Simply sitting around and “hoping” that something will happen is not going to have an effect. You need to have clear ideas about what you want and HOW you’re going to accomplish it.

It’s a good idea to sit down with a pen and pencil (or a word processor) and list out all of your goals. They don’t have to be too specific at first. These goals can be anything related to your internet marketing career. Let’s say one of your goals is to “Earn $5,000 in Clickbank commissions”.

The first thing you need to do is take this goal and put a timeframe on it. When I say timeframe I don’t mean, “Sometime in the next year”. Make it specific. “I will earn $5,000 in Clickbank commissions BY JUNE 1ST.” This gives you a specific “window” of time for you to complete the task.

Now how are you going to earn $5K in Clickbank commissions? If you don’t know how you’re going to do it, chances are it’s not going to happen. So figure out your METHODS. Are you going to build a website and use organic SEO to drive traffic? Will you use PPC? Article marketing?

Basically, you need to pinpoint which methods you’ll use, then break down your lofty goal into smaller and smaller chunks. Let’s say you choose article marketing for your main traffic method. Set a goal to achieve 300 visitors a day to your site/landing page by June 1st. Then set a mini-goal to reach 100 visitors per day by April 1st. Then set a mini-goal to reach 50 visitors per day by the end of this month.

How are you going to drive traffic? Set small goals. “I will write 3 articles every day”. Make the goals manageable so that you don’t stress yourself out or set yourself up for disappointment. If you only have time to write one article per day, then keep it to only one.

Now you have a comprehensive plan for driving traffic and making money, and it will be set up in manageable chunks that are very easy to do. So you’re no longer trying desperately to make $5K. All you have to do is write an article today. Then write another article tomorrow. And so on and so on.

Successful internet marketers didn’t find success overnight. They set manageable goals, completed those goals, and through doing so they achieved greatness!

However, this can also be a downside!

Sometimes it can be hard for us to motivate ourselves when we don’t have anyone telling us what to do, how to do it, when to get it done, etc. After all, how much goofing around would you do at work if your boss didn’t care at all how you spent your workday?

This dilemma often holds internet marketers back. They get lazy, distracted, and lose motivation. No one yells at them when they’re caught watching Youtube clips instead of working, so what’s to keep them from simply messing around all day?

This is where internet marketers need to have intrinsic motivation in order to be successful and to get things done. Intrinsic motivation does not rely on outside pressures (that’s called external motivation).

Intrinsic motivation means being driven by your own wishes, hopes, desires, and determination. Developing this kind of motivation can be as simple as wanting something SO BAD that you refuse to acknowledge failure or inability. You get into the mindset where you HAVE to update your blog, write articles, build backlinks, etc., because there is no other option! Failure and being broke is simply not an option. It simply WON’T happen.

Make a list of all of your internet marketing goals. Construct a time-frame around these goals. I would recommend setting realistic goals, but don’t sell yourself short either. A realistic goal is something that can easily be achieved in the foreseeable future if you put forth the proportionate amount of effort. An unrealistic goal is thinking you can make $10K in one month if you’ve never made a penny from internet marketing before.

Be realistic and you will be more likely to reach your goals and less likely to get frustrated and lose motivation. Also, be very specific about your goals, and keep them in a time-frame. Don’t make a goal like “I want to start a niche blog”. Instead, say “I will create a niche blog about dog training and by March 1st I will rank on page 1 for my keyword and be making at least $100/week in affiliate sales”.

Don’t be vague about your goals. Know EXACTLY what you want and HOW you’re going to get it. And then go out and get it! Who cares if it’s a lot of work? It’s still better than working at a “real job” dealing with catty co-workers and a boss breathing down your neck. If you choose to be lazy and mess around instead of work, you’ll only have yourself to blame, and your failure will be reflected by your empty wallet!