Thank you for an excellent take on whether to invest in an Internet Marketing Coach and how to go about selecting one.

In my opinion, there definitely is merit in having an IM Coach…actually even a coach for other areas, too. (Think “track and field,” “swimming,” “football.”) As of yet, I’ve not used an IM Coach. However, I had an opportunity to work with a “life coach” — it helped me immensely. I was able to hone in and focus on what I wanted, how best to do it, and I had someone to go to if I had questions or just needed reassurance.

When choosing an IM Coach, one might also consider “word of mouth” options. And maybe you could even try a session or two with the IM coach you choose before committing to a specific length of time.

And, of course, the outcome for one individual may not be the same as for another because of how much time and effort is put into one’s Internet marketing. Or because of the field/area chosen.

I just sent a really long comment and got an error message and hadn’t saved it doh! 🙂 If you find it floating around in the ether of you system … do let me know 🙂

Upshot … it was a great post …

Jane

@David — As my buddy Andrew Hansen would say — “No worries, mate.”

It is the sexybookmarks plugin. Glad you like it.

I’ve been studying Internet marketing since February and have been involved in two group coaching programs: the first was less than $50/month and was 100% online. I participated for four months and got a good grasp of the basics. I’m now writing a book that will launch initially as an ebook, so I joined a book coaching program with a guy who has several best-sellers, many of which were launch online initially. He’s a maste Internet marketer. With a big gulp, I paid a substantial upfront fee for this program, which included a ton of information online. Now I pay $97/month. (I talked with two people who were in the program before I decided to make the initial investment.) I get on a weekly group call where we all can ask specific questions about our books, websites, marketing plans, etc., and get the answers that will put us on the right path.

I’ve found in the world of Internet marketing, coaching is part coaching, and a lot of consulting. Working with a coach/consultant saves a lot of time, effort and money in the long run.

Well, I did consider your email when I wrote this — thanks!

I usually recommend a “dual approach” for people like you.

First — find something that you care about and build a niche IM business around that. Teaching topics are best (how to catch bass in Texas, how to play guitar), but you can also be successful with a product based approach (home gym expert, etc). Hone your IM skills on REAL internet marketing. Selling IM products to IM people is not real IM (IMHO) — LOL (enough IMs in there for you)?

Second — if you like IM (I personally love it) — document your journey. Be 100% honest and 100% transparent all of the time. Help people by sharing the things that you know, and admitting the things that you don’t know.

There are lots of other valid approaches, but the above is what I would consider.

IMO 90% of coaching is a joke because it just involves superficial ideas and generalities, and so often never even gets down to a 1 on 1 basis.

Did my email the other day break the camel’s back LOL

The reason I haven’t responded to your reply is that you asked one simple question, and I couldn’t answer it.

You outline that question above – ‘what do you want to do’.

And I honestly couldn’t answer the question.

It is easy to tell you what I don’t want to do. ‘What I Want to Do’ – not so much.

I know I want to network, I want to help people with (to me) basic technical and beginning IM techniques, and I want to help myself and my family in the process. I’ve not been able to isolate it into one easily categorized hairball. Information paralysis strikes again.

First, let me say that I subscribed to your blog recently – after sending countless numbers of people to your “article directories” list. Thank you for being here!

About coaching:
I have worked as a freelance ghostwriter for more than 50 years and have been writing on-line since 1993 (the Internet Paleolithic era).
I have written for many of the self-professed GURUs and, as a result, have become somewhat cynical about the value of some of their programs.

I recently “outed myself” and started coaching new writers. I am currently working with about 350 people and love every minute of it.

During the time I was writing for others, I found one, 1, uno, marketer whom I believe delivers a total package for beginners, taking them from ground zero through every step of Internet marketing, in words they can understand. He offers a membership site at a cost of $27 per month and that includes free, unlimited hosting, “See Spot Run” how-to articles and more than 250 videos on virtually everything you need to know about marketing.

I won’t mention this marketer by name because I am sure that it would be viewed (rightfully so) as blatant SPAM. I just want to point out to people who are considering a mentor that, although caution should be the byword, there are reputable mentors and coaches out there who can actually help you to build a successful business on-line.

Good question and it is likely to have many answers.
Many of the coaching programs offered are surely by guys that have been there, done that, and if you could become a clone of them it would probably make you successful also. There’s the rub.

No two people think alike and it is very hard to follow a step by step set of instructions, just too many distractions and somewhere along the line you will break the chain letter, so to speak.

The type of coaching that I like best is small scale. The reason you are buying is because the teacher sold you on “him” or “her.” Once the program gets started and then your questions and comments have to go through a submit a ticket message system and you may or may not get an answer from some third world country, well then that program just plain sucks in my opinion.

If the teacher can be trusted to be there to answer the questions directly and to give personal feedback in a timely manner I would not suggest anyone subscribes.

One on one, fine, sign me up!

Rich Hill