What did you start with?

25 replies
I'm a bit overwhelmed with everything I read. What did you start with?
#start
  • Profile picture of the author Anomaly1974
    A thought. That thought turned into an idea. That idea became a dream. From that dream I set a goal. I then worked on turning that goal into a reality.
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    “They did not know it was impossible so they did it”
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    • Profile picture of the author Chazbo
      Whatever you do start building a list as soon as you can - I've been in IM for about half a week (not long )and I'm focusing all my efforts to growing a list at the moment
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      • Profile picture of the author Phillips Pierce
        You've been in the game for half a week and you're giving advice?

        List building is important but contrary to belief the money isnt in the list. It's in the ways in which you exploit that list.

        To the OP, my advice is to not buy anything until you find a direction.

        Figure out what path you want to go down on. Affiliate marketing, Info product creation, CPA, Ebay selling, drop shipping, etc etc etc. That's step one. Don't just point and pick, think it through. Read the forums a bit (A BIT, money isn't made reading) Then come back and ask for specifics.


        Originally Posted by Chazbo View Post

        Whatever you do start building a list as soon as you can - I've been in IM for about half a week (not long )and I'm focusing all my efforts to growing a list at the moment
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  • Profile picture of the author colinph970
    Learn a skill that you can sell....website building, article writing etc Instant Cashflow!
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    • Profile picture of the author Ryan Dodson
      I started with TurboMembership.com and took a course that walked me through the basics. From there it was uphill. But even before that, I read a book written by Bryan Kumar called Success Secrets! that set me on the right path.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Mogusar
      I agree with Colin...I started an article writing service three days ago for immediate income. I love to write and I'm learning Internet marketing, so this was a logical first step. It took me three months to take this step, though.

      Before that, I was always studying every method I could find, looking for the "magic bullet." There is no magic bullet. What works for one person may not work for another. It depends on what you enjoy doing.

      Next month, I am delving into infoproduct creation. I have one solid idea for a very useful Internet marketing product; however, that is not the niche I would like to concentrate on. I have other passions that are quite marketable. I intend for this to eventually fully take over my article writing services, as it has more long-term potential. In the meantime, I will enjoy doing both.

      The most important thing is to TAKE ACTION as soon as you discover what you want to do.

      As another poster stated, don't spend money until you know what you want to do. Maybe buy one or two low-dollar products to investigate what they're all about, but don't do like I did and by product after product with no purpose. You will experience information overload and never get to the point of taking action.

      There is ALWAYS something else that you "need" to learn. Resist that temptation, and learn "just enough." Then start your journey. Again, don't spend significant money until you KNOW where you are heading.

      For example, web hosting and a domain name or two may be appropriate expenses, but don't buy five different WSOs that are pulling you in every direction. Stay very focused initially, until you are an expert at what you are doing, and slowly branch out as you discover more related skills that will be very helpful to you in the short term.

      If you were to make one purchase, I would recommend a $37 lifetime subscription to the "War Room" on this forum. You will gain free access to a lot of helpful material, much of it being currently sold as WSOs.

      You will still need to pick and choose what you study, though...it will certainly be information overload if you don't!

      Others on this forum are extremely helpful, so continue asking any questions you have as you narrow your search for where you would like to start.

      Ah, one more suggestion. If you are interested in developing a marketable skill for immediate income, visit the "Warriors for Hire" section to see what services are in demand. Think outside the box a bit to come up with a mutation that may be helpful. Also, check out fiverr.com for some ideas. Once you find an idea that you would enjoy and your research leads you to believe you will make enough money for your time, invest 15 or 20 hours to learn that skill.

      Hope this helps!
      John


      Originally Posted by colinph970 View Post

      Learn a skill that you can sell....website building, article writing etc Instant Cashflow!
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      Frustrated with your ghostwriter?
      I'm a USA-based content writer offering a 100% money-back guarantee!
      Buy today before my rates go up!

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      • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
        I started with a strong desire to learn, an idea and a strong tolerance for overcoming obstacles and quick money plans! Oh, The money came much later.
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        • Profile picture of the author chrisen
          I started with Blogger by promoting a Clickbank product. Didn't see much from that. I eventually found out about Hubpages and Squidoo and started writing articles promoting Amazon products. I eventually made another Blogger site and finally got my first Amazon sale. That had me hooked and inspired me to purchase my own hosting and domain (along with various threads on this forum). Things got much better after starting to use Wordpress on my own domain and hosting.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pixel Minisite
    I started with affiliate marketing, I already knew how to build a website and all that stuff so it was really easy for me to start but it wasn't easy to learn what's really make you money but thankfully affiliate marketing went well for me, and my first sale was $100 which was really cool amount of money to start with..
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  • Profile picture of the author onegoodman
    I started selling my college textbooks. Then, it hit me to watch what may sell on Amazon
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  • Profile picture of the author SiteSmarty
    What ever you do, do one thing well and be known for it. Rule your niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author George Wright
    I "started" about 3 times. My favorite start was...

    When I returned home broke with no car after living with my Mom about 60 miles from my home for 6 months to be with her for the last few months of her life. Kept her out of an old folks home and had some very good times.

    Anyway when I got home, as I mentioned My wife and I were out of everything.

    My only resource was one way bus fare, period.

    I got on the bus and rode so far from home I was stranded unless I made some money, and at the time I didn't even have money for lunch.

    Well, I walked into the first business nearest the bus stop. Asked for the owner and told him I would build him a website for $xxx. He said no. I said how about $xxx, he said no. I kept talking to him and lowering my price until he said yes.

    Repeat that until lunch time at which time I had a nice "bank roll" in my pocket.

    Stopped at a little restaurant where I had a very nice lunch. I asked to speak to the owner. I said, "This food is so good I'd like to help you tell others about it." "How about I build you a website for the price of this meal and a few more dollars." DEAL MADE.

    Went to the store bought a couple bags of groceries and some wine and candy and got on the bus and rode home.

    Never had to explain to my Wife that this Computer stuff is a good thing.

    The rest is history. I love this thing we call "Internet Marketing."

    George Wright
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    "The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
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  • Profile picture of the author design2convert
    I have started with PTC site but that's was not good experience at the end so i have connected myself with Outsourcing sites and got good response from there in a shape of good earnings.
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  • Profile picture of the author lizziehumphreys
    I started searching for ways to make money. I found hundreds of scam but I found a great free site called Squidoo.

    It's no get rid quick scheme and it takes 3 months before you even see a payment. Basically, you write articles about anything and everything you want to, and the more visitors you get, the more money you'll get. The system is really good but it's only after 6 months that I've started to see decent money coming in...
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    • Profile picture of the author williamrose
      I started out with a micro niche website. The topic was pork chop recipes (I have no idea how I got to that..)

      Simple wordpress blog with 5 or so recipe posts with pictures, they were really easy to write up because the research was a doddle. I made sure to incorporate the keywords I had extensively re-searched. I whacked adsense on it in some hotspots and began seeing a few bucks here and there after just a couple of weeks.

      I had to block a bunch of low CPC ads, mind.

      I was hooked after that.

      Of course, I then got totally distracted by something else as is the story of my life, I wish I had kept it alive and optimised it a bit more.

      Good keyword research pays off!
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  • Profile picture of the author LauraJames
    I started with learning the various aspects of internet marketing, including what lures people into this industry, along with promotional campaigns of those who have achieved some level of success. I also learned the value of "white hat" marketing and surrounding myself with others who also have a positive mindset.
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  • Profile picture of the author rschuchy
    I agree with Phillips :
    Figure out what path you want to go down on. Affiliate marketing, Info product creation, CPA, Ebay selling, drop shipping, etc etc etc. That's step one. Don't just point and pick, think it through. Read the forums a bit (A BIT, money isn't made reading) Then come back and ask for specifics.
    It's kind of like when you were in school and told to write a paper. If it could be on anything it was hard to get started. The more narrow the topic the easier to start. It's the same here. There is so much it paralyzes. Take a look at business models, see if something seems comfortable (you love scrapbooking and set up a site teaching others, you love garage sales so you gravitate to eBay) and then focus on that model.

    Until you make a decision to focus on one thing you'll be pulled by every new thing you encounter.
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    • Profile picture of the author grover69
      It doesn't really matter where you start, but choose something that sounds appealing and stick with it (trust me on this). I actually enjoyed writing, so I began with article marketing and that helped me fine tune my copywriting skills (which always have room for improvement). Then next thing I really enjoyed was creating websites, so I plunged head first into learning Wordpress and sorting out what plugins are the most useful, and now I can crank out sites like mad. Just try to stay focused because not staying focused will be one of your biggest time sinks.
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    • Profile picture of the author SarahMcHarry
      I started with a Site Built It skin care website which, although it got good traffic, I didn't have the experience to monetize it profitably. But from there I gradually picked up the skills to do market research, SEO and website building.

      My advice would be to pick on a niche that you have some knowledge of, research monetization and then build a website. The next thing you have to do (and this is the most important) is to learn how to do effective SEO so that your site attracts targeted traffic. There's no point in having a website if no-one ever visits it. When you have some income, re-invest a proportion of that into expanding your business into other niches.

      You will need to spend a bit of money to get started: courses to learn the skills, webhosting, linkbuilding etc. If you don't have starting capital, sell a few unwanted possessions on eBay and invest the proceeds in your business.

      There are plenty of WSOs on this forum that can help you learn the basics.

      Good luck!

      Sarah
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  • Profile picture of the author Goldenboy
    Thanks for sharing your story George. It simply says that we can make something out of nothing. In my case, I started as an article writer since I don't have this idea regarding the Internet Marketing. I was just a plain article which I can say I'm good because I am into writing since my college years and finished my Masters. Both degrees require me to write essays, conduct some researches, term papers and thesis.
    By simply providing employers articles that they want me to write, I was earning some amount then while trying to conduct some research about the topic that I was assigned to write, I stumble upon an article that discusses on how to earn money through online marketing. I was very curious so I decided to read the article and eventually attempted to try and apply what the author of the article has stated.
    Positive outcome was that I really earned some money but it's not that big but I was thrilled that I really could earn money from it.
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  • Profile picture of the author RandySeet
    Do you prefer to provide services or market product?

    1. PROVIDE SERVICES

    Check out the WSO and Hire Section and see what services others are offering and you can start your too.

    2. MARKET PRODUCT
    • Find a Niche.
    • Study your niche.
    • Research your niche.
    • List of problems and wants.
    • Communicate and build relationship in your niche community.
    Things needed:
    • Squeeze Page. (Various of Opt-in Page with different topics)
    • Auto responder email sequences.
    • Blog.
    • Traffic.
    I empathy you because I'm in your shoes once.

    I start with building relationship while doing the things listed on NO.2. Hope it help.

    Yours Sincerely,
    Randy Seet
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  • Profile picture of the author letsgetstarted
    I'm thinking about starting a blog(calling it a online magazine). Then market products on it, after a while maybe my own ebooks.

    But I lack skills in every direction. I'm not a native english speaker, so that's a big problem.
    I can put up a wordpress blog, but who can't?
    I have no design skills or program skills. I actually started my plan in the weightless niche.
    Where I'm actually selling motivation with myself as example. Don't know how good idea that is.

    Right now I'm actually thinking about, what do I do in my life that others also want to do or achieve. With finding that out I can make all kinds of "products"/blogs to sort of showcase myself and my how to's for others.

    Good idea?
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by letsgetstarted View Post

      I'm thinking about starting a blog(calling it a online magazine). Then market products on it, after a while maybe my own ebooks.
      Plenty of people have got off to a good start, that way.

      (I'm not quite so sure about calling it an "online magazine", because some people think of an "online magazine" or "electronic magazine" as being an "e-zine", and e-zines are sent by email rather than being on websites).

      Originally Posted by letsgetstarted View Post

      I'm not a native english speaker, so that's a big problem.
      It seems that you can write in English, but clearly you'll need to have your content checked by someone who is a native English speaker. Maybe a small problem, rather than a big one? At least you're aware of the possibility of that being a problem (which is more than some people are!).

      Originally Posted by letsgetstarted View Post

      I can put up a wordpress blog, but who can't?
      I can't.

      Originally Posted by letsgetstarted View Post

      I actually started my plan in the weightless niche. Where I'm actually selling motivation with myself as example. Don't know how good idea that is.
      Maybe very good - especially if you have a personal story to tell. But be aware that it's a really competitive niche, and you'll need to find non-competitive or at least less competitive approaches to it.

      Weight loss is more a "market" than a niche, really: it's too big to be just a "niche".

      Originally Posted by letsgetstarted View Post

      Right now I'm actually thinking about, what do I do in my life that others also want to do or achieve. With finding that out I can make all kinds of "products"/blogs to sort of showcase myself and my how to's for others.

      Good idea?
      Yes - can be a very good idea. Depending on your ability to "put good offers in front of highly targeted traffic", however you're going to do that.
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  • Profile picture of the author ezybux4u
    I have personally used selling services on Fiverr to build bank for other things, including media buying and pay per view advertising. When done correctly you get good ROI. Facebook advertising (if you are willing and ready) can yield some really good results.

    Wish you well letsgetstarted, Peace and Prosperity
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