"Best way to start making money online for beginners - Your Advice?"

29 replies
So this seems to be the most asked question on this forum. Beginners trying to figure out which direction they should take their first steps, this is how they can make their first small money, to motivate them to do bigger things, to show them the real way to make money on the internet. So I thought it might be interesting to see what advice people can recommend for you as a beginner from which internet marketing method.

Getting things to work is the first properly profitable thing I do online.

eBay. This is pretty much where I started and where a lot of others started, the only problem is that it's not free. However, you can start with very, very little investment.

When I first started, I was 15, using my grandma's debit card (with her permission, of course). I saved around £80 and bought some designer branded sunglasses from an eBay superseller who promised they were authentic. I was young and naive, of course, I believed him. I managed to sell about 4 pairs before eBay warned me to stop selling fakes or I would get banned. In the end, I sold the rest to a relative to make my money back, and he went to the bar and sold them for a profit.

After that, I learned my lesson. The next item I bought was a sample order for unbranded motorcycle gloves from Alibaba. They sell well and can make a profit of £5 to £10 per pair of gloves. Once the template is created, I can publish 3 of them in 20 minutes, I can wrap them up in another 20 minutes, and send them to the post office while walking the dog in another 20 minutes. £15-30 isn't a lot of money, but for a 15-year-old it's a lot of money. Just one hour of work a day (plus about two months of lunch money and research before that).

I think eBay is a great place to start. Lots of traffic and all you need is to take the time to create an appealing title and description. A few good photos set the price low and then wait for a bid.

The only downside is that you need a little money to invest. But there are ways to do it even if you're almost broke. Now find something in your house that you don't use but may be of great value. sell it. Then use that money to walk to the nearest charity shop. Find something that looks valuable and in good condition, buy it, and sell it. Rinse and repeat. Of course, you might screw up a few times and buy something that doesn't sell. But keep trying until you get your first profit. I promise you, from that moment on, you'll be hooked!

So for all of you who are making money online. What's the best way you recommend for beginners to get started?
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Of course ebay is a great place to start....might want to reference the thread below , for example....

    https://www.warriorforum.com/warrior...days-ebay.html
    or this one:

    https://www.warriorforum.com/warrior...-platform.html

    Also, pls read forum rules ( https://www.warriorforum.com/main-in...ral-rules.html and https://www.warriorforum.com/main-in...-everyone.html ).

    Your post was referencing '15 yr old' and you must be 18 to join this forum - that's part of the reason the post was not initially accepted.


    kay
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  • Profile picture of the author Troy Arrandale
    Well, I didn't start with buying actual inventory.

    I started by deciding I liked a few healthproducts that had personally helped me, so when I found out I could become an affiliate of those two companies, I signed up. That way I have no initial products to buy for reselling.

    I know I don't want to deal with inventory, as some other beginners might not. And I don't want to create my own product either, either a physcial product or a digital product, like some kind of online course I can create. (I started to do that with my personal health knowledge, but it was soooo complicated and expensive.)

    So first look at that: do you want to make your own physical or digital product to sell, do you want to resell other physical products like you did on ebay, or do you want to be an affiliate of some great products out there, and what type? What niche, like a health product you can become an affiliate of that has a great reputation, or a make money online product like a course by, say, Entre's Jeff's Lerner, or Chris Luck who sells his AMBSDR program, or like Igor Khefeits who has a ton of great digital products/courses?

    They all have affiliate programs that would give you commissions for selling them, at a high percent (like 20, 30, 40, 50 %, you'd have to investigate how much, but those are high commission rates and they're all great course products. I know! lol Because I've bought them outright and studied them! ), but you'd need to find out what to do to become an affiliate of each.


    If I were starting again in 2019, I'd do that. Wish I'd known. I would've picked a higher commission affiliate health product also, in the beginning, not the two great products I did pick, which, even though they're great products, are low-commission.

    I definitley wouldn't have picked trying to be an Amazon affiliate at the beginning, like I did do, because their commissions are quite low and I had no network or database of potential customers. If I were starting at the beginning and knew what I know now, I'd look for high-quality high commission products and find out how to build a network of potential buyers first before applying to be an affiliate of any of them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ged3
    Hi,
    I also started on internet auction sites - my first adverts were on Yahoo Auctions which were totally free to list and no commission to pay!


    I found that I could sell information products there which was great.


    Unfortunately they closed their auction site after about a year, so as I had found out what was already selling well on Yahoo I started selling the same items on Ebay, which was even better as if you paid for a display advert you could keep it in the top of that section for about a week - amazingly profitable until after a while I had too much competition, but a great experience of selling online!


    Ged
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  • Profile picture of the author FaraiMist
    Learn a demanding skill and then expand in it. SEO, websites, ranking, etc as some of the parts you can look into. Once you get some success then outsource for more money.
    You can also look for any quality coaching program that can lead you to success in less time.
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      Nope. Learning a new skill takes time, so not the best way to start making money online.

      Selling on Ebay, mentioned here already, can get you making money in a couple of days.

      Originally Posted by FaraiMist View Post

      Learn a demanding skill and then expand in it. SEO, websites, ranking, etc as some of the parts you can look into. Once you get some success then outsource for more money.
      You can also look for any quality coaching program that can lead you to success in less time.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11736833].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
    Highlighted some of your quote;


    Originally Posted by shoaibawan76 View Post

    So this seems to be the most asked question on this forum. Beginners trying to figure out which direction they should take their first steps, this is how they can make their first small money, to motivate them to do bigger things, to show them the real way to make money on the internet. So I thought it might be interesting to see what advice people can recommend for you as a beginner from which internet marketing method.

    Getting things to work is the first properly profitable thing I do online.

    eBay. This is pretty much where I started and where a lot of others started, the only problem is that it's not free. However, you can start with very, very little investment.

    When I first started, I was 15, using my grandma's debit card (with her permission, of course). I saved around £80 and bought some designer branded sunglasses from an eBay superseller who promised they were authentic. I was young and naive, of course, I believed him. I managed to sell about 4 pairs before eBay warned me to stop selling fakes or I would get banned. In the end, I sold the rest to a relative to make my money back, and he went to the bar and sold them for a profit.

    After that, I learned my lesson. The next item I bought was a sample order for unbranded motorcycle gloves from Alibaba. They sell well and can make a profit of £5 to £10 per pair of gloves. Once the template is created, I can publish 3 of them in 20 minutes, I can wrap them up in another 20 minutes, and send them to the post office while walking the dog in another 20 minutes. £15-30 isn't a lot of money, but for a 15-year-old it's a lot of money. Just one hour of work a day (plus about two months of lunch money and research before that).

    I think eBay is a great place to start. Lots of traffic and all you need is to take the time to create an appealing title and description. A few good photos set the price low and then wait for a bid.

    The only downside is that you need a little money to invest. But there are ways to do it even if you're almost broke. Now find something in your house that you don't use but may be of great value. sell it. Then use that money to walk to the nearest charity shop. Find something that looks valuable and in good condition, buy it, and sell it. Rinse and repeat. Of course, you might screw up a few times and buy something that doesn't sell. But keep trying until you get your first profit. I promise you, from that moment on, you'll be hooked!

    So for all of you who are making money online. What's the best way you recommend for beginners to get started?
    First thing, as we see in this thread and a thousand other ones here at WF, the "best" is always anecdotal. What I did. I did this, I did that.

    And although your journey may have led you to success, it by no means makes it BEST for anyone else.

    Making money online is exactly the same as it is offline...a TRANSACTION takes place.

    Someone, somewhere, gives you, sends you money or exchanges value to get whatever it is you are offering to them.

    The best thing a beginner can do is to UNDERSTAND THAT. A beginner needs to make a transaction in order to make money.

    So, lets give em that understanding. Then what?

    Easiest, fastest, quickest way is to sell something, I always suggest they start with their TV. Put it on the front porch, post it to Facebook Market, Craigslist, or even EBAY, and put a low price on it and one may have their first transaction and money to use, and then look around for something else to sell.

    The mistake made so often, is exactly as you describe; "beginners trying to figure out their first steps"...and that is almost always looking for an easy way to make the fastest money...and quickly fall into the trap of thinking they can buy or find a way, a program, a course or something that gives that to them.

    Instead of trying to figure out what they should do, how about they take time to figure out who they are and what they want? And why? Sure, we all need the moolah.

    But every person has a ways and means, or a preference on how they work, what they do, the people they want to be around or not be around...all of those things are seldom considered as they try to figure out their first steps.

    You asked for opinions on what we think the best way to make money online is for a BEGINNER...

    So, my answer is...BEGIN with understanding who you are, what you can do, what you can't or don't want to, analyze your intent, and THEN start looking for the best way to make transactions which suit you.

    GordonJ
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    • Profile picture of the author Troy Arrandale
      Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post

      Highlighted some of your quote;



      First thing, as we see in this thread and a thousand other ones here at WF, the "best" is always anecdotal. What I did. I did this, I did that.

      And although your journey may have led you to success, it by no means makes it BEST for anyone else.

      Making money online is exactly the same as it is offline...a TRANSACTION takes place.

      Someone, somewhere, gives you, sends you money or exchanges value to get whatever it is you are offering to them.

      The best thing a beginner can do is to UNDERSTAND THAT. A beginner needs to make a transaction in order to make money.

      So, lets give em that understanding. Then what?

      Easiest, fastest, quickest way is to sell something, I always suggest they start with their TV. Put it on the front porch, post it to Facebook Market, Craigslist, or even EBAY, and put a low price on it and one may have their first transaction and money to use, and then look around for something else to sell.

      The mistake made so often, is exactly as you describe; "beginners trying to figure out their first steps"...and that is almost always looking for an easy way to make the fastest money...and quickly fall into the trap of thinking they can buy or find a way, a program, a course or something that gives that to them.

      Instead of trying to figure out what they should do, how about they take time to figure out who they are and what they want? And why? Sure, we all need the moolah.

      But every person has a ways and means, or a preference on how they work, what they do, the people they want to be around or not be around...all of those things are seldom considered as they try to figure out their first steps.

      You asked for opinions on what we think the best way to make money online is for a BEGINNER...

      So, my answer is...BEGIN with understanding who you are, what you can do, what you can't or don't want to, analyze your intent, and THEN start looking for the best way to make transactions which suit you.

      GordonJ
      Yes, that was my point too, Gordon.

      And to find out what I liked and didn't, I DID have to buy a few courses and start to implement them from the learning and instruction as I went (oh my gosh, I bought way more than a few, all starting in January of this year 2022) lol And then I found two things and I've stopped looking and am implementing and am starting to make a little money this year, OP
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      • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
        Originally Posted by Troy Arrandale View Post

        Yes, that was my point too, Gordon.

        And to find out what I liked and didn't, I DID have to buy a few courses and start to implement them from the learning and instruction as I went (oh my gosh, I bought way more than a few, all starting in January of this year 2022) lol And then I found two things and I've stopped looking and am implementing and am starting to make a little money this year, OP
        I don't think we share the same point, so, please, please correct anything you read which is wrong.

        As I read this post you felt as if you had to buy a few courses and START implementing to find out what you liked and didn't. If this is correct, then we're on different pages.

        Lets go back 3 years and your starting the IM journey and you chose products you used, benefitted from and liked, although you found they had rather low commissions. So it was going to take a lot more time and energy to make this affiliate venture profitable, right?

        Since then, in the last 3 years of buying and implementing, and weeding out those ideas not suited to you, you recently have found two things and are implementing and starting to show some income stream, is this also correct?

        See, I feel this is a typical Warrior way, and for the last two decades, very few have done as I advise, which is ASSESSMENT first.

        So, I would be interested in right before, lets get in the Way Back machine to 3 and a half years ago, and what were you wanting to do? I think, like most Warriors here, you wanted to find a way to make money online, and at that time felt that maybe affiliate marketing of a product which you found beneficial might be the way to go.

        What was the process for your wanting to do IM? What were you thinking as far as a money making venture?

        MOST Warriors come here and do what you did, that is, they BEGIN and like you, maybe spend 3 years or a lot more time, trying different things different ideas looking for a match.

        I advocate and advise the ASSESSMENT first, to find out what suits you, which of the many opportunities afford you the best and FASTEST chance of success?

        And there is no shortage of online tests available either. Many are free, but even those like Clifton Strengths or Briggs-Myers offer some baseline information. I believe a lot fewer than 5% of newbie IMers do any sort of aptitude, personality, workforce or any sort of look in the mirror to see what they are working with.

        So, for the sums of money you spent in trial and error, looking for a fit, trying something you liked, my premise has been, if you begin with something you like and checklist all the slop and mess and look to the bottom line of Net profits...

        I contend that any Warrior who does this first cuts their time in half. Your 3 years, could have been 18 months to a job level income, had you started from there instead of the route you and 99% of other Warriors take.

        This is why I say we are not so much in agreement, and I don't think we made the same point, eh?

        GordonJ
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  • Profile picture of the author Ged3
    GordonJ,


    I like your idea of using the Clifton Strengths or Briggs-Myers tests, but I must confess it is probably something that a lot of people, myself included have not used - although it could save us all a lot of time and money!


    Kind Regards
    Ged
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    • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
      Originally Posted by Ged3 View Post

      GordonJ,
      I like your idea of using the Clifton Strengths or Briggs-Myers tests, but I must confess it is probably something that a lot of people, myself included have not used - although it could save us all a lot of time and money!
      Kind Regards
      Ged
      As a county-funded agency Job Developer, I was trained to use the MBTI (Myers-Briggs) and several other instruments of self discovery. Over the last 30 years, I've tested out on them all. DISC and MBTI can be found for free, or very reasonable prices. Clifton Strengths is one of the better ones for an Entrepreneur.

      My very BIASED opinion is; none of them are over the top for IM would be marketers. I think they give a good starting point, mainly to CONFIRM what one should know...what you do best and what you might be best suited to do. Some swear by the Big 5, and what I've found is...

      that Cialdini nailed it with; commitment and consistency. When someone finds results from their testing to give them an Ah Ha, or a personal insight, they won't do much else.

      So, if DISC works, or MBTI, or Openess, Big 5, etc., etc. then it is better than nothing.

      As for myself, and this brings out many other types, but with all the personality tests, and aptitude tests, skills tests, etc...out of all of the dozens I've taken, so far, NONE of them compare to the best career advice, the BEST thing for me to be doing...the thing I would have the best chance of success with and ENJOY doing it...

      came from astrologer Annie Hershey when she did my natal chart. I remember her first words as she looked at the chart on the chalkboard: "look at all that wonderful air".

      She could have just as easily interpreted it as "WOW, what a space cadet you can be, better tie your mittens to your coat Einstein".

      And for a too large of a portion of my life, I ignored Annie and the tests and tried to do things I wanted to do, quite often following some guy who claimed, "If I did it you can too"...and found myself spinning in the muck for years. Only after I returned to doing the things I was suited for, and not trying to fight against myself, did the seas part and I walked on through.

      But knowing oneself, and knowing weaknesses and being dedicated to overcoming them and building on strengths, is a good formula for almost all IMers to follow.

      And with the cheap readily available tools today, one can assess themselves pretty quickly and THEN choose an IM path which might not take YEARS to do.

      GordonJ
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      • Profile picture of the author DABK
        I was called unmotivated and lazy in elementary school, bright but unmotivated and lazy.


        I relative of mine was called the same... She's much younger. But I observed her once, when she was 4 making animals out out playdoh. She sat at the living room table for over 4 hours, made some 40 animals (she's artistic so her animals were quite realistic).


        Me, when I was called those things, I remember getting home from school one day, picking up Tarzan of the Apes and reading all the way to 10pm... Stopped once to pee and eat an apple.


        I would have said, school failed to motivate me. But I was certainly motivated.


        Another example: I was 11. Mom sent me to buy bread at 11AM. I passed the school yard, where kids were playing soccer. Which means, I arrived at the store at 8:30 PM, it was closed, so I went back home and told Mom store was closed, I could not buy bread.


        I find myself doing the same in business... There are things I like, and can do them hours on end without tiring or getting bored. When I focus on those, I make money.


        I tried to do other things, things I did not like doing, because my brother was successful at them or a book I read said I should or some other thing. I always started with a lot of enthusiasm and energy... but, soon, I would start dreading doing them... And answered email, looked up news, played video games instead of doing the work... So, pretty soon, you guessed it, I gave up completely... even though someone I knew or heard of was making good money.


        In finance, compound interest is an amazing force. Even a low interest rate, over years, adds up to a lot of dough. Being able to put in sufficient effort consistently into something is like that: even a bit, over a long period of time, ends up being a lot.


        I have by now been around long enough to have observed some people for many years. Amazing what some extremely bright people can accomplish in 10 years; amazing how badly some extremely bright people can fail over 10 years; amazing how some not too bright people can accomplish over 10 years, or how badly they can fail. And the main difference: working consistently towards one or more goals. Nine out of ten successful ones love (or love and adore) the work they do.


        The one who does not would probably be a lot farther if he/she/it/they/them would have focused on something else.



        Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post

        As a county-funded agency Job Developer, I was trained to use the MBTI (Myers-Briggs) and several other instruments of self discovery. Over the last 30 years, I've tested out on them all. DISC and MBTI can be found for free, or very reasonable prices. Clifton Strengths is one of the better ones for an Entrepreneur.

        My very BIASED opinion is; none of them are over the top for IM would be marketers. I think they give a good starting point, mainly to CONFIRM what one should know...what you do best and what you might be best suited to do. Some swear by the Big 5, and what I've found is...

        that Cialdini nailed it with; commitment and consistency. When someone finds results from their testing to give them an Ah Ha, or a personal insight, they won't do much else.

        So, if DISC works, or MBTI, or Openess, Big 5, etc., etc. then it is better than nothing.

        As for myself, and this brings out many other types, but with all the personality tests, and aptitude tests, skills tests, etc...out of all of the dozens I've taken, so far, NONE of them compare to the best career advice, the BEST thing for me to be doing...the thing I would have the best chance of success with and ENJOY doing it...

        came from astrologer Annie Hershey when she did my natal chart. I remember her first words as she looked at the chart on the chalkboard: "look at all that wonderful air".

        She could have just as easily interpreted it as "WOW, what a space cadet you can be, better tie your mittens to your coat Einstein".

        And for a too large of a portion of my life, I ignored Annie and the tests and tried to do things I wanted to do, quite often following some guy who claimed, "If I did it you can too"...and found myself spinning in the muck for years. Only after I returned to doing the things I was suited for, and not trying to fight against myself, did the seas part and I walked on through.

        But knowing oneself, and knowing weaknesses and being dedicated to overcoming them and building on strengths, is a good formula for almost all IMers to follow.

        And with the cheap readily available tools today, one can assess themselves pretty quickly and THEN choose an IM path which might not take YEARS to do.

        GordonJ
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        • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
          The OP wrote:

          Getting things to work is the first properly profitable thing I do online.

          And this is mostly about understanding processes, or steps. There may or may not be a learning curve involved in getting the THINGS to work as you want them to.

          My premise is: get your SELF to work FIRST, then go to the steps which take you to your goal.

          I've worked with scores of fellow ADD/ADHD folk, although it troubles me cause I haven't come across one that didn't have some form of the Hyper part to their condition. I know and understand what they need, and what best suits them, and the ones in business that become successful, USE their ADD as an advantage, not as a crutch.

          There is a reflective state of Attention Deficit built into Internet Marketing for a newbie, and that is too many rabbit holes, too many shiny objects, too many choices.

          The OP asked
          What's the best way you recommend for beginners to get started?


          You mention compound interest DABK, an area where maybe Most, don't want to think about, the math of financial gain, they just want to make money (beginner IMer).

          For many beginner to look at, say a chart, that shows compound interest, you may as well show them the Montana night sky and ask them to pick out Mars.

          Taxes, interest rates, ROI, fixed costs, overhead, cash flow...all the BASIC terms of a business is what is LACKING in IM. So, not only a personality ASSESSMENT or one of skills, knowledge and experience...but also, a basic business assessment of what do you know about making money from a business?

          The BEST way for beginners to get started, is to KNOW THYSELF. Then look for processes which match up.

          ADD people who set up long term goals which require a lot of daily attention, or as I call it, slop and mess...have set themselves on a lane headed toward failure, for most.

          A better lane to be in is SHORT term projects, stacked...then the once in awhile, longer term. So, 30 days, 30 days, 100 days, 30 days. Something like that in the GOALS or PLAN OF ACTION.

          The BEST thing for beginners is to work with themselves and not against themselves, thanks for sharing your story, I can very much relate to it as I'm sure many can.

          GordonJ




          Originally Posted by DABK View Post

          I was called unmotivated and lazy in elementary school, bright but unmotivated and lazy.
          I relative of mine was called the same... She's much younger. But I observed her once, when she was 4 making animals out out playdoh. She sat at the living room table for over 4 hours, made some 40 animals (she's artistic so her animals were quite realistic).

          Me, when I was called those things, I remember getting home from school one day, picking up Tarzan of the Apes and reading all the way to 10pm... Stopped once to pee and eat an apple.
          I would have said, school failed to motivate me. But I was certainly motivated.
          Another example: I was 11. Mom sent me to buy bread at 11AM. I passed the school yard, where kids were playing soccer. Which means, I arrived at the store at 8:30 PM, it was closed, so I went back home and told Mom store was closed, I could not buy bread.

          I find myself doing the same in business... There are things I like, and can do them hours on end without tiring or getting bored. When I focus on those, I make money.

          I tried to do other things, things I did not like doing, because my brother was successful at them or a book I read said I should or some other thing. I always started with a lot of enthusiasm and energy... but, soon, I would start dreading doing them... And answered email, looked up news, played video games instead of doing the work... So, pretty soon, you guessed it, I gave up completely... even though someone I knew or heard of was making good money.
          In finance, compound interest is an amazing force. Even a low interest rate, over years, adds up to a lot of dough. Being able to put in sufficient effort consistently into something is like that: even a bit, over a long period of time, ends up being a lot.
          I have by now been around long enough to have observed some people for many years. Amazing what some extremely bright people can accomplish in 10 years; amazing how badly some extremely bright people can fail over 10 years; amazing how some not too bright people can accomplish over 10 years, or how badly they can fail. And the main difference: working consistently towards one or more goals. Nine out of ten successful ones love (or love and adore) the work they do.
          The one who does not would probably be a lot farther if he/she/it/they/them would have focused on something else.
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        • Profile picture of the author Troy Arrandale
          Originally Posted by DABK View Post

          I was called unmotivated and lazy in elementary school, bright but unmotivated and lazy.


          I relative of mine was called the same... She's much younger. But I observed her once, when she was 4 making animals out out playdoh. She sat at the living room table for over 4 hours, made some 40 animals (she's artistic so her animals were quite realistic).


          Me, when I was called those things, I remember getting home from school one day, picking up Tarzan of the Apes and reading all the way to 10pm... Stopped once to pee and eat an apple.


          I would have said, school failed to motivate me. But I was certainly motivated.


          Another example: I was 11. Mom sent me to buy bread at 11AM. I passed the school yard, where kids were playing soccer. Which means, I arrived at the store at 8:30 PM, it was closed, so I went back home and told Mom store was closed, I could not buy bread.


          I find myself doing the same in business... There are things I like, and can do them hours on end without tiring or getting bored. When I focus on those, I make money.


          I tried to do other things, things I did not like doing, because my brother was successful at them or a book I read said I should or some other thing. I always started with a lot of enthusiasm and energy... but, soon, I would start dreading doing them... And answered email, looked up news, played video games instead of doing the work... So, pretty soon, you guessed it, I gave up completely... even though someone I knew or heard of was making good money.


          In finance, compound interest is an amazing force. Even a low interest rate, over years, adds up to a lot of dough. Being able to put in sufficient effort consistently into something is like that: even a bit, over a long period of time, ends up being a lot.


          I have by now been around long enough to have observed some people for many years. Amazing what some extremely bright people can accomplish in 10 years; amazing how badly some extremely bright people can fail over 10 years; amazing how some not too bright people can accomplish over 10 years, or how badly they can fail. And the main difference: working consistently towards one or more goals. Nine out of ten successful ones love (or love and adore) the work they do.


          The one who does not would probably be a lot farther if he/she/it/they/them would have focused on something else.
          Too right.

          That's why beginning 3 years ago when i first realized there was such a thing
          as making money online by MYSELF, and the first course method I bought
          began to bore me two months in as I was implementing and learning it,
          I began casting about for other models/courses.

          Some people call it "chasing after shiny objects", moving on to so many courses and/or
          methods.

          But if you're new, and I was, how else am i going to find what fits for me and inspires me?
          I DO have to try the next thing and the next thing.

          thank god i finally found something that fit.
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  • Profile picture of the author toysoldier80
    I think the first thing you need to put in mind is owning your own company. Try not to go into business for other people. This will give you the best control over what you can and can't do, plus the greater rewards.

    When I first started out you discover so many rules and red tape. Makes you question how anyone makes money on here.

    By becoming an owner, I was able to challenge everything I questioned. You still have rules, and not totally in control, but definitely have more control than if you were just an affiliate marketer. Its better to become an owner and add affiliate marketing to your business.

    You basically do not limit your income online by just settling for one role. Although people do make a consistent living becoming an expert in one or two key internet areas. This doesn't sound like fun. It sounds like a job, but it may be fun for some people since so many people are experts at affiliate marketing, or writing articles, SEO, email campaigns, traffic, advertising, hosting, etc. Usually after doing something for so long, you get bored with it. Making money in areas you love around the internet means you will never get bored.
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  • Profile picture of the author wiyakalutawiyan
    I don't like the assumption that "beginner" equates to "unable to do much."
    (linking removed by mod)

    Doing this doesn't need to be complicated ... it simply requires thought.

    Sell high end, premium products at a premium price and give away stuff as part of the product. Use email marketing approaches so that you stay in regular contact with your market. Sell information relevant to the market.

    It's not even a little difficult and a newbie can do it as long as they are willing to step through it and not get sidetracked by the next shiny new thing to come along.
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      It is not an assumption. I've been of this forum for over 10 years. I have seen dozens and dozens of beginners who were not able to do much in the area of internet marketing.


      One reason was the shinny object. Other reasons were: fears, lack of knowledge (of self, of how much time and energy they actually had to put into internet marketing, of basic math, of many other things).


      Gordon is right, based on those people posting here saying things like, I've been doing IM for 3 years and have made less than $100 in all that time. Also, based on people I've met, in person.


      Simple is not easy.



      Once you do it and develop your systems, it seems both simple and easy. But, for many, it's neither. Ever.


      Originally Posted by wiyakalutawiyan View Post

      I don't like the assumption that "beginner" equates to "unable to do much."
      (linking removed by mod)

      Doing this doesn't need to be complicated ... it simply requires thought.

      Sell high end, premium products at a premium price and give away stuff as part of the product. Use email marketing approaches so that you stay in regular contact with your market. Sell information relevant to the market.

      It's not even a little difficult and a newbie can do it as long as they are willing to step through it and not get sidetracked by the next shiny new thing to come along.
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      • Profile picture of the author wiyakalutawiyan
        For the person that is either going to be distracted by shiny object syndrome, or the person that "will never find this easy or simple ever" there isn't anything to do. That person isn't going to succeed over the long term no matter what you do.

        People succeed when they overcome issues like those ... they do not succeed when you dumb down what it takes to succeed.

        Can you make money on ebay? yeah, sure. But to SUCCEED at it you need to treat it like any other business. Keep customer lists, contact those customers, upsell to better products, and so on.

        Successful business is built on successful principles. Those principles don't change. It's why some of the "just do ebay for beginners" is really kind of BS because many of those "just do this easy thing" leaves ALL of the stuff off the table that turns a side hustle into a success business.

        And we are here talking about successful business, not simply some 200/month side hustle right?
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    • Profile picture of the author Troy Arrandale
      Originally Posted by wiyakalutawiyan View Post

      I don't like the assumption that "beginner" equates to "unable to do much."
      (linking removed by mod)

      Doing this doesn't need to be complicated ... it simply requires thought.

      Sell high end, premium products at a premium price and give away stuff as part of the product. Use email marketing approaches so that you stay in regular contact with your market. Sell information relevant to the market.

      It's not even a little difficult and a newbie can do it as long as they are willing to step through it and not get sidetracked by the next shiny new thing to come along.

      I notice email marketing is a part of a lot of these strategies for newbies that people are suggesting.
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  • Profile picture of the author DanieleMelandri
    The only thing that i can suggest is: choose a PROVEN method, which is working 100% for big marketers in the industry and follow ONLY this method from the start to the end. Doesn't matter if it's Affiliate Marketing, Ecommerce, SMM, etc. The important factor is to stick with it and be consistent.

    Don't follow temptations and shiny objects that will pop-up everyday in your inbox/news feed, just keep doing the same exact things that the proven method is saying.

    Also, the best thing is to find a mentor in this field that you choose, so you can follow ONE ONLY person and stick with the proven method until the end.

    The way to success is built with FOCUS (on one thing), CONSISTENCY and PATIENCE!

    Hope this will help
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan Schneck
    I also began my journey on eBay. It does have the potential to make money but I agree that there are costs involved.

    I ran an eBay store for a while with a little over 1000 items. There is a store subscription fee that goes along with having that many items and I also needed software to monitor prices and inventory.

    I used a wholesale supplier so I didn't have to deal with my own inventory. But they did change prices and occasionally we're out of certain items. That was the reason for the software.

    One last thing is that eBay does not want you to buy things from retail stores or Amazon and resell it on their platform. It will get your account suspended or banned.

    If you are diligent and can spend time on it everyday it can be profitable. Also the traffic is already there. Millions of people are on eBay all of the time.

    Hope that helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author Troy Arrandale
      Originally Posted by Ryan Schneck View Post

      I also began my journey on eBay. It does have the potential to make money but I agree that there are costs involved.

      I ran an eBay store for a while with a little over 1000 items. There is a store subscription fee that goes along with having that many items and I also needed software to monitor prices and inventory.

      I used a wholesale supplier so I didn't have to deal with my own inventory. But they did change prices and occasionally we're out of certain items. That was the reason for the software.

      One last thing is that eBay does not want you to buy things from retail stores or Amazon and resell it on their platform. It will get your account suspended or banned.

      If you are diligent and can spend time on it everyday it can be profitable. Also the traffic is already there. Millions of people are on eBay all of the time.

      Hope that helps.
      I'm not ecommerce, but am learning a lot about it on this forum.

      I'm learning "the traffic is already there" as you say, does help. Like, with Amazon and Ebay, "the traffic already there." Big plus.

      With Etsy, "the traffic is already there" too.

      It seems to go in this order from what I'm learning: Amazon has the most people/traffic looking to buy, then ebay, then etsy. (And that rings true for me as a buyer/consumer. I don't like going on Amazon necessarily, but 90% of the things I need are on there. And yes, I sometimes think of ebay. Last is Etsy.)

      And then....there's ... Shopify!!! lol

      I NEVER think about going to Shopify when I'm shopping lol

      I know a beginner e-commerce fella and his girlfriend (my husband's daughter). They are STILL struggling after two years, even though the one or two items they sell are quite popular on there.

      Perhaps, for e-commerce beginners, figure out where the traffic naturally is, and then set up there.

      But in my humble opinion and to my taste, NOT dealing with inventory (even at wholesale) is SO much easier, that's why I started with affiliate marketing when I was a beginner.

      And THAT was a whole year after I figured out NOT to use myself and my helpful personal experience/knowledge as a product just by throwing myself up on Youtube with it and no advertising budget. That got me nowhere! lol
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    • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
      Originally Posted by Ryan Schneck View Post

      I also began my journey on eBay.

      I ran an eBay store for a while with a little over 1000 items. needed software to monitor prices and inventory.

      I used a wholesale supplier ... they did change prices and occasionally we're out of certain items.
      One last thing is that eBay does not want you to buy things from retail stores or Amazon and resell it on their platform. It will get your account suspended or banned.
      .
      Hope that helps.
      It sounds like you were doing drop shipping, for the average person that is not the best route on eBay. Why did the supplier change prices that is an issue that should have been addressed? For someone starting out all they need is to find a used product and sell it at a markup or sell clearance items. The new seller would not need a store to begin or any software.

      As far as Amazon arbitrage that was a bad method pushed here on the forum. Complaints to eBay about sellers caused that method to be banned. As suggested above take a look at the eBay thread in the Path section.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Ryan - you might be very interested in one of the links above - a thorough tutorial on ebay selling


    https://www.warriorforum.com/warrior...days-ebay.html
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  • Profile picture of the author Ged3
    Yes Ebay was and still is a good way to start in internet marketing - I think the main advantages are that for a relatively small fee you can get your offer in front of a very large audience.


    It would take most people a very long time to have a website where we had 100s or 1000s of visitors looking at our offers.


    I found that I could sell just one very popular ebook to lots of people that were interested on Ebay.


    I no longer sell on Ebay but I see that digital products are still for sale there.


    Although at the time I copied mine to disk and sent it out through the post.



    Best Regards
    Ged
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    • Profile picture of the author Troy Arrandale
      Originally Posted by Ged3 View Post

      Yes Ebay was and still is a good way to start in internet marketing - I think the main advantages are that for a relatively small fee you can get your offer in front of a very large audience.


      It would take most people a very long time to have a website where we had 100s or 1000s of visitors looking at our offers.


      I found that I could sell just one very popular ebook to lots of people that were interested on Ebay.






      Was the "popular ebook" that you sold on ebay one you wrote or someone else wrote?
      Was it fiction or nonfiction?
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      • Profile picture of the author Ged3
        Hi Troy,


        I bought the book in a bundle of PLR ebooks and paid someone to rewrite it for me then I had master resale rights for it.


        It was a book that helped people to get free air travel.


        I just stumbled across a topic that was (and still is) very popular!


        Kind Regards
        Ged
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  • Profile picture of the author spartan14
    The method that makes me the most cash was to review affiliate products on youtube .In here people are already in a buying mode and ready to buy and not so much hastle like ebay and not need to deal with a psichycal product
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    Admin note: Affiliate links are not allowed in paid user sigs

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    • Profile picture of the author Troy Arrandale
      Originally Posted by spartan14 View Post

      The method that makes me the most cash was to review affiliate products on youtube .In here people are already in a buying mode and ready to buy and not so much hastle like ebay and not need to deal with a psichycal product
      Doesn't youtube have a problem with people puttiing affiliate links in their description at first? Don't you have to put out a bunch of free videos with no affiliate links in your descriptions at first before they let you start doing that?( Well, at least to put you high up in their search results, I mean.)

      That's been my experience on Youtube this year anyway
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      • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
        Originally Posted by Troy Arrandale View Post

        Doesn't youtube have a problem with people putting affiliate links in their description at first?
        No should not have a problem. When you create a video, this is what you will see.

        It will Say

        Video Details

        Below that is the first box which says Title. (required)

        Then below will be the 2nd box which will say Description,

        In that Box, you can Say XYZ is about yada, yada, and yada.
        Then you can write this video was recorded with "Brand name phone" with an affiliate link next to it

        Then you can say, I recommend the following product ABC with an affiliate link next to it.

        Here is an example of a description

        You are watching a video about the Warrior Forum. for more videos please like and subscribe to our channel.

        This video was recorded with a Samsung Galley phone - SamSung affiliate link

        I recommend the following lighting for creating the video - LED Camera Lighting LED Camera Lighting "Models 123" affiliate link

        Hope that helps!
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