13 replies
Before I rant on, a bit about me. I'm 43, works as an IT Consultant, been involved in computing since I was 14. Spent many years in the military but out now. Recently divorced with a young son.

I've worked in eCommerce, web design, Cisco and Microsoft engineering etc. etc. and now work exclusively on designing IT solutions for High Schools and Uni's. The money is ****. What with rent, bills, payments to the ex, petrol and the UK tax system I have very little left.

I started looking at the internet in a serious way to make money when I separated from the dragon - I have time on my hands now. I have a reseller account so can pretty well fire up as many domains and sites as I want - I have about 10 now all in different niches, some autoblogs and so on - but none making any decent money as yet - hence why I came to this forum.

Looking at the offers thread, it just turns my stomach, I mean the sales patter is all very samey. The web pages, again with the little box and CD shots even though you know it's an eBook (why guys????). The bold red text, the usually faked earnings screenshots - you know, my old head thinks - if this scheme is making you thousands a month then why are you trying to sell an eBook on here for $10 a hit with a usual cap limit of 100 sales? It doesn't make sense - c'mon - it doesn't does it?

Whilst I'm sure, and there must be several actual schemes explained on here for sale obviously which do work - and I have been tempted, it is a minefield for someone like me. I don't have that much money to play around with. I do subscribe to Angela's backlinks - I know they work for me but wading through this sea of making money online is really difficult.

I hate videos, I know how to install WP, I know how FTP works, I too have seen the man at the market using this amazing knife which cuts granite and when you buy it and take it home it won't cut tin foil.

People, I have read nearly every thread on this board in the last few weeks. They leave me, well, indifferent. I want to go ahead and purchase one but something tells me not to be a fool - at the end of the day it's my sons inheritance I'd be blowing on possibly snakeoil.

So my question, which is a call for help really - what works? Don't say read the threads in the forum - I have. I also have a limited budget or I'd buy everything and evaluate them all - if I could do that I wouldn't be here!

I'm not looking for that golden bullet answer - this is what works - you must buy it! But for a guy in my position - not a noob in the net world or in the tech world, but somewhat drowning in the sea of information on so many different schemes all delivering the same promise. I just want to devote my spare time as I do now ands see actual results instead of logging into my Adsense and Clickbank accounts and doing the facepalm manoeuvre - again!

Any help appreciated - I'll prob get flamed though!
Cheers.
#view
  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    Don't take this as a flame, but this probably just isn't for you. You're probably better served looking for your answer (an income doing something) elsewhere. This making money online thing isn't for everyone. Life goes on.

    John
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  • All that work and still not a millionaire? IM isn't for everybody.

    There will be a small percentage of people who actually succeed full time at IM. There is a ton of misinformation. There will be many who are frustrated and wasting their time.

    Bottom line is this is a business for independent thinking people who can and want to chart their own course.

    There is a ton of plagiarism and really poorly thought out products.

    Every once in a while you come across a "gem" that really helps you move forward.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nick Brighton
      Originally Posted by vonspurter View Post

      Before I rant on, a bit about me. I'm 43, works as an IT Consultant, been involved in computing since I was 14. Spent many years in the military but out now. Recently divorced with a young son.
      write a book on coping with divorce. sell it on forums where there are people who are going through divorce, or run ads on Facebook, or do another search on this forum for ways to promote your products and websites (contrary to what you think, there is a ton of free information on this forum which is tried, true and tested)

      I started looking at the internet in a serious way to make money when I separated from the dragon - I have time on my hands now. I have a reseller account so can pretty well fire up as many domains and sites as I want - I have about 10 now all in different niches, some autoblogs and so on - but none making any decent money as yet - hence why I came to this forum.
      again, all the answers are in this forum ... I just don't believe you have looked hard enough. also, what you done to test different things on your website? have you just put them up and hope they'd make money from day one? wouldn't it be nice if business really worked like that?

      Looking at the offers thread, it just turns my stomach, I mean the sales patter is all very samey. The web pages, again with the little box and CD shots even though you know it's an eBook (why guys????).
      you seem to be jaded and bitter, but what you doing to counteract the negative marketing that you see? if you see there's a problem, why not go the opposite direction and fix it?

      if something is being done over and over, what does that tell you? it tells you that it works. you don't have to carbon copy it, but by now you should be taking some serious notes.

      you know, my old head thinks - if this scheme is making you thousands a month then why are you trying to sell an eBook on here for $10 a hit with a usual cap limit of 100 sales? It doesn't make sense - c'mon - it doesn't does it?
      if you are really using this forum as much as you say you are, then you would have noticed the thread recently which discussed this in great detail. the point is, selling systems which are proven to make money, is an easy way for the the seller to make money themselves... and get this, it's actually fun and interesting to do it! doesn't mean the buyer will actually take the information and become a direct competitor, so why not share the information?

      I don't have that much money to play around with. I do subscribe to Angela's backlinks - I know they work for me but wading through this sea of making money online is really difficult.
      there are two of your biggest problems in one paragraph ... you don't have money but you're paying for stuff that you can't afford. Furthermore, you seem to be confused about what works to make money, yet you subscribe to a monthly service which doesn't actually produce results for you.

      I know how to install WP, I know how FTP works
      lots of people don't ... it's a shame you hate videos, because you can create some killer WP install tutorials, along with some great FTP tutorials as bonuses. Lots of people would appreciate that, I know I would of when I started.

      So my question, which is a call for help really - what works?
      depends on your intended results. do you want $10 a day? I know plenty of things that "work" for those results. or do you want $2500 per day?

      Do you want to trade time for money, or do you want to sell an information product? do you want to be an affiliate, the product owner, an e-commerce store?

      the bottom line is ... you need to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and work out from there. if you want to sell stuff, then look at what you already really know and can teach (and sell!)

      This information is given about 10 to 15 times per day on this forum... you really need to apply yourself and do more research. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's true.

      more importantly, stopping things that aren't getting you results is the first port of call... and stop paying for stuff when you don't really know why you're paying for it!

      Once you've done that, you can get a clear head space... and decide what it is you really want not just from a financial point of view, but from life itself. Is this really what you want? do you have a burning heart for this stuff?

      as others have said, this isn't for everybody ... so you need to ask yourself some serious questions on a deeper level, before worrying about which WSO will can make you financially secure (because without the right mental attitude, none of them will)

      Good luck.

      Nick
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    It's entirely possible to avoid the hype and just get on with building a business.
    For example you could start today to build an authority website/blog in your chosen niche or create a product to sell or start building a newsletter list with thousands of subscribers. Nothing hypey about that. These are simple strategies which have always worked.

    What do you want to do?


    Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author DogScout
    I was a bit jaded and bitter when I 1st came here. I just shut up one more day then you did. Lol.
    While I agree, not everyone is 'cut out' for this way of life, there are a lot of pit falls and the MMO niche is wide open to new people that are easily taken advantage of. In my meaningless opinion, there are more good, ethical, helpful, and caring people here than most places on the net, and I don't just mean marketing places.

    I am an old car guy, people used to ask me why the game? (hype). My answer? because people respond to it. Try not 'selling' and you WILL be successful (at not selling).

    Want to help and get a product that cost nothing? Read this thread (which should only take a couple or three days), then read it again. Then go out and do some of the things it suggests. All it will cost you is time. If in 2 weeks you haven't made any money, get a job. (because this is the easiest thing you can do to make a buck on the net.... and help people at the same time.)
    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...XAPO2SrBTRpB6f

    Welcome BTW
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  • Profile picture of the author Terry Hatfield
    If you are drowning in a sea of information then the answer is to start swimming. You learn ten times faster by doing than by reading.

    Start taking action and marking the unknowns off your list. If you read for a year before taking action then you will still have the same number of unknowns it will just be a different list.
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    • Profile picture of the author RanD
      You mention having adsense and clickbank accounts that you check, so obviously you have a site up. I guess the question is, what is the problem you are having? Traffic, conversion,...?

      Basically, everything that you need to start making money can be found on these forums for free. Yes, some of the WSO's and other tools make things easier, but pretty much all of it can be done manually with little to no cost.

      You need is good keyword research which can be done with the free Google Keyword tool.
      You need good content and/or sales copy, which you can write yourself.
      You then need to drive traffic to that content, which can all be done for free

      Excellent strategies for all that stuff can be found on these forums.

      If you haven't done it yet, install Google Analytics on you website to see what kind of traffic you are getting and how long they are staying. If your bounce rate is high and the clickthrough on your adsense and affiliate links is low, you need to modify your site to make it more appealing to visitors. Try to put yourself in the mind of your visitors. What would you like to see if you came across your site.

      Traffic is key. There are many. many great threads on building backlinks to your site...article marketing, social bookmarking, RSS feeds, etc...

      I think the hard part is that there are many ways of doing things, and some people are more hardcore than others. You just need to find something that fits your style and personality.

      You seem a little stressed out. Might I recommend that you check out some of Xfactor's threads on his experience with adsense. I suggest starting with this one

      6 Months Later: $300 Daily w/Adsense (Lessons Learned)

      He is very laid back and easy going and answers a lot of questions people had for him. He also sells and ebook (in his sig) where he outlines exactly what he does, but he would be the first to tell you that you don't need to buy it. You can find all the information you need for free.

      There is a lot of other good information on these forums, but that is a good low stress place to start, imo.
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    • Profile picture of the author Adamonation92
      Originally Posted by Terry Hatfield View Post

      If you are drowning in a sea of information then the answer is to start swimming. You learn ten times faster by doing than by reading.

      Start taking action and marking the unknowns off your list. If you read for a year before taking action then you will still have the same number of unknowns it will just be a different list.

      I agree with this 100%. But you must remember that you will be faced with 1 thousand different ways to make money (articles, ppc, cpa, affiliate marketing, adsense, blogging, ppv, building a list, seo, freelance, plr, etc.)

      When mastered any of these skill sets can make you a solid lavish income. However its crucial that you MASTER just one skill first. So many people are good at everything but never MASTER anything. If you don't master one skill you will never make any money.

      -Matt
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  • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
    Originally Posted by vonspurter View Post

    Before I rant on, a bit about me. I'm 43, works as an IT Consultant, been involved in computing since I was 14. Spent many years in the military but out now.
    Your background is somewhat like mine except that I'm on the programming and business analysis side, not the net admin side. I understand your skepticism about the Internet marketing process. It kind of goes against our common mode of thinking. You'll have to put the tech thinking aside somewhat and put on a marketing hat, as uncomfortable as that may be.

    Originally Posted by vonspurter View Post

    So my question, which is a call for help really - what works? Don't say read the threads in the forum - I have. I also have a limited budget or I'd buy everything and evaluate them all - if I could do that I wouldn't be here!
    If you want to study my pattern, take a look at this post on my blog: Earn Online Cash with a Niche Adsense Blog. It covers most of the details. It's not the only way to do make money online and there are others that may be better. There are other techniques I try to use as well. This is the one though that started making me money after struggling somewhat at first after I stopped selling stuff on eBay.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Morgan
      this business is all about trying, trying again and trying until you succeed. Not everything is going to work. In fact most stuff won't work. And you can do the exact same thing someone is doing successfully, and get different results. And something can work for a month or so and take a dive. Thats what people mean when they talk about the "IM lifestyle".

      The thing is, the only way to succeed and get what you want is to try, and fail and pick yourself back up. You have to take risks, and fall on your face. The best businessmen in the world failed too, it's the name of the game.

      I hope you don't give up too quick, you could be just on the verge of something great. You're just learning the 10,000 ways that wont work. Speaking of Edison:

      Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

      Just throwing that out there. I think Nick Brighton might be on to something. A blog or book about dealing with Divorce. That's a huge market.
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      Jeremy Morgan, Software Developer / SEO
      Check out my Programming Blog for news, tips, and tutorials
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      • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Kelsall
        Originally Posted by Jeremy Morgan View Post

        Just throwing that out there. I think Nick Brighton might be on to something. A blog or book about dealing with Divorce. That's a huge market.
        Good idea, except then he would have to have one of those aweful sales pages and maybe even use some graphics to deceive the innocent web visitors that land on his site.
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  • Profile picture of the author MattSanti
    And here's another question to for you I'd like to ask: How long are you sticking with any one thing? Someone already mentioned the Edison quote. Have you found something that did bring in a small amount of money? Then why not go back to that same, concept, strategy, technique whatever it is that you did do that was successful and do more of that? It might be boring, it might not be sexy, but if it brought you a little income, imagine if you continued to refine and tweak it, it could change things. Test, test, test - that's what marketing is all about.
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    Clickbank InfoProduct website for sale: ElementsOfMemory.com. Online Memory Improvement Video Course. PM me with questions.
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