Choking on the Internet Marketing Wishbone
Guest Post by: Jennifer (PotPieGirl)
Last week or so, Kyle had a great post on our very own Wealthy Affiliate Blog. The post was titled – What Motivates YOU to Achieve Success? I really enjoyed it and I think you might, too. You can read that post here.
However, Kyle linked out to something that was an extremely interesting read for me. About half way down in the comments section, Kyle replied to a comment with this statement:
I agree with everything you have said. However, I do believe that any weakness can become a strength through focus. Many people have weaknesses but fail to ever work on them because it is “hard”. It is much more comforting and “easy” to do what you are already good at or what you are naturally gifted to do. Most of us that are successful are that way because many of our OLD weaknesses are now our strong points.
As for survival (in business & in the sense of life) , there are different ways in which we react to difficult situations. I know of an excellent article that distinguishes the difference between “choking” and “panicking”, written by a famous Canadian author, Malcolm Gladwell. You may find this interesting.
http://www.gladwell.com/2000/2000_08_21_a_choking.htm
Cheers,
Kyle
Not only was his reply comment insightful in my opinion, the article he linked out to by Malcolm Gladwell was fascinating to me.
The article is a bit older and bit long, but it was a deep journey into the difference between “choking” and “panicking”.
In short, “panicking” is when we shut down and suffer from a loss of rational thought. Think of being at a loss for air and how your mind will go blank and just reach out for whatever – or WHO ever – has air available to you. Or when someone is drowning and you try to rescue them….and they fight you…grasp on to you…all to the point that you might have to right-hook them to knock them out so you CAN save their life. That is panic.
On the other hand, “choking”, according to the author, is the state in which we think too much. We over-analyze our every move….over think things until we lose our fluidity. It causes us to stutter and stall in our actions. Think like the golfer who suddenly chokes over a 3-foot putt after remembering he missed 6 of those putts already that day.
Suddenly he is very aware of his motions and technique. Even tho he had MADE 3-foot putts a thousand times before, he now suddenly doubts himself (or herself, says the girl golfer…lol).
So…now I know you’re wondering….
Good Golly, Jennifer, What in the WORLD Does This Have To Do With Marketing or Writing Articles?
As I was reading that article, it hit me how much those two terms – those two natural responses – apply to our marketing techniques.
Many of us will be in a panic state when we first come online.
MUST. MAKE. MONEY.
That is the only thought…and the process begins of tossing affiliate links and big “CLICK HERE” text all over our web pages. If you’re struggling for “air” in life, I can see how this would be a totally normal, absence of complete thought response.
However, I think CHOKING really applies to article marketing – especially when you’re new.
Think about it…. you gather your keywords then you open that text file to start writing…and what do you see?
That BIG BLANK WHITE PAGE…. that is EMPTY just waiting for your genius to fill it up.
Yikes!
That’s not panic setting in, it is you choking.
I don’t mean that as an insult – heck, we ALL do it at one time or another. What I want to do is give you a tip to get PAST that “choking” stage and move forward to where a big, blank, white page inspires you – instead of intimidating you and making you doubt yourself, your words, and your sanity.
I see so many folks in our forum write the most eloquent forum posts expressing their inability to write articles that are “good enough”. I used to read those posts and think, “What in the world could be the problem? They write beautifully!”
Now I know what the problem is… and how to help you past it.
Isn’t it easier when you are writing TO someone?
It sure is for me!
For any of you that have read anything I have written, you may notice that I have a very “conversational” style of writing. I prefer, and am most comfortable with, writing TO people just as if I was talking to them.
My high school English teacher may have hated it years ago, but it works for me now…. AND it got me past MY case of “choking” when trying to write articles.
Next time you are faced with that choke-inducing Big, Blank, White Page, just turn your keyword into a question and pretend you are writing an email to a friend answering that question.
Heck, pretend you are writing to me….or Kyle….or Carson – it doesn’t matter now. Over time, you will learn how to envision the ideal person that would want help from your articles and you’ll be able to pretend you are emailing them giving them personal help.
That’s what article writing really is – providing personal help to others who are looking for that help.
Just let your words flow. Don’t get hung up on keyword density or article length – just write and let YOU shine through.
As Kyle said in his quoted comment above – “Most of us that are successful are that way because many of our OLD weaknesses are now our strong points.”
Choking when writing articles is a temporary weakness that is easily overcome with a mindset change in YOU. Before long, that old weakness will be one of your strong points that will push you closer and closer to success.
Jennifer
~PotPieGirl
Great post Jennifer. Can’t help but agree with this. Very few people where just born talented writers, yet, we became pretty good at it because of strong will and hard work. Overtime we even learnt to relax and write as if we were talking to a friend. that is all there is to it.
That is a fabulous post!
It relates to me 100%! I used to panic because I was always at a lost of words.
Now I feel a sense of relief. I think I’m going to go type up my first article for my niche now.
Thanks for the inspiration.
“Jessica
Jenniffer, You make these task very easy to understand and I have learned so much from your OWM as well as all your posts. The more I do this the better I get and some of my articles get rejected so I just correct them and keep going. I agree as well with the other posts about not getting fixed on earning money. If you focus on creating original good content the money will come eventually. I believe this and I will continue for as long as it takes. Thank you…..
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for sharing your perspective regarding such important topics. Indeed, fear and panic will only immobilize us, and assuming an over contemplative and over examining posture, stalemates us as well. We need to embrace a more relaxed, “centered” stance — particularly when writing — and pretending to write an email to a friend is a great start.
I also need to remind myself that the first draft does not necessarily have to be the last one. It’s
much easier for me to edit my work then produce some work in the first place.
It also helps to try to write on a consistent basis. I know that when I force myself to write each day, more thoughts and ideas germinate and my writing becomes more fluid.
(By the way, I’m learning a lot from you, Jennifer. You’re an excellent teacher!)
Best Regards,
Andy Lax
Great Article Jennifer… Hitting the nail on the head springs to mind here.
What you say is so true, not only that, but it actually works.
I to have been a sufferer of the blind and full of ideas expression while staring blankly at a clean white A4 sheet in Word on my PC.
Although the concept is not entirely new this is certainly the best comprehensive description that I have read that not only covers it from tip to toe, but also provides a proven method to resolve the issue in such a way that allows absolutely anyone reading to overcome not only the blank look problem, but others too that have a similar edge.
“For Every Adversity There is an Equal if Not Greater Seed of Benefit… Providing we Are Looking For it!”
Thanks Again.
Warm Regards,
Clive Anderson
Jennifer, – Thanks, you do have a knack of making tasks seem much simpler and even easier by coming up with “Choke-Relief” for them. I see this method as an ideal way for me to start the pen rolling….. I often write to an older ex-Army comrade who is now bed-ridden and having come up with a topic on just the spur of the moment I find I can write really quickly in a style I know will amuse him (and rouse him from his increasing depression).
I feel that this is the way to pour information out onto the Blank Page, and I’m already trying it successfully after reading your comments. Once I have a page full it’s easier to change it around a bit and just edit it into more of an article style (where necessary).
Thanks for the tip – it wasn’t new to me, but as I’ve said – you do have a knack of making tasks seem much easier to accomplish! You really do inspire a lot of your readers, so keep on rolling out your great homespun advice, it’s really well appreciated.
John
Thanks for the really great kick in the pants. I know I choke when it comes time to write, even though I do enjoy doing it. When I get started I seem to have diarrhea of the mouth or the keyboard and cannot seem to get an article to shut down with less than about 600 words and generally more. I don’t know how you can say anything of worth for less than that.
Carson is right about doing some scheduling and keeping to it. We are in a job supposedly, not a hobby of playing at this internet thing. We need to be task oriented.
Thanks for the nice reminder.
Haggard
@Robert: Finding the time to actually sit down and write an article in a busy lifesylte can be difficult. However there are a few things that you can do to get the job done.
I find that creating a mini-schedule helps in keeping me on track with my daily to-do list. Try following a writing schedule that you set for yourself each week. For instance, on Sunday evening in your downtime create a list of 7-10 keyword phrases that you could focus on while writing an article. Then, each day during the week choose one of the topics from the list. When you create a list you have all week to think about the topics. Even on your way to work if you know the phrases that you want to write about, you can easily come up with ideas. Then when it comes to time to write you already have “ammo”!
Introducing something into your routine might feel awkward at first, but it’s like anything new.
Don’t forget to see the light at the end of the tunnel too and work towards it. Every single article you write gets you closer to achieving your Internet marketing goals (whatever they may be). Every week that you get some articles written you have that much more “reach” in the search engines. In time you’ll have an army of articles working for you.
Hope this helps!
Carson
Jennifer,
You hit the nail on the head. This article described me so well. I’ve been chocking! That big wide “valley” is scary to me. I’ll save this post because I need time to stop chocking. I’ll try and look at that white page as a pimple instead.
Thank you, As always your graceful.
Duchess
As always Ia great inspirational post. I have good days and bad days and when having a bad day what keeps me going is the belief in myself. The hardest part I found is that you have to self motivate which can be hard to do, but with practice and keep telling myself that I can do this and I am going to make this a success. I follow all your posts and get a great deal of support from them. Thank you….
Jennifer, this is a wonderful post as usual. Writing to some one is a super idea! Your advice is outstanding and when I read it, I know I can do this, but I am slow and always think I am not good enough or smart enough! Thank you for all your help!
Back in college my creative writing instructor said I should be a writer because she felt I had talent. I don’t know about that but I remember struggling to write each essay and never thinking it was good enough.
Now that I want to write articles to market products the same doubts and fears – laziness too – overtakes me and i stare at the blank screen (page) until I give up and watch a video.
So I know my problem, but how to conquer it. Just do it? Yeah, well sometimes I can but in the daily grind of life and struggling to make money online I can’t motivate myself to be consistently disciplined to crank out even one article a day.
Any suggestions anyone?
Great post Jennifer! I know what it’s like on the days your brain shuts down, because there are too many other things going on in our personal lives. I also know what its like to over-think things. But at the end of the day, I think its all about finding your true voice and feeling comfortable enough to say, “This is who I am and what I can offer others.” But it takes time, patience and very hard work to build up a following. My current projects include, website development & marketing services, managing blogs and I just started writing squidoo lenses (see The_Idea_Gal) because you inspired me and I love what you do. So Thanks Jennifer!!!
Once you stop thinking about the money…then it comes…as Drucker said ”profit just illustrates your business is viable”
Jennifer,
A very nice post! In thinking about the word “choking”, my professsion might substitiute words like hyperaroused, overstimulated( excitory impulses), overwhelm, overload causing disorganization and eventually, dissociation, isolation ( or shutdown).
If we are resilient, we will bounce back. But, first, rest let the brain find its equilibrium. When we are ready ,come back and ask yourself what the problem is. Sit on it. Let it nuture, maybe over night. The answer may pop up, and you could start writing, again. But, always free your mind by listing priorities. then you free your mind to think of some solutions. But, most important, think of your grandmothers and fathers, as Jennifer expressed, who love and support you and your friends and fellow bloggers who are there to help. So, put in your mind that you have Extended Family and that you are not alone.
Wow – I am totally blown away! What AWESOME comments! Thank you so much for participating in this post!
Oh, and by the way….
You are all EXCELLENT WRITERS!
You each have so much to share that can really help others.
There are also some great tips in these comments. I really like the “smaller window” idea. That does sound less intimidating.
I want to point out this statement Debbie made -
“What really hit me in reading your article was not about the choking or the panicking itself, but the aftermath of it. The end result for me in my life of this happening has often been to quit or stop activities where this has happened because I don’t want to experience this feeling again.”
I read that paragraph about 5 times when I was coming thru all these wonderful comments. Debbie, your words are so true – not just for YOU, but for so many of us.
I want to tell you (and others who may feel the same) that when you go face to face with that “aftermath fear”, deal with it and move THROUGH it, you will have done something that makes you feel great -
You will have EMPOWERED yourself.
In my opinion, that is the best thing you can do for yourself – AND for those lives you touch every, single day (not just online, but offline, too).
That’s a whole other blog post for me (or 20…knowing how I write…lol), but I wanted to point out how important I think your statement was for ALL of us.
THANK YOU everyone!!
Jennifer
~PotPieGirl
@orson: Feeling overwhelmed and “staring at that white screen” is very common when learning something new. You can have all the training in the world, but without a sense of what direction to take it’s difficult to complete that first “Action”. I’m an experienced Internet marketer but I constantly find myself wondering “what to do now?”.
What I like to do is create goals for myself and keep an updated list of “to do’s” with me at all times. I’m both old school and new school in this regard. I’ve got my pen and notepad on my desk, but I also track my goals online either in WA, or using something as simple as Google Docs. My point is that information overload happens after you’ve gone through training but haven’t been active in creating goals and making notes along the way. As you learn you should be thinking about what actions are associated with the current topic. If you can create a list of “to do’s” every time you learn something new, you’ll kick that feeling of information overload in the butt!
Carson
Thanks for all the information that you have share and will share with all of us.
Yahoo to you.
Crescencio
Hello Jennifer.
You make it look so easy. I have been fighting with this
for weeks. After readind everything still not able to get going.
I wanted to quit and I asked to stop payment from my account.
After hearing from you and Kyle I decided to give it another shot.
Just help me get out the gates. Information over load is a problem.
I CAN do this I just need help.
Orson
Jennifer,
Great article. I remember times in my life when I choked or panicked. Once, while driving on the expressway with my cruise control on that I rarely use, I came upon an accident and a police officer in the road. I almost ran him down when I could not remember how to disengage my cruise control by simply stepping on the brake. I have never used it since.
What really hit me in reading your article was not about the choking or the panicking itself, but the aftermath of it. The end result for me in my life of this happening has often been to quit or stop activities where this has happened because I don’t want to experience this feeling again.
For me, going through the emotions of what feels at the time like fear, or sometimes shame has led to me just giving up. I leave with a sense of failure, and this has repeated itself in various ways in my life. Understanding why this is happening helps me to be able to keep going.
I have not been in marketing long, but have had many days of just wanting to quit thinking it is too hard or I never will make it. Yet, on the days I am on my game and just flowing along, I love it.
I am determined that this time, I am going to stick it out no matter how long it takes and until I feel more comfortable. It will be a victory not just in marketing, but in my life overall to see it through.
Your lovely article helps me to understand myself a bit better,and not take it so personally.
Thanks,
Debbie
Thank you Kyle and Jeniffer
I”ll keep these pointers in mind when I start writing articles. Easier said than done,but it’s good info
Thank you again Rob Hairston
Again Jennifer,
Awsome stuff. Thanks a bunch.You are one of the most inspiring and motivational
writers on WA.
May the Blessings Be
Jennifer,
Thank you for your insightful and inspirational post. It has inspired me to believe in my writing skills in a different way. As an experienced public speaking trainer, I have long since conquered mchoking and have developed confidence in this skillset. I frequently hear stories from my students of the ultimate choke – on stage in front of one;s peers. Writing articles has been that choke for me and itt has hindered my success in the IM skillset.
As helpful as my training is to others and no matter how confident I am with my speaking abilities, that same confidence does not extent to my writing skills. Thank you for inspiring me to believe in a different way. I need to take action to develop the confidence. Ed Skurka
When I first started writing articles it took me forever because I thought it had to be perfect. It became such a chore and so time consuming that I almost gave up. I say “almost” because I was determined to do this. So I made up my mind to just write…submit…and forget about perfection.
I just gave people the facts. As I let go and just wrote information a funny thing happened…. things began to flow easier and easier over time. Now when I look at how many articles I’ve written on so many different subjects and how many people have viewed them, or published them I am so glad I got over the panic and choking syndrome…like the Nike ad says “Just do it” The rest will follow.
It’s a cummulative process and if you will just be patient you will see good results over time. You just have to put pen to paper, submit, submit, submit….the work you’ve done will catch up to you and the money will come.
Thank you for the great article. If you write about what you know it’s easy!
Great post, Jennifer. For me it’s the marketing and setting up effective affiliate sites that is the problem; writing is much easier. I’m thinking about joining Wealthy Affiliates, just have to ask a couple of questions first.
Thanks for the info.
OMG–this is weird–I was in panic mode this week, just as you described. I have been working on articles with the blind faith that they will accomplish what they are supposed to. But you know how it can be when you are “blind”–you bump into things. Glad I had the faith to sign up for your blog and bump into some keen and on the mark insights from you. It is good to be in touch with someone else’s take on what I am going through and know there is a “cure”:-)
Keep “talking”, Jennifer–we are listening!
Hmmm Blank page…I’m staring at one right now! Gosh I hope I don’t “choke”. But seriously your post makes very valid points. You have given me another excellent way to keep my “writers block” from getting the best of me.
Thanks Jennifer
Paul
Great Post Jennifer,
I got some new ideas from this post and the perceptive comments. I will definitely try the trick of writing on a smaller screen. The big, bad Word screen can be intimidating. I will start using WordPad for my first drafts.
Tying in with that and other comments, I have noted that my emails read much more smoothly than my planned articles (perhaps because the Outlook screen is smaller?). I have actually taken some of my emails to my outsource writers and turned them into new articles for Ezinearticles.
So I suggest that if you are having trouble with getting started, reviewing and rewriting an old email is a good place to get a head start.
I have also noted that I sometimes have trouble by tightly focusing on a certain market. Similar to Kathy’s situation noted above, I have gotten stuck on writing when I have predetermined that THIS article is perfect for Ezinearticles. Unfortunately, sometimes Ezinearticles doesn’t agree with me.
I have learned that if more than one rewrite is called for by Ezinearticles, it is a waste of time to keep re-submitting. In those cases, I take the pressure off myself by using the rejected article in my blog. These have turned out to be some of my most popular posts.
Thanks,
Phil
Thanks Jennifer for this post.
To be honest this is not the first time I am reading this idea of writing like you are writing to a friend. but reading it again seems to make a big difference.
Sometimes I just find article writing so boring and tedious and even I find reading my own articles boring….lol
Now that I am planning on writing EBooks, I know that I need to find a way to enjoy writing and this idea may have just solved my problem.
Thanks once again.
Crystal
Hello Jennifer,
You hit the nail on the head. I have been experiencing “choking” for a good while now. I have overcome just about all of the technical aspects of marketing one can think of except the writing part. I do not want to outsource this aspect, as I feel that the most important way to connect to others and develop a real relationship is by being yourself.
Your post here has inspired me to look at the “blank white page” in a new light. Thanks again for taking the time to reach out and help others find there way online. You are a truly unique individual.
Now back to fill up the “blank white pages.” Lol
Thanks again!
Jennifer,
Thanks for a most inspiring post. I think the idea of turning your keyword into a question and answering it, is an excellent idea!
Thanks again.
I always enjoy your posts, I do not always comment on posts but I am going to bust out and reply, lol, I do get confused, either I am very poor at writing articles, or I should forget about posting on article sites. If I can explain a bit, I did write an article I thought that was good and appropriate to submit to an article site, they kept returning it to me to redo because it was not in the style they wanted.
The style I did my original article in was, me writing in my own words how I would speak to someone about photography
.
It was an article on pet photography, not to serious of a subject,,I never did get it published,I gave up after so many redo’s, I still think it was ok, I love photography and wanted to share.
So for that reason I do get confused, I seem to not express myself right, I do agree I like to find a site or article that keeps it real, but in the politics of im , it seems it is not always appreciated.
hope this makes sense, thanks kathy
my my Jennifer, what a wonderful idea that is, now I would never think of it that way .
Thank you so much! If you stop and think about it, guess that would be the way to try to write articles and I will have a mind set to write to you Jennifer, that may help me, worth a try. 
I seem to lie to myself and say something like, ” I am going to write 10 articles tomorrow morning” but I never go there. I just piddle with this and that , never get to it. You are such an inspiration and you never give up and I really do enjoy your emails and wonderful idea’s you have! I think my articles probably do stink, but I want to learn how to be good at it, so since you won’t give up Jennifer, I won’t either, I promise!
Great post.
Over-thinking still is my weakness regardless I was good at writing at school. The three words “Must.Make.Money” sometimes blocks our thoughts and our imagination sitting at a front of a white sheath of paper.
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the great tips because I find myself trying to write the perfect article the first time. Worrying about keywords, density and the length of the article. With all that going on it’s hard to stay focused and just write but working on it. When I do get an article completed I will come back later to make the neccessary changes. It’s getting easier. I think I will try your suggestion and start writing to you.
Jennifer I think what you do is great and that you truly want to help me (us) to succeed.
How right you are and a timely post for me as well, I’m just about to write a few articles and must admit have been putting it off waiting for the inspiration to hit . to write as if writing to someone is obvious when you hear it , I can’t think why I never thought of that approach before . thanks
Thanks for the post Jennifer.
It definitely is your mindset. But what are you writing for? What is the purpose? Is it to educate your audience, grab that must have sale, a humorous article.
Decide who you are writing too and the end result you are after. Nobody has to be shakespeare and also I think many people try to be a perfectionist. Taking weeks or even months over articles, emails or even blog post’s is not going to get your words on the net.
Just get it out there. Once you are writing and posting to the net it will get easier and start to come more natural. If you are taking ages because this article is going to be the best piece of writing on the net and everyone is going to be blown away by it and then I am going to take over the world HAAA HAAA!
Yes there will be people that think it is great and many people will think it is a load of jibba jabba. That is why the world is so different. Just get your pen to paper, fingers to keyboards and start writing.
Hi Jennifer PotPieGirl,
What a great post you have writing about panicking and choking. I see alot times white blank space in front me. I will do it this time, I going to write whatever comes out from my mind and as you said just let it go.
Thank you Jennifer for insight and inspiration.
Just awesome…I remember when I first started writing articles how hard they were. I was thinking it too hard and getting myself all worked up.
Today I write articles with ease…some get rejected but I just reword them to please EzineArticles. Again, Potpiegirl thanks for a wonderful email and post. I got it just in time.
“Most of us that are successful are that way because many of our OLD weaknesses are now our strong points.” WOW
Internet marketing is forcing me to be organized and focused. 2 words that DO NOT describe me at all ! I am realizing that people who are getting results with IM are very methodical. I am now working with “to do lists” and organizational charts. I actually like the way I have to face my weaknesses.
I also “choke” and get overwhelmed very easily and try to feel “challenged” instead
Brilliant post. Happens to all of us.
The “Dear Grandma” technique works for me. I imagine that she has asked for my help and being that I love my Grandma dearly, I only want to give her the best advice I could.
Malcolm Gladwell, that’s the guy who wrote the Tipping Point. Too bad he blogs like he’s being published in a book or I wouldn’t have lost interest midway in the first paragraph. Sorry, but I’m pretty sure there’s a very good lesson in there somewhere as you and Kyle have pointed out.
Hi Jennifer,
I call myself a newbie, even though I’ve been at it for almost 2 years. I’ve made a whopping $65 on the net, and I don’t even know how that happened. My computer is full of downloads, videos, ebooks, you name it on How to do this and that. It becomes total overwhelm. Some say do this, others say that’s wrong do this instead. You just don’t know what the right way is anymore.
As I’m writing this to you regarding your thought provoking article above, I realize I am actually “doing it”, so it’s not knowing what to write, it’s more a worry that’s what I will write may not be good enough. A confidence/self-esteem thing I guess. All these ‘gurus’ seem to know so much more than this ‘technophobic newbie’. I think this is a big problem for a lot of others out there too.
Keep up the good work in reminding us that we can do this.
Thanks,
Judy
Hi Jennifer!
First of all, thank you for your email directing me to this blog post. I enjoyed both!
Too often the Big.Blank.Page. has gotten in the way of writing a few good pages. We each find our way around it to conquer its control over our process – and you pointed out two great mindsets and explained the differences between “choking” and “being in a state of panic” about having to write something. I laughed at the memories of the early years of slapping together those affiliate links!
I’d like to share with you and your readers a few “mindset” techniques which have worked for me. Fortunately I’ve never been at a loss for words, however, I do stumble at times when trying to figure out what the first word on the page should be. Silly, I realize!
One day I realized I never experienced keyboard hesitation responding to emails, writing on forums or writing comments and blog posts. Gradually a tiny light bulb began to brighten in my brain.
Have you ever observed a person, or even yourself, who had to have everything “just so” before they could do anything? You know, the desk has to be dusted, the desktop items needed to be straightened, the dishes needed to be washed, the car needed to be cleaned and the ketchup bottle top had to be wiped clean? This type of behavior used to drive me bonkers until I began to understand it. I think it has to do with mental alignment and the ability to compartmentalize our brains. Then the deep inhaling and exhaling began when the anxiety began to take over? A two-hundred mile walk is overwhelming, however, taking the first step, or even seven simple steps is easy and doable.
What I found which works wonderfully for me is creating a sense of a cubbyhole. Just focusing in a tiny little space. A big white empty screen overwhelms me still. But when I made the size of the paper, i.e., the computer window, smaller, it didn’t seem so bad. So I realized if I convinced myself I was only filling a small space it seemed easier. You know, you don’t have to type or write as much to fill up a smaller space. Psychologically an email window, a blog post screen, or a forum reply box isn’t all that big so the words just come.
Just remove the psychological and physical “big wide open expanse of space” barriers!
I love to create mini-sites. In the beginning it was daunting to think about having to create “all those pages” until I realized I could standardize what needed to be on each page. So I created a database with fields for each element, and found it so much easier to write because I was just filling in these little fields. I do all the opening paragraphs at once, and then all the main bodies of text at once, etc. And the words just flow – especially when I can have a quick overview of how all the pieces and parts fit together, and before I know it another mini-site has been created. So I guess that is my way of doing everything in “bite-size” pieces.
Oh my, this has become a rather long reply! I really should have just written another article to submit to EzineArticles……………..
Thank you again for sharing your great insights,
Cheryl C. Cigan
Very cool post from PotPieGirl. I especially appreciate the advice about not getting fixated on “earning pots of money” but rather concentrating on providing good quality, easily accessible information for real human beings. Remembering that we are dealing with people who have questions, needs, problems they’re trying to solve, things they want to learn, information they need to find – that can change our whole attitude toward the writing we do. I believe that can, in turn, make our writing far more valuable to those who find it because we are addressing their needs and not our own.
Another thing I’m beginning to realize is that I don’t yet have any real idea of the SIZE of the Internet market. It is much larger that I can wrap my head around, and I only need to reach a small crumb of that vast market in order to make a very decent living. That makes it even easier to focus on providing good content, asking myself, “What would I want to know about this topic, or how to solve this problem, or where to find this product, or how to learn this skill?” Chances are, if I learn something about my topic while I’m writing, then someone else out there will also find it helpful!
I really needed this post. One week from tomorrow is my last day at work. Not totally by choice. My health is not good enough to maintain 16+ hour days three days back to back. I spend the other four days of the week recuperating. I recently requested going back to part-time, and was told that it would be easier to hire someone full-time than part-time, so my choice was to stay full-time (which was ok with the boss), or quit. My health has been deteriorating, so I quit.
I have been trying for over a year, now, to make it in IM. Now, I have to make it work, and I have had to deal with both panic and choking sensations. I am the bread winner in my family. I have to make this work, so–as I mentioned, I really needed this article. Thank you for sharing it.
I am rereading your One Week Marketing plan for the third time and working through the steps more closely than before. I will succeed. I don’t have a choice.
I never thought about it that way, but have been doing it since I started writing for marketing: writing TO someone.
Even my PPC ads and my banners are conversational.
Thanks for the term “conversational” Jennifer.
Perfect timing. I have 9 titles for blog posts sitting in front of me – a LOT of blank, potentially overwhelming white space. I write emails to friends and acquaintances all the time – naturally written, easy to understand emails, even when I’m writing about some complex subject. In fact, I can blast out some pretty quality emails on all kinds of subjects. I can be very productive and the writing isn’t too shabby, if I do say so myself. Then I set out to do a blog post or an article and suddenly it’s as if I’m writing a term paper for college. I am very much guilty of over-thinking. I never thought about approaching the article as if I were writing TO someone. Heck, I can do that! Thanks for the tip!
Hi Jen
Your last comment is so true. When I started internet marketing 2 1/2 yrs ago I absolutely panicked at the thought of writing articles. I had written sales copy for years and had never given any thought to how or why except that it was needed.
I now write about 10 articles and 20 blogs a week for myself and clients, plus the odd ebook thrown in. Three years ago I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be doing anything like that.
Good luck to all you new internet marketers, keep at it, it is a wonderful lifestyle.
Nice post. I think its really hard to just “let you shine through.”
Especially when there are a million “gurus” telling us that you need such and such keyword density, such and such article length… whatever
I’ve tried researching what makes ezinearticles become the top viewed in the category, and to be honest I still dont have an answer. Its not article length or keyword density, so maybe its that they’re actually spilling their guts or providing useful info?
Either way, I definitely find myself overanalying sometimes instead of just doing. So I guess sometimes I find myself choking, although thankfully not as much as I used to.