I’m tired of reading product testimonials that say, “by just implementing one technique in this product I increased my sales by $10,000 a month.” These testimonials always come from some guru who was already making $100,000 or more a month. Hardly relevant to the masses who are scraping pennies together to try to learn how to make a living online. I’m tired of hearing Bob’s testimonial that he made $20,000 in a month using this revolutionary new system. When you learn the real story, Bob was either the best friend of the product creator, or he made $20,000 in a month after working the system for a year.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d put in a year’s worth of work to reach $20,000 a month. My complaint is that this in not what’s being sold. Copywriters are responding beautifully to the hoards of instant gratification seekers that swarm the internet daily in search of financial freedom. Their sales letters are telling people that they can make 5 figures in thirty days. That they can quit their day jobs in 90 days and bask eternally in financial freedom. The truth is, 99.9% of us, at least, can’t do this. And it’s a lie to represent that there’s any system, course, or Ebook that can show you how to make a living online in a few days.

As fed up as I am with the sellers’ “making money online is quick and easy” lie; I’m just as tired of the buyers’ “I bought your product two weeks ago and I’m not making money online” complaint. Really, who in their right mind thinks all you have to do is purchase a system, log into your back office and watch the money flow in?

There’s got to be a better way to do things. You can make a living online. But too many people are giving up before they even give it a chance because they’ve bought into the overnight success lie.

Honest marketers need to remember how hard it was for them to break the $10,000 a month mark and be more realistic in drafting their sales letters. Of course, there’s not much motivation to do this since there are thousands of new victims a day who gladly buy into the making money online is easy myth. How much would sales go down if the truth was told? If the sales letter said “you’re going to have to work your butt off and you may not find financial freedom for a year or more if you invest in my product?”

Those looking at opportunities for making money online need to get a reality check too. If you buy a product, use it. Give it a chance. But don’t expect an overnight, effortless shift in your bank account and lifestyle.

Maybe we can’t expect the sellers to stop doing what is allowing them to make a living online. But as buyers of products about making money online, we can quit whining, ignore the hype, get to work, and run those who are selling nothing but dreams out of business.

JENNIFER HERNDON is a work at home mom and home business consultant with over 11 years of experience. Jennifer’s passion is helping ordinary people create an extraordinary life. Discover the quickest hands-off system for achieving online success by claiming your free Instant Income Plan report here.

The “anti-gurus” say you shouldn’t buy anything.  You can learn it all for free by searching online.  I doubt this is true.  But, even if it is, no one has the time to do this.  And if you did, your time would be way better spent taking action towards attaining online success rather than reading about it.

The best shortcut to online success is an online mentor.  Not a guru.  Not someone who’s made a lot of money online.  But a mentor.  Someone who can lead you step-by-step to internet marketing success.  Your online mentor may be a guru.  But, not all gurus are mentors.  Not everyone who can make money online can teach others how to make money online.

How do you find an online mentor?  I’ve spent thousands of dollars figuring this out.  I have discovered definite characteristics that make a great mentor.  Knowing these characteristics will arm you with the information you need to find your mentors, and your eventual online success.  And hopefully, it will save you thousands of wasted dollars and at least that many wasted hours.

There are four qualities that my most powerful mentors share.  First, your online mentor will provide personal customer support.  This is an excellent indicator that they care about your online success.  Call your potential mentor’s support number or submit a support ticket.  Ask a question about a product you’re considering purchasing.  How quickly do you get an answer?  Do they ask questions to determine whether the product’s right for you?  Or just give you a heavy sales pitch?  What kind of overall feel do you get from your interaction with the customer service folks?

Second, the best online mentor is one whose internet marketing success is not dependent on promoting every new product.  Pay attention to which marketers promote every product.  Or better yet, which ones DON’T.  If you are used to seeing promotions from one of your potential mentors and they don’t promote a big product, ask why.  A good mentor will answer you.  One of my mentors states up front whether a product is for newbies, intermediate and/or advanced marketers.

Third, your online mentor should have developed a product that you have benefited from.  In your journey to internet marketing success, you should purchase products.  You can’t become a successful doctor without going to medical school.  Online success also requires training.  If you buy a product and it helps you, it means the developer of that product “speaks your language.”  This is essential to an effective mentoring relationship.

Finally, the best online mentor is going to give you value for free.  They are going to routinely give you free products or helpful free advice.  They truly care about your online success.  Look on their website for free tools and resources.  Save their emails and see if there’s a pattern of valuable content, or just a bunch of product promotions.

You will likely find more than one online mentor.  You may rely on some more than others in your rise to online success.  But, don’t try to go it alone.  Success leaves footprints.  Why not follow in them?  Just don’t fall into the trap of thinking the biggest “guru” is the best online mentor.  Do your research.  Choose wisely who you follow.  Internet marketing success will come faster than you think.

JENNIFER HERNDON is a work at home mom and home business consultant with over 11 years experience.  Her passion is helping you create the life of your dreams.  Discover the quickest all-in-one system for achieving online success by claiming your free Instant Income Plan Report here.