Excuse #4: I'm Not a Good Writer

Alright…back with another in our list of common excuses.  We've worked our way up to number 4 and it seems like a lot of people have this one.  Hopefully this helps.

Excuse #4: I'm not a good writer

Okay, if this is your excuse, do the following:

Go to EzineArticles.com (or whatever article directory you want to use for this test).  Look at the articles that cover your market.  If you don't have a market yet (or your market isn't listed there for some reason), just pick a category that even slightly interests you…it really doesn't matter for this exercise.  Now, read through the last 5 or 10 articles that were posted. 

Be sure to pay special attention to the general lack of calls-to-action in the resource boxes for most of these articles, the crappy titles for most of them, and other easily-fixed, yet all-too-common mistakes.  You'll know better than this and will already be a step ahead, but that's not the point. 

The point is that as you read these articles, notice that there's not much award-winning writing going on here.  These are just regular folks like you and me for the most part, writing about topics and hopefully driving people to their sites.  Nothing fantastic, just good enough to get the job done, and sometimes even some pretty useful info.

Next…go to your favorite blogs or check out the RSS feeds you're subscribed to.  Nothing all that magical going on there either, right (yes, including my own).  Just regular people writing about their topic, providing valuable info (hopefully).  After all, that's the whole point of a blog, isn't it?

So if this is your excuse, why?  Where are you seeing this award-winning writing online?

It doesn't really take all that much to create some "good enough" articles and blog posts as long as you know a little bit about your topic.  But it can certainly help if you have some tools or resources that make the process of writing easier.

If you'd find it useful to have a tool that takes some of the pain out of the writing process, by showing you how to plan, organize and polish your writing for any topic, I highly suggest this resource which makes article writing a piece of cake. 

I'm fairly comfortable with writing and it still helped me quite a bit.  I'm pretty sure it'll help you too, no matter how good or bad a writer you think you are. 

Oh, and you can use the same strategies for blog posts or just about any other type of content too.

P.S. - Yes, that's an affiliate link.  But since it's a resource I personally use, I feel totally fine recommending it to you.  However, if you're not at the point where writing articles and blog posts is a major part of your strategy (like if you haven't even chosen a market yet), then DO NOT invest in that resource right now.  Just a suggestion.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Excuse #5: I Don't Have Money for Learning, Basic Setup, Etc.

This common excuse for not starting your online business is hopefully one that's easy to overcome.  However, for some, it might be a legitimate excuse, so I offer some suggestions for how to do things "on the cheap" in the short blurb below.  Take a look…

Excuse #5: I don't have money for learning, basic setup, etc.

For some people, this may be a legitimate challenge.  After all, ANY business has certain costs involved and an online business is no different.  But for most people, it's a PERCEIVED challenge.  When you figure out what's actually needed in order to get your online business up and running, and you really run the numbers, the costs aren't that much.  You'll probably want to have the following:

• a domain name ($10)
• a free webpage editor like NVU ($0)
• a low cost web hosting account ($15/month)
• an autoresponder account through AWeber ($20/month)

In fact, you could skip those first three, get a free blog account at Wordpress.com, and add your autoresponder there instead.  But you have to be building a list (a topic preached ad nauseum, to be covered here another day).  You could technically get rid of the need for AWeber too, and just use one of the freebie email list managers.  But it's so critical for your business that it's one of the last things I'd consider skimping on.

As for the rest of the costs? 

Time.  Rolling up your sleeves and getting to work.

Creating content…adding value. 

Creating a place online where people can go where, when they leave, they're BETTER OFF than when they showed up. 

They know a little more, have answers to some burning question, or otherwise "got something out of it". 

What can you teach someone today or show someone today that will leave them better off than when they started their day? 

Doesn't take much money to do that.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Excuse #6: I'm Not a Good Copywriter

Here's another item from our list of common excuses for not getting your online business up and running.  Pretty easy fix here, but will take some time over the long haul.

Excuse #6: I'm not a good copywriter

This is a skill you'll probably want to learn.  But…

Don't buy any infoproducts on the subject yet…the price will be pretty high for most of them. 

Instead, head over to Amazon.com and pick up a handful of the best copywriting books.  Here are a few I recommend:

• Words That Sell (and others in the series, including the spin off - Phrases that Sell)
• Web Copy That Sells by Maria Veloso
• The Online Copywriter's Handbook by Robert Bly
• The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy
• Note: If you have any other suggestions, just leave a comment below

I have a few copywriting infoproducts and some books too.  Other than the case studies, swipe files and a few little extras here and there, the major portion of what's in the infoproducts can also be found many books…certainly the basics. 

Bottom line is the books will get you 80% there. 

One thing to keep in mind about learning copywriting is that by doing so, it can make you better at selling your product or service in other types of media…like helping you figure out what to say in an audio or video, what to put in your resource box for your articles, writing pay-per-click ads, and so on. 

All of those things can be based on skills you pick up as you learn to write effective copy. 

But it shouldn't be something that causes inaction in the beginning.

P.S. (Bonus Tip) - Start keeping an eye out for headlines, blog post titles, article titles, bullet points (which should also be headlines) and other copy that appeals to you.  Then, create a swipe file and start adding examples to it.  Turn them into fill-in-the-blank templates and use them for your own headlines, content titles, etc.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Excuse #7: I Don't Have a List (Or a Big Enough List)

Here's a common excuse for not starting an online business that's easily solved.  Take a look…

Excuse #7: I don't have a list (or a big enough list)

Whose list are you on right now and why? 

Whose lists have you stayed on for awhile?  Why?

Answer those questions and then model their success (or avoid whatever they messed up). 

For me, I have a handful of people that I get emails from using my primary address.  The rest get sent to a different address I check about twice a month. 

The difference? 

Quality info, frequent contact, brevity and a reasonable level of pitching compared to content (people have to make a living after all and I don't begrudge anybody making a buck). 

On the other hand, if I only hear from someone when they have something to pitch, I either unsubscribe or change the email address to that second one I mentioned.  I actually have a third one that I use as a swipe file and that one gets spammed to death, but makes for some good headlines from time to time.  Sometimes I'll move them to that address or resubscribe using that one instead.

Use that as a rough guide or use your own criteria as a starting point, then deliver something that you would sign up for and stay subscribed to. 

That probably means giving away some sort of content for free…either a report, articles, mini course, videos, audio, etc.

If you're serious about building your list, then I highly suggest you use AWeber to manage them.  I'm on a couple of lists that use some other popular services and nearly all of those get sent right into the SPAM folder for me to fish out later.  If they ever sent anything time-sensitive, I'd miss it because I don't check the SPAM folder that often. 

Plus, AWeber's blog offers some awesome content to help you with email marketing (like the post on "Reasons Why People Unsubscribe" which that last link points to).  In fact, whatever service you use, you should subscribe to their RSS feed or email broadcast just to get some great ideas to implement in your email marketing campaign (easier to do if you're using their system obviously).

You can find out more here : Aweber 

P.S. - Yes, those are affiliate links (other than the blog link).  I have no qualms about promoting AWeber as an affiliate though.  I use it, I love it, it's the best service by far.  In fact, it's one of the few services that I pay for annually versus month-to-month.  It's that important.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Excuse #8: I Don't Know How to Choose a Good Market

Ahhh, a personal favorite of mine, and the next in our list of excuses that keep people from starting their online business…

Excuse #8: I don't know how to choose a good market

The truth is, you might not get it right the first time anyway, so just pick something.  No one gets from point A to point B in a straight line.  But you can't get ANYWHERE until you START something. 

That said, in terms of market selection, the ideal is finding an overlap between what you like and what people want.  Hopefully you'll find a topic that you're interested in that also appeals to a wide audience…things that would appeal to the average Joe on the street. 

Most people want to make money, save money, save time, lose weight, attract the opposite sex, maintain or improve their health and so on.  If you can fit your topic into one of those areas, you're probably on the right track. 

That's not to say that you should have some generic site on making money discussing every "biz opp" on the planet.  But if you can show people how earn an income online, how to create and sell crafts from home, how to earn money with their digital camera, or as a home based travel agent, you're getting there.  That's all "make money" stuff. 

Same goes for the other topics.  So not just generic "lose weight" stuff, but losing weight while still being able to scarf down your box of cookies every night.

On the other hand, you may find that there's not much demand for the stuff you're really into.  Or that you're kinda' boring and aren't into that many things.  You may have to find new interests, pick up new skills or be willing to learn new things.  But more than likely, you already have some interests you can run with. 

Also, is anyone selling to these people already?  Not too many people in the "monkey combat training" market and not too many new people coming in either. 

But how about digital photography?  Dating?  Real estate?  You get the point.

PS - I Googled the term "monkey combat training" after I wrote this, just out of curiosity, just to see what would show up.  170,000+ results!  That'll teach me, but I'll leave it as-is anyway.

Popularity: 3% [?]

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