Learning From Mistakes In Internet Marketing – ‘Magpie Syndrome’ – Maintaining Focus
Having been in internet marketing a little over 6 months now, I’ve been taking stock of where I’ve got to and learning as much as I can from the experience.
I wanted to share one particular thing with you that struck me as important. I even came up with a little name for it: ‘Magpie Syndrome’.
You see, put simply, this is the tendency that we all have (including the internet ‘gurus’) of wanting the next shiny book/course/piece of software that promises to improve our business. Of course, assuming they’re good products, then the chances are good that they will improve our business… Until we see the next shiny object and forget about the first one… 
Here’s the problem: We’re all looking for ways to make money online and we want it sooner rather than later. As a result, if we’re convinced that a product will help us accomplish that, then we’ll want to buy it to get that ‘secret formula’. Marketers capitalise on this to sell you their product. However, every marketer is doing this, and so we can easily become blinded by the new information and not actually do anything with it.
Having studied many of the marketers who are wildly successful, I’ve realised that their approach is somewhat different. They ensure that they’re not distracted by shiny new things and instead focus on making one thing work for them at a time. Once that first thing is up and running, they do the next one until that too is working for them.
This limiting of focus becomes The Slight Edge that puts them ahead of other marketers.
I’ve developed a few habits that I do daily in order to ensure I too can achieve that focus. I thought you might find them useful too so I’ve listed them below.
The key things to do, in my experience are these:
- Have one e-mail account that you use exclusively to sign up to mailing lists and offers. That way, these offers don’t distract you when you’re checking and answering your more important e-mails.
- Check your e-mails twice per day (maximum); Once around 12pm and the other at around 4pm. Do so for no longer than 30 mins each time and then close your e-mail program. If you leave it open, e-mails will distract you as they arrive, leading to split or hazy focus.
- Remember that there are actually very few secrets to success out there. The real secret is taking regular, consistent action until you make that method work. Only then can you move on to the next one. Don’t underestimate this, when you feel like giving up, keep going. You’re very close to the ‘tipping point’ where the method starts to work for you.
Leave a comment below if this helps you or if you have any other tips on focus.
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Oh yes Magpie syndrome – I have that
One of my goals for May is to set out a number of things I want to achieve and then stick to them – and see them through to completion. I am all too distracted by the next shiny object. It’s always good to learn how to work smarter – but that doesn’t mean we need to fall foul of everyone’s Next Big Thing!
.-= Clare Swindlehurst´s last blog ..Increase Website Traffic – Mega Resource List =-.
Hey Clare,
Yeah, I think we all have a touch of the Magpie about us. Having those goals for May is a really good idea. I find that it’s doing a consistent effort every day (no matter how big or small) that gets those goals completed. Incidentally, have you read The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen? May help you with achieving those targets.
I’ve begun outsourcing some of the smaller jobs that need to be done but don’t require me to do them (like some of my backlink building). I’ve found that helps narrow my focus. That and getting off all the e-mail lists that don’t actually help me get to where I want to be!
Really like your blog by the way. Good luck with your May goals. Let me know if I can help.
Wonderful advice. I have been struggling with this a lot lately. Normally I have 3 windows open, 4 tabs, outlook, photoshop, and my facebook. I’ve been forcing myself to only have one window open at a time and limit my emailing to specific times I check it. Great article, thank you!
Jennifer Nickert
http://www.JennyKnowsEverything.com – Tips for Everyday Life!
Hey Jen,
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, it can get a little messy, both on your desktop and in your head when you’re doing 28 things at once!
Let me know if you’d like more of this stuff for your blog as I’d be happy to guest post for you.
Matt
Great post
Roger on the ……. taking regular, consistent action until you make that method work
but first, just ONE more shiny new thing…… 7 Habits of Highly Successful Internet Marketers !!!
Hey Guy,
Hehehe, yes indeed! On a more serious note, if you follow it through and put it up online then you can leave it alone and move on to the next thing. As long as you’re doing them one at a time in a focused way, then you’ll see results.
Thanks for making me smile.
Matt
Hi Matt,
Just thought I would let you know that you’re absolutely right with regard to Magpie Syndrome.I fell into that trap several years ago and there are still numerous programs ,software and reports that I downloaded with a passion but then failed to implement.
I would be too embarassed to list all my Magpie stuff here that I have not taken action on. One marketer who I owe my sanity to and who shall remain nameless apart from initials J.E has often suggested that you should follow one expert and one expert alone to be successful.I think that is good advice don’t you? but then there are so many marketers out there that are worth following!
Also thanks for your excellent Free E Book “7 Online Businesses”… the Fiverr Dot com idea has swamped me which is both good and not so good.It has got me writing again and some, so that can’t be all bad!
Best Wishes,
Wrinkly Writer
Hey Robin,
Wow, hope i haven’t swamped you with you the Fiverr idea.
Glad you enjoyed the Magpie Syndrome article. The ‘one expert’ solution is an excellent idea. I’ve actually unsubscribed from the lists of many people in order to quiet the noise. The problem, as you said, is that there are lots of people out there doing great things.
I’ve decided to go for one method until I can make it work. For the time I’m working on the method, I find someone who is doing it and making it work, then copy their system. Once it’s running and making money, I move on.
Hope that helps.
All the best,
Matt
P.S: Liking the ‘Wrinkly Writer’ branding by the way!