Internet Marketing: What Worked in 2010

By Alexis Rodrigo | Entrepreneurship

Jan 06

Magnified Dollar

“Do more of what works.”

That's the success tip Lynn Terry of Clicknewz.com posted on Facebook over the holidays.

What followed was a string of comments about how true and simple that statement was… and how often we fail to do it.

Why is that? Perhaps one reason is because we don't even bother to find out what does work.

Other more experienced marketers can tell you what works for them. From studies, you'll find out what works for most people in most circumstances.

However, to find out what works for your market, with your products, you'll need to test and monitor your own results.

I'm not obsessed with statistics for my sites — I outgrew checking Google Analytics every 30 minutes, two years ago — but I do keep an eye out to see what things I try work and what I results I get from doing specific things.

Here's a rundown of what worked for me in 2010:

1. Blog Commenting

Blog commenting helped me interact with A-list bloggers, and made it easier for me to get guest blogging opportunities. Commenting on bigger blogs than mine also helped bring traffic to my own blog and build my list of subscribers. The best part about blog commenting is you only need to spend a few minutes a day to get results.

2. Guest Blogging

Writing for other people's blogs (which have bigger audiences than mine) has helped increase traffic to my own blogs and, as a result, grown my list as well. It has also helped me network with other online marketers and get my name out there.

At one point, someone told me about one of my niches, “You're everywhere!” In fact, I didn't guest blog as much as I could have and should have. But that comment is an indicator that, at least for that niche, I was in all the right places.

Resources I Used:

Blog World Tour Guide by Nicole Dean

Authority Blogger Guest Posting Workbook by Chris Garrett

3. Blogging

Early in 2010, I gave up a paid blogging gig to free up more time and energy to write for my own blog. That decision was an extremely good one. That blog of mine has helped me build my list of prospects, attract new clients, and increase sales for products, both my own and those I'm affiliated with.

Resources I Used:

Blog Energizer by Lynette Chandler

31 Days to Build a Better Blog by Darren Rowse

Better Content Marketing by Alice Seba

4. Webinars

I organized webinars in a big way in 2010, most notably the six-week marathon, Blog Traffic Experts Webinar series. That effort brought four figures of affiliate income in a single month, helped skyrocket my subscribers from 300 in January to over 2000 in October, and made it easy peasy for me to create an information product.

Resources I Used:

Magnetic Webinars by Lewis Howes and Chris Garrett (no affiliate program yet, so please just tell them I sent you!)

My First Teleseminar by Kyle Battis (I adapted this process for my webinar series)

5. Information products

I finally fully understood the power of having your own information products, both to give away and to sell. Having an information product for sale makes you a more attractive joint venture partner. It generates passive income. It gets you more exposure and gives you an air of authority.

But even information products you give away have their value, too. They're great for building your list, attracting traffic, and even getting clients.

Resources I Used:

48 Hour Report by Jason Fladlien

Rapid Product Formula by Ronnie Nijmeh and Nicole Dean

Those are five of the things that worked like gangbusters for me in 2010. You can bet I'll be doing more of them in 2011. In fact, I'm already gearing up to publish more often on my blogs and organize more useful, interesting webinars.

Before I go, I'm tagging the following bloggers to share what worked for them in 2010:

How about you? What worked for you in 2010 that you'll be doing more of in 2011?

Do share them in the comments below.

Lexi Rodrigo

Creative Commons License photo credit: Brooks Elliott

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About the Author

Lexi Rodrigo is a communication and marketing professional for multimillion-dollar businesses, co-author of Blog Post Ideas: 21 Proven Ways to Create Compelling Content and Kiss Writer's Block Goodbye, and host of "Marketing Insights LIVE!." Connect with Lexi on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

  • Emma says:

    Hi Lexi, I don’t make resolutions much either, but I am doing a lot of planning for the year ahead, so I like this post!

    For me what worked was when I decided who I wanted for clients and just asked them if they wanted to work with me…some emails & some cold calls…but lots of interest was generated that way!

    My biggest goal for the year ahead is to improve my website, so I was rereading your articles in the 31 days about that. Thanks again!!

    • Alexis says:

      @Emma – Awesome, Emma! So you decided on which clients you wanted and went out and talked to them. I love your approach! Many of us struggle because we’re not even clear on whom we want to work with. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  • Nikki Curry says:

    Hi Lexi

    Great Post! I really look forward to your blog post. Thank you for being so gracious in sharing all of your wonderful resources!

    I have learned so much from the information in your blogs, I pass it on to my clients.

    Thanks Again,

    Nikki Curry

    • Alexis says:

      @Nikki Curry – Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words! I’m glad you’re finding my posts useful. Oh and I do appreciate it very much that you tell your clients about this blog. Have a blessed New Year!

  • Good stuff as always Lexi. I really enjoy reading your posts. I was thinking of hsoting a few webinars this year and now that I see others have had success doing so, I believe I will be looking into these a bit harder this year. Keep up the great work and good luck in 2011.

    • Alexis says:

      @Eddie Garrison – Aww, thank you very much, Eddie! Let me know if you have any questions about hosting your webinars. I wish you all the best in 2011, too!

  • Yasmin says:

    Hi, Lexi,

    I have yet to discover what works for me, but I am beginning to recognize what won’t work! I am working feverishly to get over my shyness and intimidation of the many wonderful netreprenuers that I have come across in my studies of how to grow a successful internet marketing business. I have had a difficult time find my niche. I only wanted to have a blogspot filled with thoughts and ideas, that I didn’t think anyone else would be interested in but, I am learning how to change that and profit at the same time, so I continue to grow in my writing, while outsourcing the development of my site to someone else. So, hopefully you will hear more from me in the future! We’ll see what happens!

    • Alexis says:

      @Yasmin – My first thought reading your comment was this: If you’re serious about having an online business, please move your blog out of blogspot and put it on your own domain and hosting you’ve paid for. Keep us posted on your progress!

  • Grandma Mary says:

    Thanks so much Lexi! This is a great list and I was inspired to write my own post – https://www.grandmamaryshow.com/social-media/what-worked-in-2010
    So great to reflect back on the year and focus on the good stuff! Here’s to more good stuff in 2011!

    • Alexis says:

      @Grandma Mary – Thanks for responding to my blog tag! You made an awesome list. 2010 was a blast but 2011 is going to be even BIGGER! Woot!

  • 2010 was a year of learning for me. I decided in late 2009 to learn how to make money online – I remember saying to myself “How hard can it be, I’m a smart guy” well needless to say I fell into the trap of chasing the next great thing and wasted time and money on crap products and systems. At the very beginning of 2010 I started a fitness/weight loss site after reading you just have to dive in and take action. I probably threw too wide of a net but have stuck with it and I’m beginning to see an increase in organic traffic. A great side benefit was I’ve adopted a healthier lifestyle and have lost 40lbs over the last year.

    I’ve laerned a great deal about WordPress, cPanel, WHM, domain names, keyword research, PLR products, autoresponders, social media, backlinks, and SEO. In fact I’ve spent a lot of time understanding and reading all I can about SEO. And the best thing I learned is to stop chasing the next great thing.

    I’ve learned about my weaknesses (I tend to go off on tangents and at times get frustrated) and my strengths (I’m determined and persistent and I love learning new things). I’m using what I’ve learned and applying it to my current money making business (I’m a Certified Public Accountant).

    Along the way I’ve found some good people and Lexi you are one them. You tell it like it is and only promote quality tools and information. I always read your emails and I’m glad I found you among the sea of scammers and sharks. I’m glad you had a good 2010 and wish you the best for 2011 and beyond.

    For 2011 I plan to continue my fitness/weight loss site (even though to date I’ve made exactly $0), I’ll have my Small Business Accounting Blog up and running in a couple of days, create my first information product, and create one to three niche blogs.

    I hope to be reporting at this time next year that I saw a postive return on my investment in blogging. Thanks again Lexi.

    • Alexis says:

      @Doug Millington – Thank you so much for your kind words, Doug! I’m privileged to have earned your trust, and I hope to keep earning it. Fitness/weight loss is a potentially profitable niche, however it’s also a very crowded one! Have you considered focusing on a smaller sub-niche? Last year, I met a new marketer who was into fitness for seniors, which I think is an excellent micro-niche. Also, how are you currently monetizing your site? I noticed you promote some products on Amazon, but you may also want to promote other affiliate products. All the best to you, Doug. I’m looking forward to hearing your success story soon!

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