Best use of time to make money

[ToddK]

Hey All,

I have been lurking on the Warrior forums for a few months now and have been "struggling" to get things going and am looking for some advice.

I have dabbled with some PLR and have looked at various WSO's but have not really made any serious moves as of yet.

So here is my question, what is the best direction to take with the least amount of money involved but will also help make money relatively quickly?

Now, let me expand on that just a bit - I am not looking for a get rich scheme. What I am looking for is something I can seriously focus on that will help me to bring in $500 per month in a very short period of time (i.e. the first month) and grow from there.

Why the quick cash? Well for starters I am unemployed and have been for just over 5 months now. My original goal, before I was released from my job, was to start designing niche sites and slowly promote them and bring in about $50+ per month per site and possibly Flip them as well.

Fast forward to today and with very little cash incoming I am reluctant to be spending money on domains and webhosting.....yes, I realize a domain and wehosting will only cost me about $20 but when you are unemployed and have 4 mouths to feed (not including your own) even $20 seems like a lot........and PPC for advertising is pretty much out of the question right now.

That being said, I don't mind spending money on a system that will help me get things started and pointed in the right direction.

I have been looking at ArticleStars - SuperNova Secrets by Paul65 and also some Blackhat techniques. I have also signed up with various Affilate company's such as Clickbank, CJ and Leadexpose as well as Hydranetwork.

I am fairly decent at web development and have a strong technical background. My problem at this point is more what direction to take and how to promote.

Any hints, tips, pointers, ideas, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Am I better off focusing on Article Marketing at this point? Create Blogger Sites and Monitize them? Should I focus more on List Building? What about doing some Blackhat techniques? Other ideas?

Thanks,
Todd

[JaySabree]

Hello,

You have more then enough knowledge and experience
to find offline customers... Read this tread...
Offline Goldmine Turn $32 INTO $1500

If you're dead set on marketing affiliate products then
do it all free. Go to clickbank, linkshare, cj etc. etc.
sign up for their best programs then promote through
craigslist, backpage, google groups and forums etc. etc..

Here's a great thread on how to promote products for
free through cl and backpage.

How I Successfully Post On Craigslist

Best of luck

jay

[JasonC.biz]

If you already have skills in building sites, then you might consider doing that - either as a service, or to flip. Neither is a model I personally use, but I know plenty of others do.

You might visit SitePoint or another site where people sell sites, see what types of sites are selling, then build and sell your own. Even if you only sell a site for $50, you'll meet your goal with 10 sites.

Again, I may be oversimplifying as I don't have experience there specifically, but it's worth checking out.

While article marketing undoubtedly works, it generally takes time. I think the "fastest" way to make money is to basically trade your hours for dollars, such as by offering your services for pay, or by quickly selling sites. You'll still have to find people to buy your sites/services, but I would think that would happen faster than with article marketing (or other free models that have to be "built").

Obviously the general goal of someone in IM is to get away from trading hours for dollars, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Hope that helps,
Jason

[Lindsay Brynn]

Yes you can provide services, and I think you should take the plunge and get some web hosting and your own domains. It is really worth the investment.

I think promoting Affiliate products is a great way for new people to start. But since you would like cash right away that might be more difficult. You would have to consider PPC which isn't always newbie friendly.

I think Article Marketing would be good for you if you decide to look for more of a long term strategy.

[ToddK]

Jay, Jason & Linm,

Thank you for your input! Ironically I had in the back of my mind to continue to focus on Article Marketing and start designing some mini-sites to see if I could flip them rather quickly.

Jay, I am going to seriously look at Offline Goldmine and look closer at Craigslist.

I have not really focused on Craigslist becuase I heard they were real strict with postings but from the looks of it I may have pre-judged.

Thanks again! I am hoping others chime in with some input as well....

Todd

[TerryTelford]

Hi Todd

I suggest that you take a look at several different business models and choose one that fits your personality. Then develop a plan of action and follow it. Here is the outline for the course we teach at iClick University. You can use the outline as a basis to put together a plan for your business.

Semester 1

A. Setting the foundation for a successful business
B. Creating your first information product

A.
Introduction
· Business pitfalls
· The 4 keys to business success
· What is your online business

Step 1 - Passion finder
Step 2 - Skills inventory
Step 3 - Goal setting

B.
Step 4 - Product creation options
Step 5 - Mind mapping
Step 6 - Additional Research
Step 7 - Preliminary draft
Step 8 - Editing
Step 9 - Polishing
Step 10 - Publish and package
Conclusion


Semester 2

Website Development And Publishing

Step 11 - Domain Name Registration
Step 12 - Hosting Account Registration
Step 13 - Payment Processor Registration
Step 14 - Website Design
Step 15 - Website Copywriting - Headlines
Step 16 - Website Copywriting – Features and Benefits
Step 17 - Website Copywriting – Sales Letter
Step 18 - Website Copywriting – Polishing
Step 19 - Understanding Your Website
Step 20 - Website Development
Step 21 - Website Development – Search Engine Optimization
Step 22 - Website Development – Thank You Page/Download Page
Step 23 - Uploading Your Website To Your Hosting Account
Step 24 - Creating Your Payment Link
Conclusion

Semester 3

Marketing Strategies

Step 25 - Setting Up Your Tracking Solution
Step 26 - Traffic Recycling
Step 27 - Maximizing Your Virtual Real Estate
Step 28 - Setting Up An Autoresponder
Step 29 - Setting Up Your Blog
Step 30 - Marketing Cloud - Article Development
Step 31 - Marketing Cloud - Article Submission
Step 32 - Marketing Cloud – Marketing Your Blog
Step 33 - Marketing Cloud – Social Media – Bookmarking
Step 34 - Marketing Cloud – Social Media – Social Networking
Step 35 - Marketing Cloud – Classified Ads
Step 36 - Marketing Cloud – Email Advertising
Step 37 - Marketing Cloud – Ezines
Step 38 - Marketing Cloud – Forums
Step 39 - Marketing Cloud – Press Releases
Step 40 - Marketing Cloud – Traffic Exchanges
Step 41 - Marketing Cloud – Affiliates
Step 42 - Marketing Cloud – Multi Media – Podcasting
Step 43 - Marketing Cloud – Multi Media – Video

I hope this helps.

Enjoy your day!
Terry

[FreelanceSally]

Originally Posted by TerryTelford

Hi Todd

I suggest that you take a look at several different business models and choose one that fits your personality. Then develop a plan of action and follow it. Here is the outline for the course we teach at iClick University. You can use the outline as a basis to put together a plan for your business.

Semester 1

A. Setting the foundation for a successful business
B. Creating your first information product

A.
Introduction
· Business pitfalls
· The 4 keys to business success
· What is your online business

Step 1 - Passion finder
Step 2 - Skills inventory
Step 3 - Goal setting

B.
Step 4 - Product creation options
Step 5 - Mind mapping
Step 6 - Additional Research
Step 7 - Preliminary draft
Step 8 - Editing
Step 9 - Polishing
Step 10 - Publish and package
Conclusion


Semester 2

Website Development And Publishing

Step 11 - Domain Name Registration
Step 12 - Hosting Account Registration
Step 13 - Payment Processor Registration
Step 14 - Website Design
Step 15 - Website Copywriting - Headlines
Step 16 - Website Copywriting – Features and Benefits
Step 17 - Website Copywriting – Sales Letter
Step 18 - Website Copywriting – Polishing
Step 19 - Understanding Your Website
Step 20 - Website Development
Step 21 - Website Development – Search Engine Optimization
Step 22 - Website Development – Thank You Page/Download Page
Step 23 - Uploading Your Website To Your Hosting Account
Step 24 - Creating Your Payment Link
Conclusion

Semester 3

Marketing Strategies

Step 25 - Setting Up Your Tracking Solution
Step 26 - Traffic Recycling
Step 27 - Maximizing Your Virtual Real Estate
Step 28 - Setting Up An Autoresponder
Step 29 - Setting Up Your Blog
Step 30 - Marketing Cloud - Article Development
Step 31 - Marketing Cloud - Article Submission
Step 32 - Marketing Cloud – Marketing Your Blog
Step 33 - Marketing Cloud – Social Media – Bookmarking
Step 34 - Marketing Cloud – Social Media – Social Networking
Step 35 - Marketing Cloud – Classified Ads
Step 36 - Marketing Cloud – Email Advertising
Step 37 - Marketing Cloud – Ezines
Step 38 - Marketing Cloud – Forums
Step 39 - Marketing Cloud – Press Releases
Step 40 - Marketing Cloud – Traffic Exchanges
Step 41 - Marketing Cloud – Affiliates
Step 42 - Marketing Cloud – Multi Media – Podcasting
Step 43 - Marketing Cloud – Multi Media – Video

I hope this helps.

Enjoy your day!
Terry

This is awesome advice. This is likely the best advice you'll get. I may even follow it.

[NicheProdigy]

Todd - I used to be just like you, with mouths to feed and a baby on the way. It was definitely a struggle but you will get through it.

Here are a few things that I did when money was short:

- Write Article Packs (500 word articles - Packs of 5)
- Design Websites
- Create your Service site Ie. Content, Design, etc. ToddStudios.com or something
- Post your Service Info on forums (Here, Digital Point, SitePoint) are good to name a few
- Sign up to freelance sites and bid on the projects that you have the skills to provide
- Build your list of clientele
- Once you start getting a steady stream of income, you can look into outsourcing everything and just focus on promoting it.

You can quickly build up a $500 per month service oriented business. You could probably hit $500 within the first couple of days.

This helped me get through a rough patch. Once you have some extra dough, get into the established site market. Purchase sites that have already been built up and are earning money, then build them up and flip them. I am sure you know about this from your initial post. Sad thing is you need to make the money first to get to that point, don't I know it

Stay positive, keep active and you will see things start to come your way.

[mmickey]

my point of view...

when you start doing something for living, or planning to jump in a niche
choose the field you are great in, please note it's great, not just interested in...

what can you do well, other than your technical background and others?

i think you can start offering some webmaster service or something like that to warriors since some people dont have the time or skill to have it done

there is a section over here where you can try your luck

Good luck and welcome onboard

[mschmalenbach]

Todd,

First, know that many here on WF are with you and rootin' for you - I'm not unique in having been laid of more than once in my time - it is tough AND you will get through it - even if the path out of this all is not clear to you just now...

You've got some great advice already on this thread and I'd simply endorse the view of others to go with something that (a) fits your personality & personal values, both in terms of what you sell/promote and the way you sell/promote, and (b) focus on what you are already good at.

Russell Brunson produced an excellent DVD recently (ish!) in which he described some traffic generation methods. I have to say he was pretty detailed about it, and would recommend it to you - trouble is I think they were for his members specifically, not for 'general release' - any way, I've lost touch, but invite you to go hunting around. It wouldn't be right to violate his copyright by describing in detail his methods here.

What I will say is this - you're probably right to stay away from PPC and methods that require spending money up front. None of his described methods needed you to spend money in this way.

Russell also pointed out very effectively that every business needs 4 elements:

1 - Something to sell or promote
2 - A means for transacting business - the payment page, for want of a better title
3 - A sales page or web site
4 - Traffic

With your technical background you may wish to consider helping other newbies get their own sites up and running - either designing for them or helping them install and set up. Perhaps you have a unique style & perspective that would make for an informative, useful and entertaining 'DIY' manual on this aspect that you could also promote at the same time...?

You could also hire yourself out to do keyword research and other outsource activities - the money won't necessarily be great as there is competition from low-cost countries such as Eastern Europe, Philippines & India.

But with you having more time than some due to your situation - sell your time, make some extra cash and use that to buy in to a decent system with a reputable 'guru'. It'll take you a few months to decide on the best system for you, perhaps arrived at from researching here on WF.

While you are doing all of this, start thinking right now(!) about how you are going to generate traffic in the future - these things always take longer to get going that you first think (or hope!) especially if you don't have much cash to invest at the moment...I have some research summarised from last year about obstacles to success etc (ranges from strategy, through finance to process aspects, and is valid for on-line or off-line operations) - compiled from the perspective of identifying these obstacles and developing strategies to get around them. Initially I put this together for my own use. When I 'worked for the man' I was involved in business development and improvement - still do some for some corporate clients. I'll happily send you a copy. If it helps you stay out of the traps then that's half the battle!

Let us know how you're getting on!

With sincere best wishes

Martin

[Jon2887]

I have found that article marketing is the easiest most effective way to make an income rather quickly. Now if you just let your articles sit around on the web it may take a little longer than if you actively promote your articles through directories and social sites (twitter and reddit) but the money will come.

[mmickey]

Is Martin Russell's affiliate manager?



kidding...

[ToddK]

WOW! Guys and Gals, I don't know what to say but Thanks for the GREAT info!!

Terry, your outline is fantastic....although almost too much information ;-) Just kidding.

Martin, yes, send me a copy of your report. If you can email it to tcknaus @gmail.com that would be great!

Again, Thank You to everyone!!

Todd