words mean more then ever in todays climate. Keep up the great work.
  • Don't worry, David. I've had someone on my blog lately accuse me of trivializing the holocaust.
  • Hi David.

    This is good lesson for any entrepreneur; some people just don't like what you do... jealousy, fear, ignorance or just plain spite.... It happens and you got a good blog post out of it..

    David
  • I could not agree more. I started out as a blogger and there is no way I would be were I am today if I did not take the time to learn solid marketing practices.

    Shannon
  • What I love about you David is your beliefs and that you stand for them. You have real strong opinions and I think this factor differentiates you from some of the other 'top' bloggers out there.

    Keep up the good work :) (and opinions ;)
  • I watched the Twitter exchange live yesterday, and looked forward to this post. I agree with your views, David, but it does raise an interesting problem that we all face.

    The industry we're in has been marred by some internet marketers selling poor products at high prices. As a consequence there are a lot of people out there, like your guy, who cut and run the moment they see anything resembling a squeeze page. Sadly, they are probably just the kind of people who could benefit greatly from information products like the ones you and I sell.

    I wouldn't call people in this category Dufuses or bozos, and the blogger / marketer who finds a way to get past their prejudice will open a very rich seam of business for themselves.
  • I forgot to mention the squeeze page looks great!
  • David -- Great post and I love it when I am inspired by either twitter or questions for a new blog post. Quite frankly, as someone who does that dirty deed on the internet, marketing, I firmly believe it is irresponsible of us not to learn from those who are already marketing online. I also believe we are capable to separate the good from the bad too.

    From my own experience, I have found those who complain about how we use the internet to connect with our audience, will never get it anyway. These same people who complain about these things are also wanting to make sure what we do and provide to our audience is and will remain free to them. And it is these same complainers who will NEVER buy anything any of us have to offer.

    Keep fighting the good fight my friend. And if you hadn't composed that great Squeeze Page, I would have worried you were giving your stuff away from free.
  • Great Post.. I had some one come to my blog before and said, oh,, I thought you were JUST a blogger..lol So I wrote a post about being a blogger-or-online-business-owner-does-it-matter/

    You have to incorporate some IM teachings into your blogging, if you dont it will be very hard to make money as a "traditional blogger"
  • in the words of Daniel Pena - "Who cares what the DUFUSes think"
    or Guy Kawasaki - " Don't let the BOZOS grind you down"

    To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction - if somebody's angry with you, then you're doing something good!
  • David - While I am new to internet marketing and blogging, I am reviewing many blogs and sites to see what is best for me. I was so happy to find your blogs. They are enlightening and entertaining. I am learning from your posts -- and if you can make money teaching me for free - go for it! What can I say except thanks for not blocking me on Twitter so I can see your tweets and then read the articles that interest me most. And I like the photos of you and your family -- gives me the know, like and trust factor. Keep up the good work.
  • Thanks for all of the great post.
  • It's interesting that you got that reaction. I'd put it down to a lack of trust. Dave Doolin's comment is spot on - you only need to worry about the people who are your target market.
    I wonder if this may happen more with Twitter - it's so easy to follow people but not know them well. When I read your blog, I feel like I learn more about you and what you're trying to achieve - you gain more credibility and trust. Twitter can sometimes be very impersonal and you possibly end up with a proportion of your followers who know very little about you and aren't the kind of person you're aiming at.
  • I find those type of reactions to any entrepreneurial drive a blessing. It's less competition ;) Internet Marketing no matter how you slice it is fundamental to success in the business world today. There has never been a greater sales tool...EVER!

    Our company is a bricks and mortar business and I can tell you that the fundamentals and processes that many "Internet Marketing Tools" use are not only sound but in fact work. To blindly cast off an entire channel of marketing based on ones opinion of a product is just bad business. Keep up the good work!
  • Just found your blog and read your blueprint. Good stuff! I completely agree with you. Many are fine as long as you're delivering tons of value, but if you're looking to monetize something weird happens. I see it as a filtering mechanism, those people weren't a good match anyway.
  • billysticker
    This is one of my favorite post you have written. I had a conversation today with a friend of mine who is a real estate investor. He commented on the amazing fact that many realtors don't invest in properties. It's because many people are "employees."

    Thanks for all of the great posts.
  • Some posts just about write themselves, don't they?

    The attitude you're responding to would be funny if it weren't so sad. How else would you learn how to market things on the Internet except by studying Internet marketing?

    I guess that's the kind of feedback you have to deal with when you have blogs that actually make money!
  • Why worry about it?

    I know I'm probably going to lose 2/3 of my traffic when I integrate AWeber with commenting, but that's fine. That 2/3s would be highly unlikely to purchase any products or services from me, so while I'm sorry to see them go, I can't waste any emotion feeling bad about it.

    At some point, the free ride is going to end. People do have to pay rent and eat. Why this isn't obvious to people is beyond me.
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