
FOR NOOBS: The realities (Just checking in)
So first off, I've always been an entrepreneur (not a web entrepreneur). I'm not an internet marketer at all but I have always loved the idea of making money from home or online. With that in mind, I've been a member of this forum for a little while and I've also done a ton of research on IM, SEO, Site building, coding, you name it. I learned a lot and I wanted to share some of my experiences with you. I'm working on my 3rd startup by the way - launching in a few months.
Here are a "FEW" things I've learned - No offense to anyone
Paid traffic worked best for me for my ecommerce project. I was also able to get around 2,000 signups on my newsletter as well in just a few months by targeting that traffic.
I learned there are a ton of people in this business trying to sell you trash. Some of them are on this forum. By trash I mean their versions of how to make money online techniques. Software on things IM'ers tell you that you need to determine competitive keywords, backlinking, etc...Courses, books, you name it. Many of the blogs in this niche that are somewhat informative all seem to run the same process as well. They also work amongst each other and refer each other. This is a fact - they live off your money! The cycle repeats. One person creates a product, than they get affiliates to hustle it for them throughout their network. Don't buy the hype. Get out there and figure it out for yourself...and stay off warrior forum. This was the first thing I learned

I learned there are 1 million and 1 niches to make money online in but they all follow the same model. Focus on 1 method. If its ecommerce, its buy low and sell high. Figure out your model and do it.
I learned that most keywords for whatever niche you're targeting are always competitive. Always! Whether that be long tail keywords or not, if the niche has any money in it, it will be extremely hard for someone with zero SEO experience to rank anything.
With that in mind, SEO is probably the most important thing you will need to know in online business. Some people selling private label products would disagree as most of their traffic is coming from paid sources and amazon, but regardless It's a skill that you can use no matter what you do online. If you're running amazon sites, affiliate sites, even adsense sites, or your own product sites, SEO is key. If you have no idea what you're doing in SEO - you seriously need to learn it before anything. Typically, the process is site up > paid articles > seo. 1 and 2 are easy.. Learn 3.
In regards to SEO, backlinking is key. PBN's still work extremely effectively although who knows for how long. It's a dirty game but it works! Most people that come into a niche and dominate it quick are probably utilizing PBN's. On page SEO is important but it won't get you ranked. You need link juice from highly authoritative domains. If you don't believe me, go on any big time brokerage site that has adsense/affiliate sites selling for thousands and look at the backlink profiles on these sites. Many of them are using PBNs.
Here is a secrete - don't come on here asking for ideas on how to make money online. I did that and nobody can help. Even if they try, it won't help you. Only you know what you should and could be doing. Only you know your interests. With that in mind, what I did and what I've always been good at doing was studying people. When I started my first business in nightlife, I found an interest in it so I studied people in the business and figured out what they do and than went out and crushed it on my own. With making money online, I went to some brokerages, got an inside look at the websites listed for 250k, 500k, 1M etc, and studied these sites. Learn from those by studying them. Nobody will tell you what sites they own or how they make money because why should they deal with another competitor in their niche? If the tables were turned, would you? I wouldn't! We all have to eat right?
Not everyone makes money online, not everyone will help you, and NOBODY will tell you their secretes. Unfortunately, there are only so many opportunities to make money online. You have to be competitive and you have to be a hustler. If not, sign off now and get a JOB! You have to be the best so choose a market that you're passionate about. You'll be working on it for a long time.
Good luck
"May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
SteveBrowneDirect
"May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"