Interview with Ankesh Kothari: Young Internet Mktg Expert, Mumbai
By Arnab April 2, 2007 filed in Miscellaneous, Internet Marketing, Newsletter, Interviews
Please let us have the Primary Details first, please… Name, Address, EMail Id etc.
Ankesh Kothari.
Mumbai.
http://www.ankeshkothari.com
+91-98209-90137
If anyone wants to contact me, they can do so here…
http://www.ankeshkothari.com/contact-Ankesh.php
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Please give us some information about your Qualification & Experience Background.
Traditional Education: BBA (which is equivalent of BCOM). But I’ve been lucky enough to have quite a few mentors take me under their wings and teach me their strategies.
Tip # 1: Go get yourself a mentor. Find some one successful in the industry you want to get into and wow them. Do something unexpected for them so that they take an interest in you. For eg: I did my research and found the birthdate of one person I admire a lot back when I was still consulting clients and creating marketing strategies and campaigns. And shipped him a cake on his birthday. He called me back on his birthday and we talked for 10-15 minutes or so. And we’ve kept in touch ever since then – and I’ve managed to learn quite a lot from him.
And I read a lot too. Psychology. Science. Neurscience. History. Marketing. Poetry. Trending. My interests are varied.
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In your own words, what is your Primary Business ?
I am what people call a “serial entrepreneur.” Before August of 2006, my main online income source was from running a paid marketing newsletter. (People paid me $72 a year to receive the newsletter which was just the frontend. I used the newsletter to build a reputation and get clients for my consulting practise.)
Since August, I’ve been spending more time online and have quite a few more websites working for me – as well as employees to manage them.
1. Creating small websites to promote affiliate products
2. Running niche specific newsletters
3. Creating special web applications that people pay a monthly fee to use
4. I also recently started making money by parking domain names
Right now, I have 8 projects and 2 writing assignments going on.
My primary business seems to be setting up systems that allow me to earn money hands-free.
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If you can share with us, how much do you earn from Online Marketing Activities, and how long did it take you to get here. Please also mention, how much time you spend in a day on an average on these activities.
I would not like to reveal exact earning nos. However, Let me say this: its “considerably” more than the 50K per month – the amount you require of all your interviewees. I work 6-8 hours a day. Most of it is online.
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How did you get the idea of starting on this path?
One word: forums.
I used to visit forums and help other people out. That lead to one forum asking me to become their moderator. And another forum owner asking me to write a column for his paid website.
That column turned into my paid newsletter and consulting business.
Tip 2: Go where the crowd hangs out. Participate. Help.
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What obstacles did you face initially, and how were you able to counter them?
There wasn’t any one major obstacle that I faced. A few little smaller ones from time to time. But no major catastrophe.
One story I would like to say – but this happened way before I got serious about making money online.
I had this idea that I thought would work well online. But the whole website would cost me about $1500 or so (I forget the exact amount) to develop. I had no money at the time.
Here is what I did: Contacted a Ukranian web programmer and asked him what it would take besides money to get the website developed. He said – get me 2 clients from USA.
And I spent the next few days contacting everyone I knew asking them for leads. Went to message boards. Surfed through ICQ (ICQ was big then.) And got him 2 clients.
He programmed my website for free.
(I had to close down that website after 3 months. Long story. But I made quite a bit of money in those 3 months.)
Tip 3: There is always a way. Don’t be afraid of asking. Don’t be afraid of bartering.
”If you wait until all the lights are “green” before you leave home, you’ll never get started on your trip to the top.” - Zig Ziglar
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Any major inspirations Indian/International? Any books/products that helped you?
Major inspiration: Chanakya
Something hit me when I read the comic book on Chanakya. He managed to unite India without lifting a sword. All he did is setup systems and delegated the work.
That’s what my goal is. That’s who my hero is. A king maker with a shady reputation.
Besides that, I read a lot. But here is what I would recommend to new comers. When you have enough money, invest in 2 membership sites:
1. BMyers.com – for product development knowledge
2. 5000BC.com – for marketing and business structuring knowledge
Production & Marketing. Master those two and you will be successful – online or offline.
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What, do you think, are the “BIG” things to get involved in, going ahead.
Here is where I see the internet heading towards:
1. Applications that help in filtering information
2. Applications that help in advertising
Mashups and adaptation of current technology for niche markets is going to be big. But most beginners can’t get into those things without a lot of money.
So they should focus on the smaller things first. Creating and promoting just one affiliates product. Then creating a newsletter for that industry. Earning consistent income from that. Then expanding.
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What are some common mistakes people make in Internet Marketing?
1. Not communicating properly. I come across so many emails with bad English and SMS lingo.
U shdnt comunicat tat way. It iz verry unprofesional.
2. Going from one fad to another. If you keep on moving a plant from one location to another, its roots will never grab the earth and allow the plant to grow into a big tree. Similarly, if you keep on jumping from one idea to the next, you’ll never meet your potential.
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What do you think is the potential of Internet Marketing in India in the next 3-5 years?
As long as a substitute online payment systems aren’t developed in India – online shopping will grow very slowly. VPP only works that far.
But profiting from providing services to non-Indians or creating websites that promote non-Indian products will grow by leaps and bounds.
Some encouragement to Newbies…
1. Find a mentor. Find “one” proven model. And follow it.
2. Don’t get discouraged. Take small steps until you are ready for the big jump.
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What aggravates you most about this industry?
The hype.
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Anything else you would like to add…
Go go http://www.NetHotsheet.com if you are interested in learning one online business model that works.
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April 2nd, 2007 at 5:11 pm
I AM INTERESTING IN ONLINE INTERNET MARKETING.I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE GUIDE ME.
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:56 pm
A good example for teenagers, sitting on net for chatting and other things. Arnab, nice to have such post and interviews which would inspire many youngsters to be “i-entrepreneurs”. Keep it up.
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I have been subscribing to Ankesh’s newsletter for quite sometime. The HotSheet Marketing. Its good, very informative and a must for budding netpreneurs of India.
All the best!
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Inspirational ! Good Work !