Whooooaaa! I think you suffer from information overload
I recently conducted a survey of my readers, asking what their #1 Internet marketing question is. Here’s one reader’s response to my question:
"I’m not really sure how to phrase the question .. but I can surely tell you the problem. I am a newbie. I have everything. Seriously, I do. I have programs, I even paid someone $200 (a well-known marketer) to build my first website, the autoresponders, the whole thing. That was maybe a month and a half ago. I have yet to make a dollar. Why? Well, there IS the list I don’t have, but I did get a list of a thousand or so but no instructions on just how to use it (I can’t read what was sent.) It looks like Greek to me. My biggest problem .. my BIGGEST problem, is — since I do have it all, or I think I do .. is that I can’t seem to get a "plan". Not just .. I need a webpage, I need a blog, I need a list, etc. .. See, I don’t really know what comes first, second, third, etc. Obviously, it’s not the webpage or the autoresponders cause I have them (although, even though I "have" them, I’m wondering if I can duplicate them on another site (of hopefully several) all by myself (or not!). Ok, the plan. I have information overload, bigtime — hundreds, if not thousands of programs, and how to’s .. so many that I am overwhelmed with it all. I need a SIMPLE plan .. today, I need to do this .. oh, not just I need a list … I need to know .. step by step how to create this list .. like today I write an article .. don’t forget to put good sig file (maybe I should have the sig file down first since it has to be thought out well and created … several of them, no doubt .. then the article, or the ideas first, or the responders first, or decide which giveaway to use first, or finish my own ebook first (it’s almost done), then make the cover, the backend, the frontend, the mid-sell (each one something specific I have to do) and that seem overwhelming — which first .. I saw a jv giveaway program I’d love to be a part of, but see no way to do it all in time (before it starts) .. I suppose I’d need the autoresponder set up first before I start trying for a list or I’d have nothing to send them, same with the ebook, or even branding an ebook to give or sell — so much stuff, not knowing where to begin, and I HAVE to start deleting email (without reading!) cause I spend most of my time trying to stop my email account(s) from reaching the 1000 per name that will cause them to bounce and I’ll miss something important, not to mention my bank account is dwindling from membership sites and $7 sales .. I feel I’m drowning and have done nothing but SPENT bux, not make the first one! I need a SIMPLE plan .. 1 - make a backend page, (oh wait, what do I want to sell? that should come first?, 2-make a disclaimer, 3-start a blog .. I mean I can think of a hundred things I need to do, I just don’t know where to start in all the chaos. So, Perhaps my question is: How do I figure out what comes first .. and I mean literally .. make a some sig files, make a back end page, decide what you’re gonna sell, each individual thing I have to do . .and in the right order .. it’s the order I think I need, like a checklist .. when I get this done and this done, I should have blog ready, when I get done, my ebook should be ready, when I get this done .. my autoresponder is ready .. is that too much to ask? Yes, I have videos (yes!), just need that order, I guess. Thank you for listening to such a long question."
First, TAKE A REALLY DEEP BREATH! 
Whew! I think that’s the worst case of information overload I’ve ever seen. LOL
OK, seriously, just slow yourself down and think about it logically…
You can’t create an opt-in page or sales page if you don’t have the product for it. And it really doesn’t matter exactly when you create your autoresponder account as long as it’s before you make your opt-in and sales pages live online.
Some marketers say to start with the backend first, meaning the first product you choose is really your backend product. Then you find a complimentary lower-priced product to sell as your front end product. Personally, I think either way works. But definitely start with choosing a product to sell. (I’ll assume you’ve already verified that there’s a market for it because you didn’t ask about that.)
You should also have 2 or 3 more products in mind that you’ll try to sell them after their initial purchase. You could use one as a one-time offer and the others for backend sales later. But at least KNOW what other products you want to sell to your new customer list, even if you don’t have the sales pages ready when you launch your first product.
You could start a blog before launching your product, but in this case I would say worry about your main website and product first, then blog later. There is no hard rule about "needing" everything all at once. You’ll run yourself ragged if you try to do it all at first.
My best suggestion is to write down everything you need to do, then number them in logical order. You’ll be able to see better what comes first, then next, and so on if you have a list in front of you. Check off each item as you complete it and make sure to work on just one thing at a time. Trying to do too much at once is the worst thing you can do to yourself.
If you still can’t figure it out by looking at your list, send me your list and I’ll help you put them in order.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
A great primer for getting started.