Information Overload!
Information Overload – that’s something I’d heard about, but didn’t really know what it meant. Until recently.
In the first week of John Thornhill’s Master Class (which by the way is coming along quite nicely) he asked us to study several other blogs which I did. For hours! I got completely sidetracked with everything contained on those blogs (wondering if I’d ever be able to create something like that) and signed up as a subscriber on a few of them. Being new to this whole thing, I didn’t realize (even though I should have!) that every time I signed up as a subscriber I’d end up on a list! Of course, everybody gives you a free gift for signing up which I collected in a separate folder.
Then the emails started coming! Of course, almost every email contains an offer for more stuff – some free, some not. And every time you click on a link for a free item, you’re asked again for your email. And that leads to more emails and more offers! And so the circle begins – and it never ends! By now I have a whole collection of reports (traffic blueprints, website advertising, resale rights, SEO, etc.) that I have absolutely no idea what to do with! It’s just too much information and not knowing what is good and what isn’t doesn’t help either!
Had I gone into the Master Class forum more often, maybe I’d have seen the question where somebody asked if it is okay to get other materials while attending the Master Class and the answer was, John discourages that. That, if he feels we need something, he will get it for us either for free or at a discounted price. Ooooops! Really need to get into the forum more often!
So I filed everything neatly in a folder and won’t look at any of it until after the class, when I have a better idea what to do with all of those reports, which to keep and which to get rid of. And I will unsubscribe from most of those lists except for the ones that John recommended.
Once again, I had to learn the hard way (I seem to have a tendency of doing that)!
Looking forward to Week 7 of the Master Class.
That’s it for today – til next time!
Hi Waltraud, I am glad I am not the only one who has fallen into the information overload trap!! I am now in the process of unsubscribing to lists that I feel do not offer anything of value for me. I need to cut down on the amount of incoming emails somehow! Hope you are enjoying John Thornhill’s masterclass as much as I am, I think the course and materials are superb. I wish you all of the best in your online ventures, regards Sue.
Hi Waltraud to a fellow Masterclass student!
I read your latest post with interest and totally agree with you and John on this. I subscribed to a lot of other marketers sites ages ago and now when their emails arrive I mark them as spam or unsubscribe if they are particularly bothersome. It’s useful to see what they are up to but can overwhelm you also.
Anyway good luck with the course and hope to speak to you soon.
Best wishes
Keith
It is paralysis of analysis.
With so many of e mails in my inbox. I spend so much time on internet without any work done!
Completely overloaded with too much information I feel confused
and frustrated.
Now unless I know the marketers or useful subject line, I just send the emails to trash folder.
Hi Waltraud!
I see you have the Blog Set Up Guide listed. Do you know Ed Rubi? He’s a very good friend of mine! We were in a newbie class last year with Dean Holland and he made us those books! I have one too!! On my blog!
Such a small world!
I was in the info overload zone until I started the Masterclass, now I only open emails to a select few. Too many people promoting the same thing!
I always listen to John T and Jim Cockrum. Oh and Ed. (and a select few more)
Everyone else just wants me to buy something and I am not going there!!
Glad to have you here in the class!
Take care and God Bless!!
Lisa~
Hi Waltraud, great post, good points made. Hope to see you on the forum.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Waltraud
I think we have all made similar mistakes when starting out looking for a way to make money on the internet!
After joining johns masterclass I too decided that enough was enough, and I now only follow John, Jim Cockrum and Lee McIntyre who was also helped by john when he first got started plus if john suggests looking at someone elses work, the trouble is we probable have so many folders of products that we dont know what to do with yet!
Never mind I am sure we will all get there in the end!
Look forward to see how you progress with the course!
Kind Regards
Nick
Hi Waltraud,
Hey, info overload is a killer. You’re doing the right thing…put all that other stuff aside & FOCUS! I wrote a post about info overload on my blog. It’s a topic that can’t be spoken enough about.
Just focus on what you’re being taught & you’ll be okay.
Best regards,
George Nieves
Could’nt agree more with your comments. One thing that always intrigue’s me is when these people say “We hate spam” do they really, or do they pass on your email address regardless? I have had emails from some weird company’s I have never even heard of. I don’t open them and they go straight in the spam box, but it is still annoying.
Anyway I will still keep soldgering on just like you.
Regards
Dougie.
I’m going to be frank from you Waltraud. You know that folder you’ve created? You won’t read any of it! There’s more stuff on its way!!……I only got up to week 10 of the Masterclass before dropping out and deciding to concentrate on just a few things, but try and do them well. After 2 years things ARE getting easier, and I am completing projects. I may even restart the Masterclass to create an eBook, but I’m in no hurry……watch out for OVERLOAD it’s a serious problem.
John
Dear Madam,
My ignorance is evident.
Need I say more?
Regards,
Barry