I've been at this IM thing off and on for several years. I started out on my own as I am sure many of you did. Buying e-book after e-book, spending lots of time, energy, and money without much to show for it...I was discouraged.

I took a year or two off and recently came back to WA with the intention of making it happen.

Step in the right direction

Instead of doing the same thing as before, I asked more questions and listened to people that are actually DOING it, not just selling e-books about it. I started to understand more and have been able to help out people new to WA and marketing in general from time to time, but I still couldn't QUITE make it all come together.

Learn from those that came before

About six months ago or so, I got in contact with a 'mentor' of sorts. Basically, I partnered with him to build a site and make it work. I would do the work and he would advise and review my progress and we would split the income between us. It is therefore in both our interests to make the site work and work well! He has also been available for any questions I've had about anything.

Not to take anything away from him, but much is the same advice I see here in WA but actually 'seeing' it on a site that I am working on and seeing the effects makes it sink home better for me. I'm the type of person that learns better by DO-ing rather than reading about HOW to do something. So it goes without saying that this arrangement has been an AWESOME experience! Our current site is almost 'done' and we are looking forward to the next project.

If you have the chance to partner with an experienced marketer, I'd say do it! It has been an invaluable learning opportunity for me. Do NOT think you are going to ride their coattails though, there are still no shortcuts. I have written every post, page, and article for the site. But in doing so, I have learned where I could benefit from outsourcing on future projects.

I am now trying to decide my next step. Go on and do a site on my own using what I've learned, partnering again on a new site using a different business model, or trying to do a combo of both!