5 Internet Marketing Tips from American Idol

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By jopeck | March 9, 2007

How many of you are regular watchers of American Idol? They are now in their 5th season and seem to be very popular all around the world.

I love to watch the initial episodes where the ‘man on the street’ auditions. Its amazing how many over inflated egos there are in this world. People who think they are the best but actually are proven to be full of hot air.

As I watched last night’s performances of the top 8 guys, I realized that there were internet marketing lessons that could be learned from the show, the contestants and the comments made by the judges.

Presentation

Simon made some comments about how the girls dressed last week. Its funny coming from a guy who predominantly wears “dusky grey” t-shirts. But its a valid point.

As internet marketers, we need to present a polished, professional image of ourselves. Whether you’re ‘just another blogger’ or the owner of an online business venture, the impression our readers/customers get when reading one of our advertisements or our website is of utmost importance.

First impressions COUNT!

So if you need to, get some professional help (not from Simon!) to make sure you look good to the world at large.

Standing Out from the Crowd

Many of the singers can sing. After the lengthy audition process, those who have survived the cuts have talent. Now, its really up to them to use that talent to go above and beyond the rest of the crowd.

Remember when Clay Aiken sang ‘Solitare’? It was a old familiar favorite but he turned it completely inside out and made it his own. Melinda Doolittle did the same thing with ‘My Funny Valentine’ last week.

The network marketing community online is so huge that as a newcomer its easy to get lost in the crowd. To be successful, you need to find something to differentiate you from the rest.

It could be providing an essential service, deciding to be controversial and attacking a known expert in the field or simply giving a unique point of view in your posts.

Whatever you decide, stick with it and make it your very own.

Pushing Your Limits

A frequent comment heard from the judges is ‘you got to go for it’. They aren’t content with just hearing a regular song being sung by someone talented. They want the ‘X factor’ in each and every performance.

If you watched the performances of the top 12, it was obvious that the girls were out to win while the guys gave rather forgettable performances. However by the next week, the guys pulled their socks up and came on stage ready to prove they were in the competition as well.

When you first start out with internet marketing, you may just do what your upline tells you to. Beware! Just doing the steps will not get you the results you want. You need to understand the strategies being shown to you, internalize them and come up with something that will push the existing boundaries. If you succeed in doing this, your business will shoot through the roof. This I can promise you!

Don’t be mediocre. Be GREAT!

Be Nice

A good sporting spirit is important. During the audition process, we were treated to many instances of people responding with vulgarities when they were rejected. Even during the recent performances, you had one singer who left saying they made a huge mistake while another said “I’m going out with a bang” and then sang his heart out.

Frankly, I think the 2nd singer is going to have a much better life than the first.

So play nice… there is a internet marketer who is making money by selling his marketing system that promotes being obnoxious and rude. Although I did obtain his book, the methods used just didn’t rest easy on my mind. Did I want to be known for being unpleasant? even if I earned millions from doing so, I don’t think the impact on my mental view of myself would be worth it.

I believe in the rule ‘Do to others as you would want them to do to you.’

Losing can be a good thing

Looking back at the past season’s winners, not all of them have made it ‘big’ on the billboard charts. Some, I think, are doing well in their particular niche genres.

What is interesting is looking at what’s happened to those who didn’t win.

Like Chris Daughtry… he came in third during Season 5. Was he disappointed? I’m sure he was. However, his band launched a debut album that sold over a million copies! far outselling his fellow season 5 contestants’ debut albums. Recently, he was quoted saying losing AI was actually for the better because he really wanted to concentrate on rock music.

Clay Aiken is a good example. A runner-up that has sold more copies of albums than most other winners. His single “Bridge over Troubled Water” went platinum after only a month and a half of sales.

Most recently, Jennifer Hudson made headlines with her Oscar win for the show, Dreamgirls. Her fellow contestant and eventual winner of Season 3, Fantasia, didn’t get the role although she did audition for it.

These examples just go to show that losing isn’t the end of the road. It can be used to springboard yourself into a situation where success is possible. You need to have the right attitude and learn as much as possible from failures.

Are there any other lessons you can think of that you’ve learned from television shows or movies? I’d love to hear your ideas.

Tags: american idol, clay aiken, internet marketing, jennifer hudson, presentation, marketing, blogging, online business venture