It’s a common problem. We have information at our fingertips in an instant, thanks to Google! In the online business world, especially if you are just starting out, information overload is a giant problem.
Here’s the common scenario: You decide to put your biz online. You start looking for information about how to get your site up, which leads to information about optin boxes, autoresponder services, shopping carts, traffic generation, social media, etc. The list is endless!
Where to start, where to start?
You can spend months and months gathering and reading information and in the end, your biz doesn’t get going because of the information overload. Or worse, you get the business going, but it stalls while you continue to buy, store, and accumulate even more information.
Stop it!
This blog is written because I want to make it simple for you. Yes, there is more information out there than you can shake a stick at. You can spend precious time trying to figure it all out.
Bottom line is this: I have not met anyone yet who is making a good living online that figured it all out by themselves. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel. Find someone who is doing exactly what you want and follow them. Find a coaching program that lays it all out for you in easy-to-comprehend lessons.
Once you find the program that resonates with you, go for it! And then, (here’s the best tip) STOP looking!
Stop the Information from stopping YOU!
Make a plan. Work your plan. Stick with it. Put on binders and don’t look left or right. The information will still be there but you have to remove it from your day so you can actually run your biz. Get focused and the results will come!
Information overload occurs when you can’t make decisions because you have too many choices. OK. What does that tell you? Get rid of the choices. Narrow it down to what you actually need and go from there.
If you are still “stuck” in the beginning stages, click on my “7 Simple Steps to Getting Your Business Online.” It’s over on the right-hand side and it’s FREE!
Peace,
-Martha
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Information over load and buying every new thing that comes down the pike is a recipe for failure.
It is great to find sane voices like yours.
OMG Martha! You Nailed it!
Thanks for bringing this deep, dark secret to the light! I hate to think how many times the scenario you just described has entered my life.
Trap
I think most of us have been down the overload road. It’s hard to convince “newbies” not to make the same mistake. Perhaps it’s just part of the learning process.
First step is to eliminate most of your e-mails down to just a few. It really helps.
Drinking the same water, INDEED!! This isn’t the first time our trains have been on the same track. We really do have to meet and spend some time together. What a hoot that will be! I’m going to an Armand Morin event Sept 10-13 in Atlanta, where I’ll get to see Connie again.
Any chance you’ll be there since AL is only one state away?
BTW—I’ve done just what you said – carefully selected who to follow and the rest of it is simply relational. Never know what might come from connecting with the right people. Great friends, if nothing else!
You must have been reading my mind. I have had my blog for about 1 year. I remember when I first got started I was overwhelmed with all of the information on how to get started. I wasn’t familiar with the terminology so it was like putting together a contraption without pictures and the instructions written in french.
Getting a mentor or a great idea. If you feel you must do it yourself (as I did), then just get the site up, list the areas you will work on first and go from there. Dont be too hard on yourself.
Well, well, well.. . . it seems like we have all “been there, done that!” Everyone commenting here has suffered from information overload, lived to tell about it, and made a point to try and help others from making the same mistakes. Take heed, readers, these folks KNOW what they are talking about!
Sheila, thanks for calling me sane! LOL
Trapper, I KNOW! Our hard drives fill up fast when we are first starting out! It’s a common problem but FIXABLE!
Kathy, Great tip on the e-mail overload prob.
Jeanne, Girl, it seems our blogs are living parallel lives! Will see what we can do about having a “real” meet-up!
Julia, great advice. . . “don’t be too hard on yourself.” I’m going to try and make that my new mantra
Hi, Martha. I can add my “been-there-done-that-and-now-teach-others” to the mix as well! Excellent post and I love how you write with such enthusiasm.
Thanks Leanne! We’re all in this together