10 Internet Marketing Mistakes of 2009

I am always keen to learn in order to grow my business. One of the best ways to learn and grow is to look at your mistakes. In this spirit it is not hard for me to list 10 Internet marketing mistakes of 2009. I feel my mistakes and general incompetence at times could benefit others. I suspect that I am not alone in the mistakes stakes. So in the Christmas spirit of giving, I give you my 10 Internet marketing mistakes of 2009. Feel free to laugh at me if you wish!

1) Not checking my links
This year I sent a promotional email out to my list without checking the embedded links. Unfortunately, the affiliate link I gave to 2,000 people took them to the obituary of a well known philanthropist. Some people thought this was a sick joke but it was an honest mistake. So always check your links before sending!

2) Chasing the Silver Bullet
Like a lot of people in this business its easy to think that the next great product is the one that will bring you untold riches. I know that in all likelihood it will only make you poorer. There is no Silver Bullet to internet riches. It simply does not exist so you will never find it. Moral of the story is, find the simple things that work and repeat them.

3) Not having blinkers
Closely related to chasing the silver bullet – I have learnt that it is good to have blinkers, to narrow your focus into profitable areas of work and not to be distracted or spend time checking various email accounts. “Focus, focus, focus” is the motto for 2010.

4) Not wanting or asking for help
I can be stubborn. My mother always said to me ‘if you want a job done properly, then do it yourself’. Sorry mum, but you were wrong. There are some jobs I cannot do and am not very good at, I have to accept it and look for ways to outsource and pay some expert to do for me. The same applies to advice. I did not seek advice from people who know more than me. This is a mistake and I will now seek to form relationships with experts in my field.

5) Thinking internet marketing was really complicated
It isn’t. I must write 100 times that ‘the simple things work’.

6) Ignoring social media as a lot of noise!
How wrong was I! For the first half of the year I ignored social media sites and dismissed them as a lot of noise. Now I understand the power and size of social media sites such as Twitter. I have over 5,000 followers now and communicate and market to this fast growing audience on a regular basis.

7) Overdoing Adswaps
Adswaps are a tremendously effective way to build your list. You team up with a fellow marketer, swap promotional emails and leverage off each others lists. Simple and effective! But you can overdo it and damage your relationship with your list very quickly. Once a week seems works well and I must edit the swap email to suit my list while retaining the impact for my fellow marketers.

No backing up
Disaster has not struck yet but at one point I thought it had. I hadn’t backed up my data for a month. There was a problem with my hard drive and I got into a cold sweat. Thankfully, all was recovered but it was scary to think I could have lost one months work. Backup your data.

9) Having too many ideas
At one stage in the year I had four major original products under construction. Consequently, I never completed any of them. In 2010 I will focus on completing one project at a time.

10) Being obsessed.
Get a life. I now understand that internet marketing is addictive. Each little success builds expectation of even greater success. It teases you to obsession. This is not good for you or your business. I have learnt to take a break and put my family first.

I hope this helps and resonates with you and you too can welcome your mistakes and treat them as great learning opportunities.

Happy Holidays to you and see you in 2010.

Peter

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