Coaching, Training and Mentoring

The words coaching, training and mentoring get shoved into a phrase and knocked about too easily these days. I feel that that this sidelines and undermines the true value in each of these processes. They have become like one phrase that has lost all meaning or value, especially in the internet marketing industry.
 
What is Internet Marketing?
 
Internet Marketing is a system of marketing on the internet!  Now there's a surprise!  It usually involves setting up a website, affiliate marketing, banner ads, branding, selling products and services or training, raising awareness, writing blogs and articles, social networking, video and other multi media marketing.  This is not a complete list, there are so many aspects to IM limited only by your imagination.  So whilst thre are huge opportunities for success, there is massive scope for failure and scamming.

Why? It is heavily branded as a get rich quick arena and this is of course very appealing to people who are in dire straits. It has the potential for unethical sales people to use all of their snake oil tricks on a very targeted and vulnerable market in direct ways. Secondly, it can be a very overwhelming and confusing field to work in as there is so much to learn. If you don't have someone reminding you to just take one step at a time, it would be easy to go under because of the overwhelm. So to supposedly combat the element of confusion, many internet marketing companies sell their business opportunities by promising a coaching component. However, this is often not delivered in the proper sense of the word.
 
What is a Coach?

A coach believes in you and helps you believe in yourself
A coach is a leader who helps you take control of your destiny
A coach has special tools to help you reach your goals
A coach is specially trained and has skills to eek out the rubbish and replace it with shiny new patterns
A coach has undergone training, supevised practice and has been coached themselves

As a qualified and experienced success coach and NLP practitioner, I feel that the word coach is used too freely on the internet.  Coaching is much more than advice, a paint by number system or a series of videos.  Coaching is individual and related directly to changing individual thought patterning.  Coaching is about a real person engaging in a real process with you. If you are buying a package because of the coaching element, make sure that it really is coaching that is being offered, not just another ebook or video.
 
What is Training?
 
Training is a process of teaching and learning of information, skills and creates time to reflect on personal effectiveness. Effective trainings make you think about things differently and then make improvements.  The goal of training is to create new skills that extend way beyond the time of the training. 

Video training lends itself well to internet marketing because you can stop and start the video and pull up a second screen and complete tasks one at a time.  This reinforces the learning and breaks complicated tasks into simple steps. It also allows you to watch it over and over again if you need to (I did)!
Live training of course allows for interaction and for the trainer to provide feedback and guidance.
What is a Mentor?

A mentor is a guide who can help you find the right direction. Mentors draw on their own similar experiences to give you an opportunity to succeed.  A mentor should ask questions and challenge, while providing guidance and encouragement.  A good mentor helps you become more self aware and helps you take more responsibility for your life and points you in the right direction.

Choosing the right business mentor is really important.  Can you remember anyone who really inspired you and motivated you to learn?  We all need that kind of person when we are starting out.  This is the kind of person you need to look for if you are serious about finding funding streams online.

If you are completely new to IM and you are really serious about making a lot of money you will need all three. You need to find somene who will work with you to set your goals, be able to train you and give you new skills, and will be able to guide you with your business strategy. It is worth doing your research, it will save you in the long run.