Internet Marketing Quiddity

Recently, I attended an exceptionally stimulating one-day event at Henley Management College. The subject was Jazz in business. See Jazzbusiness @ Henley on Sergej van Middendorp's blog.

What has this to do with internet marketing? Read on to find out....

If you know anything about jazz and improvisation, you will know that "being in the groove" is a state accomplished musicians reach when they are playing at the peak of their performance, and are perfectly musically and rhythmically aligned with each other.

The groove has been defined as "what makes the music breath". This, and other concepts were explored and used as metaphors for business.

The idea of being in the groove can be applied to almost any discipline - including internet marketing. I would regard an internet marketer as being "in the internet marketing groove" when they have developed all skills, discipline and the focus to be able to play a tune and make good money.

The good internet marketing teachers and trainers are now making it clear that you can't become rich just by following a simple plan for 4 weeks. Just like becoming an accomplished jazz musician, it takes time and effort and practice.

They have to first learn to play the instrument and follow the music (follow a pre-set plan) before they can learn to improvise (create their own plan) and finally hit the groove (make music that breaths - or build a business that makes money).

So - I thought it would be fun to trace the steps a newcomer to internet marketing has to go through on their way to the internet marketing groove.

If you've been around the block a few times yourself, see if you recognize any of this. If you're new to internet marketing, here's a gimpse into your future.

Step 1: Naive Enthusiasm:

"Hey! This is great! An easy way to make money sitting at home with no distracting people-issues and relationships to get in the way."

Step 2: Free Learning & Free Everything:

"I'm downloading loads of free stuff and joining lots of free sites. It's getting a bit hard to manage it all, but I'm certainly learning a lot. I'll get the full picture soon and decide where to start."

Step 3: Sales-Pitch Overwhelm:

"STOP! Everyone's shouting at me and telling what I must do, what I must buy. My in-box is overflowing. I keep getting mesmerised by 25-page long sales letters and my credit card is melting."

Step 4: Reality-Check:

"Now I'm totally confused and depressed. I can't keep track of all the stuff I've been gathering. Nothing seems certain - there are too many differences of opinion about everything. I now know enough to realise just how little I really do know. And to cap it all, I'm sick and tired of being treated like an idiot by the same old cynical sales pitches and ploys: any more hype and I'll throw up!"

Step 6: Breakthrough:

"OK! I've worked my way though those problems and I've disciplined myself to focus. I've found someone I trust who's advice I plan to follow and I know enough to have a go. It's been done before, so why not me?"

Step 7: The Invisible Barrier:

"What keeps going wrong? It's not as if I don't try. I've bought several great step-by-step guides where everything is explained in detail. An yet, there always comes a point where things fall apart. Somehow, for one reason or another, things just don't work out, or I find I can't continue with that approach. What the hell is happening?"

At this point, people continue in one of three ways:

Step 8a: Burger Flipping:

"I give up! My online dream has turned into a nightmare. Back to the big M." (No - that's not Microsoft.)

Step 8b: Head Banging Determination:

"I'll try this. I'll try that. I'll try the other. I'll try anything. I'm going to stay positive! I can't see this so-called 'invisible barrier' anyway! So I'll just keep doing what I'm doing till something changes."

Step 8c: Finding The Groove:

"I wised up in the end. I finally got past those step-by-step guides (they did help, though, for sure) and establish my own personal relationship to internet marketing. I continue to work on that relationship, and constantly nurture it. And when I hit the groove - it's great! That's where the money is!"

Are you in the internet marketing groove?

Tell me if you think I've got it about right (or not!).

Alex Goodall

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