3 Things Internet Marketers Can Learn From Heroes
This is a guest post by Gyutae Park of Winning the Web
I just recently discovered the hit science-fiction TV series, Heroes, and must say that I am already hooked. If you haven’t heard of the show before, the story is based around a set of characters who develop unique and special powers that they use for a greater good. Some of the abilities I’ve seen include flying, instant healing, warping time and space, predicting the future, and reading minds. Pretty cool powers if you ask me. As Internet marketers, I think we can learn a lot from Heroes. We might not be able to time travel or see through walls, but we can use our own powers and skills to become Internet marketing super heroes. Here are some lessons that can be learned.
Develop your super powers
In the Heroes TV series, all of the characters slowly discover their powers and learn to develop them over time. They may not be able to control what they do in the beginnig but by the end of the season they are full fledged heroes who have influential abilities. In the same way, beginning Internet marketers and website publishers must find a niche that they can dominate. There may be confusion in the beginning as they learn the ropes and discover strengths, but over time they will develop skills and powers that will make them some of the best experts in the field. For example, don’t just be a generic Internet marketer. Focus on a niche that has a strong demand, is underserved, and is something you can be the best at. Some possibilities include social media, link building, and online reputation management. Are you focusing on skills within a specific niche? What is your super power and how are you developing it?
Connect with others and save the world
All of the Heroes episodes feature multiples characters with unique abilities. In order to save the world and reach a common goal, it is essential that they come together from all around the world to join forces. Only by combining different powers and acting as one cohesive unit are the heroes able to defeat the enemies. Similarly, Internet marketers cannot succeed on their own. Since everyone is unique and has different perspectives and skill sets, having partners and friends in online business are extremely beneficial. For example, last month Shoemoney and John Chow had a friendly competition to see who could get more RSS subscriptions in a month. In essence, both leveraged the audience and popularity of the other and both won out in the end. Forces unite!
With great power comes great responsibility
Ok, so maybe this one comes from Spiderman, but I think it is still very relevant here. When the characters in Heroes realize that they are gifted with special powers, they all have a sense of responsibility and urgency to act. They don’t sit around waiting and let their powers go to waste. Instead, they actively work to use their abilities for the greater good of mankind. Prominent Internet marketers have this same responsibility and yet some of them fail to realize the impact and influence that they have on others. Why do you think SEO has such a shady reputation to the outside world? Every action that Internet marketers take has a reaction. It’s not always about the money and ethics and reputation are big responsibilities that cannot be ignored.
If you watch Heroes, you can see that it presents many parallels to Internet marketing. Develop your powers, connect with others, and work responsibly. You’ll find yourself being an Internet marketing hero in no time.
- 49 Comments. What say you?
- RSS
- Delicious
- StumbleUpon
- Furl
- Digg
Great post! Finding your own niche that has a strong demand is where some serious cash can be made, especially when you are an expert in that niche.
Sometimes its good to write about a broad number of different topics to gain interest of those that aren’t interested in one niche, but are in another. This way you can get the broadest ranger of readers.
Pretty good distilling of concepts there, I tried watching Heroes but couldn’t get into it, so will have to catch it in a dvd series eventually. I think my guest post is going to be: If Jeremy is not writing the posts, the commenting goes way down, lol.
Thanks! It’s so much easier when you find a smaller niche that you can really focus on.
Yeah, I’ve never really watched Heroes until recently - season 1 on DVD actually. Pretty good stuff.
Anyway, you’re probably right about the commenting going way down. Most of the people here are here for Jeremy, not for his wannabe posse. Plus that fact that a lot of people are away on conferences - SES Chicago & PubCon Las Vegas. Even super heroes can be busy.
In real life Heros come with luck and hard work. Inspiring post!
Good point. That’s what these “things internet marketers can learn from x” posts are good for.
Heroes is awesome, great hook. I think networking is a part of any business, you can’t do everything on your own and you really need to build up that network.
I’ve never watched Heroes. In face, I don’t get around to watching a whole lot of television. It does seem like a pretty cool show though.
As an internet marketing director and a fan of Heroes, I like how you tied the two together.
I love heros. Pretty good post.
Great Article!
It’s just the way you think…right? We all grew up watching spiderman and superheroes. Taking an inspiration from superheroes into your work was never thought of. Good you did that and now many will.
Thanks for the article
Haha, I love this one - Develop your super powers
Interesting analogy, kind of juvenile though
Nice post Gyutae. And you’re rate it is rare that one of his guest posts garnish tons of attention. But comment or no comments, still great information.
Definately got to not only know, but enjoy the niche too. Otherwise u either wont succeed or it just wont last.
I just cant dig the whole Hero’s thang. I know its got a huge following, but I just cant do it.
Hmmm.. good post, I am lookin’ forward to your contest on JohnChow though. :p
Yes, niches don’t last forever, but if you get in early, you probably will make some money or at least make some fame out of it.
Me neither, I like the Heroes thing but I never have enough time to watch TV either because I don’t like TV and the mainstream media or because I am always workin’.
That’s true though but you gotta pick a “broad” niche, meaning a niche with a lot of customer base. Otherwise, you are not really pickin’ the right niche.
Well that could be anything, like catching a golf ball, (super powers I’ve developed over the years)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqSccvz4hlY
Yes, I think this post kinda takes everything either too deep or into another fantasy land but it’s a read-able…
Nice post! I was thinking of submitting a Heros themed one as well and even some of the same overall elements but think you did a better job than I would have ;). Great tips!
I remember when I used to play Age Of Empires a lot, I was looking at anything through the eyes of the player and I could say that there were some habits that seemed very good for living your life, like never keeping one single revenue stream (like in those men working a farm ), never forget defense and keep an eye on your opponent
I found a small niche on eBay and exploited it with the Build A Niche Store script Shoemoney talked about a few posts back. Made $500 last month with the store and it has only been up for 2 months. A good niche will rock your world.
Can’t believe so many people haven’t watched Heros. Well I can since I missed most of the first season but had it piling up on my DVR. But once I finally sat down and watched it in marathon mode I was hooked lol.
Then again, I am sure people would wonder how I haven’t watched Lost yet lol. Watched the first episode, thought it looked great, but missed a few episodes after that and knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up so stayed away planning to just get the dvds…still a few seasons behind now lol.
Wish you hadn’t posted this, now we’ll get a guest post comparing blog writing or money making to ‘lost’
Number 4: Like Peter Petrili or Sylar, steal what works from others (and expect others to do it to you). If a campaign works well with PPC, expect to see copycat ads shortly. Same with marketing of certain affiliate products. Case in point, Shoemoney, power of ringtone transportation, often finds his abilities mimicked by other, usually less powerful, heroes (and villians).
Love the comparison. Heroes is one of the few shows I watch and I’m disappointed that the season is over already and relieved to have the distraction gone.
Thats what i’m trying to do with my blog on hunting. There is one catch. I’m seeing if i can do it without spending a penny and not pulling out my credit card for anything. It’s pretty hard. But i have all the time in the world. It’s nice when you have that.
Ive been watching your hunting blog - I agree with you and you have so much room for uncommon affiliates
That’s the isssueeeee finding a niche
, great 4 u 
what did u do for advertisment ?
Heroes .. that’s the bread and butter of modern prime time TV. Oooo.. what happens next? Sylar got his powers back. NO!
Hey, I’m still on season 1! Don’t ruin it for me now. My internet marketing career depends on it.
I love the way Gyutae is so full of bounce and excitability. His zest shows in his posts.
Heroes is a top show, along with prison break but still back to the point…nice post and good relevance to the subject and the characters used
I wrote an article and submitted it to three article directories and submitted a product review to Build A Nice Store which they published on their site and that’s it. Oh yea, they picked one of my sites as a featured site as well.
I love these kinds of posts.
very true!
Thanks for the emphasis on heroes being responsible. Lots of the ‘gurus’ do not accept the responsibility they earn from their position.
Glad the guest writer reminded us that heroes and internet marketers need to be responsible.
nice. that’s a cool analogy. some words to ponder.
yes great. i love heroessssssss
I particularly like the part about responsibility. We should all make the resolution to be proactive about being responsible in 2008.
[...] Shoemoney 3 Things Internet Marketers Can Learn From Heroes [...]
[...] post was written in the same style like ShoeMaker posts: 3 Things Internet Marketers Can Learn From Heroes, What Internet Marketers Can Learn From My Haunted Toilet, Things Internet Marketers Can Learn From [...]
[...] it down to a T. And with good timing, and smart planning, EXCELLENT blog entries (not to mention entertaining guest posts on big name bloggers), and unique Community Involvement implemented (i.e. Blog Hopping and his Blog Audits) his blog is [...]