An interesting bit of information came out of survey:

A LARGE number of people online are trying to figure out where to start, or aren't sure how to go about it.

My answer for this problem is simply:

Get started!

Just get started. Find a subject that you enjoy, and that you are willing to spend time learning more about, and start creating your website.

Use free hosting services, put up a bunch of banners, DON'T get your own domain name, make all mistakes you possibly can!

Why would I give you such terrible advice?

Because this is how you learn! This is how you learn basics of creating a web page, uploading to someone else's server, finding your site on Internet, and then trying to figure out how to get other people to find your site.

Everything you read (I'm guilty of this too!) tells you that you must have your own domain name before you even start, you must have a ton of content ready to put on your website to keep people coming back, your website must be on a profitable subject that will surely make you a ton of money, you must drive traffic to your website, etc., etc.!

The problem is that you spend all of your time trying to figure out what your website is going to be about, and trying to find a cool domain name for it, finding perfect website hosting company that will keep your site up 24 hours a day, finding most profitable topic...

But you never get started!

Get started today... right now... not later... now.

Go and create an account on a free hosting company, figure out how to create a web page, then upload it using instructions that are given to you by hosting company.

I dislike term 'guru', at least when it's applied loosely, as it is on Internet. I've never thought of, or called myself a guru, but I'm referred to one pretty often. So are a lot of other Internet marketers.

My article is not about 'gurudom' though. It's about responsibility to those people who hold us in high enough regard to think of us as a guru, or an expert, or just someone who can help them along their way, and ask for our help.

Allow me to share a thought from my upcoming print book: "Our mission in life is to better lives of others. In doing so, our life is made better."

If you find yourself in position where people are asking for your expertise and help, there can only be 2 reasons for it:

1. You are Real McCoy and people trust that you can offer genuine and helpful advice and assistance, or

2. You've done a pretty good job of pretending to be above.

Hopefully you fall into category of former.

Now, you really have only 2 choices when someone does ask for your help:

1. You can make an honest effort to lend a helping hand, or

2. You can ignore their request, or, perhaps try to sell them latest, greatest product that will solve their problem and make some money in process.

This article would not exist had it not been for a rather lengthy and heartwrenching email I received other day. It came from a customer of mine, now a friend, who has been struggling past few months trying to make a go of it in Internet marketing arena. Very tough assignment as a newcomer in this post-September 11 economy especially in light of all marketing products flooding cyberspace these days!

What was remarkable about his take on things was his statement that of all "guru's" that he had purchased products from (most of which promised additional help after purchase), and had requested some simple guidance from, I was *only* person who ever responded. More than a couple of times as I recall. What a sad state of affairs in my opinion!