While stumbling through some of my interests on StumbleUpon today I came across a post I wanted to share. It seems I spend a bit too much time on StumbleUpon these days. I’m addicted! You can connect with me HERE and we’ll share content.
There are so many people who struggle with making money online, and I think their issue is just the lack of simplicity. Making things too complex will demotivate and kill almost anything.
For example, take a look at this stay at home mom. One day, she decided that she would sell books online. So, with $500, a few emails to wholesale book distributors and a website, bam, she was in business. In her own words, “When I mention I am a stay at home mom who sells books online, people’s ears perk up. I bet they would perk up even more if I told them I am going to do over $70,000 this year working 3-4 hours a day. ” E-commerce is a wonderful thing! Here’s her site: http://www.booksmn.com/
Here’s a link to the article I found for some link love: How a Stay at Home Mom Lives Her Dream Selling Books Online.
As for me, I’ve made a ton of money online doing random things. I’ll have to include a list in a future post. From selling tee shirts to affiliate marketing. If my site, product or blog brings value, people will click and buy.
So here are three non-secrets to making money online in whatever niche you decide to pursue:
1 – Provide Real Value
The secret to success in making money online or offline is simply providing true value to the open market. If you’re not offering value, why would anyone visit your site or buy your product. If you choose affiliate marketing as your way to make some cash, provide value on your site to draw in the visitors who will buy. If you have created your own digital product and are selling it for $300 bucks but all you have are two videos from YouTube and some affiliate links, don’t expect great reviews.
My motto when it comes to value is to go above and beyond. Give your customers more than what you would pay for. If it has real value, it will spread on its own.
2 – KISS – Keep it Simple Stupid
No, I’m not calling you stupid….unless you really are. All jokes aside, the most simple business ideas seem to flourish. Example: “A brother in law of mine likes to go to the dunes with his quads and buggies. He also likes to cook barbeque. Hmmm….people probably get hungry at the dunes because there’s not much out there.” Simple!
A bit of warning though, most people make the simplest of things the most difficult to do. I don’t understand it, but it’s true. Sometimes the simple things aren’t the most exciting or result in the biggest accomplishments, but a bunch of them together equal a win.
Second warning, fear of failure may set in. Ignore it. If you fail, you can always go back to your job. But, if you’re passionate about it, and keep it simple, you’ll have nothing to worry about.
3 – Promote, Promote, Promote….and Do It Consistently
To make money doing anything, especially in the very beginning, you have got to get the word out. Being listing in the search results for the name of your website will not bring you much traffic, unless your domain name was something amazing like “Barbeque.com.” Use the tools available to you such as social sites to spread the word. Start of with those you know and trust to share your new business with and ask them to spread the word for you. And don’t be bashful about doing that, if you are bringing value, they will share it for you.
Facebook it up! Use StumbleUpon and twitter. Place classified adsall over the place. Here’s a list of free classified ad sites. Make yourself a shirt with your website on it. Put vinyl lettering on your car spelling out your web address. Set up a website and tell people what you have to offer. Instead of packing so much food to the dunes, they’ll eat at Joe Moes Barbeque shack, but only if they know it’s there.
In conclusion, and in all honesty, the only thing holding anyone back from success in business is their own self. The biggest failure in business is the failure to start.
I hope this information has helped. Comments are welcome!
David Allred is the author and creator of CFW. David has been teaching entrepreneur minded people how to earn a full time income working from the comfort of home for nearly a decade.
Think about it. Never miss your kids’ events, set your own schedule, choose your own income and enjoy a lifestyle and income which most people only drool over!
Be sure to connect with David Allred on Google+, Facebook and everywhere else!
