Earnt nothing.

[diddledumsticks]

Hi guys,

In 2008 I followed the 30DC religiously. I feel like such a fool. My total outlay was about $20-$30 (I did everything I was told to do). My return was $0. I'm such a sucker: I've given Ed about $5 in affiliate profit for nothing.

Thanks a lot.

[ApaOps5]

Sounds like you picked a bad niche. Of which Ed has no control.

[BAMBI]

Wow I'd have to say you absolutely did succeed.

Firstly, you succeeded in following the complete 30DC program - that in itself is a great success and accomplishment on your part.

Secondly you succeeded the key to 30DC which is to ascertain a good market to pursue before sinking lots of valuable time and money into it.

You now have the tools and skills to do it again in the blink of an eye with such a greater understanding now and no doubt pick a winner this time.

[diddledumsticks]

Actually ApaOps5, I chose three very good niches (I did 30DC three times).

[ApaOps5]

So only 2008 was a failure or all 3 were failures? If so then you picked 3 bad niches.

[linda.saunders]

I cannot agree with you more Bambi. I did the 2008 30DG. I did not complete it in that time. My original blog is still up and running but was not a success so I concentrated on reading sand research around social marketing. I must explain that I am a 'crinkley' and although I have used computers for many years, had very little technical knowledge about the web etc. and so I had a very steep learning curve to get over.

I have now created another blog and can say now truthfully, that it is a lot easier. Yesterday I found that my blog etc is ranked first,second and third on yahoo and I am on the second page on Google.

I will still develop my first site as I have the knowledge and tools to create a success from last year's failure.

So my message to Diddledumsticks is. DON'T GIVE UP, LEARN, INWARDLY DIGEST AND MOVE ON.

REGARDS

[haitham]

I have to ask...

did you get high ranks in google?
did you get traffic?
is it a general niche or is it a localized niche? (like are you trying to stretch local assumptions or things that locals or friends or people around you are interested in and stretching that to apply it to the web, or is there really viable traffic online and viable elbow room on there for competition ?).

If you have three badly performing blogs up ... please kindly turn them over to me and I can see what I can do to turn them profitable ...

No seriously... you've put in a lot of work (And it seems as though you've done it alone from what you describe...) ... it's ok to be frustrated... but I think rather than being upset and frustrated (which is debilitating), if you try to reach out to some of the more senior veterans on here I'm sure within this community you will find somebody who can give you a more expert opinion on where the break is in the chain...

remember

market --> traffic --> conversion --> product... it's a chain... the worst thing is to break the chain at the start doing something with no market... but it is equally fruitless to break the chain by having strong niches (like you state) that have no traffic... or having a good market with good traffic of people that want everything for free (like the hacked software niche... huge niche but you will never get a single conversion)...

I don't know how willing you are to disclose more info about your 3 trials... but if you are, then I'm willing to take a look at ... sometimes you need a fresh perspective (which is why teams are such a good idea).

Good luck ... and I envy your position... you have THREE potential markets... and some of us are still struggling with one !!!

[lisahartwell]

Wow, $30 to test a market. I say that's a pretty good investment. A few years we were using Google adwords to test a niche and it cost a hell of a lot more! Offline, market research costs thousands of dollars for a new business.

$30 is less than 10 cups of coffee from Starbucks (and maybe a max of a month's worth of daily coffees anywhere else).

The difference between those who are annoyed at spending that money and those who are content is the difference between those who are building businesses and those who were hoping for a fast buck. The process you have learned is truly valuable - now you need to learn where things went wrong, refine it and repeat.

Lisa

P.S. If I sound a bit harsh - well I meant to. The $5 you gave to Ed is nothing to the thousands he has spent on bandwidth costs etc. to bring you the challenge. I was up at 4.45am and I'm grouchy but being completely honest.

[chrismarper]

I just have to follow up from what lisa said, $5 to Ed and the gang is ABSOLUTELY nothing. The help and tuition is priceless. There are so many marketers out there offering courses from 10 bucks to many thousands. The 30DC is FREE. Give or take a few bucks, but considering the amount of work the guys put in, and the fact they don't churn out the same material each year!

I used last years challenge (early this year) as a supplement to some training I was already doing and it was the quickest learning curve for getting me into the online world than anything else I've come across.

People out there will happily take you $97 or $297 to teach you how to market online, but how many give you a 30 day course with 2-3 videos each day with all the tools and NO HARD UPSELL, for NOTHING.

Sorry, to make such a point, but I genuinely believe these guys have our best interests at heart, I plan in this years challenge in finding a niche, using the 30DC and Immediate Edge (which I have now joined and am happy to give the guys some money each month for the additional training), to build my online business to dizzy heights!!

Good luck one and all

Chris

Remember, Opportunities Pass Us By Everyday...
Isn't It About Time You Reached Out And Grabbed One!

P.S And all the best to all you guys and girls behind the scenes who help the frontmen produce such a great training programme.

[aikighost@gmail.com]

I've set up a couple of blogs in various niches since last year.

One of which makes at least 1 $28 sale every week sometimes 2.

One of which has a few of my self produced products on and is now getting to the point of bringing in $300 or so a month.

This year, I'm going to research the holy hell out of my niche before choosing it this one is going to be the $1k a month year I can feel it