After one year online with no luck, I have come full cirlcle, please help

[Searchlabmedia]

Hello everyone, and I just want to say that I have been a Warrior Forum member for a few weeks now, and I have to say, I have read so much valuable information in this forum, thank you, thank you, thank you.

BUT, I have to say I have come full circle with IM because I have been learning and not earning for so long I think I am allergic to money. I will be honest, the technical stuff, buying domains, setting up Cpanel, FTP, Wordpress, XsitePro, Promotional things like Social Bookmarking, RSS, Social Network links, I CAN DO IT ALL..... but I just cant seem to put it all together to make money.

When I read about how all of you on this forum make money, I swear, I get so jealous with envy. I want and need to make money with IM in the worst way. I recently started doing some SEO for a few businesses, but I always come back to affiliate marketing because I have this dream that I can make money from home by selling other products.

I am coming down to the last few months that I can afford to do this and I might have to get a J O B, (man, I hate to think of that) I am no dummy either, I used to teach 8th graders History, I have a degree from the University of Southern California, but decided to quit all that teaching nonsense to make money online and a few other busineses. But, IM is where my passion is, and I just need to put it all together.

I guess what I am asking for are some suggestions as to what I should do. What would be the quickest ways for me to make some decent income. I think I know what everyone would say, and I just need to put it all in action, but I always love the creative things I see here with all you Warriors, and look forward to your creative ideas on how I can make some money and live my dream.

Thanks everyone,

Dave

[billionareHuman]

if you can do SEO for other businesses successfully then you should be able to do for your own affiliate websites, traffic = money.

Perhaps you have been targetting typical niches like 'make money online' where the competition is huge (the market is huge too) .

Make blog about your hobbies, interests or any passions, add an article to it once a week, build a list and soon enough you will find find products to promote that are related to your site topic, you've already built the customer base so sales will come easily as they all have the same interest as you.

[Charles Washington]

If you are doing SEO for other companies, cant you do it for your own affiliate sites?

Seriously, there is good money in offering SEO services to companies. Why not continue building relationships wthin that niche? I love affiliate marketing, butr if I could do the offline thing, I would do that in a heartbeat.

Focus on traffic. Without it, none of our skills matter. Conversion is a biggy, but without people looking at our offers - converting offers are worthless. I suggest looking at some threads on article marketing. That is a great way to get traffic, learn keyword research, and SEO.

Give it a shot!

[Searchlabmedia]

Thanks guys for your help, I guess what I am missing here is the list! I need to narrow down my hobbies, can I possibly make money off of USC football?? LOL, I think I need to evaluate this a little more, and really spend the time listbuilding, it seems to be the only thing I have trouble doing, and might be my missing link. Thanks again.

[Emmanuel Betinis]

Let me ask you something first...

What have you put into action
so far in the past 12 months?

[wisecrone333]

I was also wondering what you had tried already - it sounds like you have a lot of skills that might translate well in the offline community, which in turn might bring you in some income to help extend your success deadline and allow you to build a list and things like that. Or freelancing online perhaps even through this forum?

I am a newbie too and I have not had any successes yet either but I do know that nobody succeeds with an "attitude of desperation". Without sounding trite I do believe that you have a lot of passion for IM or you would have quit long ago and I honestly believe that you must be so close to succeeding given the things you do know about.

Maybe a non-money making niche is the answer? What does anyone else think?

Lisa

[gbm000]

Dave

You've had some excellent advice here from fellow Warriors.

I can't help thinking that after all the work you've put in building your own IM knowledge, offering your expertise to other businesses is probably the easiest way for you to make good money.

The fact that you've already achieved such business is to your credit. But why limit yourself to SEO? With your knowledge of internet marketing you're already ahead of 90% of small business owners. Offer them a wider brief of IM services.

I help businesses to set up an eBay sales channel. You might think everybody knows how to sell on eBay? Yes, many do, but at a basic level - they don't have advanced knowledge. And this is what I provide for them.

In the same way, you too have advanced IM knowledge compared to business owners.

Get a few businesses on monthly retainer for your IM or SEO services and you could create a great income.

At the very least, this will buy you more time to pursue your affiliate marketing ambitions.
.
.

[sandchica]

try blogging about methods to make learning easier. write a book about it and sell it as a tutorial.

[kimothy777]

Hi Dave,

More info would be good. What have you done so far? You could look for someone to compliment your business by doing what you are no good at. It sounds like you know many things but something is failing you.
Once you find out what that is, find someone else who is in the know and get together with them. Don't try to be the solider in the trenches. Instead learn to be the general of the army. Delegate whenever you need to. If you can't afford to, that's when you get someone else on board and split your profits. Hope this helps a little.

[la dominatrix]

Originally Posted by Searchlabmedia

Can I possibly make money off of USC football??

You can make money from most things, but reading your post i can empathise why it is difficult to make money. People do not spend money as a result of logic and your original post was all logic. That is not having a go at all, but people spend money when you tug at their emotions. If football is your passion go for it.

la dominatrix

[Tracey_Meagher]

Hi Dave, I have been in the same boat and went 2 years making some money here and there but nothing regular and nothing passive, which is what I was after. In Dececber 2008 I made a decision, that by the end of 2009 I would be making xxxxx amount every month.

Giving myself a year to do it made it seem far more achievable. And actively making the decision forced me to focus. I tried some things that didn't work for me - like ppc arbitrage. I tried some that worked by I didn't much like doing ... like Clickbank affiliate marketing. I eventually found the one thing that I DID like, stuck at it and it has worked for me.

The funny thing is, once you master one thing and become successful at it, it becomes easier to master other things. You have cash resources and the confidence that you can do it. So other doors open for you.

My point is that you need to give yourself time to achieve your goal, try out various methods for achieving it, find the one that works for you, focus on that 100% and let nothing distract you from it.

Accept that some things may not work and move on. There really is no magic formula. It's a mix of focus, dedication and persistence.

[houseofsparks]

I feel like giving up at least once a week - I still carry on though.

[robinincarolina]

I don't understand all of that stuff that you do and I am making money, but I am also passionate about my niche. I think that is the clue, and a simple step by step instruction guide, once I am making enough money, my plan is to learn all that stuff you already know. I agree with billianare above, if you are marketing a make money online system, the market is saturated and to me it is not something you can be passionate about, unless of course you created the money making system yourself. Passion is the key for me.

[dsmpublishing]

Hi dave

sorry to hear that youve been around a year and had limited success i bet a few more people are in the exact same situation on here but not many would admit to it.

here is a free report that should help you out:

make your first $250 online and break into the make money online niche

I actually wrote it after receiving a similar email to the thread you have created on here.

kind regards


sam
X

[bizideas]

Hi Dave,

Have you heard of that 30 day challenge that gets frequent mention on WF? It's free and I believe it just started a couple of days ago.
There are threads about it all over this forum. Just do a search on the forum if you haven't already.

Don't forget do both 30 and thirty day challenge in quotes for varied search results.

Here is a single WF link for ya:
Thirty Day Challenge is about to begin

If you have tried it, what was your results/analysis?


Just an idea.

Eric

[Searchlabmedia]

I want to thank all of you for your excellent input and insight as to why I have had trouble making money online. I think a lot of you give valid points like "how much action have I put in" and "What am I passionate about?" and those truly are the magic questions. As far as what action I have put in, it seems that I have tried and learned so many things that when it comes down to it, I really haven't been consistent with anything, just putting in 10% in a LOT of areas. As far as my passion, I think the only thing I am truly passionate about is my family. I love USC football and college football in general, but since my kids were born, they have been the only thing i am truly passionate about, and the internet of course!!

I will take ALL of your information and put it to use. Again, I really appreciate your ideas, I just sometimes need tell my Subconscious to go away and focus on my goals. I know that mostly all of you make a living online, and that is what I want to do, I have to prove to myself that I can do it, and I will, especially when I have people like yourselves to help me out.

Thanks again,

Dave

[Andy Crofford]

First off I recommend you focus. Do some keyword research and find a niche you want to start in.

Once you find your niche find some related offers/products you can promote on the site. Start adding content daily. It sounds like you are familiar with SEO so keep this in mind while writing the articles.

Until you get your site ranked on the first page for your keyword(s) perhaps you can do some PPC.

Setup a newsletter and build a list. Send out newsletters with valuable/useful information while promoting other offers your readers may be interested in.

It is important to take a site and focus on it. Don't keep jumping around and trying the "next big money maker". Once you develop a blueprint use it on each new site and develop a network of money makers.

Oh, and stop being desperate. This can cloud your judgment. Just work hard.

[Searchlabmedia]

Thanks Andy, you hit the nail on the head with trying "the next big money maker" also the desperation is gone, time to work my A$$ off!! Thanks for the advice.

Dave

[Andie]

Hi Search!
Oh, I hope in a year from now I am not still 'looking' for that niche......frankly, I don't have that option before I have to find the J o B again <sigh>
but....just for grins (and since I haven't really kicked into gear this morning yet!), I did a google search for (tada)
usc football fanatics
well......it went straight to a site....footballfanatics(dot)com /COLLEGE_USC_Trojans
which sells football items.
scroll to the bottom and they show an affiliate program which I didn't venture to.
Can't say I care for collegiate sports.....but plenty do!
You are lucky -- you HAVE your passion....I still don't know what I wanna be when I grow up :-)
Bottom line - why not focus on that? Join their affiliate..check it out...stay focused and go from there. One step at a time is my daily mantra to myself because all that technical stuff you listed off that you do know...still very cloudy for me after the bare basics.
good luck to you!
Andie

[Searchlabmedia]

Hey Andie, thanks for your insight. I did put together a site last week using the Football Fanatics Affiliate program and College Gear Affiliate Program. Right now is a good time to sell tailgate items for College football, so I am hoping to get some sales from this site. Thanks again, this is my passion I guess I need to just stick with it!!

Dave

[yves]

Hi,

I spent around 6 months learning and not putting into action. January this year, I decided to take action and by February I was making sales.

I looked around clickbank for products that were something to do with what I was interested in and got some webhosting, got a suitable domain, built a wordpress site and started article marketing. I didn't allow myself to keep checking stats too much or even my clickbank account because I knew if I saw no sales it would put me off .

After a while I realised that I wasn't even totting up the hours and resenting putting all my time into IM I was just getting on with it and it paid off.

So, in short, seeing as how you know quite a bit already. Just start off with a niche you are interested in:

Find a clickbank product with low refunds etc
Get webhosting and a keyword rich domain
Build a simple wordpress website from your webhost
Start article marketing and build an infrastructure of squidoos, bloggers and other 2.0 all pointing to your main site, each other and some of your articles and you will begin making money for sure.
Do something everyday to build on your promotion e.g 2-3 articles, a web 2.0 site and build a few backlinks.

Providing you choose some good low competition keywords of the longtail variety and check that the niche sells.

I am not in the IM niche so probably have not explained this too well but I think you will get the jist.

All the best

[Lanadili]

Originally Posted by Searchlabmedia

I did put together a site last week using the Football Fanatics Affiliate program and College Gear Affiliate Program

From what I hear, Football Fanatics is a great affiliate program. Send Jon (the Affiliate Manager) an email and ask him to critic your site, and offer some suggestions on how to improve conversion rates.

It's always a good idea to get to know your affiliate managers, as they can help tremulously.

Hope this helps.

[Searchlabmedia]

Thanks Lanadili, that is a great idea, currently I am using only CollegeGear for my affiliate, but Football Fanatics seems like an excellent resource, I applied today and hopefully get approved soon. Thanks for your help. I believe that college merchandise can be a money maker, its very seasonal, but if I keep building my site out for Football, Basketball and Graduation, I can make some money in this niche.

Dave

[Ken Leatherman]

Dave,

Since you have your passion and have set up you site, you need to drive traffic to it. Write articles, blog post and forum post which allow you to link back to your site.

Make sure you have a place where your traffic can sign up for your list. A great way to get them to sign up is to offer them a free report on your Trojans. Make it a short report on say the last 4 or 5 seasons/history. Something you can be passionate about as you write it. Once they have joined your list be sure and send them valuable information each week and a very short recommendation about what you are marketing.

Remember No Traffic=No Sales=No Money

Ken Leatherman
The Old Geezer

[Searchlabmedia]

I usually dont take advice from "old Geezers" LOL, but great advice Ken. Giving them some free stuff to join my list is a great idea. I just wonder if they would join my list if it is just history or stuff like that, maybe a report about "The 5 most essential items you need at your next tailgate party" or how about "The best Tailgate Party BBQ ribs recipe you will ever find" What do you think about those?

Thanks Ken.


Dave

[Ken Leatherman]

Dave,

Yeah, Old Geezers are known to have "Gas" (both ends) I would avoid them too, but they make me go to the recreation hall, so the ladies can gaze upon my splendor.

Now your thinking, you young whipper snapper. Start them off with something as unique as you can make it. Continue with something new and free for the 1st couple of weeks, but always have a link pointing to your site.

One of my marketing techniques to my list is a short e-Mail with my new product and a new joke. They love the jokes and I almost always make a fair number of sales each time.

However, it is a very targeted list, my folks are looking for what I am sending them and it is something that has a real value for them.

Last little bit of advice. Don't kick this around to long. You are already into the "season". FOCUS! FOCUS! FOCUS!

Get the 1st thing right then move on to the next step.

Ken
The Old Geezer

[cctravis]

If you are good with SEO sell yourself to others and you can make a fortune. I have seen people pick up like $10k in a day just from holding a free conference for local buisness and then offering their services to anyone interested.

[hayfj]

I tried posting this elsewhere on the forum, perhaps you should try this FREE online marketing audit, to see how you're getting on, and perhaps it might highlight some ideas as to why you're not generating the results you want.

. Are you happy with the amount of revenue you're generating via your website at the moment? YES / NO

2, Are you happy with the amount of signups you're generating via your website at the moment? YES / NO

3. Are you happy with the amount of traffic you're generating via your website at the moment? YES / NO

4. Do you know how much online traffic you need to generate the revenue you want? YES / NO

5. Do you list your previous specific accomplishments you have achieved, on your website? YES / NO

6. Do you list the bottom line results you have generated for clients that have worked with you? YES / NO

7. Do you have at least 12 Testimonials or case studies from satisfied clients on your website? YES / NO

8. Do you cater for prospects information needs who are process, results, relationship or staus oriented? YES / NO

9. Does your content attract FREE qualified traffic and referred traffic from other industry specific sites? YES / NO

10. Does your content identify prospect's needs, pains, problems & frustrations without having to meet them? YES / NO

11. Do you have a formal integrated marketing strategy document combining online & offline marketing? YES / NO

12. Have you designed a work flow process for converting and following up clients? YES / NO

13. Do you have an integrated CRM system for communicating regularly with clients by email? YES / NO

14. Are leads, and enquiries being followed up automatically, enabling prospects to self qualify? YES / NO

15. Do you know which KEYWORDS prospects are typing online to find your competitors? YES / NO

16. Do you have at least 3 passive income streams directly from your online business? YES / NO

17. Do you have a post sales & customer service process continually increasing customer life time value? YES / NO

18. Do you know which results can be set as benchmarks to monitor and improve your success? YES / NO

19. Are you prepared to sit back and let the above issues compound and lose you money? YES / NO

20. Can you afford to continue the way things are at the moment, for another 4 months? YES / NO


Hope it helps.

Regards



Fraser