One Week Marketers - You Understand me

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to come and read this.. apologies for a long post, but I hope you enjoy it..

I run an SEO company, not huge, but we are doing ok. (The we being me really, but I say we because lots of different people work on various accounts). I started it from scratch around 4 years ago, and I guess I could say that I am one of those people who has made a system work to a point.. I do over 5 figures a month (I don't profit that - I have to pay resources, outsourcers, software programmes, tax (!) etc.. But I have gone from nothing to that..  just saying it so you know, I don't begin to compare to people like Jennifer or any of the Gurus who do that in a few hours.. but it's ok.

Thing is, yesterday I received a monthly report from one of my outsourcers (a very good and professional resource that I pay well). Now  for one of my biggest clients it reported that their Google rankings have dropped like a stone (not all of them, but around 50% of keywords). Why? I don't know for sure, but I understand that Google have made larger than normal changes to their algorithms in the last week, and when we were on page one, we are now on page 5.. Happy Days! (not).

I have never been in a business that is so dependent on another company (namely Google). You could wake up one morning and find that the whole lot has gone **** up and you don't have a business. You're made to feel like you've failed, that you've let everyone down, having been 'trusted' to do a job.. and in extreme cases, you feel not much better than someone who's committed some sort of crime.

When you think about it, companies (clients) expect to be on page one of Google..  that's one of 10 companies across what is nearly the whole world.. when you  think of it like that.. it's a big ask.. (for a website that's not Squidoo, or Wiki, or Facebook, I mean). And yet.. we do it, and it's expected.. Funny eh?

So, why am I writing this?
1. It's cathartic! But ..
2. It made me think about what the real alternatives to waking up one morning and finding you haven't got a business.. and of course OWM is a real alternative..

I've not been the most prolific of Lens publishers.. (I'll explain why I think that is in a minute), but I have produced around 12 lenses.

First thing is that although I don't get very many visits to my lenses.. (despite using Jaaxy) - *note: this DOESN'T make me think the system doesn't work.. It makes me think what am "I" not doing quite right? But despite this, I have made a sale.. and as Jennifer says..if you can sell one.. you can sell many.

So why don't I produce more lenses? I like writing, I enjoy using Jaaxy to find those keywords and build up to 200 visits and one unit of MMO.. I love it.. truly... I'm disappointed in myself if I don't get the visits that I hoped for, which is currently the case.. but it doesn't deter me..in the slightest.. That's not what stops me really.

The truth is it's the bigger picture.. the fear of "what ifs".. I have this dream that I could be earning a lovely and substantial income, from producing pages on Squidoo.. then on to make some campaigns and maybe then launch a site or two, build a bit of a funnel, grow a list.. communicate, participate.. I have the technology to do this.. I know how.. But then.. I don't.. It's the fear of 'what ifs'.. What if this doesn't work? What if I tried it and it wasn't what I thought..What would I have then? I've got nothing left.. Sometimes isn't it better to leave something on the shelf with the promise of all the things it could offer.. than to prove it won't offer anything?. (I'm not saying that's true.. just saying that is what tends to stop me and other people)..

My old tennis coach used to say to me (by the way I wasn't much good at tennis) but he used to say.. "you win a match by winning one point at a time.. that's all you can do.. One point at a time"  *Actually, he didn't say it just like that..  he just said, "win the point dammit!!" But allow me artistic license here ;-) You get my drift.

And so I know, you win the MMO game one lens at a time..

Now here's the thing.. Yesterday I posted on the Google + group for the first time. I showcased a couple of my lenses, just really to put them up and  ideally maybe get a link back which might help..

When I next logged into my Squidoo dashboard, I was amazed by the number of views that had taken place on each lens, there were some comments, many likes and most of all, I felt part of a community of 'like- minded' people.

Look, I know you're not likely to be buyers, but the fact that you have taken the time to visit, to like, to comment etc.. means SO much.

As Jennifer says, I know it's not a 'like for a like' group.. but you know what? That has spurred me to visit a few of YOUR lenses, I'll like, I'll comment, and I'll participate, because I want to.. not because I feel I have to..

The key thing to me is that Internet marketing (however you want to call it) is a lonely game. It's not that easy to talk to your spouse or partner about it, when you're feeling a little down .. they don't quite 'get it'.. they think you're just surfing Pinterest or Facebook.. You do need support..

I know Jennifer bestows the virtues of  Wealthy Affiliate, and I can see why.. The truth is for me.. I've not made it work.. I tried it and then left.. I think the reason was there was almost too much going on.. Too many ways to make it work.. Too many ideas.. (maybe I'm wrong, feel free to say if I am).. but I feel that the help and support I need *now, comes from OWM people (family).. It keeps the whole thing 'on subject' if you know what I mean.. less distraction at the minute..

Sometimes it's difficult to participate.. you feel it's a waste of your valuable time, and sometimes you do need to just take action.. I know that.. But for me, the support, (by just a few people viewing, liking and commenting) on a couple of my lenses.. has meant the world to me.. The support has spurred me on, to do more..

One Week Marketers.... I salute you!
Much respect to you all.. Darrell Mott