The MOST IMPORTANT Internet Skill

Strangely enough, the most important Internet Skill you can ever develop has nothing to do with the internet.

Or Technology.

Or Computers.

The most important internet skill you can develop is Commonsense. And the ability to use it to critically analyze the things you come across while looking at your computer screen.

You need to realise that for every piece of advice you receive, there will be an equally persuasive – and opposite – piece of advice.

You have to develop the skill to determine when something applies to you – and when it doesn’t.  And also when the advice is such a crock of shite that it’s no good to anyone.

If you are unsure of something and can’t come to a decision about its worth it’s often best to ask an expert you can trust, who is familiar with you and your particular situation. A couple of minutes talking, or a quick email, save you hours of effort.

The internet appears to be full of wonderful opportunities. You’ll see endless promises of instant wealth just begging to be funnelled into your bank account if you’ll only buy some ebook, or course, or private membership, or mastermind program for only $29, $49, $77, $197, or more commonly these days, $1997.

You’ll read convincing sales letters that tell of sitting around in your underwear and making several thousand dollars by lunchtime. Or promise you that you can make $100,000 PER DAY (really!) by using arbitrage with CPA programs.

The common thread with the majority of these offers is that they are carefully crafted to resonate with your automatic human action triggers

There are 6 of these, as defined by Dr. Robert Cialdini in his must read book "Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion".

The 6 triggers are:

• Reciprocation: If someone does something for you, your automatic response is to return the favour.
• Committment and Consistency:If we’ve said something or agreed to do something, our future actions tend to be consistent with what we’ve done before.
• Social Proof: stories of other people who have had amazing success with the product. ( ie testimonials)
• Liking:We are more likely to trust someone who is "just like us".
• Authority: Reference to known, respected figures. This is why celebrities are so successful when promoting products.
• Scarcity: the fear of missing out on something.

Marketers, sales people, advertisers, your kids, and your friends make use of these techniques either naturally, or by design in order to influence your decisions, and make you do what they want you to do.

And the internet gives everyone the opportunity and a platform to say their piece. They can say what they like. True or not.

And it’s up to YOU to decide whether their words are true or false, based on various clues that they leave, or on additional research that you can easily perform.

I believe that it is essential to develop the ability to quickly evaluate whatever you see, hear, or read, and determine whether it applies to your situation, and your goals.

Don’t fall for the endless promises of magical "secrets" that will instantly solve all your problems, and give you the ability to earn a high income without putting in any work of some kind.

Think about things. Use your brain. It’s VERY tempting to just give in to the syrupy smooth sales pitches that flow from the minds of highly priced copywriters whose job it is to use every persuasive trick to get you to type in those magic credit card numbers and buy a product.

I sincerely encourage you to get a copy of Robert Cialdini’s book, "Influence – The psychology of persuasion" and learn about these triggers, and how they are used.

This is especially important in these days where governments, journalists, marketers, and all kinds of spin doctors try to influence your thoughts and actions by the use of written word and oratory. Skills in identifying these triggers, and when they are used, will allow you to negate their effects, and give you back the power to critically evaluate something according to its merits. Or lack of them.

Be careful. It’s getting rough out there.

Eric G.