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My I.M. Life so far and where to go from here?

by TomBuck
15 replies
Okay so I am 17 studying and work online part time about 2-3hours a day. By the end of 2011 I would like to be on $5k a year as I believe it is possible due to what I have been learning over the last 6 months, and also occasional $150 days. So that is the aim $5k a month by 2012.

Quick breakdown of how I am getting money at the moment. Like many people I think I started by buying a hyped up product that was RUBBISH If you are American I believe you say Garbage! I think I got probably one of the worst ones I have seen too. Any way so I didn't make any money from this, instead of giving up I just said to myself in September 2010, that I would just get free info and find other ways to try and make money online. Checked sites, youtube, blogs and picked up a few tips.

I believed free was best (always.) So instead of paying a bit for a site I started on hubpages and created hubs about product reviews. Now if you have ever done this then you basically know that it is all about the google rankings. So I got started on SEO.

Cut a month and a lot of work I got my first cent. $1.79 on clickbank. I was sooo happy. So I continued to learn SEO and do more product reviews and by the end of October I had about $80 in my clickbank account. So by now I knew all the basics of making money online, clickbank, adsense and basically just the background knowledge of SEO.

Anyway I continued doing the review sites and started on google adsense, as it is really easy to integrate into hubpages. And started making something like 5c a day from adsense. That was it in terms of progress for November, but I did get another $200 in my clickbank account. Which I was very pleased with. November also saw the end of my do not buy anything stage! I checked out some sites and brought some cheap software.

December was my best month, I got 10c per day from adsense and another $300 from clickbank. I also joined two new sites that I love! One of these is Commission Junction, you will all know this - I use it for CPA more that the affiliate side but it is really good. The other is global domains International, they are both going fine, about $1 a day from cj.com and 3 referrals so far from gdi and growing. I also teamed up with a friend to make a website called getsleepgetenergy.com (Don't really know if I should include that.) Anyway that tells people how to cure insomnia and such, as I struggled with it for a while.

So life was good.

Then lets say personal issues happened over Christmas time and I no longer had what I called a "try it" budget. Instead I can only use what I have made. Luckily I have $600 in the bank from my clickbank check and other general money.



So I am looking where to go now to achieve my aim. (5k a month.)?

P.S. I love software and youtube, didn't really know where to fit this in but I have tried SEnuke, seolinkvine. But cancelled a while back(due to budget.) Should I re get these or different ones? I have heard that SERPassist is good?

THANKS so much for reading and I am sure that you will give me some great advice and ways to increase earnings.

P.S.S. Love Warrior Forums and always will.
#i.m. #life #software
  • Profile picture of the author agnstege
    Hi

    Unfortunately I'm in no state to give you advice, but I just wanted to congratulate you.
    I wish I had started as young as you are, but was too busy programming and making other people money haha.

    Well done dude, good luck reaching your goal!
    Tony
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  • Profile picture of the author DylanJames
    Here's a tip.

    That Rubbish you bought...forget about what's in the course and learn how the course got on your computer. That lesson will get you to your goal.

    What I'm saying is, forget about what people are selling and learn how they are selling it. Once you learn how to market a product or service (by watching the people trying to sell you), then all you'll need is something to replicate the process (your own product or service).

    I'm much more of an offline guy myself but I opened my first store when I was right around your age. I didn't have a clue what I was doing but I managed to surround myself with the right people and watch what they did. Long story short, 20 years and 6 more businesses later, that original store is still up, running and growing today.

    So the lessons...watch and learn from the successful people, surround yourself with the right people who have the skills that you lack, and just go out there and do it!

    If you do it and fail, you're not going to die! You might be broke, but you'll still be alive.
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    • Profile picture of the author rising_sun
      Banned
      Originally Posted by DylanJames View Post

      Here's a tip.
      What I'm saying is, forget about what people are selling and learn how they are selling it. Once you learn how to market a product or service (by watching the people trying to sell you), then all you'll need is something to replicate the process (your own product or service).
      That is exactly what you have to do. I love software and game developing as well as programming too. I just never lose my patience keeping on trying to work freelancer and becoming familiar with much more practical applications of them.

      Best of Luck
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  • Profile picture of the author siahsc
    Hi TomBuck,

    Firstly, well done! In my opinion, you have what it takes to be successful. Keep going!

    I considered myself as newbie still though I have been doing affiliate morning for slightly more than a year. I have been through the same experience like more of you.

    If budget permits, and you are doing SEO, then building backlinks is very important. I am sure you know that. Then you would need money to pay for a tool or a membership site, or even buy a backlink building service. I feel that buying a service is probably better in terms of managing your cost. These backlink builders do really know where to post the links.

    For video marketing, you can create a simple video using power point and Microsoft live movie maker. Post it to Youtube or use Tubemogul to post to other video sites.

    There are others like forums and Twitter which you could use to make money too. Look for people who have the need in your niche and communicate with them before you sell them the products via affiliate links.

    Hope this helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author Charlotte Jay
    Great job! Yeah, I understand what happens when you lose your budget. It can be incredibly tough to lose your capital. I think what you're doing is really good and obviously you enjoy it. Is it an avenue you want to keep on walking? If it is then I would say keep doing it but modify it to your budget and time restraints. As for making $5k per month, that is a really achievable goal, there are so many ways you could do this. Think PLR, affiliate marketing, offline marketing, make your own product and on and on It really all depends on what YOU like to do. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Hey thanks for the info so far.
    I love software, didn't really know where to fit this in but I have tried SEnuke, seolinkvine. But cancelled a while back(due to budget.) Should I re get these or different ones? I have heard that SERPassist is good?
    Do you know of the best softwares?

    Also I kind of don't know where to go from here, stuck in a rut a little bit.
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  • Profile picture of the author JuliannaW
    You are much better off already than most people in that you have a attainable goal and the desire to reach it.

    Run with that ambition and I'm sure you will be fine.
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    All I want to do is be with you ... feel like I matter, too.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketwarrior06
    Banned
    you are already in a great state. but you should not stop. just continue your job and dream about your goal . think it will inspire you.
    continue it.
    best wishes in 2011
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  • Profile picture of the author butch04
    Well if you continue to do the review sites you might want to ramp it up.

    This is a great site to get a step ahead of everyone else. Joint Venture (JV) Lists, Announcements, Blogs, And Community Forums.
    That site lists all the newest CB products coming out months in advance.

    Secondly since you have some things going for you already maybe you should turn your attention to building a list and product creation? You seem like you know a good amount and the knowledge you have & learned can probably be passed on to others via your own product. This is the direction I would start heading, but that's just me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nithiyaah
    Hi TomBuck,
    First of all, I want to congratulate for your success. Don't worry that you have very little money to head over to your new direction. Big things starts with small capital. Have you consider of integrating video marketing in your affiliate marketing? Don't use the typical template thingy. Try to come up with something original. May be you can talk about a product in live via a video. This gains more people to buy the stuff you're introducing. Another suggestion is have you build up your own list? Having your own list is another great way to earn a solid income. I myself don't believe it until I start making money via my list. So, having your own list and also your own product is definitely a win situation for you. However,this is just my opinion. No matter what happens, don't give up on what you're doing right now. Just carry on with it & put more effort in it. You'll definitely will see the fruits of your efforts
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  • Profile picture of the author auradev
    Lots of good advice here but going from less than 1K per month 5K a month is a pretty ridiculous goal. There are people who have done it though, but here is the thing:

    When you see these people saying that they started out at 0 and made 100K in the first year, these aren't people who were brand new and knew nothing. Generally they had a string of failures beforehand (which they learned greatly from).

    I'll give you a personal example: for years I designed websites as a freelancer and then some how stumbled across affiliate marketing. After trying things off an on for a year (really low effort), I made my first commission which was $200.

    That made me realize that this is possible, so I upped my effort to 7 hour per week consistently for 2nd year. With that effort I achieved $1000/month consistently after 8 months and by the end of the year its $1500ish.

    So now I am at the start of year 3 and barely doing $2K a month. But that is not chump change, it pays the mortgage on nice house.

    Now, keep in mind that the average person (in the real world) makes 40K working full time, and it sounds like you are not going to be spending 8 hours per day every day on this. Lets say you spend 4. So you are wanting to make 3X the average.

    Just sayin - its unrealistic, also probably too long term for a young guy. When I was 18 I couldn't plan more than 6 months in advance.

    A good goal for you would be to get up to $1K per month consistently within the next 3 months. If you fail, you start it again. $1K within 90 days. If you fail, start it again. Until you get there. Then $2K in 90 days. and so on.

    And hey, maybe if you make each goal in 60 days instead of 90, you will get that $5K.

    I wish you the best.
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    • Profile picture of the author Charlotte Jay
      Originally Posted by auradev View Post

      Lots of good advice here but going from less than 1K per month 5K a month is a pretty ridiculous goal. There are people who have done it though, but here is the thing:

      When you see these people saying that they started out at 0 and made 100K in the first year, these aren't people who were brand new and knew nothing. Generally they had a string of failures beforehand (which they learned greatly from).

      I'll give you a personal example: for years I designed websites as a freelancer and then some how stumbled across affiliate marketing. After trying things off an on for a year (really low effort), I made my first commission which was $200.

      That made me realize that this is possible, so I upped my effort to 7 hour per week consistently for 2nd year. With that effort I achieved $1000/month consistently after 8 months and by the end of the year its $1500ish.

      So now I am at the start of year 3 and barely doing $2K a month. But that is not chump change, it pays the mortgage on nice house.

      Now, keep in mind that the average person (in the real world) makes 40K working full time, and it sounds like you are not going to be spending 8 hours per day every day on this. Lets say you spend 4. So you are wanting to make 3X the average.

      Just sayin - its unrealistic, also probably too long term for a young guy. When I was 18 I couldn't plan more than 6 months in advance.

      A good goal for you would be to get up to $1K per month consistently within the next 3 months. If you fail, you start it again. $1K within 90 days. If you fail, start it again. Until you get there. Then $2K in 90 days. and so on.

      And hey, maybe if you make each goal in 60 days instead of 90, you will get that $5K.

      I wish you the best.
      Hey, I have to disagree with you on this one. It is absolutely achievable, just depends on what branch of IM you choose, and how much planning and dedication you put into it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Social Experts
    Hey man! Great job I am 19 and I was at your stage when I was 17, earning bits here and there, then I took a year off rather than going to uni I decided to follow my dream and become a full time Internet Marketer. BY FAR the best decision I have made in my life to date. I am now working for myself, loving what I do.

    Whatever you choose to do from now on I suggest follow IM, you obviously have a passion for it so take risks and dive into it, you wont regret it!

    Now for some tips. I have done SEO in the past and even though it's crazy expenisve.. There is nothing and I mean nothing on the market like Xrummer. This is basically all you need to be dominate.

    Also, Scrapebox is a tool I used a lot. It's basically a web scraper + blog commenting software.

    Hey, chuck me a PM and I might be able to give you somethings that will really help you

    Peace!
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    Chill.

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  • Profile picture of the author Darren Beecham
    Great stuff Tom.

    Keep at it and in a few years you will be rolling in money with your attitude and willingness to do whats required for success in IM
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Thanks a lot for the cool comments and I think I may do what Matt has done. But first I need to get steady income. I guess I don't know what part of I.M. I want to go into next because although Product reviews get a bit of money they are very boring and for the amount of work put in maybe there could be a more profitable way to use my time?

    Thanks so far
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