Advice ... Please ...

24 replies
Hello, and thank you for taking time out of your day to click on and read my thread.

I have a problem, you see. I live in a rural town in Kentucky near possibly the poorest place in America and I am needing money to support myself. (I'm at McDonalds with my old rinky-dink laptop I got from my parents back in 2009)

I have applied for job after job and I still have not received a reply back from them. So, I have turned to the online "money-making world". I know that I can' t just make money out of thin air and I know it isn't easy.

I am not particularly skilled in any area and I'm still quite young (20 to be exact) and I am just your average guy who did well in high school but didn't go to college.

I need to make around $900 a month and I'm willing to work for that $900. I have heard that the fastest way to make money online is to offer a service, but I don't need fast I need sustainable, besides I'm not very skilled in many areas and I have around $100 in the bank but I can't afford to spend that on some product that isn't going to work. I don't want to spend it unless I absolutely have to.

So, if anyone has any advice of any kind please just message me or leave a reply. I will be very grateful.
#advice
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Freeman
    You seem to have some writing skills. Why not write articles for money? You can offer that service here on Warrior Forum. It is $20 to list an ad. Warriors For Hire

    You can also go to Iwriter.com. Starting out the payments are really low, but you can build up to elite writing and make more.

    You also might try out arbitrage. Just go to Fiverr.com and find gigs that you could resale for higher prices. Some goods ones are logo making, video creation, etc. There are tons of good ones to resale. You can find buyers in forums like this one and others.

    Here is a thread full of great ideas if you are needing to make some money.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...desperate.html
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Freeman
      While I don't disagree with Brent because you should be building a list, what gets failed to mention how you are going to build this list with only $100 dollars in the bank. You either have to pay for ads such as solo ads or other types of paid traffic or spend a lot of time trying to get free traffic. That means making Google happy or posting on forums or other activities to get the free traffic.

      Then you are going to have to spend time optimizing your landing page and funnel and so on. You also need to be sure you have the right freebie offer and upsell. All this while sitting in a McDonalds in one of the poorest areas of the US with only $100. How quickly do you think this can be done before you're out of money?

      I agree that you should be build a list, but at the same time it sounds to me like you need to make money fast and the fastest way is through a type of service such as the ones I named or others.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Jason Freeman View Post

        How quickly do you think this can be done before you're out of money?
        I did it with about $60, myself, when I started.

        I didn't do it quickly, I must say: it was a long, slow, difficult learning-curve, and it was a good three months before I earned anything. To some extent you can substitute labor for funding, if you can earn enough to live on, while waiting for eventual income.

        I'd already done some writing articles for money, before that. I wouldn't wish that on anyone unless they're a good writer and have a clear understanding of the market (and it's a very counterintuitive market indeed!).

        .
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  • Profile picture of the author miklanderson2
    I got my start making money online by writing articles for an average of $5 per article. I haven't looked at the article writing sites for years, so I don't know whether $5 per article is still the going rate, but at that rate, you'd have to write 180 articles per month to make $900. That's an average of 6 400- to 500-word articles per day just to hammer out a few bucks. Sure, there are writing gigs out there that pay more, but good luck getting them going in with no references or past history of writing articles.

    I know you mentioned money was a problem. It isn't as easy as it used to be, but there's still money to be made selling books on Amazon.

    If you don't have money to spend right now,you can write Kindle books and post them to the Kindle Marketplace for free. All it will cost you is your time and you can eventually build up to where you're making enough money to invest in the other items you need for online marketing like hosting, a domain name and an autoresponder.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...desperate.html

    It would probably be more lucrative to offer your services around town than try to make money without money or skills to back you up. You can't sell services unless you have skills.

    Get out of the McDonald's and offer lawn/landscaping/cleanup/repair ... whatever handyman types of jobs you can find for cash. Beats being broke.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      You only need $900 a month and you have writing skills. It's not difficult to earn that amount writing for buyers on a freelance site.

      It is sustainable as you build a reputation for doing good work on time and being easy to work with - and before long the customers come to you through word of mouth.

      True - you can build a list and build a business and loads of stuff you can do. But if what you want is rather quick income you can control by how much time and effort you expend...providing a service such as writing is a good way to go.

      You don't need to write about "make money online" or any of that stuff. You can go to elance and freelancer and find work in niches you have an interest in.

      It will help you hone your online research skills and expose you to what people do every day online to earn money. It really is a good way to start out.

      kay
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnnyPlan
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...desperate.html

      It would probably be more lucrative to offer your services around town than try to make money without money or skills to back you up. You can't sell services unless you have skills.

      Get out of the McDonald's and offer lawn/landscaping/cleanup/repair ... whatever handyman types of jobs you can find for cash. Beats being broke.
      And, I agree with this! If someone is this desperate with barely any money in the bank, the last thing they need to be doing is look online at pipe dreams. The online world is strictly for people who have real offline jobs (and internet marketing is just the thing they do for pocket money) or those who bothered to start a site/list five years ago and now have that sustainable income being generated online.

      The offline world might not be so glamorous as the online marketing world but there is real money to be made.

      And, to the OP, even if you can't find a traditional job offline by submitting resumes, call around and talk to any business owner who will listen and ask them to give you a try.

      Skilled labor is likely to be your best bet.

      Promise to work a week for whatever pay you can get. Ask to be someone's trainee/apprentice.

      Legally, they'll have to pay you but it will also include learning a life skill which is likely what you need now.

      Don't get sucked into this internet world hoping it will answer your dreams as it won't. This is just for people with spare money on their hands, which you don't have in abundance.

      If none of that works, consider the military. Not even joking as it's steady pay with good benefits and promise of college education when you get out.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    it sounds to me like you need to make money fast
    You heard wrong.

    but I don't need fast I need sustainable,
    This is actually very refreshing as we normally get the "how do I make money in the next six seconds?"

    My above statement stands!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Freeman
    Originally Posted by Austin Thomas View Post

    but I don't need fast I need sustainable
    Yup, I read that as well.

    But, I also read this part...

    Originally Posted by Austin Thomas View Post

    I have a problem, you see. I live in a rural town in Kentucky near possibly the poorest place in America and I am needing money to support myself.
    Originally Posted by Austin Thomas View Post

    (I'm at McDonalds with my old rinky-dink laptop I got from my parents back in 2009)
    Originally Posted by Austin Thomas View Post

    I have applied for job after job and I still have not received a reply back from them.
    Originally Posted by Austin Thomas View Post

    So, if anyone has any advice of any kind please just message me or leave a reply. I will be very grateful.
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  • Profile picture of the author LuckyIMer
    I agree that offering different types of services can make you some good cash quickly, still you need to offer value and quality to succeed, with time you can also develop your own website. Also, you should not depend on internet only and keep looking for a real job.
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Dude. Sorry about your plight.

      But don't think internet marketing right now.
      Think about offering your hands, back and sweat right their in your local area.

      You said you live in rural Kentucky. Then find a farm, ranch or other business in the area and offer your labor. Offer to rake leaves, shovel cow dung, sweep, mop, wash or pick, haul or clean.

      Do whatever it takes to get some cash, don't risk your last $100 on an Internet dream. I can almost promise you it'll be gone before you can say ... Where did My Money Go!

      Meanwhile read, study, ask questions here on the Warrior Forum. Wait until you get a little more money and knowledge before you even think about buying or trying anything. The good news? You can learn a lot here ... without spending a dime. I hope you consider my advice.

      Peace and Blessings to you.
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      • Profile picture of the author DylanCoogan
        1. Go sign up at Elance.com right now and scroll through the writing jobs.

        2. Apply for some of them, making sure to make each proposal tailored to the job posting.

        3. Charge less than your competition, because you have no feedback. Explain in your proposal that that's why you're charging so little.

        4. Earn some feedback through cheap jobs and raise your prices.

        You can easily make $900 a month writing for people on Elance. And while you're doing that, learn everything you can from the Warrior Forum and find something else that interests you, because you WILL get burnt out on writing all the time.

        Whether it's running adsense on blogs, YouTube videos, Clickbank, Amazon affiliate links, or Kindle books, you'll find something that you enjoy doing. Learn everything you can about it, and set aside some of your writing money to invest.

        This is a really smart move you're making. I was in your position once. You'll make so much more money and be so much happier as an online entrepreneur. IMing has it's ups and downs, but it always pays a lot better than entry-level work. And you work for yourself, which is the best part.

        Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author svetod
    You can earn much more than $900 per month and if you come up with a good plan to follow, this is totally achievable. I would say, use your current skills to generate some budget ($500-$600). Find a good CPL/CPA product to promote and start a PPC campaign. In the beginning you probably won't make any profits, but try to break-even only. This is perfectly fine, as once you start optimising your campaigns, profits will start coming in. At this stage, don't spend your money to buy shitty-stuff but reinvest your money to grow your business faster.

    I used this approach and after couple of months I was earning 5 digit numbers.

    Any questions - just let m know!
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  • Profile picture of the author DylanCoogan
    Please don't listen to people telling you that you can't make money online and you should go get a real job. I had a friend who told me the same thing. Within six months of working online, I was making a six-figure income. 7 years later, he's still working as a waiter.
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    • Profile picture of the author BizMath
      Originally Posted by DylanCoogan View Post

      Within six months of working online, I was making a six-figure income.
      Sound is pretty impressive, what was the method?
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Originally Posted by DylanCoogan View Post

      Please don't listen to people telling you that you can't make money online and you should go get a real job. I had a friend who told me the same thing. Within six months of working online, I was making a six-figure income. 7 years later, he's still working as a waiter.
      I congratulate you on your instant success. But that's not everyone's testimony. Sometimes (reality-check, most of the time) it takes awhile to get all your ducks in order.

      I'd be careful telling someone with $100 to their name and no I.M experience to forget about getting a real job and focus on Internet marketing full time... right of the bat. That is, unless you'll volunteer to support him until he gets his first 6 figure income.
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  • Profile picture of the author DylanCoogan
    Mostly self-published Amazon books, but also ebooks, Amazon affiliate earnings on blogs, and Clickbank affiliate earnings. I've moved on from all those things now.
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  • Profile picture of the author saulmaraney
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      I read your initial question again...

      I live in a rural town in Kentucky near possibly the poorest place in America
      Why? You are 20 - don't mention wife/kids but mention supporting yourself. Why not start driving - or get a bus ticket - and head to where the jobs ARE. In the Dakotas and in parts of Texas and a few other places - employers can't find enough workers for either unskilled work or trade work where you'll be trained on the job.

      There's not much future in staying in the poorest place in the country when you don't have specialized skills to earn a living. Move to where you can use what skills you do have and be paid for it!
      Signature
      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      ***
      It actually doesn't take much to be considered a 'difficult woman' -
      that's why there are so many of us.
      ...jane goodall
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  • Profile picture of the author Kate L
    It seems that you've received some great advice so far, I can however sympathize. I worked for many years at the same design firm only to be laid off when they out if the blue closed their doors. I am a bit at a loss myself with not being able to find employment so I've taken to the online world. You can make a sustainable income with services and it's a great jump off point but always be looking for that long term sustainable income. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author cyberzolo
    Bro you aren't going to make money right off the bat, so focus on getting a job as a means of income before you dive into making money on the web.
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  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    First, I agree as to WHY you live there...MOVE. OH, you can't do that cause you don't have any money or skills, right?

    It is funny, on the sowpub dot com forum right now are lists of all kinds of ways to make money. What is the nearest good size city to you? Fill your tank up with gas, and after checking on Day Labor, go and do it.

    Find one of those little cheap skills that anyone can do. In the off line marketing forum there are all kinds of ideas, from installing door peeps to painting curbs with numbers. A bucket of paint, some stencils and knock on doors for a day could turn your 100 into 150. Make 50 bux a day for 20 days, M-F, you have your 900 and then build from there.

    Many a fortune have been made from labor (Wayne Huizenga started picking up garbarge)...

    Plenty of good answers here, hope you take them to heart.

    gjabiz
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  • Profile picture of the author George Wright
    Austin,

    Say something.

    George Wright
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    "The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
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  • Profile picture of the author apocalypsejay
    sorry for your struggles. I have family in eastern Kentucky so I know the area and yes it is tough.

    Remember that hard times build character, which helps you become a winner later in life. By experiencing adversity you will find that your competetion grows spoiled and soft while you grow calloused and hungry.

    Anyways, the first thing I would advise is doing a google search on class action law suits. Start filling out claims to all the available claims you qualify for. Be patient, but many times you will receive a check in the mail but sometimes it takes a while so fill out many of them. Be relentless in your job hunting. Don't quit just because someone doesn't show interest at first. Show them what is in it for them. Find something you can offer them, learn a skill and offer it. While you work jobs you may not like don;t waste your time. Be learning something you do like. Maybe scrapping gold fingers out of computers or selling on ebay. Find something and get good at it. Where ever people gather is an opportunity to sale something, remember that. Finally, stay positive. I am a Christian and my faith helps me when times get hard. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author KingBeven
    Hi, I think if you can write any form of content then you are already light years ahead of many people that find their way here ... Further be positive and work hard and remember to work smart... GOOD LUCK !!!
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