How Can I Help You Please?
Posted by Michael Ottman | Posted in Business Strategies, In The Beginning | Posted on April 12, 2010
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Over the past year or so I’ve been running my online business free from the boss that so many of you have in your daily lives. I never thought that I knew enough about anything to create my own products and services but I proved myself wrong by creating and running a successful online graphics business.
Simple Ecovers makes me a full time living online but it’s time to switch gears a little in my journey as it’s time to do more than just graphics for people on the internet. I’ve learned so much about mindset, customer service, planning, list building, product creation and more. Needless to say my upcoming success will be dependent upon the continuing service I’ve always provided.
Now I haven’t been perfect in all I’ve done online and I’ve dropped the ball in many areas as my focus can become sometimes distracted by life and everything else around me. But who hasn’t? I haven’t met one person online or in person who didn’t have struggles and who didn’t have the occasional failure. It’s in the midst of failure that most successes come from and I’m going to be no different.
As I’m building my list of subscribers I’m going to be trying a few different tactics in marketing that a lot of people don’t do. Now I know this may go against the norm but I’m determined to be successful by helping as many people as I can. As a matter of fact I actually sent an email to my entire list last week asking people to unsubscribe. Crazy you may think but it came from really wanting people to be on my list for reasons other than to just receive affiliate offers from me.
Now making money online by sending affiliate offers via email to a large list will make you cash but whose lives did you change in the process? There really is no way to know since all you do is forward people to the next online fad just to make some quick cash. I know I could do it as I have done it before but for some reason I don’t feel great about it. I want to really give value to the people on my list but yet I have no products of my own to sell. ( Not yet anyways. )
Easy solution now that I think of it. I’ve been online for several years and know how to do many things. I have no doubt that people are looking for many of the same things that took me hours and weeks to learn. I am going to begin making content on various things that I know will help my subscribers and for the first time will be placing that content for free on my blog here and then simply send my subscribers here to devour the content.
I will engage them with questions and offer surveys to find out what they want and need. The more I engage my readers and give value, the money will come. I don’t want some quick sale but I want a customer. Even if I share a video on how blogging has helped me, I won’t feel bad recommending them to someone who knows more about blogging like Mathew Wolfe. You see, recommending someone to make a quick sale might work but then your visitor will have no reason to come back to you.
I want people to always want to come back and see what I have to say so by giving value, I will be able to do that. I can’t please everybody but I can feel good about the type of internet marketer I want to be. So I offer you this to ponder. What do you want to learn online? What is it that you think you need in order to progress forward? I know a lot of the gurus will tell you to outsource the work but from experience, I’ve seen the majority of people online want to actually “learn” how to do things on their own.
Most people don’t have the extra money and the resources to continually outsource like the gurus tell you so I want to create free content that will help you to progress online. Please, I ask again.. What do you need? Think about it and let me know. I await your comments as this is genuine from me to you. You could either continue to open email after email from marketer after marketer or you can begin to settle down and learn something of value. I offer this because I’ve been caught up for years in the same day after day routine of reading countless emails only to find myself with less money and lost time.
So again, “What can I do for you”? Can I help you get your first subscriber? Can I help you get your first Ecover created? Can I show you how to write an email campaign? Can I help you come up with a product to sell online? Can I help you create your first website? Can I show you how to make graphics? Can I get on a Skype call with you and answer your questions? What can I do to help YOU?
This is no gimmick and this is no scam. I am a real person with a vested interest in you and your progress. So please leave your questions and comments below. I will personally answer each and every one as this is my new strategy for online success and I wish to bring you along for the ride. Any questions? Until next time…
I would like to be able to get on Skype and get my questions answered.
Thanks,
Michael.
Hi Michael
That’s a great idea man. And we are on the same wave. I wrote today an email I’ll send my subscribers soon. In it I’m offering as you real help to their problems.
Like you do, I don’t feel great by sending only affiliate products email promotions to my, yet, short list. I want to contribute and know those persons that has registered once in my list.
All the best
Estani Chapel
@ Michael. Sure bro! You can Skype me anytime by adding me “michael.ottman” to your Skype contacts and then simply text me about this blog post so I know who you are and what you want to talk about.
I wasn’t joking when I said I wanted to help. Unfortunately the majority of subscribers won’t take action and will continue to just sit and open email after email looking for the next big product to buy.
Real interaction is key to success so give me a shout. I look forward to it!
Michael ottman
@ Estani,
Good job on you my friend as you want to follow my example with your own list. I’ve been to your blog and see you have much experience and would love to visit with you sometime if you have any questions or concerns.
You never know when a great JV opportunity may present itself. I really am interested in creating great FREE content that my subscribers will devour but if I don’t know what they want then I can’t help them much.
I would otherwise just have to guess.
Michael Ottman
Hey Michael,
I really admire what you’re doing here and I agree with you that most people want to learn how to do it themselves because they don’t have the money.
I’m giving away loads of stuff based on that principle – showing a step-by-step system based on putting in time and effort but NOT money…it’s probably not what a lot of the ‘big guys’ would recommend (and I’m sure I’m losing possible sales in the short term) but I just really want to provide value with a view to creating long term success rather than a quick buck now.
Also in the current climate I think it’s important to do what we can to protect the term internet marketer from being immediately associated, in the mind of many, with ‘scams, rip offs and spam’. What do you think?
I applaud what you’re doing with your list and wish you all the best with it.
Lets hope we’ve got the right idea!?
Rob
Hey Rob,
Thanks for the comment as I know I get sick of promotion after promotion just offering me more products. It’s kind of a catch 22 though because in order for us to build up our own lists with Adswaps, we must keep promoting to our list.
But I see it like this. The Adswaps are set up to promote other FREE items that my subscribers might enjoy so I just give them the option. I want to provide value from myself though so that’s why I continue to write content and give it to them.
It’s sad though I’ve emailed 500 people asking what they want and need and not many have come forth. I guess they just want more free stuff for now. I’m just waiting though for that one person to tell me where to go if you know what I mean.
I will help one person at a time if needed so this is good test to try out.
Michael Ottman
Hey Mike,
I thought I’d pop over to see what you’re up to. Vegas (the first one) seems such a long time ago now!
You were very helpful to me in creating the cover for my ebook and then the graphics for my sales page – I couldn’t have created those myself so your vision was great and you got it all spot on.
As for new things to help me with, well, how are you at time travel? No? Ok then, I’ll stick to having you do my graphics for me.
Of course, if I think of anything else, then I’ll be back!
Hope you’re ok,
Nikki / PMW
PS – I added you on Skype the other day, hope you don’t mind!
Hi
What I think you are doing is brilliant. Just sending affiliate product after affiliate product to your list does feel like a con.
If it’s ok with you I will Skype you shortly as I could really do with some advice on my new ebook I have written and some professional critique on my cover.
If only there were more people like you on the Internet Marketing scene – I am getting very disillusioned with all the hype and more hype around.
Keep up your great idea.
Regards – Barbara
Hey Mike,
I will probably need some graphics soon for a few things I’m working on
I also added you to my skype account too hope you don’t mind.
I am just starting out blogging so in time I will want to get my blog costomised for
me. Have you also a website?
Your idea is great hard to find on the internet today
Keep it up
Glyn
Hi Michael,
Alex was talking about you on his coaching course last nite so thought I would pop by, it’s nice to see not all online marketers are after a fast buck.
Sally
Michael,
You have a nice looking blog and great e-covers. I have seen your name in the MWA forum and I thought I would stop by to check out what you had to say. I always find it helpful when I see people dedicated toward truly helping others by providing great content. I am in the process now of figuring out the ad swap dilemma. I don’t want to over promote but I need to build a list in order to make the numbers work. Also, by continually offering freebies you train your list to become freebie seekers and not actually customers.
Love the Blog Mike going to have to get with sometime and let you do some work for me on my next project. Just wanted to pop over and say Hi.
Been a pleasure meeting you and looking forward to our Swap on the 19th.
Have a great day.
Chris
Hi Michael!
I have read your post. It very amazing learn from a person like you
!
I have understand many things from your message. I can tell that you are a leader!
I agree with you that many people wait only, mail after mail, to find the “Magic Pill” for their success and often want pay even many bucks for this. It’s incredible, but it’s damn real!
And the most unpleasant thing is that also I can tell that “the big gurus” only send affiliate promotions, using scarcity and urgency, day after days.
Let me present. I’m an italian guy. My name is Alberto. I’m 33. Please let me tell my story.
A beautiful day in May 2005 i see an offer on my office computer. In Italy there was the possibility to join to a coaching program for internet Marketing for 147€ a month. It was the first serious possibility in the web 2.0 and I jumped immediately on it.
So, I have started study in 2005 Internet Marketing in this italian coaching program, really valuable.
Well, from that May 2005 my world changed totally. I discovered exactly what I was seeking from many years, and what I had only dreamed until then.
I started to follow the program, pulling out many ideas in the italian market. But I haven’t had the right mindset in that moment.
So, I am not been able to succeed with my projects. And month after month I started to sabotage me, criticizing myself . And I interrupted my coaching program after about 18 month.
From that moment, I started to go much more deeper into my mindset, because I felt that there was something really important but secretly it was hindering me
So, I went to seminars, I travelled the world and participated to many live event, specially in personal development. And now, I have changed many aspects of me.
I have found my passion, my mission, my vision. I have left my old me in Arizona this winter, and I came back to Italy with another Alberto, in the body, in the heart, in the mind, in the spirit.
Since december 2009 something is dramatically changed in me.
So, after over 10 years of amazing success in my job like personal trainer and fitness instructor, I felt that this wasn’t more my way. In all these 10 years, I have changed the live of many person, here in Italy. I have made many of my clients much more healthy, strong, beautiful, inspired and free.
I have I have worked in cities how Milano, Bologna, Perugia, Grosseto. I have had many satisfactions, both personal and professional. I have even achieved many material things that many people can’t achieve. I have worked really hard. I’m always grew in my job, in my abilities and in my studies.
But my way now, is the Internet. i felt this already many years ago, but I couldn’t leave my job. I was scare.
So, after much pain and many reflections, I have made the decision to close my career how successful personal trainer, and to go totally into Internet Marketing. I was tired to do too many things together and leave my Internet Passion only at night.
Now i do not have a real job. And, it’s very strange.
Now I’m finally in my home in Tuscany, with all my things, my computers, my books. And it’s very exiting have finally time for all the things that I love and I like do and that I have always postponed, because first there was always my job, and my personal training customers.
Now I’m following Alex’s coaching, I study and I try to improve my english (I started in January 2010 from zero) month after month on daily basis, and I want to find the way to succeed in world Internet Marketing.
I admire you Michael. You are a very strong man, you are very awesome, you are great! And not only for tell to your mailing list members to unsubscribe if they aren’t really interested, but because I can to feel your value while you are writing!
I’m very honored to be able to write to you, and I hope you will read all my story.
I also really appreciate your site for ecovers and web graphics services: AWESOME! Your graphics is fantastic! You do all the things that also I love doing! Create and draw ecovers is one of my passion. I can lose myself for whole days in being creative with this softwares. And I admire much your wonderful abilities. Great Micheal!!!
I’d like to say that I could live with a service like your! But I’m not able yet!
I hope to meet you live in any event!
Thanks for what you have wrote in your Blog! it’s really inspiring!
Remember you are a leader!
P.S. I think your awesome service might be very successful in italian market. You could have no competition! Try to do some research
!
My hand on my heart,
Alberto
Hi Michael
Its great to see someone who genuinely wants to help someone take action and move forward with their business.
I am taking massive action at the moment and documenting all the steps as I go along, so that I can create a report to give away to my list about what I did and the results. So I maybe in touch with you about this in the future.
Julie
That is great Julie that you are taking what you call “massive action”. There have been many times that I wish I had a lot earlier but as long as you are doing it now, that’s what matters.
I look forward to networking with you later on. You will be a help to many as you learn the steps of online business. Good job.
Michael Ottman
Hi, Michael I am one of Alex Jeffreys Coaching Students MWA 3.0
You do a fantastic job with your sites. Definitely wll be using you soon (thinking about my 1st free product).
Keep up a good job. Wish I knew you existed before putting up my blog. Could you have a look at it by the way? Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Dmitri
Hey Dmitri.
I will be sure to check out your blog here shortly. I know you will get a ton of knowledge from Alex so take a lots of notes. Make sure that as you learn, you begin to let others know of what you have learned so you can begin to be an authority to the newbies out there.
Don’t spend a lot of time getting your first freebie out there. Just get it done. And don’t forget to get a hold of me for the ecover graphic. LOL
Talk soon my friend,
Michael Ottman
Hi Michael, I love how open and honest you are it’s so refreshing, I would love to get on skype and pick your brains if you had some time to spare, I found your blog because Alex recommended we use you for graphics, but I can see there is whole other side to your business besides the graphics side of things, a chance to speak to you and hear about your own personal journey would help me greatly I think, Sally
Hey Sally,
Thanks for ordering a Twitter background from me. I don’t mind talking with you when you get a chance. I have learned to get to know people and even though we are all online, there has to some networking going on in order to make it in this niche.
Good luck to you Sally and talk with you soon,
Michael Ottman
Hey Nikki,
Yes I wish I could time travel as well. I am glad you added me on Skype and added you too. I hope you are doing well and are moving forward with a plan for your business. No videos yet? You gotta break that comfort zone sweetie.
Talk to you soon,
Michael Ottman
Wow Alberto.
Very inspiring words for someone with limited English, you got your point and passion across very well. I think it’s great that you have had success in your personal life and with many of your clients.
You have a lot more than most of the people making it online. You can use what you have learned and gained in real life and carry it over to the Internet Marketing world. It’s great that you attend live events and are willing to get in front of people.
I went to my very first live event a year ago when I went to Las Vegas to meet Alex and many of the Alex 1.0 students. I even was on track to go to the Vegas Alex 2.0 event to meet even more great students but I had lost my 10 year old nephew to meningitis and had to fly to California to be with my sister and the family.
Just never give up and never give in. Take all of your successes and share them with everyone you know. People will get to know, like and trust you. Then give away some of your best tips and you will be surprised when people come back to you.
Stay positive Alberto and keep on the English. Let me know if I can do anything for you at all. My Skype is michael.ottman
Enjoy your coaching with Alex. He’s the man.
Talk later brother,
Michael Ottman
Hey Mike,
I’ll have to catch up with you on Skype soon! It’s been ages since we last spoke.
As for videos, I’m going on holiday soon so I’m planning on taking a few when I’m there – not that they’ll necessarily be suitable for public consumption, but at least I’ll be getting some practice in.
That reminds me, do you still have those videos that you took when we were in Vegas together?
Nikki
Hi Michael-wow I didn’t know you were behind simple e covers-I found your blog through links on Alex Jeffreys coaching program-I just started 3.0 course. I find your style of writing very easy to read, its as if you are sitting next to me just having a normal conversation. Very honest and appealing. take care Orla
Thanks for the comment Orla,
I try to write as though you are here with me so I feel now need to try to write over people’s understanding. It won’t be long before I have some videos up here and you will be able to hear me talking to you in the way that you like to read.
I’ve learned a lot from Alex’s coaching and I know you will too. Just be sure to create reports and teach others what you learn as you learn it too. Even though you are new, it won’t be long before people are thanking you for your teachings.
Take care, Michael Ottman
Hi Michael,
I like your post; it is got lots of information, lots of advices, and offer to help to make our journey successful. Alex talk about few people, and you are one of them, you are really impressive.
I have added you in Skype and will have chat with you when you get some time
Keep up the good work.
Take Care
Nad
Hey Nad,
Thanks for the comment. I would be glad to get on Skype with you sometime. I like to see what people are doing as their online business. I will go and check out your blog here shortly.
Michael
Hello Michael,
I enjoyed reading your post tremendously! You no doubt have found your niche with the services you are providing. I too am a student in Alex Jeffreys Coaching course. I am new to internet marketing and am very excited about the new path that I have taken. I can’t wait to be like you and be out from under my present full-time employment. I hope that we will be able to work together one day soon. I may need to have some graphic work done on my blog.
I can see that you are motivated to help others and this will certainly pay off for you as you continue. I think you have great ideas and a wonderful way of engaging your readers.
All the best to you!
Alice
Hi Micheal,
I found your blog with the coach I just started with named Mark Terrell. After so many emails and over load on info and products,,I found the Gentle Mentor free coaching.. Then got connected to skype and joined a really friendly group that truely are helpful . They will help you any way they can,thats how I met Mark.Your blog and story are very interesting. You have alot of good friendly information and your caring shows through. I believe you will get all your working so hard for. My blog is just starting, but I will make it.I would welcome your comment and any help if you care to look,To your success,
Rose
Michael,
I did an ad swap with you in the past and saw your site tonight and I’m very impressed with the progress you have made. Congratulations! For myself, I am getting to a decision point of which way to go in internet marketing. Yes, we can learn the basics of internet marketing: listbuilding, creating and maintaining a blog, traffic generation techniques, seo, product creation and so forth. At the end of the day, at least for me, I find I have a decision to make. Am I going to take those skills and use them in the realm of internet marketing itself? Or am I going to take those skills and apply them to another niche? Because whatever pathway a person takes, will take time to develop and the question is, which way does one want to go? For now, I am focusing on internet marketing because it helps develop the skills I need, but I may expand into a niche market in the future.