I decided to participate in the Thirty Day Challenge, a basic Internet marketing training course, this year.

I’ve been making money online for about five years and personally operate a number of websites that generate income via affiliate programs in addition to doing consulting and copywriting work.

So, why would someone who already knows his “way around” decide to get involved with a program that bills itself as a newbie-friendly free coaching program that’s “about making your first $1 online”?

Let me share my reasoning with you.  It might persuade you to become involved, whether you’re already operating a profit-generating online business or you’re a wet-behind-the-ears greenhorn.

• Keeping Up. The Thirty Day Challenge (hereafter 30DC) is immensely popular.  A large number of interested would-be online earners take the plunge and they learn the ropes by following the methods and models outlined by Ed Dale and the 30DC team.  By participating, I’m able to find out what a new crop of marketers are doing and how I might be able to help them as their projects progress.
• New Tools. One nice perk of being part of the 30DC is access to a number of products and tools via special free introductory offers.  This gives me the opportunity to take some products for a spin that I might not otherwise explore.  Traffic-Bug, WordPress Direct and Market Samurai have all been a part of this year’s challenge.  I’ve found that one of them is a great little tool that I might just keeping using well after I finish the 30DC.
• Fighting Procrastination. I entered this year’s 30DC with a specific niche already in mind.  I’ve known that this niche has genuine profit potential, but I haven’t made the time to pursue it.  Testing its validity using the 30DC’s methodology confirmed by assessment and the structured process is forcing me to finally get the ball rolling.
• Understanding Client Needs. The 30DC forum is very interesting because I’m able to note the kinds of questions and concerns that can flummox new marketers.  Understanding their interests, strengths, weaknesses and points of confusion allows me to provide better consulting services to those who are establising their first online footholds.

While I’m enjoying my involvement and would recommend that anyone with an interest in Internet marketing investigate 30DC, I feel compelled to mention my number one frustration with the whole system:  Overreliance on video.  Almost all of the training and information is provided via video.  Ed and his team do a great job with the videos, but I’m one of those people who find a text-based alternative MUCH more efficient than sitting back with a bowl of Orville Reddenbacher to watch a long video.  30DC is free and beggars can’t be choosers.  However, it would be a source of joy around here if I could secure the information in writing.

[NOTE:  As the comment from Barak (below) notes, 30DC does make PDF notes/transcripts available for the lessons.  Somehow I managed to miss them!]

I started this year’s 30DC on Day One and have followed the course step-by-step in “real time”.  However, if you’re interested in becoming involved, don’t worry about getting off to a late start.  The materials are structured so that you can follow along with them over the course of 30 days regardless of when you start.