Anyone willing to share their start-up experience?

I started producing music video last year, i put out a craigslist ad and i got flooded with emails, i think it was because it was $99 music videos, anyways i believe two closed and somehow one of the clients ended up paying me $500, i had a vision to just take the money and dont say anything, so i did that. 6 months later i hit the 6 month mark and i couldnt close anyone, but that client came back again, this time for a documentary, great. Now i started another business in music promotion and i sold $200 worth of my services in about 2 months, now i wouldnt say these are remarkable numbers at all, im sure everyone else has theirs and they are way better than mine. But i mean i had this intuitive insight that "you think it, you do it" so i guess some of this shit means something lol, personally i wanna be a monk. but **** it, i feel like i shouldnt give up, call it a trust fall but it is what it is

There will be pain...
There will be tears...
There will be sleepless nights...
There will be arguments with loved ones...
There will be depression...
There will be JOY...
There will be HORROR...
There will be hunger...
There will be weight loss...
There might be THE BREAK...
Then it might become stable.

It's a hard, lonely road...especially if you're starting from the actual bottom and not your mom's suburban den.

One day my 2 year old son, in the excitement of a moment, threw a book at his Dads face, that book was The Cashflow Quadrant, written by the amazing Robert Kiyosaki. From that day forward our lives have been crazily spiraling, into control, of our very own destiny. Like a snowball effect, everything we have put our time, efforts and energy into, has gained momentum, speed and growth! It literally took a book to the face for us to wake up and take action for our financial situation, and we couldnt be more thankful that it happened!

Now we have a successful glass and glazing business, a tools range and brand we have designed and imported from China and 2 niches we sell affiliates products in

Momentum is what happened to us, and its our job everyday to keep that momentum going!

All the best in your ventures

I'm working on launching a business myself. Living costs are sky high here, and its difficult working full time to get by and also trying to get the ball rolling, but here I am. Once I get my marketing machine figured out and rolling I think things will be easier. I have been trying to grow my business just by word of mouth so far, but that is a very, very slow way to launch a new business so here I am learning

Keep in mind a business is not a "build it once and live it forever" experience. It's a series of experiences.

You build the thing, it makes money, and then it stops working. You're back to square one. But this time, you've got some experience so the path is a little easier to walk next time.

You can get bored with what you're doing.

You can get tired of the kind of customers you're getting.

You can stop wanting to follow the model you've been using, like trading time for money or pushing products.

And, yes, sometimes the market shifts on you and what worked just doesn't work any longer.

I suppose you could go build an offline kind of business, like selling carpet or groceries or something else people perpetually need. But there are plenty of examples of those places going belly up, even after 20 years, and there's a reason why.

So understand business isn't a "one time startup and then everything's roses" thing.

The really successful people I know are building business after business after business, taking calculated risks, never resting on their laurels.

I was living a 9 to 5 life, BUT in reality it was not just "9 to 5". Its 9 but no end at 5...used to stretch a min of 12 hr a day and around 90 hr a week on an average. So, gettin tired of that life, I decided to find somethin else.

Then I found the concept of affiliate marketing. Did research about it and then decided to giv it a go.

Created and sold few eBooks.

Found a lot of people who were just after selling you somethin and earn commission but also found people who are committed to help you.

Lessons

- A lot of commitment needed.
- Never, never, never ever quit. Like feelings will come but ignore them.
- Will loose some money as bad investments but that is part of learning experience and will earn a lot too.
- Think like a businessmen, always. If a person is in JOB it will take some time to transfer from JOB mentality to Business mentality. Took me around 2 years. But once u taste success, even if its small, you might never want to go back in JOB
- Be in the mindset of helpin others, whether through providin some service (to the best of your capabilities) or sellin a product (if givin reviews, provide genuine ones).
- Earnin trust is the most important asset in business. Do anythin to earn it first and then think about earnin money.
- Always hav a long term perspectiv while doing any business. It takes time to reap fruits of your efforts. Its nature's law.
- Always think of growth in whatever you do, be happy but never get satisfied. Growth is Nature's Law, Stagnancy rot.

Hope this help

I got started back in 2002 when I had a bit of time on my hands after losing my job. I wrote some software and put it up for sale on my website.

Rather than spend months/years building something amazing, I spent a few weeks writing a MVP (minimum viable product). After 2 weeks I made my first sale, and that convinced me my idea was a good one.

In the following 5 years I'd released half a dozen different products which helped with bundling and doing lucrative site license options.

I started learning Internet and Affiliate Marketing back in 2007. Being an ex-business owner, I decided to take my Internet Marketing skills to business owners. Been working with business owners full time since 2008. I also created a course in 2011, to train, coach and mentor people who wanted a career like mine. Love what I do !!!!
Good luck my friend!!!

I am a former executive that got really tired of endless meetings and working on things that didn't interest me. So I struck out on my own in a coaching business.
Now I am looking to transition from time for money to more digital products that I am making and getting ready to sell on forums such as this.
I have been a bit stalled with the perfection issue. I want to make sure the product is really high quality and great value for my customers.
My point is that sometimes you just have to do it and not over think it. That is my daily struggle - over thinking .

Love the stories thanks everyone for sharing.

I started building websites for clients on the side in 2004 and never really did much unitl I got into affiliate marketing in April 2012. I thought affiliate marketing was a scam at first and no way to really make money. I was wrong.

I hit a very profitable niche and this was my income for the remainder of that year in 2012.

May - $1,275.00
June - $2,525.00
July - $11,000.00
August - $35,825.00
September - $54,250.00
October - $97,750.00
November - $59,900.00
December - $33,200.00

Crazy right? Yes it was the craziest thing that I've ever been a part of. I couldn't believe it was happening. The big drop off in revenue from October to November was a manual penalty from Google.

In 2013 my earnings were: $1,190,848

In 2014 my earnings were: $1,812,584

in 2015 my earnings so far are: $966,985

Initially i wanted to earn an extra $1000 a month so I could save some money. I was living paycheck to paycheck. Needless to say I was able to do that and much more. It's real and there is very real money in this industry.

I have being to domain investing and web designing for sometime, I have made some money especially on webdesigs and hosting but still building up my domain name business experience until recently sold some domain names.
What I 'm made to understand is perceverance is what any business requires, I have 3 blogs but only one is going places.

Thanks and cheers.

Great stories everyone.

I got my start in 1999, shortly after moving back to the MS Gulf Coast. I started out doing website design and building custom applications for folks. I came up with an idea, worked it for about a year, and ended up netting about $500k in 2002. 2003, right after I sold a few of my web properties, the owner of one of them ended up really dropping the ball in the customer service department and even though my name was not on the business any more, I still ended up in a lawsuit that cost me almost $100k to defend against.

That led me to focus more on areas where I did not have to be in the public light so I focused heavily in the content arena, and built up a solid $10k-$15k a month income using Adsense...until Google thought I was making too much money and shut off my account with no explanation and no responce to any inquiries.

Since, at that time, I was primarily riding the Adsense Gravy Train, I was also working in my Real Estate business so I did not do a lot online. I refocused after Google slapped me around and got into the MLM industry where I have done well, but am now focusing more on coaching and mentoring others with some affiliate offers, CPA and CPL offers, and an occasional product release of my own here and there.

Haven't really been around the WF in years. Started getting emails again recently so here I am. Can't wait to see some other responses. I love seeing your successes.

I produce high quality software for PC Gamers. My software launches have hit 6 figures in a few days and have some incredibly nice residual income. I am actually looking to find some more developers to expand operations.

My start--up has been a very long road. I started with doing coupon postings for coupon companies--which picked up quickly, Then being on facebook --everyone started doing it. I then added wholesale companies--anything with sales, freebies, contest. Now I have expanded again, jobs, military, diet, games and more. I have a long way to go! Good luck to all!!!!

To be successful in business, you have to be in business!

Insanity: "Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results"

I started 5 years ago, built a website, had no clue but hoped for a miracle. ...... it never came. I started Affiliate Marketing as a hobby in 2011 and have bought countless courses and eBooks to try and learn about this industry. I discovered that there is a lot of information some helpful some useless and a worst of time. However during my learning journey I have acquired a wealth of knowledge about Affiliate Marketing / Internet Marketing and I'm glad to say I know enough to pass the knowledge to other to save time trying to sieve through a lot of trash online.

One might be asking, what is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business/ merchant rewards affiliates (partners, JVs, Associates, publishers) for each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate's own marketing efforts



In 2014, my online efforts started to bear fruits when I learnt about acquiring prospects and building an opt-in email list. This is a list of people who have an interest what I have to offer (which is usually an affiliate offer). Once I have these folks on my email system, I could email those offers and some would purchase through the link I provided them and I would get credit for that (commission). The good thing about having this list of prospects I was able to send different offers again and again allowing me to generate more and more income through the same list. I managed to hit my target of making at least $1k per month on autopilot commissions.

My monthly revenue has been gradually increasing and I'm slowly replacing my day job. This is exciting!

Warning! When you decide to get started with affiliate marketing you have to know that this is not a get rich quick method (unfortunately). You will come across a lot of individuals promising you quick and shortcut to Affiliate Marketing riches, bottom line stay away from such nonsense... You will have to work your way up slowly and be willing to invest on quality training and tools.

"I make a living by what I get, I make a life by what I give."


http:quincykwik.com


I think we all need help frequently.


Quinton Underwood

Hi Nelius!

It was May of 2012 when my husband and I quit our job. Quitting jobs together has not been easy for us especially if you gave up 2 salary paychecks each month. I have nothing against any companies or any corporate culture at all. Everybody says you would be foolish to give up a steady paycheck and corporate job security to take a chance on something new.

I got involved with network marketing business, but then I realized that this is not the kind of business that I like because it is more tiring than working in a corporate world and most importantly I do not have the full control of my product, marketing and customer's database because the customer I bring in belongs to the company's database.

I went all out to learn all I could about making money online. With my persistence and unstoppable mindset to succeed, I finally made my first dollar online on April 10'13 from one company where I just shoot a short video for them and they deposited my first $10 to my PayPal account. Then I set up my blogging platform promoting the auto-responder that I am using and made another $24.95 within one month of blogging and made up to $839.00 promoting this product alone as an affiliate, then I finally launched my own product in click bank.

Your FIRST is always the hardest! From that day forward, my positive thoughts built my strong desire and persistence to improve my skills on how to maximize the power of the Internet. I personally embraced all the challenges along the way and surrounded myself with positive energies for me to keep going. This actually create a real value to my life and help me develop my skills that can create a huge impact to my life and my family.

Don't make things complicated! Free yourself from complexities and do the things that only makes you happy.

Hope this help!
Jeng Cua

For Several years, I have read warrior forum to learn different aspects of internet marketing for my brick and mortar businesses.
I have built, from scratch, a Route 66 destination. you can find it here www.UranusMissouri.com

What I have learned

1. Put your money back into your business, not into fancy living
2. Its a bitch to find enough quality people who can do all the jobs that you need done. With almost 100 employees, my c-suite management have been with me an average of 9 years and we have a VERY low turnover rate with the rest of the staff (less then 5% per year)
However, I have had to (almost) always, promote from within as the people I have found from the outside have usually been more "bark than bite"
I could use about 5 more people who are driven producers, but who also understand that they have to prove themselves before making the big bucks
3. Pay your people well and give them opportunities to make even more money.
4. You don't start your own business to have more free time, you build it to create some spectacular. Any other reason than that that will doom you from the get-go

5 There will hard times and HARDER times, Always be prepared and planning for them.
6.. You will study more than you ever did in school (and I consider going to college a waste of time for business people)
7. There are a lot of haters and jealous people. Ignore Them or Crush Them but never acknowledge them
8. Dream BIG, but build small. It is done in steps/stages, you won't get rich in a day, a week or a year






.

I read so many great stories in this forum and it truly inspires me to keep fighting until I reach a steady income.

I started a course in affiliate marketing which taught me a ton of things. I had no idea about web creation or how affiliate marketing really works.

As I'm writing this I am 4.5 months into my affiliate marketing journey and I now own 3 websites (mainly focusing on one).

Still trying to find out how to generate conversions through my site but it's a very very slow process at the moment.

I try to talk to successful affiliates to learn as much as I can. I believe that learning from mentors is the true way. I know that I can eliminate the rat race/ 9-5 lifestyle that depresses me daily with affiliate marketing.

It is for that reason that I will continue working hard until I reach my goal.

Loved this thread!

Well done everyone and feel free to share some tips for us newbies

I got online back in early 2011, after struggling to regain traction in the swimming pool industry (construction/renovations) back when the economy went to the dogs.

Honestly, I got online to see if I could make money writing?

I soon found out about affiliate programs, and lost a lot of sleep due to my excitement, and the fact almost every major brand had free affiliate programs to earn money from.

But, I was computer illiterate!!!

I didn't know any HTML, web design, SEO, copywriting, ppc, e commerce... So, 5 years later... I've learned and amassed a great deal of webmaster skills, at the expense of postponing my writing desires.

My first sales came from 5 articles and reviews I wrote about an affiliate product I purchased. Nearly all of those articles remain on page 1 of Google.

I sent 1,000's of email subscribers to his list, and generated $400-$500 so far in commissions over roughly 4 years. Nothing to retire over, but, that proved to me there is a residual income potential to writing, and left me regretting not building my own list, as opposed to building the product owners email list.

Now, that experience has proven that online marketing actually works, and there is money to be made writing with the right components in place.

I took on more study learning about autoresponders, email marketing, and again, spent less time actually writing.

Add to that drop shipping, copywriting, ad copy, photoshop, WordPress, paid themes, plugins, and design... Been at it for a good minute on/off in between offline gigs.

I guess, in my grand scheme of things, I want to know how to do it all, before I create or release my books and digital products.

If I had to do it all over, I would start by writing 1-2 product reviews per week, just to get sum cash rolling in, and focus on writing eBooks, training materials, selling white label products and memberships, email marketing, targeted lead generation & list building using ppc ads on FB and AdWords.

I've drawn up roughly 20 complete blueprints in several niche markets, and cannot seem to settle on one surefire method that will produce the 6-figures a year I desire to be making in 3-5 years.

So, I am near what feels like a graduation of sorts, whereby, I need to implement it all and test my knowledge. I hope doing so benefits my readers.

I know it can be done, and while I recommend people take action, find one thing that works, and rinse & repeat... I am, and remain, my own worst critic!

I have started my journey in the Online section on 11th Apr, 2011 by doing Freelancing. My first job was with Social Media site at a really cheap price. After getting the payment, my thirst of work increased to touch the SKY. Then I tried hard & soul. Finally I got some more work. Now I think I am a successful person in the Online section. Now I am doing many works in this Virtual Life. Thanks a lot.

Yeah let's talk reality. IM is not the glamorous life. I think there is still hope and light but believe me...I was one of the first advertisers on Google when I could buy clicks for words like 'jobs' at 5 cents each.

I knew a lot back then and still have difficult time pulling ROI from PPC ads.

Personally I got into local lead gen for a while and made maybe over 100k with that but now I'm into software dev and copywriting.

Will see how it goes in the next few months...

Family health issues required I work way less than the 60 to 70 hours a week I was working. So, I decided to look into IM. I honestly think I made every mistake in the book, and then some. Cash flow was an issue so went to free route for a few months, then I started buying small amounts of solo ads. I was tired, frustrated, sleep deprived, and determined. When I felt like giving up, I kept plugging away. Then I made a sale, another, and then another...... I promptly forgot all the bad times. I remember this every time it works. I do this to help people, I want to give value for the money. There are actually people out there in this who will be encouraging. just keep working at it

I got started in college and made my first 2 sales there. I couldn't believe i had actually done it, but at the same time.... why was i trying to "do it" in the first place? To make money right? So i was ecstatic and skipped class all day, celebrating in the cafeteria.

I have started my journey on April, 2011. Firstly I started my working though Freelancing. I had earned my first earning from the freelancing site after trying 3 months. I had tried & tried again, but the result was not satisfactory. Now I am working in multiple way. I am really satisfied by my works & earning from the IM sector. Thanks for opening this thread.

My first real success online was selling MMORPG guides via SEO.

I started on web 2.0 sites like Squidoo. When I realized they were going to be a good money maker I built a site dedicated to selling them. The blog is still there: Warcraft Guide Center Blog