The instinctive answer most infopreneurs and online business
owners would give to this question is:

“Why, for myself, of course!”

But think about it for a moment - and read this carefully.

I’m going to share 2 case studies that will open your eyes to
reality.  They are based on things that happened to me in the
last week.

#1 - On the Warrior Forum

It’s the #1 Internet marketing discussion forum.

Since 2003, I have posted almost 3,500 messages on the forum,
of which I estimate 700 are content-rich posts that took 10
to 20 minutes each to compose and create.

That’s a mind-boggling 175 HOURS - or over 40 hours a year -
I’ve spent just WRITING quality posts on the Warrior forum.

And that’s a forum owned by Allen Says!

Less than 10% of my online income comes directly from the Warrior
forum, or things I do there (like running special offers).

My websites do get spidered through the forum - but I have my
own high traffic blogs that can get the same result easily.

Many people read my posts there, but my own opt-in mailing
list is far more responsive to anything I write about.

Then why do I post there so often?

I participate mainly because it helps me GIVE BACK.

Because of the notes, posts and email I have received over
the years from HUNDREDS of people who read my posts and
were inspired, energized and encouraged to go for their
dreams.

But I get a strange ‘where-am-I’ feeling when people say:

“I’m not surprised you post frequently on the Warrior
forum.  Everyone likes and respects you there”

That simply isn’t true.  If it were, it would be UNREAL.

The forum has over 53,000 members.  Among this diverse
group, there are some folks - not many, but a few - who
dislike me, are jealous of the reputation and ‘brand’
I’ve built over the years, and would be delighted if
I goof up.

Recently, some of my posts have been dealt with in a way
that seems to indicate my passionate purpose of working
for Congenital Heart Defects awareness is NOT as important
or relevant to the forum’s core essence - talking about
making money.

For me, making money online and running my Web business
is intricately woven with my work with CHD kids - and if
people think one of these components is inappropriate for
discussion on a forum - why, then, the others are too!

So, instead of whining, complaining and crying about how
my posts are being moved around and deleted, I remembered
this essential point…

I’m working for the forum owner

And in the light of this realization, make future plans
to participate on the forum that align with my overall
goals and targets.

#2 - On Squidoo

Squidoo is Seth Godin’s brainchild - a high-profile Web2.0
social networking site… with a twist.

  It Is ‘Marketer Friendly’

Not surprisingly, when it picked up speed and lenses were
getting ranked high by Google, it attracted a crowd of
unsavory marketers who were looking to exploit the
system.

They created junk sites.  They built spammy lenses.  They
used ‘dirty tricks’ to take advantage of Squidoo power.

One of them involved abusing iFrames.

In an attempt to fix the problem, Squidoo’s management
announced they would be disabling iFrames soon.

Among Squidoo’s tight-knit and loyal community of users,
there was a flurry of anxiety and near-desperation.  Like
old grannies in skirts, the group was clucking and
complaining about how this change would hurt them, cut
down their revenues, destroy their ‘business’.

I have 60+ Squidoo lenses.  Authored 2 ebooks on the topic.
And this change will have little impact on my network.

If it did, I would adapt to the change.

Why?

Because when you build a lens on Squidoo, you must know
and understand that you are

Working for Squidoo’s owner

And if the owner changes the rules of the game, you either
play by the new rules - or walk away from the ballpark and
begin a new game.

Preferably one where YOU get to call the shots!

Don’t waste your time and energy complaining about the
changes.  Don’t get upset that the balance has shifted
against your favor.  Don’t get frustrated that all your
hard work has been for nought.

Just change, adapt and win.

You see, at the core, it is simple.  Obvious.  Clear.

You Are Either Working For YOURSELF - Or For Others

If you rely on GOOGLE for your website traffic, and are putting
in a ton of effort to optimize your site for Google, then always
remember - you are working FOR Google.

If your SQUIDOO lens(es) get you a flood of visitors and sales,
which is the main reason you build lenses on Squidoo, then keep
this in mind - you are working FOR Squidoo.

If you post on busy discussion forums so that you will get your
signature link viewed by other participants, so they’ll buy from
you, then understand well - you are working FOR the forum owner.

Is that smart?

Maybe… for some things, at some times, for some people.

But here’s what’s SMARTER.

Have your own forum - like this one:

http://www.Reach-n-Relate.com/ask-niche/

Have your own blog - like this one:

http://www.MoneyPowerWisdom.com

Have your own ezine - like this one:

http://www.InternetInfopreneur.com/tips.htm

And build your own network of sites, friends and resources
so that YOU are really working for YOURSELF.

Then, get more and more people to work - FOR YOU!

All success

Dr.Mani

P.S. - Thank you very much if you voted for the best CHD website
design in the poll.

If you haven’t done it yet, please check this out:

http://www.reach-n-relate.com/ask-niche/viewtopic.php?t=1517

I value your opinion and will be grateful for your vote to help
me pick the ‘new look’ web design.

Thanks.