Dale King:  Some Internet marketing experts advise newbies to steer clear of certain areas of Internet marketing, such as selling e-books on how to make money, advertising services, SEO services, copywriting, etc., because those areas are too competitive. Do you agree with that assessment?

David Riklan:  I absolutely DISAGREE with that statement. I think there is still a tremendous opportunity available on the Internet. You just need to think differently now.  Now, it’s become very important to look at and target a niche.

Dale King:  How is Internet marketing different now, as opposed to when you first got started online?

David Riklan:  In the early days, the field was completely wide open. There was endless opportunity. Google didn’t exist. Amazon.com and eBay were in their infancy. Many sites and areas have been developed, and you need to take that into account with everything that you do.

Dale King:  How important has goal-setting been to your overall success?

David Riklan:  Goal-setting has been critical. Early on, I had an idea that I wanted to turn my SelfGrowth.com hobby into a business. I took this idea and set some very specific goals for turning it into a business. These goals turned into a fairly detailed plan, which I have been implementing actively for the last seven years.

Dale King:  How important has reading been to your overall success?

David Riklan:  Reading is critical. One of the primary reasons that I read is to learn from other people’s mistakes and from other people’s successes. What is working and what isn’t working? Then, I apply their lessons to my situation. What can I learn and how can I do it better? It’s amazing to see what information is really available to read if you are looking for it.

Dale King:  If you could recommend one book that all Internet marketers should read, what would it be?

David Riklan:  I don’t have one book that I recommend. There’s a wide variety of resources available depending on a variety of variables. How much do you already know? Do you need the basics or more advanced material? What niche are you in? Each niche has different needs, skills, and requirements. You need to identify your level of knowledge and your niche and find the appropriate material for you.

Dale King:  In your opinion, what technology has changed Internet marketing the most over the last five years?

David Riklan:  I have seen countless changes to technology over the course of the last five years, but I don’t believe there is one particular one that has drastically changed the landscape of Internet marketing. I believe that it is important to focus on the basics and build on that. If you aren’t using the basic technology, well, the new technology won’t help.

Dale King:  What new technology do you see changing Internet marketing over the next five years?

David Riklan:  There are countless technologies that are here that might become more important over time. They might be a greater use of audio or video, more interactive websites or databases, or email or RSS feeds. There might be different systems for email delivery. The list is endless, but once again, I always recommend people go back to the basics.

Dale King:  What person has influenced you the most in your lifetime, and how?

David Riklan:  My mother and father clearly had the most influence on me, but in different ways. The ways they influenced me started with their expectations of me. They always had high expectations, and many of their high expectations became my own expectations, really driving me. They were also my first role models in many areas of my life.

Dale King:  If you could give my readers one piece of advice, what would it be?

David Riklan:  Take action! That’s my advice. If you are thinking about starting something, but it seems too difficult or too complicated, just start and take the first action. 

Dale King:  Thank you very much, David. I appreciate you taking the time to do this interview.

David Riklan:  It’s been a pleasure. Thank you for letting me be a part of your website.

David's website:

http://selfgrowth.com

Warning: This interview is the exclusive property of David Riklan. It may not be reprinted in any format...period!