“From Niche to Rich!” Newsletter

Last night I finished ten weeks of coaching with Kevin Bidwell of All-In-One-Business.com. I met two dozen really nice people, all at different levels in their online marketing "careers." I now have:

• a binder with a clear, easy-to-follow, step-by-step plan for successful Internet marketing


• a long list of great resources I didn't know existed


• some wonderful products and software - most of them entirely free, the rest at an unbelievable discount (e.g., $97 for a $397 product; 2-for-1 for a $299 product)


• a much better perspective on Internet marketing


• a very clear direction to head in


• a whole bunch of potential customers, joint venture partners, friends and colleagues.

I was easily able to put into practice many of the ideas Kevin taught us. It was rewarding watching people sign up for the autoresponder series for the product we sold as a group (a great ebook called Save The Marriage). I do hope some people's marriages are better as a result.

I learned that my attitudes of "just do something" and "never give up" are valuable. But more importantly, I learned how to shorten the learning curve and get out there and make money right away... instead of two years down the road.

I just wish I'd hired a coach at the beginning, instead of two years down the road! Think how much further ahead I'd be today! I'd have saved myself many thousands of dollars in products and services I didn't need (but didn't know I didn't need). I'd have built my mailing list in a completely different way. I'd have hired a virtual assistant from the get-go, instead of doing it all myself. I'd have built a more focused Web site... like NicheHunt.com (but it took me two years to decide to build that site!). I'd have bought "Site Build It!" at the beginning instead of two years later.

I may not have learned HTML, I may not have become a Web designer, but I'd have understood right away how to find a profitable niche market... and I'd have been making money right off the bat. I love the Web design part of my business, but there are only 24 hours in every day. A service business is limited by the number of hours you can work unless you start hiring people to help you. And this is not the dream of most people who want to work at home. They're not interested in starting a corporation; they just want to make a nice living, spend more time with their kids and live a better lifestyle.

By the way, if you're thinking that coaching is too expensive, think again. Coaching is the best money you can spend and it's worth every penny. Just take care as to whom you hire. I had to "fire" my first coach because I felt I wasn't getting my money's worth. His style didn't suit me, the classes were held at a time I could rarely attend, there was no curriculum, no plan. Everything was left very loose; too loose for me.

I needed some structure around the coaching. I needed someone to say "now do this, now do that." Kevin Bidwell, on the other hand, produced notes for each class and gave us very specific homework to do based on the lesson for that week. The lessons led us through the logical steps to marketing success. Every week we met for three hours via video-conference (that's thirty hours of training!). We listened to Kevin's lesson, asked questions, took notes, brainstormed, and became our own cheering section. We also shared our frustrations, our successes, our ideas and our resources. We even beta-tested a new product by one of our own group. (I should be able to offer you this niftly little application shortly. All of you who are online marketers will find it very useful.)

• How long have you been coaching?


• What is your success rate?


• What is your coaching strategy, plan or program?


• How many classes are you offering? And how long will each class run?


• What day and time will teleclasses or video-conferences be held?


• Will classes be regularly scheduled?


• How often will classes be held?


• How many other students will there be?


• Is one-on-one coaching available?


• Is there provision for students to make up for missed classes?


• Will there be lessons available online that students can print out?


• Will transcripts of the lessons be made available to the class?


• Will classes be well-managed so they don't turn into chit-chat sessions?


• What kind of follow-up will there be after the classes are over?


• Are "graduates" able to take advanced classes?


• Will students be encouraged to communicate with one another outside of class?

• How much does the coaching cost?


• Is there a payment plan?


• Is there a money-back guarantee?


• Are there any hidden costs (e.g., long distance phone charges)?
• What exactly does a student receive for their money besides the class time (e.g., freebies, discounts, deals, resources, etc.)?