by jkennedy Banned
12 replies
Hello all, this is your typical lost in the IM jungle post. I need help finding a bit of clarity.

To start, I'm a web designer, and not to toot a horn but I've been one for years and I'm pretty good at it. However, I'm begining to get a bit tired of it honestly. There is simply so much involved, though I'm not too lazy to work, it's just getting old and isn't paying quite enough.

Here's the thing. I've been wanting to do a solo gig for quite some time, but never could put my finger on exactly what to do. Now my wife and I are expecting a son in a few months and I'd like to get into something a bit more automated so that I can spend my time with my family. After all, I feel that is the most important thing in life. I'm scared, however, that if I get into something else that I might not be able to support my family on the income.

I've been reading on WF for about a month now and really love it here. You guys have great advice and it feels like a real community.

What I am looking for is a bit of direction. I know that I can use my talents to make money online, but I'd like to find a way to use them without having to freelance full blown webdesign as it's very time consuming. I read some good reviews on a WSO involving flipping sites on flippa, apparently his system can be done in a couple hours if you are experienced. Looks pretty good but I don't know, and I honestly don't have the $17 to afford to buy it.

I read another one about making $700 a day with CPA. Can't afford that one either and I'm not sure if I should rely on something like that even though there are TONs of good reviews about it.

I was also looking at CPL writing. I think I could pull it off but it doesn't look like something that can support a family.

I'm not looking to get rich quick, and I dont mind working hard, as long as I can fit in time for my family. I'm also willing to try something completely new to me but I think it couldn't hurt to put my knowlege to good use.

I would appreciate very much if you guys could pull together a few good, solid, honest, and real ideas to help me out.

Thanks guys, I mean it.
Jeremy Kennedy
#confused #dazed
  • Profile picture of the author GoogleWarrior
    You could try making an Ebook on "HOW TO DO WEB DESIGN."

    I am not a web designer or computer pro but I did make an ebook, with a squeeze page and a sales page

    --http://eslclassroomgames.com--

    Take a look, and I am sure that you would be able to do the same.

    I just paid for the Ebook + CD picture
    Paid for the Wordpress Plugin
    Wrote the text
    And paid a few people from fivver to take some pictures for me.

    I should also say that... it did take a long time from the time that I had the idea to sell an ebook to the time that it was actually for sale....

    but this is automated...and I don't need to do anything to it anymore; and it will continue to make money.

    Also, I did pay a few Warriors for Hire to do the SEO work... but that was only around 100 dollars.

    I would recommend you to check my site out
    ESL GAMES: ESL GAMES which will help make you more money!

    and if I can do it... surely you can do. Believe in yourself!
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    Jeremy, Sorry I haven't read your OP yet but I will soon.
    I seen the Thread Title and had to add this!


    Hope that Helps till I return,
    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author jkennedy
    Banned
    Thanks for the input GoogleWarrior. I did think in fact think about writing an ebook. Though "How to do webdesign" might be a tad to broad to actually sell, but I might be able to do some research and come up with a niche in webdesign that it's hot right now (like Facebook iframe page creation). I forgot to mention that my wife is an English major and is a pretty good writer so that might be something she could do as well.

    My question however is do you think that kind of thing could provide enough income for a family of 3? I'm sure I would have to write multiple ebooks, and of course it all depends on quality of content as to how well it would sell.

    I took a look at your page. Mighty nice niche you have there. I'm sure you are having pretty good success with it. Is it providing you with a pretty good income (aside from being an actual teacher)? Do you sell other ebooks as well or is that your only one?
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  • Profile picture of the author jkennedy
    Banned
    Michael, awesome song, and movie!
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  • Profile picture of the author Vic Shake
    JKennedy,

    If you are a website designer, Go with that, here's a way to make it automated,will take time but will work,

    1) create a website, with your services,
    2) Market it all over on net (PPC, SEO, Banner, Social Media, offline Clients)
    3) hire other freelancers -or online manager
    4) when you get work give it to your team, (managers,freelancers,VA"S)

    rinse and repeat, sit back and manage the business.

    stay with 1 business model

    Cheers Mate..
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    • Profile picture of the author mikeroosa
      You already know how to do web design so you need to start there. Market yourself to the local companies and try to bulid up a little nest egg.

      If you are just burnt out and tired of it, then I believe creating product is where it's at.

      Here's the thing though. This is really hard work and a lot of hours. You can't just write a little book and put it on a page and then sit back and watch the money come in. You have to hustle for sales.

      You need to write content that links back to your site, create press releases, jv with other people, buy ads, work the social media. It's very draining sometimes.
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  • Profile picture of the author jkennedy
    Banned
    Vic, that is excellent advice. I can't believe I didn't think of that already. I've read a lot on outsourcing and it really looks like the way to go with a lot of things. Coordinating a website through several freelancers could be a nightmare, but there are a pleasures of multi-talented developers out there, or simply outsourcing a manager as suggested. With the low cost of freelancing, the profit potiential could be huge.

    Mike, you hit the nail on the head, I am very burnt out on webdesign. I mean, as far as a job goes, it's better than anything else I've done, but I am tired of being an employee. I want to move up in the world and I want to do it in a smarter, more efficient way.
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  • Profile picture of the author NateRivers
    I would take the advice to create a product. I don't know about a product on web design though, as there are hundreds out there... if not more.

    What I make the most money on by far online at this point in time is a product I created, that is part of a blog I run on the same topic(obviously). The blog is ranked #1 for its keyword and most of the derivatives of it in Google. Once someone buys, then I have an autoresponder that runs for over six months sending them more and more content every 3 days, sprinkled with offers to relevant products or services.

    I have some adsense sites, some clickbank product-type sites, and some amazon affiliate sites... all of them make money, but that one site I mentioned, as well as a couple other of my-own-product sites do the best.

    Basically I'm saying you should try doing your own product
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  • Profile picture of the author jkennedy
    Banned
    Hey Nate, thanks for the info. I'm assuming the product you are referring to is the link in your signature. I've seen a lot of guys doing pretty well with product creation. Of course, that's pretty much one of the best things someone could do consider that every single thing that we use and see in our daily lives is a product and somebody is making bank for selling it. Most of what I see on WF are product packages like WSOs. Is this type of product more or less what you are referring to? I will definitely take a deeper look into it.

    BTW, I just signed up for your product, just out of curiosity. I enjoyed the promo you wrote for it, it sounded very honest and intriguing as well. I guess I'll be getting emails for the next 6 months too, ha, if that is the product you were referring to. I don't mind however, I figure it's worth a looksy.
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  • Profile picture of the author NateRivers
    Oh- no it's not actually. My sig link is to a free training I put together about niche sites on my blog about IM. The product I was talking about is a niche way outside of IM. You might find some value in the free training though.... It's actually kind of the same concept because I had put up several niche blogs that I was just selling affiliate stuff on, and the one that was doing the best at the time, that's when I created my own product for it... does that make sense?
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  • Profile picture of the author Brianne
    I think creating a service would be the better way to go, as Vic suggested.
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  • Profile picture of the author jkennedy
    Banned
    Loud and clear, Nate. I did go through the first segment about finding a good niche... Pretty good stuff man. Relatively basic, but good. I'll keep going through it. I love to learn, and it looks like something decent to add to my arsenal.

    Brianne, I like the idea of creating a service that I can outsource. Quite possibly because I already provide this type of service so I am comfortable in that atmosphere. I can think of quite a few ways I could implement something similar to what he was suggesting.

    Here is the moment where the "dazed&confused" comes to play. I really like the idea of creating an outsourced service. But then, createing a product can lead to a more automated system down the road. It's a whirlwind of indecisiveness.
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