Teaching Internet Marketing is like Leading a Horse to Water

Posted on 2009-10-09, 11:31, by RT Cunningham, under Marketing and Advertising.

The very old phrase of "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" means you can show people how to do something but you can't actually make them do it.

I must be a glutton for punishment. I continue to be frustrated by people who refuse to act on the information I provide in getting them started. Despite my frustration, I keep trying to help people make money online with AdSense the same way I've been making money online for months.

Case in Point

In March of 2008, I explained how to get started with writing for money to one of my nieces. I pointed her to the proper resources and offered my assistance by email as well.

I checked her blog out after she posted a couple of articles and then decided to wait until she asked for help. She was pregnant at the time and I wanted to give her as much leeway as possible. It turned out to be either too much leeway or she just lost interest.

I checked her blog a year later and she had written a mere four articles before quitting.

Helping My Relatives

I've been suggesting techniques for making money online to my local relatives in the Philippines. This is one place where you don't even need to own your own computer (although it comes in handy) to make money online. An Internet cafe computer can be used for as little as P20.00 (less than 50 cents in US dollars) per hour although most run about P25.00. It's still incredibly cheap. I've even offered financial assistance to anyone with enough desire to start.

A few months ago, I found out my youngest sister-in-law had received a complete computer setup from her fiancé (an overseas Filipino worker in Qatar) and that she was awaiting an Internet connection to be set up by Globe Broadband. I explained to her how she could become self-sufficient and her future husband wouldn't have to work overseas if she just learned how to earn money online with AdSense. She wouldn't even have to leave her house to do it.

As usual, her complaint was that she couldn't write English well enough to maintain an English-based site. She knows full well that the best markets are in the English-speaking countries like the US, the UK, Canada, etc. Although Tagalog to English translation services are virtually nonexistent, I have no problem with offering my time to translate what she can't seem to figure out. I'm not fluent in Tagalog, but I can meet her halfway. For some reason, however, she doesn't seem to take any of this seriously.

Expected Results

I've been writing, in various places, how to do exactly what I do to make money online. The problem I see with most people is that they expect near-instant results. While I can tell you step by step how to get from zero to hero, I can't tell you how long it will take in your individual situation.

As with any endeavor, the speed at which you see results is primarily dependent on what you do and when you do it. Once you've been led down the path to online success, it's up to you to act on the information you possess. I can lead a horse to water, but I cannot make him drink.

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2 Comments

  1. Ric says:
    2009-10-09 at 14:37

    Fast food – fast money. We live in a society that's been trained to buy now pay later. Here in Vegas we have a few companies that are having problems finding people to work. It's an A/C company, willing to train with pay. They say the majority of people that come in only want them to sign their unemployment slip which showed they went to an interview. They have no interest in working. Frustrating? Yes. Challenging? Even more. Give up? Never….

  2. ChrisCD says:
    2009-10-09 at 14:47

    RT, just know there are people who listen and they do appreciate your efforts. Don't get frustrated with those that don't, be excited by those that do.

    I've been making some okay money with adsense plus our site serves as a great source of referrals for our business. It has saved me from cold calls for a few years now.

    So keep it coming.
    cd :O)

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