This is a question I get asked a lot. The problem with this question is this: there are many different answers because what 1 thing you could do is totally dependant on WHERE you are in your business. I have been waffling lately because quite frankly I don’t think there is 1 thing you can do ~ I think all of this is so interconnected that the 1 thing you can do is put together a system and keep repeating the system. Let’s look at it though.
Where you are: You have no content and you’re just starting
The 1 thing you can do: Do some research and pick an internet marketing strategy that you feel good about that you feel you can do. Start with that strategy and keep doing it (and only it) for the next 6 months.
Where you are: You have some content online, finished lenses or blog posts but no rankings in Google
The one thing you can do: Build more links ~ build links like your site depended on it ~ because it does.
Where you are: You’ve got content and some traffic.
The one thing you can do: If you aren’t ranking in the #1 position for your targeted keywords, build more links ~ than repeat the whole process ~ over and over again. Whether you’re building lenses, a blog, or niche sites internet marketing on some level is a numbers game. If you’re building lenses shoot for 100 targeted lenses. If you’re building a blog shoot for 100 keyword targeted posts. If you’re building mini-niche sites shoot for 100 keyword targeted niche sites. It’s a numbers game ~ you will find that you end up making 80% of your income from 20% of your sites. The more sites you have the more you will earn.
This is a lesson I learned the hard way ~ when it comes to niches sites/lenses 10 sites is NOT that many. 
It seems huge to a beginner, believe me I remember, but please understand when I talk about “numbers game” I’m talking about numbers more like 100 ~ not 10.
So while there may be 1 thing you can do, if you’re just starting out the best 1 thing you can do is find a system, create a plan and do it, consistently, repeatedly and diligently. The system is going to generally look like this:
1. Research
2. Content Creation
3. Promotion (link building)
Where you put your content and how you build your links is really the only thing that changes. So what do you think YOU need to do to start making sales looking at where your business is right now?
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Yes, I’ve found that link building is my main task. I had my website built for me and it includes a blog that I add content to several times a week. I was advised early on that you should spend 80% of your time creating content, whether it’s blog-posting or creating content in the form of articles, Squidoo lenses and the like. I’ve noticed that I’m more likely to get noticed by Google with lenses and articles and less so by commenting on other people’s blogs. If you’re going to comment on other’s blogs, they need to be well-ranked blogs (like Jackie’s).
succint, and absolutely true, love the post!
Heather Burns´s last [type] ..More News About Swine Flu and Tamiflu
I get it!
Link and link and link some more.
That’s what I’m trying to do these days.
Marie
maria´s last [type] ..No More Plastic Bags
I hope everyone is seeing at least one pattern emerging; no matter where you are, continuous quality link building best be in your weekly if not daily schedule.
these things do become your brand so it’s wise to give them some thought before you get started ~ but with that being said when you gain more clarity in your business you can change them as well. I just changed mine not too long ago (a month or two). Once you get a strong following you can talk about the changes in your posts and let them know what’s happening ~ even ask for their input ~ what better way to serve your market than to ask them what they want and then give it to them.
Jackie, just when I think I understand the meaning of the internet marketing terms, up pops another one! Taglines?
Ok, I hopped over to the site you mentioned (you are good to us!) and see what you mean. A question though… (and maybe not appropiate in this post), but I am seriously considering a new theme (look) for my site and if I am going to change direction and concentrate on offering a specific service in my niche, can/should I also then change my tagline?
Is it good policy to change the theme and tagline of your site after having had it for quite some time? Do these things not become your brand after a while and won’t it have a reverse impact on regular visitors if they suddenly land on your site and see something different than they were used to?
Yes Elsie,
If you’re going to do a long term niche site ~ which will turn into more of an authority site you’ve got to find direction. A tagline is perfect for this. Your tag line should keep you on track. Mine is making internet marketing strategies simple enough for everyone to take action. I know what I need to do ~ make internet marketing simple, and help people take action. I just clicked over to ppcmom.com and her tagline is fantastic ~ helping internet marketers find purpose and direction, it then blinks over and says helping you promote CPA offers. Well that’s pretty dang clear. HMMMMM… maybe I’ll do a whole post about taglines. that would be fun.
What’s your blog’s tagline? Does it define what you should be doing? I’d love to hear about it.
Hi Jackie … like Fran also said in her comment, this post made me realise that I will have to decide which way my niche will be going in the future.
To use her example of a pizza shop, at the moment I offer a wide variety of pizza toppings but in order for me to start earning an income, I will have to come up with a unique topping and concentrate on promoting it to make it the best dang topping ever!
If I don’t do that, I fear that I will come to a point where the quality of my content as well as the number of posts I can do will suffer because I do not have enough time to do all the things necessary to eventually ensure a good income.
Good morning Jackie… Your question is right on the mark, meaning if
someone comes here feeling overwhelmed, it’s certainly very helpful to
follow your train of thought and come up with one thing… like breathing in a paper bag when having a panic attack! ha ha!
For me the one thing I decided on last week is to outsource some of the
work… it just makes sense to realize that one person, no matter how
smart or diligent, is going to be limited in growing a business.
To grow a business you have to be the manager… of course you can be
a working manager but only up to a point… if you open up a pizza shop in the real world because everyone thinks you make the best pizzas, your income is going to be limited until you get someone to actually make the pizzas while you manage the growth of your business.
Of course it’s easier online… we have many helpful tools and many forms of instant communication that will take us a long way if we make a plan and take action.
I got a little carried away there, so to get back to your question I’ve
arrived at the decision that I need someone to bake the pizzzas so I can improve my income.
The next action step for me is doing some outsourcing.
Fran_C