How many marketer's lists are you on? How many emails are "stored" in your inbox?

Have you ever stopped to count them? I'll tell you how many I belong to...... are you ready? It's kinda embarrassing. I stopped counting at 63!

I know I've removed myself off a lot of lists but its still a huge number. So while you are laughing or rolling your eyes at how many lists I'm on, do me a favor and count up yours. I bet you'll be surprised at the number.

You know every time you buy a product, download a free report or see some new gadget, you end up on some persons list. Have you considered how many squeeze pages you encounter in a week? How about per day?

There is always some new idea, ebook, fancy time saving software or my personal favorite - the "never before revealed secrets" to successful marketing and making a fortune on the internet. My gosh thats a mouth full!

I wonder how many times the same ebook has been rewritten, stamped with a new author and sold for $47.00. There are only so many ways a person can tell you that 1+1=2.

Have you ever asked yourself why YOU are on so many lists? Are you looking for the magic formula to put your business on autopilot and watch your bank account sky rocket into the stratosphere. Are you suffering from information overload yet?

Do you even have a business yet? Are you just at the "I want to make money on the internet" stage and you are looking for someone to tell you what to sell. Or maybe you are an idea person and haven't been able to turn it into a web site yet.

Are you getting any great ideas from all those marketers who's lists you belong to? Have you bought every "great secrets" ebook out there?

How many times have you been told Internet Marketing is Easy? They all tell you its easy to do - if you know the "secrets".

So, whats the definition of easy? I'm going to copy and paste it right here

Adjective

easy (comparative easier, superlative easiest)

1. Requiring little skill or effort.

   The teacher gave an easy test to her students.

2. (informal, derogatory) A person who readily consents to sexual activity, often with anyone.

   That girl sure has a reputation for being easy

Well we know its not number 2! Hmmm..... the definition says requiring little skill or effort.

I'm here to tell you that it DOES require skill and effort. So, in the true sense of the word, Internet Marketing is NOT easy and don't fool yourself into thinking it is. Better yet, don't let the "guru's" fool you into thinking it's easy (they will tell you it's easy especially if you buy their ebook).

Every task, project, skill we do in life has a learning curve - thats normal. Sometimes its difficult to learn, sometimes its easy. It all depends on what type of skill set you already have when you tackle the project.

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So...... lets start at the beginning. You have an idea and you want to start an internet business. Do you know what components go into making an internet business?

Start by taking a sheet of paper and write down what your business is going to be. Write that at the top. Then draw a line down the center of the paper. On the left side - write down all the components you think goes into having an internet business (web site, graphics, ad copy, auto responder etc) On the right side of that line write down (and be honest) 1. do I have that skill? and 2. what your skill level for that component is (grade yourself 0-10) 0= no skill, 10= I could teach it.

Go visit some web sites you like and maybe want to model your own web site after. Look at all the components that go into what you see. There will be 10x as many components that you don't see - working behind the scenes.

If you are going to build a house, you start with written plans. The creation of your online business is no exception. Every component of your web business needs a plan. That doesn't mean that once you write it down you can't change it. Changes happen all the time. A written plan will help you stay on track - believe me its easy to get side tracked with all the information and products being pushed at you every day.

Remember all those lists you belong to? Pick 5 - write down their names and why you picked them. In your email software, such as Outlook make folders for each of the 5. When you get mail from them, put it in the proper folder. Those are the ones you are going read. All the others - throw them out.

You've just made the first steps to creating your very own online business. Getting Rid of distractions!