On-Line Success Is a Process, Not An Event by Gihan Perera

How do fit and healthy people stay fit and healthy? And why do some many others struggle to achieve their ideal health? Any reputable fitness trainer or health expert will tell you the answer - the "secret" of success in physical fitness: Consistent effort.

It's about consistently exercising. Consistently drinking enough water daily. Consistently eating a healthy breakfast. Consistently doing what it takes.

The same applies to your on-line strategy.

Too many business owners treat their on-line strategy as a series of one-off events. This won't work. Internet marketing is not about launching a Web site, creating a blog, publishing a video to YouTube, or posting to Twitter.

Success on the Internet is a process, not an event. It's about monitoring your Web site, posting to your blog (and other people's blogs), publishing a video stream on YouTube, and using Twitter regularly.

In high school, you might have learned that water is called the "universal solvent", because over time it can dissolve anything - even rock (mind you, that takes centuries!) Be like water with your Internet marketing: Drip... drip... drip.

Just like your physical fitness, your on-line fitness relies on consistent effort.

I'll say it again: Consistent. Effort. Consistent effort.

The bad news is: This isn't exciting.

Sorry! Launching your blog is exciting because it's an event. But launching a blog and expecting it to bring business is like installing a phone line and expecting the phone to start ringing. Or printing business cards and waiting for the cheques to start rolling in.

Posting to your blog 2-3 times a week doesn't seem as exciting. But it's the true secret to success.

What does this mean in practice?

The good news is: Even if it's not exciting, it isn't very difficult! Especially if you're an expert, with lots to say.

Here's what I recommend you do:

Write a newsletter article (about as long as this one) every two weeks and send it to your e-mail newsletter list. What - you don't have an e-mail newsletter list? Shame on you! But it's never too late to start, so start building one now (with permission).
Every time you send a newsletter, copy and paste the article to your blog.
Tweet about this on Twitter, with a link to your blog post.
Update your Facebook profile, with a link to your blog post.
Update your LinkedIn status, with a link to your blog post.
Bonus points if you read the blog post out loud, record it and post it to your podcast (audio newsletter).

Is that all you should do? No, but it's a minimum, and a very good start. What's more, it will put you ahead of 95% - maybe even 99% - of Web site owners. And isn't that worth striving for?


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