Why most websites fail to turn a profit
May 27th, 2010
Just got back from another high powered weekend conference in Clearwater, Florida.
There’s an amazing thing that happens when you’re in a room full of successful people. You start to take notice of the energy. Without even meaning to, it’s virtually impossible to ignore the amazing feeling of being around positive, optimistic people who get stuff done.
Another thing that you notice is that people who are successful are usually pretty competitive. And most times they really like sports. Because just like in sports, business is really competitive, and you have to get up every day ready to win – and prepared to win.
It’s baseball season, so naturally we spent a lot of time talking about baseball.
We even took some time out to practice our swings.
Hey, business can be fun.
One of my friends spent some time working with me on my stance, making sure that my feet were slightly tilted out, and that my elbows and wrists were positioned the right way.
But the really important part came when he taught me about my swing itself.
Picture yourself at the plate. You’re getting ready to receive the pitch.
You’ve got your arm that is closest to the pitcher…and you’ve got your arm that is closest to the catcher.
Then imagine your swing.
How did you do?
Here’s something that I never knew. Your power comes from the arm that is pushing the bat. Not the arm that is closest to the pitcher. No wonder I never was any good at baseball!
You aren’t pulling the bat around to swing…you’re pushing it around with your arm.
And there’s another thing I learned…
For the most part, you aren’t swinging for the fences.
You’re swinging for contact. You’re swinging to get on base. It could mean first base, it could mean a home run. But you’ve got to keep swinging.
And with every swing comes practice of the basics.
You always come back to the basics and you keep swinging and working on them.
What does this have to do with a website?
The thing that most website owners do wrong when they try to be profitable online is that they swing for the fences. They go big right away, without learning the basics. They’re looking at what a great idea they have, and how much money it’s going to bring them.
So they jump out there and swing the bat a few times. And they strike out.
Then they get discouraged and quit. And they never stop for a moment to consider why they never made the big bucks. Or even the little bucks.
So the first thing you have to do is step back from the plate for a second, and commit to being in the game long term.
And being in the game long term begins with learning the basics.
Then once you know the basics, you keep on swinging the bat. Get on base. Move ahead.
Once you’re moving ahead, you keep swinging the bat.
And you return to the basics again and again – but you keep swinging the bat.
Maybe this means you’re following up to your customers in an email. Maybe it means that you’re using your sales system to further your reach and leverage your value. It can mean a lot of things.
But if you never get the basics, it means you’re striking out.
Once you get the basics down, and you’re hitting some base hits… you’re automatically generating sales and leads like you’ve never done before…swinging like a pro.
Batter up!
-Wally
P.S. – Here’s a great place to start with the basics.
P.P.S. – If you’ve made a couple of base hits but also a couple of errors with your online marketing, you’ll want to have a look at this.
Tags: baseball, Business, Wally
You are SO right! I find myself swinging for the fence all the time listening to my ambition rather my good senses and end up tripping over myself!
Thanks for the advice!
You’re welcome, Michael. They say that anybody can eat an elephant, but you have to take it one small bite at a time.