Is Internet Marketing a “Big Boys Club”?

I don’t know whether or not I should even write a post like this, but then again, who cares. I know that it is something on a lot of people’s mind and it is something I have been pondering a lot, too.

What I am talking about is the mega-clique that seems to have formed in the internet marketing world.  And, of course, one of the reasons I know so much about this clique is because I am one of these odd outsiders that feeds into it.

Now I know many of you know what I am talking about here, it appears that their product launches are almost organized.  (And, as a mild insider, I know this is becoming more and more true).  One $2k product after the next.  Or one “Free plus shipping offer” after the next.

No, I am not going to be naming names here, but you know them.

So what are my thoughts (and why do I support this as an outsider?).

I think it is a fair question to ask, especially since many of you subscribe to my newsletter and I promote these mega products quite openly as an affiliate.

First, does this “Big Boys Club” exist?  The answer:  ABSOLUTELY!  I truly do think it exists and this inner circle of successful online marketers seems to dominate the internet marketing / home business opportunity scene.  They ARE a powerhouse in the internet marketing world (at least, the most public one!)

But is this bad?

Yes and no. And here is what I mean…

No, because I do think some of these guys produce some of the best online business products out there.  (I will give names here that include Jeff Walker, Frank Kern, Mike Filsaime, Eben Pagan, Ryan Deiss, John Reese etc.).  They may not be the cheapest, but they deliver quality products (products that I have personally purchased, used, reviewed and promoted!).  I am OK with this.  I am also OK that they promote it amongst themselves very effectively.

Yes, my issue:  This is a group of a lot of powerful people with powerful lists and powerful influence in the internet marketing world.  I’ve seen them “create gurus” just because they promote them.  (Not that their product is any good or that they know anything spectacular that’s worth buying).  I will leave out names here, just because they are my opinions.

I hinted about this situation in my blog post Are You Aspiring to Meet a Guru? Why?. And I also talked about many of our aspirations to “break into this group”.  But I’ve been learning a lot about “the group” and the internet that I keep forgetting about…

…These are essentially the “Movie Stars” of internet marketing.  Some of them are successful because they are good “actors” (marketers).  Others are “Movie Stars” because they know and work with good “actors” (the Others).  But there still is a major component that is missing:  That is the “other actors” and “producers”.

Who do you think makes the MOST money on TV?  Believe it or not, but the unknown producers.  And what about those “TV actors” that work for Soap operas, or host the local talk shows, or live on Cable TV?  Are they successful?  ABSOLUTELY!

Actors aspire to meet, work with and BE the Tom Cruises and Camaron Diaz’s of the acting world, but there is SO MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY out there that is not in that mega-star space.  Not only that, but the mega-star’s might have the fame, but they are NOT the top of the totem pole.

This is what I am starting to learn.  First, this internet group is “strong”, no doubt about it.  And collectively, they have learned that they can create a lot of great products together and sell them for a lot of money, too.

As my aussie wife would say: “Good on’em!”

BUT, this is just a small piece of the internet marketing puzzle.  (And of course, this extends well beyond the home biz opp niche, which we are talking about here).

I spent so much time in AWE over these guys that when I sit down and randomly meet those “other” guys (and gals), who no-one knows publicly but earn about 3o million dollars per year, It reminds me that there are other avenues out there that are just as profitable, if not more!

And that goes to the eCommerce owner than brings in 10 million per year.

Or that Adsense guy that racks in $200k.

Or that “Black Hatter”, who is usually like 15 years old and brings in $25k per month.

These are “unknowns”, yet SHOULD be inspirations to us outside of what it so obvious.  It would AMAZE you at how many VERY RICH people there are on the internet that you never would have heard of (and the number of ways they make their money, too).

…

As you can tell, these “mega-marketers” have been on my mind A LOT!  I don’t know why, either.  I’ve reach the point where I have met most of them and with some, have a decent relationship.  Yet, I have been focusing so much of my energy on ways to “take myself to their level” that I have become blinded by what has got me to where I am at and I forget about some of the BETTER connections I have with the “unknown” people of the internet world.

Setting goals and looking up is ALWAYS a great thing to do for growth.  But don’t be caught up in the wrong things.  I do agree that “knowing people in your industry” is a great way to grow, but don’t rely on it!  In most cases, it is going to be YOUR work and YOUR ideas and YOUR products and YOUR marketing that is going to make you money.  Having others do it for you is an added bonus.

I’ll continue to support the “Gurus” I like and ignore the ones I don’t.  If, one of these days Frank Kern wants to email for me to his list, that is great, but I don’t count on it.  I have many other successful friends in the business that WILL make me grow.  And maybe my aspiration is NOT to be an internet marketing Super-star…maybe it is to be the “quiet dude who makes millions and no one even knows about it!”

cheers…matt