So often, we try to complicate things.

Especially in internet marketing where it’s way too easy to take 200 steps where 5 would do.

Of 101 different methods when, if we stopped to apply the 80/20 rule, we’d only be using a handful.

We do the same with gadgets – extra features we’re never ever going to use sell us on the higher end model.

Going back to basics with internet marketing is well worth it!

I recently bought a set of notes that were taken at a high end internet marketing conference and as I’m going through them, it’s lightbulb moment after lightbulb moment.

Usually the easy stuff that I’ve forgotten or neglected to do.

For instance, quite some years ago I read a book by Joe Sugarman (I can’t remember which one and my copy is out on loan to someone but I can’t remember who, I do things like that) where he ran a test with an advert for watches.

The test was to promote one watch or let potential customers choose from a dozen different ones on the page.

The one choice, take it or leave it, out performed the “you make the decision” by an order of magnitude.

I read that, put a tick sign against it in my mind, then promptly forgot about it.

Until I read Tim Castleman’s notes that I mentioned earlier.

One of the sessions he took notes on was talking about conversions.

In internet marketing we’re taught to create simple products as giveaways.

The session used a number of hotseats where they analysed people’s funnels and gave ideas to improve them.

And in almost every single instance, they suggested the same as Joe Sugarman: cut down the options.

So instead of the usual idea that I give (and near enough everyone else gives) of 7 different ways, they said to just go with 1 way to…

I’ll try it in a few of my articles soon.

And some other areas.

Because it makes so much sense.

After all, in the back of your mind you know that there’s no way in this life that you’ll implement 7 different ways even once let alone on a regular basis.

But you could get back to basics and implement one way.

Probably on a fairly regular basis.

So the disconnect in your mind is lessened and you’re more likely to read an article or part with your email address or whatever other call to action there is.

I’d strongly suggest that you try it yourself if you do any kind of giveaway or squeeze page offer.

Go with the strongest idea – don’t be tempted to use a weaker one.

Why?

Because that will consolidate your position as an expert in the mind of your audience.

Your strongest idea is likely to get them the best and the fastest results.

Weaker ideas are – by definition – weaker.

And won’t get strong results.

Which, in turn, will lead to weaker sales for you in whatever area you’re in.

Of course, the report by Tim Castleman has a lot more than one idea in it.

But that’s the nature of taking 140 pages of notes during the course of a conference.

Incidentally, don’t let that put you off.

They are notes, so there’s a lot of white space.

And if you’re like me you’ll take notes on the notes. I’ve not finished reading the report but have got over 4 pages of notes (plus references to the part of the original report) that I’m already starting to use.

The moral of the story?

Go back to basics.

You probably don’t need a report to help you do that.

Just go back over whatever passes for your own notes about what you’ve been doing for the last few months and take a long, cold, hard look at them.

What’s worked? (Do more of that!)

What bored you to tears? (If it was necessary for your business, outsource it or if it’s not necessary, ditch it)

What showed a glimmer of hope but you stopped for whatever reason? (Revisit it and see whether it deserves more time or not)

Then become single-minded.

Do that for the next month.

Put your credit card and Paypal away.

Just work on your internet marketing business.

If you need help, get it (obviously).

And if you want a fantastic set of notes to point you in the right direction, get those.

But don’t use that as an excuse to procrastinate and not actually do real stuff that gets real results!