Lately I’ve notice a trend among marketers trying to sell new programs.
In the past, they were selling $1997 “turnkey” programs to help people learn how to market themselves. Apparently, that’s kind of passé. Maybe people have realized that a one-size-fits-all approach often doesn’t work.
Now two new marketing approaches seem to have hit the online marketing scene. Maybe it’s a backlash against traditional “Internet Marketer” hard-sell tactics. I don’t know. I think of these two new camps as the “Woo Woo” and “Best Buddy” approaches.
Woo Woo to You!
The Woo Woo Guru tells you that all you need to do is think the right thoughts and fabulous things will come to you. Sit and be in the flow. Be your most fantastic you and energy, good things, and riches will all flow your way.
Connect with your inner goodness, wear flowing Stevie Nicks outfits, and dream of the perfect life you’ll be living real soon now. It’s all going to be yours if you just have the right mindset.
Be My Buddy
The Buddy Guru says that you need to get out there in cyberspace and chat everybody up. The Internet is your water cooler. Get out there, make friends and people will flock to you.
Connect, engage, share, and give away everything you can give. And don’t do anything crass like ask for money or sell. Be a best friend to everyone and great things will come your way.
The Big Fallacy
Obviously, I’m painting an extreme picture to make a point. Both of these approaches do have value in their way. Being authentic and being nice to people are both good ideas. Neither is the complete story.
Things fall apart when the goo-roo leads you to believe that just thinking good thoughts or making friends is all you need to do to be successful or get new clients.
It’s just a different spin on the old “turnkey system” approach. Just like the Woo Woo and Buddy approaches, the turnkey systems had nuggets of information that could help you move forward.
The missing link no one wants to talk about? It’s called work.
Successful businesses don’t arise from just thinking. They arise from doing. A business requires effort, particularly in the beginning. Make a plan for yourself and follow it. The best way to ensure your success is to take control of your future. Adopting someone else’s tactics for your business only works if they are part of the larger plan you come up with yourself.
Also accept the fact that work is called work for a reason. You aren’t always going to be “in the flow” embracing your inner greatness and creativity. Some days you might have to do boring stuff like pay the bills and file papers. You might have to write on days when you don’t feel particularly creative. You might even have to deal with frustrating people you don’t like or take on a projects you aren’t excited about to pay the mortgage.
Life and business aren’t perfect. Virtually anything you do will require effort. Don’t fall for pie-in-the-sky promises that skip over details like doing the work. You’ll save $1997 and avoid a lot of disappointment and disillusionment in the end.