Fishing at Wealthy Affiliate
Just painting a picture, I had the opportunity to go fishing at a really cool spot the other day at a river mouth where the river lagoon meets the sea, currently, it is the tail end of the salmon season.
Back in the day salmon were caught in the thousands, moving forward to today they are caught, maybe two to three a week of what you hear about and the how's and what bait was used are closely guarded secrets by those in, " the know " and experienced fisher folks.
It is hard graft to catch a fish and you have to work for it, so to get there you drive along a beach for about 2 miles, on this day there was a steady file of vehicles heading in the opposite direction a sure sign that nothing is catching.
Even walking down folks were leaving,
“How's it going bro “.
“ Nothing catching mate complete waste of time “.
The folks there slowly drifted away, so at the end, there was just me and this old guy. He had just been watching just standing back not even fishing. He started, casting and caught a fish, like me he was catch and release guy, that is where you catch a fish and then release it back to the water from where it came. The thrill is in catching the fish, applying your skills, out thinking or being craftier than the fish, and believe me big fish get to be big fish because they are onto it and very clever.
Got talking to him and in that casual way he imparted some tips and tricks, he departed and it was just me and sizing up the water I just followed what he told me, didn't try to put my spin on it, well probably the third cast you guessed it hooked up a salmon.
That is it, I just moved from” Alex nobody fishing guy, that get birds nests in his line, loses his gear to snags and spends a fortune buying new gear" to " Alex just caught a salmon guru fisherman “.
To top it off went back the next day and caught another one.
What this can not be true.
It's taking knowledge and applying it, so if you can tap into, knowledge and apply it, then you will create outcomes, that could be one of the golden rules.
So this old guy had been fishing for sixty years that is a heap of experience, another golden rule when experience expresses some thoughts, listen up.
The reason for this post and the Wealthy Affiliate link.
All the folks fishing that day were just casting their lines in the water, in the hope of catching a fish, like I said salmon are so hard to catch, these days.
Some were mixing it up changing lures and rods, moving up and down just hoping to hook up.
So they were all blind fishing, that is where you just throw your line in the water in hope, if luck is shining on you then you may be blessed with a fish.
The majority are not.
When you think about it, many of us can be like that when it comes to marketing, do we just create words and then cast them into the referral pond in the hope that someone may take the bait.
Blind marketing can be like fishing for people, like hooking people to buy from you, just a numbers and luck game.
The only way is to take your knowledge to share it and let your content speak for you, that can be visual or as with most it is written content. Apply knowledge, and develop skills in the process.
Words are gold, in the industry.
This may sound a little mercenary, and try not to make too much about it.
Don't over think it.
The mindset can be about grabbing someone's attention, in our fishbowl world that can be a very hard task even harder, being able to hold that attention.
Attention is the new gold.
Our words can do that, and the name of the game is selling and promoting, I know that we are in the business of helping and providing value, the overview should be focused on selling at the end of the day.
I think at the end of the day that is the big division between online and offline business. Offline it is, sell and promote or your business fails, online we have this economy of scale thing where we can invest time, and well we are providing value but whether we sell or not, doesn't matter because it is part of the journey, I am not so sure about that concept.
I have a confession, I was a blind marketer, it can be an easy trap to fall into without realizing it. It can be easy to get wishey-washey and for content to lack direction and focus. If you look sideways then there are plenty of blind marketers out there, do they succeed well maybe, more than likely they drift away because nothing is catching.
It can be a process, to be honest, and one that is in a constant state of change. We can create change or just go with the flow, the only trouble with that is nothing changes.
Mindset can be king
Your next post could be your best and the one after that even better.
The next post you are going to write, sit down and think about outcomes, who are you trying to reach, what message are you projecting and what are you trying to sell and promote. I have started along these tracks and it makes a difference and sometimes all we need is a difference.
We have the choice of being blind marketers, or we have the choice of being targeted marketers. It is not about loading content with links, it can be about creating content that has a purpose.
Focused on outcomes. The cool thing about this journey is that we can make up our own rules the key is that they just need to have some purpose.
Well, that's, that I am away fishing.
Thank you for reading and what are your thoughts, over focus on selling and we are in spam central in the blink of an eye, or just build selling into your overall strategy?
Happy fishing folk's.
Alex Evans.
Recent Comments
49
Hi Rich, good to see, it was a reflection, we can get consumed with creating content like all things in marketing we should be looking at creating outcomes, WA equips us with the knowledge and resources to do just that.
Glad that you enjoyed this post.
Alex
Happy fishing indeed, Alex! This is a great analogy showing how Wealthy Affiliate is like salmon fishing. Your story brings back memories of salmon fishing I used to do while growing up in Oregon.
Hi Glen, thank you for stopping by, they were the days and such vivid memories as well.
Just reflecting on it and talking with a few folks when it struck me that just with fishing we can be blind marketing just hoping for results instead of following a prescribed formula.
Fishing can be a really relaxing pass time and definitely a good time to do some thinking.
Alex
Hi, Wayne good to see you hope that your journey goes well and that you are making good progress, are you finding more time to work on your online business?
Thank you for stopping by, I presume that they would, had to let them go they put up such a good struggle kind of have to respect that desire to stay free.
Glad that you liked this post.
Alex
Thanks, Alex. Well, I have been recovering from some prostate surgery. All is fine now, no cancer left. Now I just need to get re-motivated at WA.
All the best,
Wayne
Hi Wayne, you will be pleased that you had a successful procedure, with a good outcome.
Best wishes as you remotivate and reconnect with your online journey, take it one step at a time and if you need help just sing out.
Alex
Hi Alex, thank you for the post and with a fishing analogy to boot. Proof is in the pudding on a writing level. I am not a fishing person yet you did indeed hook me and reel me in.
Now you have thrown me back with a little sorenss in my mouth which will act as a reminder to think more about what and how I write.
Thank you.
Hi, Twack you are most welcome, glad that you found some value in this post and thank you for stopping by.
That was an excellent response you have a way with words indeed. We can all get so busy just writing and creating content it is almost a driven thing, talking to folks that are facing some challenges, and it can challenge us all getting that relevant call to action that is congruent with the content and one that speaks to our intended audiences.
Have a great and creative weekend.
Congratulations on catching the salmon.
Great analogy.
Of all of our amazing WA members; you probably do outdoors better than anyone else and on a regular basis.
Hi Sondra, good to see you, I guess you call it living the dream and the good thing is like everything we get to create our own rules. What works for some will not work for others but we can become the drivers of our own futures.
As mentioned already WA gives us that opportunity, to tip the scales in our favor, now that is cool.
I am continually amazed at how we can define the way we choose to live, which in terms of the majority is a normal that many could not imagine or believe is possible.
On another note living in the city is pretty cool as well.
We can all draw so much from our experiences, marketing opportunities are around every corner and thinking like that we don't know what is around the next corner.
It is usually an adventure in some form.
Thank you for stopping by, much appreciated.
Have a great weekend.
Alex
You too. I like being able to VISIT the city...
I still think about your tent/camp site. You could be the poster child of a truly nomadic affiliate marketer. Or the poster child for someone in the survivalist/prepper niche.
Most people that I see sharing nomadic lifestyle are driving around in comfortable motor homes that are confined to areas with good roads and big spots to turn around.
Not you...
Take care,
A great post, Alex. When I was reading the first part about your actual fishing experience I could see so much of how it relates to our journey with online marketing. You mention 'taking knowledge and applying it'. Extremely important, but sometimes overlooked. There's also a matter of absorbing the knowledge and then using it in a way that relates to who we are, and what our website is about. However, that's another story.
Congratulations on your achievement of 'guru fisherman'. Well done.
Valerie
Hi Valerie, thank you for stopping by, it really got me thinking much of what we try and do and achieve here relates back to that applied knowledge and how we utilize it to grow our online footprint.
That is such a valid point that you have raized Valerie, it can be all about absorbing that knowledge and using it in terms of who we are that is a powerful point, as we know we are all unique and hopefully have the courage to share our uniqueness. from an observation that is what folks are searching for online.
It can be so easy to become a parrot a lot harder to let ourselves shine through.
I don't know much about being a guru fisherman probably more like 5 minutes in the limelight and then fade back into the shadows lol.
On reflection, we all need to develop that second nature ability and that only comes about by being focused on what we are doing to the extent where we do not have to think about it, more likely it becomes part of us.
Alex
Hey Alex, great words and well put. Using fishing as an example is a great way to express something so simple, but wise.
Learning from the old and wise will get you places speaking from experience.
Not saying you're old but your words are wise and appreciate a good read. This is why my training is taking forever. A lot of my time is absorbing from Wealthy Affiliates.
Looking forward to your next post.
Ken.
P.S. Good luck fishing!
Hi Ken, thank you for the good wishes, you are into fishing at all?
I think one of the biggest teachers can be experienced and it is not something that we can buy we have to live it or listen to someone that may have walked the path.
At times it can feel like it is taking forever, and even like we are not making progress, but every day we learn that little bit more and by applying that knowledge thing's come into place for us.
I think that is one of the cool things about WA we can learn so much from our fellow travelers, and nothing can beat experiences.
Glad that you found some value in this post, how is your online journey going?
Alex
Hey Alex, I like fishing as well. Unfortunately, it's a 14-hour drive to the ocean for us. So we settle for the smaller fish in the surrounding lakes. Have you ever been ice fishing? A couple of weeks ago I drilled some holes in 2.5 feet of ice just to catch and release a few 8 inch perch.
It's just something Pam and I like to do summer or winter.
My online journey is slow but sure. Blogging is rough for me but it will come. I'm in no hurry and have other things on the go as well. I enjoy the learning curve and it keeps me occupied on the cold winter days.
Good chatting Alex and take care till next time.
Ken
I know that one, travelling to get to the right spot. I have been doing some lake fishing unsuccessfully I might add, never been ice fishing it is something that I will try out I am sure, it looks very interesting.
With your online journey, the key can be to just keep chipping away, not sure when it happens because it is different for all of us but you will get to that tipping point where things will start falling into place for you, for some reason at that point we just know stuff.
Writing can be one of those works in progress, I find the more that I write the easier it becomes or you get the feeling that you are doing okay. when I started it was a real struggle, I think it is something that grows on you.
One of the things for me was not to push it when I don't feel creative, it works itself through.
Best wishes Ken, just keep going.
Alex
Did someone say fishing?
I love the analogy and find myself the targeted audience by the beginning story. It's easy to hook me with fishing.
You finish strong by tying that certain skill set it takes to catch salmon into Internet Marketing.
Though I haven't been writing too much on WA, I'm trying to get into the habit of sharing member's posts on social media. This one is a sure go.
So amped an old guy turned you on to some tips. Offshore fishing was tough at first (I was terrible). An experienced friend really helped show me the way. Now people wonder how I do it.
I try to share that success online, but I'm not yet as good at that as I am at fishing. :):)
Geoff.
Hi, Geoff good to see that you are still around these parts and going strong online.
Fishing is such a big niche with so many derivatives and one thing about folks that like fishing they are a pretty passionate bunch.
That is the whole key like anything there is a learning curve, and sometimes all it can take is some experience to turn up at the right time. Probably one of the draw cards with WA, those, moments can happen on a daily basis.
I haven't tried offshore fishing as yet definitely on the to-do list. Gee whiz some of those old guys just have a wealth of information.
Best wishes and I hope that your online experiences are going well.
Alex
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Very engaging post, Alex. I thoroughly enjoyed your analogy and comparison to WA.
Randy
Hi Randy, you are most welcome glad that you found some value in this post.
If we just create without thinking in terms of outcomes then the journey can become that little bit harder. Fishing in the dark with hope for outcomes as our friend on the journey.
Thank you for stopping by.
Alex