There's A Lotta Crap Out There!

Okay, this is a vent post. If you're already turned off, forgive me…come back tomorrow.

If not, join me on my soap box!

I've always subscribed to the belief that trashing your business competition directly is never a good thing. I believe it does more to expose your own insecurities and weakens your position, and does less to further your own cause.

...and besides, it's not nice!

That said, I can't help but cringe at the crap out there in the internet marketing universe. Seriously…crap!

While I won't directly name anyone, I think it's appalling to see the useless, self-serving, desperate, pseudo-copycat advice being parlayed by posers into so-called 'marketing expertise' out there! (Appalled, I tell ya!)

At first glance, I'm amused at these entrepreneurial impostors and their elementary effort, but then it occurs to me they're possibly tarnishing ME with their crappiness!

When people visit one crap marketing website after another, they become skeptical, then we all get painted with the same broad brush. (NOT FAIR!) These wannapreneurs are giving us legitimate online marketers a bad rap.

That's cause for calling them out!

People seeking help or advice about marketing their business online don't have patience for B.S. They want genuine information...fresh stuff, not stale, outdated, regurgitation of what everyone else is spewing...things that expose their amateur status.

(Example: if your blog header looks like you’ve stretched your high school yearbook photo to fit it...you’re exposed!)

First impressions are everything!

If you have me at hello, I might venture a little further, but if two or three clicks of the mouse doesn't get me what I came for…you guessed it - click, out, gone!

Sad but true, we are time-challenged and attention 'deficited' up the wazoo!

So, wannapreneurs…do us all a favor and cut it out! We need to raise the bar for others who have an interest in becoming a home business entrepreneur. Only those who aren’t afraid of hard work...people who take pride in not only looking professional but also in doing what's best for their customers and clients. (You're either all in, or you're not!)

I’ve put together some pointers on how to avoid being a wannapreneur (part of the problem) and become a genuine online entrepreneur (part of the solution):

While well-meaning, it's not enough to have a “desire to be in business." It's not enough to simply regurgitate what you've learned. It's not enough to slap up a website, stake your claim and declare yourself an expert.

• Be the professional that I'm looking for.
• Be the expert who gets ME.
• Make me feel.
• Make me believe.
• Hold my interest.
• Give me an experience with your stuff, your brand.
• Give me proof that you're the real deal!

“People do business with people they know, like and trust.”

An entire generation (mine) did business based on a handshake. We were raised on "look 'em in the eye," "kick a tire." It was tactile, palpable.

In a virtual world you can't do that. So how do you ‘reach out and touch’ your potential customers?

• Amazon.com let’s you see, but you can't touch. At least not yet anyway ;-) But they know people comparison shop based on three things: images, web copy and reviews.
• The same is true with your online business. Your success depends on how well you can get into the mind of your visitors, and how persuasive and influential your communication and graphics are, and how credible your testimonials are.
• When it comes to your web copy, don’t leave it to chance. Be creative. Make your content relevant to your audience, but put your own spin on it. Tell a story. Don’t be dull, be memorable! (and for crap sake, don’t insult their intelligence!)

• Use relevant images that help strengthen their understanding and retention of your content. Finally, use results-oriented testimonials whenever possible from colleagues, clients and satisfied customers. Avoid vague or flowery testimonials like one you might get from Granny!

"My Gwendolyn is the sweetest kindest girl. When she was little, she used to.."

Remember, no one believes you're an authority if you present your business like it's a hobby of yours. Any respectable 11 year old has already learned how to access resources on the web to make themselves look like a pro.

So unless you don’t know how to navigate the internet (in which case you have no business being in business online) you have no excuse for having an ugly, unprofessional website. My mom used to say, "Put a little elbow grease in it"

Well there you have it - I’m off my soapbox now. Thanks for indulging me.

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