I’m At a Crossroads. The Problem With The Internet Marketing Niche.

73 | Posted In Life & Mindset by David

I’m at a bit of a crossroads in my business.

No, nothing bad is happening. However, I am looking at the way forward and thinking of making some changes. Some of it has to do with some of my various observations in the internet marketing niche.

One has to evolve, and we can’t keep doing things the “old” way and expect them to keep working. Let me attempt to explain… :)

The Synopsis

Rather than beat around the bush for awhile, let me just state what I’m thinking about.

I’m looking ahead and wondering if I really want to keep being in the business of creating information products. At least related to blogging or making money. And I’m thinking about getting into software development in some fashion.

Why I Got Into This

As most of you guys knows, I was a tech blogger for about a decade well before I started DavidRisley.com. While I don’t post over on PCMech as much as I used to, I’m still very interested in technology. I’m a geek at heart. :)

I also love business and love the drive of creating a successful business. Being that I had done it in the tech world and I clearly enjoyed it, I started DavidRisley.com so that I could talk about this other passion of mine. And, because I am a businessman, it didn’t take me long to move into creating my first information product in this market.

I enjoy helping people, and I REALLY want to help people escape the boring rat race that is a 9-5 job.

Today, I have 5 information products in this “blogging” niche. Well, one of them (Time Master Formula) isn’t really about blogging at all, but still, I was launching it to bloggers primarily.

Why I’m Thinking About Switching Gears

The reality is that there’s only so much I can say. It gets to a point where my customers just need to get off their ass and do something.

Those customers of mine who went off to do great things… they were the hustlers. They’re the ones who get out there and take action. Honestly, my product was just a cog in their system. I don’t take the credit for them making money with their blogs. The REAL credit is because they hustled and made it happen.

The rest don’t do much of anything. And that bothers me. Bigtime. When I have customers who pay me almost $500 for Blog Masters Club and then don’t finish it – much less use it – that bothers me. Some people might be OK with just pocketing the $500 and feeling like the job is done, but I’m not.

The lack of action taking also carries over into the advice being generated in this niche. The advice is good – BUT IT IS ALL THE SAME. How many times do we need to say “build a list” before people go out and build a f**king list?! So, it gets repetitive. It gets boring. And, honestly, I’ve had a harder time coming up with topics for this blog over the last few weeks than I have in the past.

The Internet Marketing And “Make Money Blogging” Niche

The “make money blogging” niche is rather incestuous. What I mean by that is this…

People who talk about making money blogging are usually making their money by talking about that. Now, in many cases, we started in other markets (as I did). But, today, I make more money in this niche than I do in the tech niche. But, what it does is forms this big endless circle. We’re talking about making money, and our readers are interested in making money. While most of our readers don’t do much with the information, the ones who do often try to go into the “make money” market. And that’s insane. :)

It becomes this “circle jerk”. Make money people talking to other make money people, with a whole lot of people reading (and in some cases buying), but few doing anything with the information.

This, of course, leads to distrust. And the shady marketing gimmicks and the “get rich quick” crap in the general internet marketing niche carries over, too. Too many marketers in this niche make this business seem easier than it really is. The whole thing has tarred the phrase “internet marketing”. Today, there is a sense of natural distrust about that, whereas the way I look at it is that it is just marketing that happens to take place online.

“Internet marketing” shouldn’t be about teaching other people how to teach other people how to make money online. :)

It is a game which is wearing thin with me.

Moving Forward

First, let me make something clear. I’m not quitting. I’m not going to take this blog down or anything like that. I haven’t even decided WHAT I’m going to do yet. :)

But, I think it might be time for a change. I think I want to get into something where I can help with immediate solutions. For me, that might end up being in the software and plug-in market. I’ve most definitely been thinking about some plug-in ideas I might want to see to market. :)

Plus, I know a lot of bloggers out there struggle with the techie issues of blogging – and that happens to be something I’m good at. Hell, back in the day, I personally programmed a full content management system that rivaled WordPress. I was using it myself on PCMech up until I switched to WP a couple years ago (WordPress is now FAR better than the one I came up with). So, I know full well how to do stuff like that. And I rather enjoy it, too.

I’ll still be doing things inside the Inner Circle, obviously. If anything, this just means I’ll be even MORE dedicated to the Inner Circle. The passion for helping is always there. Plus, having a membership program like that is always a good thing. :)

However, I’m not yet sure if I’m going to keep on creating new info/training products on a stand-alone basis. Like I said, I have 5 of  them now. Honestly, I’ve said my piece. Most of what I know about this business is now online. To create anything else just seems like repurposing. I’d rather just put it into the Inner Circle.

Anyway, I’d Love To Hear Your Thoughts…

I haven’t exactly figured this whole thing out yet. But, one thing I do know…

I’ve got to mix it up a bit. Risley-man doesn’t want to be a one-trick pony. :)

Suggestions? Thoughts?

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  • http://www.pambritton.com Pam Britton

    David, I am impressed with your self-reflection and desire to create something truly original.  Wishing you great progress on your new direction with your business, whatever you decide!

  • http://dool.in Dave Doolin

    Right on, man.

    My personal beef is so many people are focused on “authority” they have forgotten that – in the end – there has to be some expertise to back it up. The more expertise the better. 

    Ok, off to get some coffee and put in my (every) morning hour on a stealth rails app… then it’s on to  wrangling WP code for a local TV station. Sweet little contract there. More later.

    “WordPress is a gateway drug to programming.”

  • http://www.WebRealEstateTools.com/ Drew Burks

    David – first let me begin by saying I have really enjoyed following you over the past 1.5 years, I appreciate your transparency and open opinion about the BS Internet Marketers out there.  This is a tough business for sure.  With that said, I believe you are on the right path with s/w development.  A couple of months back I began coming to the same conclusion in my business and am now working on a couple different APPS and one big s/w project that I believe will be invaluable to anyone in the affiliate space.

    keep up the good work

  • http://petinsurancecomparex.com Pat Hardy

    David, you are a refreshing voice of truth in the MMO jungle. I’ve recently made a pledge to not buy any more IM products until I see profit off the six niche sites I have yet to complete. BUT if you’re looking for an area that needs your focus, I’d truly appreciate help with creating content. I’m willing to do it myself (no money for outsourcing!), but it would be great to find a way to *easily* re-use that content for traffic generation. Spinners are either time-consuming or a waste of time. So if you can help there, I think a lot of people would be in a better place to Get It Done. Thanks for listening.

  • http://remarkablogger.com Michael Martine

    I’ve been thinking along the same lines, just haven’t posted about it. I am, however, drawing up plans for something new.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Yeah, I’m sure I’m not alone in this thinking. :-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Thanks, Pat. And, yeah, I agree about not buying anything else in IM, especially if you already bought stuff.

    As for the content thing, I’d have to think about it. I think the key there is “easy”, because all the ways I can think of to repurpose content have been done already. :-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Thanks, Drew. :-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Heheh…. love it. :-)

    Yeah, people get wrapped up in the end-game and not the process of getting there. Plus, if the end-game is “fame”, its just a dumb goal.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Thanks, Pam. :-)

  • http://www.nichewebvideo.com Russell James

     
     As you said about people who were successful with your products  ”The REAL credit is because they hustled and made it happen”. So if you do come out with some sort of software or product that has a potential to enhance a life experience for somebody, the onus is with the purchaser to maximize any potential. The idea of making money following a passion, being location independent, and having time to enjoy it has universal appeal. The reality is many will not get there but if you remain ethical and caring, you could be giving someone, some sort of spark to change their life up in some way.. 
    I am not that successful with any money-making results along the lines of “Internet Marketing” by your definition, of selling to people the idea, of selling to other people, the idea of selling to other people.

    I bang on about my belief of raw food, healthy exercise and conscious consumerism,  I know it has the possibility to make a positive impact on a person’s life, but it is up to them to take it up. You get plenty of snake oil salesmen in the health Niche so it is not always just the Internet marketing content that has the “circle jerk” effect. 
     What lights me up about  ”The Internet” is the barriers it breaks down for communication in getting a message to a targeted group of like-minded people, or having the opportunity to introduce some product or idea to a somebody on the other side of the world, who may never would have had the opportunity to hear what you had to offer.

  • Anonymous

    David,

    I am with you on this one and look forward with anticipation to what direction you will take. 

    The key for me was to identify the one “mentor” I felt a connection with, and focus on the teachings of that one person. That doesn’t mean that you blindly follow, because then we become like sheep. But if you keep chasing and searching that’s all you will end up doing.

    You also have to acknowledge that finding a mentor doesn’t mean that you will do everything that they do. It’s about guidance and finding your own way.

    I think so many of us have been in that position when we first started out – chasing every promise, every new strategy. Unfortunately, some of us learned the hard way, that it just doesn’t work that way.

    Your candid approach to subjects like this is what drew me to your products and your programs. 

    So keep doing you!

  • http://sybersquad.com Christopher Knopick

    I’ve often found that I enjoy the techie part of the blog and website setup more than the content creation itself. Could I make a business with it, who knows but that is what my full-time job is based around.

  • Anonymous

    David
    If I had your technical skills, I would definitely develop software!  I have recruited software engineers and related technical professionals for 20 years and the ones who also understand marketing and relationship building can kill it.  What this niche has done for you is teach you that side of business which most technical people never learn or cannot grasp.  Stay in this and expand with an emphasis on solving your customers technical challenges.  Plug-ins with extended functionality sounds like a great idea.  If I can help further, let me know.  I’m just over here in Orlando
    Cheers
    Mark

  • http://twitter.com/SuiteJ SuiteJ

    Great article David, and nice to see someone in your position come with the blatant truth. 

    LOL@ so many lines in this post like this one for example: 

    “How many times do we need to say “build a list” before people go out and build a f**king list?!”

    I personally only read a select few of “blogs authored by bloggers who make money blogging” and so I’m unsure of the overall consensus, but it seems to me (based on my own customers comments, forums, etc.) that the “make money online” crowd of readers and customers are also growing tired of the entire “MMO” niche. Am I right? 

  • http://sitefling.com Justin Brooke

    David, it’s been awesome to get to know you better. My wife and I had a great time hanging with you out in Vegas and in our Florida Boys mastermind.

    But… What if YOU & I are the problem with this niche? Yikes, lemme explain.

    3-5 years ago information about making money online sold like cake at a fat camp. Ask anyone who’s been around for a few years and they’ll tell you they have a hard drive full of information products and maybe even a shelf full of books & DVD’s.

    5 years ago that was not the case. Fast forward to today, and everyone has a hard drive full of information, an RSS reader full of information, an inbox full of opportunities for more information, and the bloggers (us) just don’t quit (bloggers are giving away what we used to sell).

    That’s how you and I are part of the problem.

    There is too much information! And it’s all pretty much the same, like you said. So people don’t need more information. The hottest products in our market are now software, because now people need help DOING what’s in all these damn books and blog posts they collected.

    So you’re totally right, you should get into the software business. I’m looking for an angle myself, maybe even licensing something. Look at our buddy Jason Fladlien, he’s KILLING IT with software right now.

    But there’s another thing that is thriving also… Marketplaces!

    Flippa, Envato, AppSumo, WSO Forum etc. etc.

    People still need information, they just need the kind they don’t already have or can’t find anywhere else. Like how to use QR codes to increase sales or how to make your kindle book rank #1 for it’s topic in Amazon.

    Smaller, faster, easier to consume information on very specific topics are what is hot right now. People are buying up $5, $10, and $20 reports at incredible speeds. 5 weeks ago I released a report about “How Mommy Bloggers Get Tens of Thousands of Facebook Fans” and I sold 100 copies for $20 each in less than 24 hours!

    That was about $2,000 in one day, it only takes about $2,700/day to make a million dollars per year. So information is ABSOLUTELY still a viable option. Another thing they still need is coaching to help them make sense of all the information and tools they have, but not high ticket coaching for $2,000. Credit card companies just aren’t giving out tons of credit these days like a couple years ago.

    You, Ryan Lee, and I have it right with the low ticket group coaching we are doing.

    Here’s another thing about information today… People don’t consume it on their computers. The people who can afford to buy information, they have iphones, androids, and tablets. They consume their info on those devices. AND they check their email on those devices.

    But we’re still using email to sell the old stuff in the old ways. We need to use the new ways to sell the new information and deliver it in the new formats.

    End rant, call me sometime bro, lets talk.

  • The Dude

    you most definitely NEED to create software and plug-ins.  You know what the market wants and you know HOW to market to them.

    Been following you for a while now and know if you develop something it won’t be shit.  So get on it David!

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Sup, dude. Thanks for posting. :-) And, yeah, let’s talk soon, fo sho.

    And, yeah, I agree and your thoughts are along the line of what I’ve been thinking. It just isn’t that USEFUL to people to create more info products. People don’t NEED more info products. We’re all in information overload these days, and if anything, people need to stop paying attention to so much of this. I think people need to stop assigning magical “guru” powers to people, and start just realizing where the real powers come from…. not an info product, but within.

    Software helps people do things. Yeah, marketplaces are big because they bring people together. And, people are consuming things differently.

    Things are changing. And I think an adjustment is in order – at least for me.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Maybe. I’ve certainly talked to a few people in this niche who have had the same thought. And, some have outright left the niche. For example, my friend Nathan Hangen stopped blogging altogether and now just develops software.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Thanks, Mark. :-)

  • Anonymous

    Like others, I really enjoy your refreshing honestly.  I HATE the get rich quick mentality and always have.  And they get really sneaky about it.  I saw a video the other day where the “host” (a guy pretending to be mega-rich) lambasted the viewer for falling for the idiocy of get rich quick methods then went on to offer just such a product!  The hosted acted as though he owned a huge mansion and private jet but I bet a zillion bucks that the video producers had just rented out a mansion and a private jet and used them as props.   There are so many examples of that kind of thing, although that was one of the worst I’d seen.  They took the “rich jerk” approach. 
    I’ve heard lots of IM bemoan the crack down by the FCC and FTC but they brought it on themselves by being blatant rip offs.  I certainly don’t blame you for not wanting to be part of this.  Even the “good” IM folks were not so good IMHO. 
    Maybe you could start a consortium of experts and create stuff that would blow the liars out of the water.  One of the big problems with trying to learn IM that I found was that even if a product was half decent (none of them were truly GOOD if one has real standards of excellence) it never covered the BIG picture as well as all the details of how to actually do  it.  Nothing ever explained how to really create a successful enterprise that worked because to do so is VERY COMPLICATED and MULTI FACTORIAL.  It takes a wide ranging skill set that few of us possess.  I’ve ripped my hair out over it for years now. 
        

  • Anonymous

    Lots of people hate the content creation par to fit all.  For me personally, that was the easy part as I am a long time video producer and writer.  Problem with trying to sell that stuff though is that most people want articles for 10 bucks.  Videos for 20 bucks.  If that is all they can pay, then it’s not worth it to produce.  McDonalds fry cooks make more $ than that. 

  • http://sitefling.com Justin Brooke

    Another thing to note, is maybe you don’t need to create anything else. Maybe what you have is good enough. The inner circle = fresh new information in small bites + coaching + tools they can use to DO what they have learned

  • http://upyourimpactfactor.com/ JennyBBones

    Great post David, and a topic I’ve been giving much thought to lately as well. 

    I’ve been blogging about marketing, and coaching people on marketing and making decent money at it. But I’ve recently come to the conclusion that many people who pay for this type of information 1. cannot afford it (which is why they’re desperate to learn how to make money online) and 2. will never do what is necessary to succeed.

    For now, I am shifting my focus to my copy writing services. I can be assured that I am providing something truly useful/valuable and I know that my clients are not taking money out of their family’s grocery budget to pay for my services. In other words, I can sleep much more peacefully.

    Thank you for this affirmation.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Thanks, dude. :-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Yep. The Inner Circle isn’t going anywhere. If anything, it’ll be my focus as I branch out into new avenues.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    No problem. :-) It really comes down to being able to be fulfilled by feeling you’re really helping people. If they’re not taking action, its hard to find that feeling. And, if they’re using money they don’t have to pay you, that’s even worse.

  • http://tomakefast.com PJ Brunet

    How about a “push button app” that fills my bank on autopilot ;-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    LOL. :-)

  • http://www.mynotetakingnerd.com/blog Lewis LaLanne aka Nerd #2

    Going into selling software, especially if you know both sides, the importance of being good at marketing it AND making it, seems to me to be an outstanding idea.

    One of the most crucial parts of conversion is demonstration. Showing people that your solution is the real deal Holyfield. Doing this by showing your software in action is AWESOME and easy to do. Sometimes it’s not so easy to do with information and make everyone believe THEY can do it too but it’s just as important to show.

    The inner circle I imagine gives you incredible insight into what your prospects and customers want and need. This could help you a ton with creating software that solves their problems. 

    Wishing you the best on whichever way you go.

  • http://blogtechguy.com/ Joel Williams

    David, I’m impressed with your honesty, I think a lot of people are thinking along these lines at the moment, there is still a lot of opportunity out there, but you have to keep evolving!

    I’ve moved into developing software, but as I can;t do it all myself it gets expensive fast. I guess not everyone can do it, while to a point everyone can create information products. Of course, how GOOD they are varies a lot :)

  • Lars T

    David,

  • http://twitter.com/swedishsteel Lars T

    adad

  • Marilyndickson8

    David, I see you building on current and future interests …. like, I see you with a ‘time management’, action oriented system, [so the helping people part], and we sign in as members for a low  ;0) monthly amount, a dashboard comes up and we plug in our lists and actions …
    All the best, marilyn

  • http://www.internationalpatentservice.com Patent Attorney

    As new media professionals, we understand that the Internet has torn down the mass media model by placing a heavy focus on niche marketing. While on the surface, this seems to make it easier to reach targeted audiences, misconceptions and old habits create many obstacles. This is particularly true for the U.S. Latino market, which has ironically been part of the U.S. cultural fabric since the get-go

  • http://pariotinternet.bg Ivan

    Like any other business oportunity – just test it before you put all your eggs in this basket :)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Obviously. :-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Alrighty then. ;-)

  • http://www.socialtechzone.com/ Frank

    I know exactly how you are feeling, David. I’ve been thinking the same thing with my blog.  I can only provide social media advice and standard tech tips for so long before it’s repetitive.  I’ve been doing more guest posting, but for my own blog, since I’m going back to school for my Masters in design and development, I think I may want to lean towards that route as well.  It’s more interesting and less people talk about it.  Plus, there’s too much drama lately in the popular niches if you know what I mean. 

  • http://www.socialtechzone.com/ Frank

    I know exactly how you are feeling, David. I’ve been thinking the same thing with my blog.  I can only provide social media advice and standard tech tips for so long before it’s repetitive.  I’ve been doing more guest posting, but for my own blog, since I’m going back to school for my Masters in design and development, I think I may want to lean towards that route as well.  It’s more interesting and less people talk about it.  Plus, there’s too much drama lately in the popular niches if you know what I mean. 

  • http://blogtrainingclassroom.com/blog/niche-profit-classroom-review/ John Hoff

    I hear you Dave, I hear you big time. In fact two days ago I told my wife, “What the hell am I doing? I’m wasting so much time building this ‘blogging’ product when I could be doing other Internet marketing things which I know will net me more money.”

    I’ve got a pretty good plan for making money online outside of blogging, but until I get this one big project off the ground, I feel bolted down at the moment.

    Aside from that, as you know I have that WordPress Defender security ebook and you know, I’ve put a lot of time and consideration into having a plugin written for it. There are a ton of WordPress security plugins out there and I know I could create a better one than most of them.

    But then I started thinking about the logistics and time it might cost me. Plugins have to be updated regularly and being that every WordPress blog is different, plugins don’t always work the way they should, thus there’s that whole WordPress support forum area.

    Plus there are security concerns as well.

    I’m not sure I’m up to that tall order of managing such software when I know there are easier (and more fun) things I can do.

    But that leads us back to what you were talking about… doing stuff you enjoy doing.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Yeah, those aspects of software can be tough, for sure. I’m thinking about it, too. But, again, its about branching out. As I hope I made clear, I’m not even thinking of abandoning what I do now and totally switching gears. I think its more that I don’t see any need to create a bunch more info products in this niche. But, software products I can see.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Yep. Especially IM. :-)  

  • http://www.inspiredgiftgiving.com Marty Herald

    I don’t know if this is helpful or not, but I just wanted to add that the issue with people buying and then not using products or services isn’t limited to your market niche … it’s pretty much the human condition I’m afraid. For nearly a decade I was a district manager for one of the largest direct sales companys in the world … time and again I saw people sign up, buy a ton of product and then do nothing. The company offers incredible training, business websites and lead support  - all FREE, yet hardly anyone actually takes advantage of it.  

  • http://erica.biz ericabiz

    I feel the same way. I’m having way more fun running a startup than I am writing on my blog. I am developing another info product (Step by Step Business); however, this will also hopefully grow Whoosh Traffic. I’d be in full support of you doing software/apps/plugins/whatever floats your boat (that’s not an info product!) And honestly, I’d be more likely to promote a plugin or software item to my audience (as long as it helps them grow their businesses/blogs) than I would another “make money” info product.

  • Mcbeck

    While I do not know you well, I can tell you are a worker and can make things happen. I have a lot of experience with changing you path and in a net shell the grass is never greener on the other side of the fence. Everywhere the competition is fierce, you just don’t see it when your getting into some thing new.

    You have a family and a income stream. Stop everything that does not make you money and then take half that time to spend on reinforcing your income and take the other half and spend it on the R&D of your warm and fuzzy projects. If and only when you start making money on your warm and fuzzies should you start taking time from your stable income.

    It does not matter if you are tired of what you are doing, you have become a pro at it, and you feed your family. You do make a difference in peoples lives, heck you have me posting. Keep selling the dream because that is what your customers want you to do. You are making a difference in their lives even if it is not the difference you think you want to make.

  • Dan

    Hey Russell,

    You know, it’s a shame you deleted the initial posts from your blog. Tracing your blog from its beginnings straight through to your discovery of raw foods and then your full blown emergence as The Raw Chef was one of the most inspiring reads of any blog I’ve ever discovered.

    And what a test case for following your passion and figuring out an ethical and stand-up way to make money online!

    Anyway, cheers to you for everything you’ve done and are doing. You rock.

  • http://cfagbata.com Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr.

    Thank you David for your honesty. Shows the quality of guy you are, probably a descendant of King David himself (laughs) but honestly you’ve got a large heart and that I admire about you. One thing I am sure is that what ever you decide, you will succeed because you know how to carry people along. Good luck!

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Yeah, I don’t think you’re alone in that. There’s a big perception difference between a product which accomplishes something, and another me-too info product.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Thanks, but I get the impression from you that you think I’m totally disgusted with what I do for a living. I’m not. :-)

    My viewpoints have changed a bit, that’s all. And I think I want to make a shift in direction on some of my future product plans. But, this isn’t a battle between what I like and what makes me money. I’m not tired of what I do.

    Businesses have to adjust to remain relevant.

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