06.07.07
The Road Ahead
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all your inputs. Without your participation, I would have ended up with a dead, useless blog. But now, I am all pepped up and have a clear perspective on how to go ahead with this blog.
I read all your comments (200+ comments - WOW!), categorized them and ran some numbers. And these are some of the topics that clearly stand out as the need of the hour:
1) List Building - One of my favorites and demanded by a large number of people. And rightly so! If you wish to build a sustainable Internet Business, you need to build a list first. “The money is in the list” - I had heard this so many times as a newbie myself, but never really believed in it. Not until I did build one and realized how much I have lost in the past.
2) Step by step blueprints - Definitely a tough job, because each one of you is at a different point in the learning curve. Some of you might want me to start with “What is affiliate marketing?” and some others will trash my blog if I even talk about something so basic. But, I love a good challenge and I will think of something. Don’t you worry.
3) Traffic Generation - And why not? Without targeted traffic, your website is useless. So you will see a lot of posts on targeted traffic generation (free +paid) in this blog.
4) Affiliate Marketing - The best place to start. I am glad you guys want me to talk about it. I was an affiliate marketer for 3 years before creating my first product. The returns are good, there are no hassles and you can get started right away. There are some really cool ways to profit from affiliate marketing and I will share them with you.
5) Hidden tricks & techniques - yes, they do exist. As the web flourishes and new systems/websites take birth, they give rise to untapped techniques that can make you some cool profits. I do a lot of research with these new systems in an effort to discover these methods. And you will get to read about them right here.
Well, these seem to be the favorite topics according to your inputs. And I will use this blog to share my knowledge in these areas with you. Of course, I will talk about a few other topics like viral marketing, product creation, email marketing, etc. After all, its my blog and I should be allowed to talk about my favorite topics 
Also, many of you had some very specific questions. I couldn’t address them because that was not the purpose of the first post. But do not worry, because I am soon going to hold a “free for all” 12-hour non-stop answering marathon at this very blog. You can ask me any Internet Marketing related question and I will answer them to the best of my abilities. I will keep you informed on the marathon.
Thanks again. I hope to create something useful for you guys.
So stay tuned.
Surinder Singh said,
June 7, 2007 at 4:21 am
Hi Alok,
Congrats for a awesome response and I am also glad that the main topic that has left others behind is List building. And we all hope to get some great inputs from you end.
In fact I had put up a lens a few days ago on List building “Why do you need a list?”. Hope you wont mind having a look at it and punching in your comments.
http://squidoo.com/listismoney
Thanks and good luck.
Surinder
Sekander Musawi said,
June 7, 2007 at 4:46 am
Hi Alok.
List building is lenghty process. It takes time to build a list of 10,000 members. So how you are going to start making money on line? More over if you want beginners to join your network or affiliation you have to start from basic and gradually let them stand on their two feet. Then they will understand the importance of the list. Otherwise majority of them will leave you halfway.
Day Online Trading said,
June 7, 2007 at 4:58 am
List building is very important. Just as important is knowing what to do with your list and how to keep milking it for more profits, without turning off and losing your subscribers.
Many people claim to be able to build huge lists very quickly. Hopefully Alok will be able to teach us how to do this ourselves, then making money will not be so hard (hopefully).
Finding affiliates is another great way to build a business. Doing JVs with other marketers in your same field is very clever.
Cheers.
Shirley said,
June 7, 2007 at 5:31 am
Hello Alok
I am so excited I can hardly wait to see what all this marketing mumbo-jumbo is really about. I feel lucky to be one of the people who will now have a chance to reach their goal (with your help of course.) At last some one is willing to share what they have learned.
There is so much we want to learn. I just hope I can remember it all and put to use what you are about to teach us.
Building a list is important but building trust is too, if the people don’t trust in you they will just ignore any and all correspondence you send them. So building trust is my main concern, for now.
Thanks, and keep up the good work
May God bless,
Shirley
William Buckley said,
June 7, 2007 at 6:09 am
How exciting is this. right on the nose with what people want to know. I look forward to your insights.
Krystine said,
June 7, 2007 at 6:18 am
Hi Alok,
I’m so glad you got such a great response to your blog. I was very pleased to read that you took the time to compile our comments so quickly. Your blog will be a great help to all of us!
Thanks so much
Krystine
Alok said,
June 7, 2007 at 6:20 am
Yes, Shirley and Day Online - Maintaining a list more difficult than building the list itself. If you dont treat them well, they leave you faster than they joined. I will cover these aspects in the blog.
Alok
Peter said,
June 7, 2007 at 6:25 am
Hi Alok,
I think the previous comments from Shirley are spot on,and echo
my thoughts completely.
We are all going to benefit from reading your blog!.
I hope you get as much pleasure in doing it,as I know we will get
reading it.
Best Wishes,
Peter
Eric Suiker said,
June 7, 2007 at 6:41 am
Building a (huge) list is what everybody seems to be after these days. All the gurus tell us to do that and I guess they’re right. But nobody ever teaches us how to do it, step-by-step.
I, for one, could do with a blueprint on that.
You seem to be a little reluctant to start a “beginners class” because you think you will lose readers. I’m convinced that you will not lose readers but gain a whole bunch of them that cannot get their info anywhere else.
Just go for it…
Eric Suiker
http://www.ericsuiker.com
Mandy said,
June 7, 2007 at 9:11 am
I for one am glad also that list building is top. I don’t even know how I ended up on your list but I am so glad I did. And I also would like to see you do a beginners class. Even if there is some review, I believe there are crucial steps that I may have missed from the beginning.
Brooks said,
June 7, 2007 at 9:15 am
Its definitely all in the list. I am actively trying to get my list built up! You have been my inspiration Alok, thank you!
Ellen Crowell said,
June 7, 2007 at 9:16 am
Hi everyone I need a really really big favor from everybody that reads my post. The faor is togo on JOEL Comms reality show next millionare and vote for me I would really appreciate it. Also I am probably the last one on the audition list. thanks again.I also would like information onlisting
Stephan Iscoe said,
June 7, 2007 at 9:23 am
Love it!
Two things to consider,,,
1] why a calendar? takes up prime space
2] cloak your affiliate links? you might be losing some commissions
Best of Success,
Stephan
p.s. thanks for the Emergency Cash recommendation
http://NetProfitsNews.com
Jack said,
June 7, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Hi Alok,
I am glad to be a part of this. Really looking forward to it.
Jack
Mimi Smith said,
June 7, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Hello Alok,
Well done, that was quick work getting the frame sorted! Thankyou for asking me to take part and do keep me posted.
Kind regards,
Mimi
Gary said,
June 7, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Thanks Alok,
Your timely responses are really impressive. I have to agree with Mr. Suiker; don’t overly concern yourself with the possibility of losing some more ‘advanced’ readers because they think you’re being too remedial or something. Listen, there are going to be people out there who bash you NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY OR DO. It never fails….some people just seem to exist for the perverse pleasure of trashing others. Fortunately, you can live without their participation and catering to the larger numbers of novices will earn you rewards farther down the line; (but not very far I’d bet). Go with what you feel will be most helpful to the largest numbers of readers. You won’t be sorry. Let the elitists and the naysayers build their own blog sites if they’ve got a problem with yours.
Gary
Sheila Christian said,
June 7, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I am sure however you chose to write your articles, they will be informative on different levels. Although I am just beginning in this sort of thing, I am a pretty quick learner and I think I would be able to figure it out if a few things were left out. Though it would be nice to have a step by step guide for the beginner. Maybe you could make it into a three part thing, starting with beginner level, intermediate level, and ending with the advanced level or which ever levels there are afterwards.
I find no matter what one does in life or anything for that matter, there will always be someone that is overly critical of what you are doing. You just have to do what it is you think is right step.
I look forward to your future blogs. Keep up the good work.
Immortal King said,
June 8, 2007 at 6:49 am
Hi Alok,
I missed to comment in your earlier Blog. But when I returned to net and checked your Blog, Boy, it was amazing and I became tired scrolling down the comments.
Yes Success in the list. Can also be said that an Internet Marketeer’s Life is in the List.
Felicitations.
Immortal
Immortal King said,
June 8, 2007 at 6:50 am
Hi Alok,
I missed to comment in your earlier Blog. But when I returned to net and checked your Blog, Boy, it was amazing and I became tired scrolling down the comments.
Yes Success in the list. Can also be said that an Internet Marketeer’s Life is in the List.
Felicitations.
Immortal
http://www.keywordsecrets.info