Todays post is a little off topic to what usually  I post here on this blog.  But it relates in a couple ways.

First and foremost, this is about my experiences, and relaying quality information to you that I come across.  So because this is something that I am doing, then it does fall into that category.

And second, I want to compare and contrast some difference in real life, and in a very distinct niche, with the area of Internet Marketing.

I am at a conference put on by the Alberta Agriculture Economics Associatiaon and the University of Alberta called Visions 2007.

In general the topic is wide ranging about various areas of opportunity for rural Alberta and Agriculture here in Alberta.

And most of the speakers come from an educational background. You might even say the room is fairly full of eggheads. (I think I say more economic profs here than I did when I got my economic degree - but hey, classes were secondary to the pub back then).

That brings me to one very remarkable contrast.  The level of presentation - skills, salesmanship, ppt, etc.  In the IM area, and also in the sales industry which I come from, the level is at the top.  Even smaller seminars and individual presentations (especially in the financial services) have amazing ppt’s, and the level of skill of the presenters is top level. And the presentation is designed to sell - whether direct or indirect.

At this conference, the information is good - maybe a little dry at times.  But the presenters are not at the same level.

The other contrast is the level of IM integration.  Of a room of 200 people, I would probably estimate that almost 100% use computers regularly.  But I would say that the percentage that use ecommerce would be less than 30%.  And from any discussions I have had, that the percentage that have had access to any ‘info-product’ online marketer would be less than 10% and probably closer to 5%.  So really here is a huge untapped market.  Not that you will sell them IM products, but some niche info product will work for them.

What I really want to let you know, and hope you come away with this message.  The opportunity to take the concepts and strategies that are used for online marketing to the real world and use them in a niche is immense.  The topics presented have ranged from bio-diesel, rural development, environment, trade issues, processing, etc.  And all these areas have access to funding, access to variety of growth opportunities, have companies with cash looking for opportunities, and need our services and knowledge.

We can take what happens online, what we learn day to day and apply it to an outside niche to make a huge difference.  The opportunities are endless.

Jack

I just finished downloading and reading the report of John Reese.

It starts out with some pretty dire predictions about the future of business online. I am not sure if I agree with him on this area. I personally think the opportunities are immense, and relatively untapped in a very many areas. Huge room for growth even in bring the technology available online to everyday business people.

I also think that future ideas, inventions and strategies will also help as many entrepreneurs as it will hurt - probably will help more.

So his dire predictions don’t jive with me too much.

But the rest of his report - where he starts getting positive - that is pure GOLD!

John says that ‘Content is Kong!’ - as in King Kong. I fully believe that!

I see to many websites thrown together, lots and lots of information, but really no valuable information.

OR if there is good information it can’t be found. Too much dirt hiding the jewels.

You gotta make it easy folks!

You have THREE SECONDS and then their gone!

Give them a straight line path to what they want. Serve it up on a silver platter. Make it appealing.

He talks about changes in online selling, about quality, about serving your customer, about giving real value.

Now that I can relate to fully.

I have been face to face, belly to belly with my clients day in and day out in my ‘real’ job. I love every minute of those interactions. I love my clients, and I think, and hope that they love me. They seem to by their actions.

It is about serving, about building relationships - about giving, helping them to succeed.

Zig Ziglar, when I say him in LA in December said, ‘Help enough people to succeed and you will succeed beyond your wildest imagination!’

Looking back over the last year I have been actively taking part in online marketing, one of the most frustrating things is that I have not made a whole pile of money.

So has it been a year of failure?

Why did I not strike it rich? Why did I not make large sums of money like many others have the past year?

Yes I could blame it on the fact I was working full time, I have a family, two boys who are active in a great many sports and activities that I help with coaching, volunteering, etc. But no - it has nothing to do with that.

The number one reason I have not made very much is that I do not have a product. And I don’t like selling tools that can’t help people if they don’t know what to do with them.

Sure I could have slapped together some ebook or report. Grabbed a few plr baskets and got to work marketing them in give aways and fire sales and seven buck sales.

But I just can’t see the point - am I helping anybody.

And that is what John talks about - are you helping people online? Are you SERVING your clients or just selling to them.

That is critical - because if you are helping people - you will have long term success.

If not - fast bucks may come your way for a while, but you will end up fighting for scraps all your life.

So much of what John talks about - about wanting a site, wanting the products while your learning, and nobody offering them - so building them yourself.

I feel that same way all the time - and have tried to build (at my speed and my level of experience) a similar long lasting solution for my clients. I am working at it - and now I will be with renewed vigor.

I have had much success! I have built a strong base, have learnt, have networked, have created, have collaborated.

Now I am ready for even more!

So look out, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Onward and Upward,

Jack

P.S. If you haven’t read John Reese’s report then go over to http://www.income.com/blog/ and get it - Free and not even an email sign-up.