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How to make money online... (what's your bridge?)

by Derek Thomas
16 replies
Many of you reading this thread right now are searching for ways to make money online. You're browsing the forum, buying WSOs, and just trying to figure this whole thing out.

Granted, there's a lot of details behind what I'm about to say, but the answer is really quite simple.

You sell stuff.

If you're not selling stuff, you're not going to make any money.

Now before you shake your head and write me off, let me ask you: What are you selling?

Often times when people ask me how to make money online and I ask them what they're selling they respond with..."Nothing yet".

If I may be frank, that's your problem but also your answer.

What's that bridge that will get money from "out there" to your pocket? What's your asset?

It could be a product you've created. It could be a Kindle book. It could be an affiliate product. It could even be a CPA offer. It doesn't really matter, but you need something. Do you have something?

If not, I can't thing of anything else in the world you need to be focusing on but on HOW to get that something. Even if it's not perfect, something is better than nothing.

And once you get that something... SELL! SELL! SELL!

Derek
#bridge #make #make money #money #online
  • Profile picture of the author miklanderson2
    One of the best ways to learn is to get out there and sell. Sure, you're not going to have things down pat at first and you might make some mistakes in the process, but the best way to learn IM is to get off your butt and get to work.

    I'm amazed by the sheer number of people who are failing at IM, but when asked what they've done, it comes to light that they haven't taken action on anything. Either that, or they have a website they've been driving traffic to, but haven't attempted to monetize it or build a list from the traffic.

    Choose a niche, choose a product or service in that niche and learn to sell it. Build a list and learn how to sell to your list. If you can't get a particular product or service to sell, either change the way you're selling it or change the product or service until you're able to consistently sell it for a profit. Then branch out and find other products and niches to target.

    Selling is the only way to make money online. There are a number of items, information products and services you can sell, but it all boils down to selling in the end. If nobody is buying what you're selling (or you aren't selling anything at all), you're going to fail. The longer you wait to learn to sell, the more money you'll have burnt through spinning your wheels.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vilhelmas
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    • Profile picture of the author origin
      Originally Posted by Vilhelmas View Post

      I don't agree with miklanderson2 that selling is the only way to make money online. Now i'm using this Google URL Shortener program ant he perfectly suits me. I don't need to sell anything... :p
      Rich De Vos, founder of Amway said "nothing happens until somebody sells something". If we were not "selling" there would be no reason to exchange money / goods / services.
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    • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
      Originally Posted by Vilhelmas View Post

      I don't agree with miklanderson2 that selling is the only way to make money online. Now i'm using this Google URL Shortener program ant he perfectly suits me. I don't need to sell anything... :p
      Google URL Shortener - this goo.gl shortlink has been disabled. It was found to be violating our Terms of Service. Click here and here for more information about our terms and policies respectively.
      What was that, now?
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve B
        Derek,

        Of course you are right.

        The challenge that most newbies face is figuring out how to translate the charge "to sell something" into the right steps on the ground to enable that to happen. The view from 40,000 feet ("sell something") is a lot clearer than the view on the ground. Or as others will tell you "the devil is in the details."

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author Derek Thomas
          Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

          Derek,

          Of course you are right.

          The challenge that most newbies face is figuring out how to translate the charge "to sell something" into the right steps on the ground to enable that to happen. The view from 40,000 feet ("sell something") is a lot clearer than the view on the ground. Or as others will tell you "the devil is in the details."

          Steve
          I agree.

          The only thing about the "details" you mentioned is that there are dozens of different sets depending on what you're selling, know what I mean? The details for method A may be different than method B.

          The problem is when people - and I've done this in the past too - learn a little about method A, a little about method B, and a little about the newest method XYZ...all the while still having nothing to actually sell (or market).

          The view from above ("sell something") is key, but so is honing in on one target and keeping your focus.

          Most methods work...if you take the time to work them.

          Derek
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    • Profile picture of the author miklanderson2
      Originally Posted by Vilhelmas View Post

      I don't agree with miklanderson2 that selling is the only way to make money online. Now i'm using this Google URL Shortener program ant he perfectly suits me. I don't need to sell anything... :p
      How's that working out for you?
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      -Franklin Jones

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  • Profile picture of the author gmarklin
    There are other ways to make money online other than selling stuff, like writing , webservices consulting, just to name a few, but the constant is you have to work hard and do good work.
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    • Profile picture of the author Derek Thomas
      Originally Posted by gmarklin View Post

      There are other ways to make money online other than selling stuff, like writing , webservices consulting, just to name a few, but the constant is you have to work hard and do good work.
      Not really.

      I'm a writer, and I SELL my copywriting services. I'm also a consultant, and I SELL those services as well. These are not ways to make money "other than selling", that IS selling.

      My point: you have to have something, an asset, that you can exchange for money.

      Sure, it may sound like common sense to some, but I deal with people every day who have yet to identify that "something". It can be one of a dozen different things, but without something to sell...something to market...don't count on making any money.

      My advice: find something! It doesn't have to be perfect, but before you do anything else, identify something - a product, a service, whatever - that will be the "money bridge" from "out there" to your pocket.

      Derek
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    • Profile picture of the author WillR
      Originally Posted by gmarklin View Post

      There are other ways to make money online other than selling stuff, like writing , webservices consulting, just to name a few, but the constant is you have to work hard and do good work.
      That's called SELLING a service.
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  • Profile picture of the author victorfrancis
    Derek is right. Sell, sell, sell. Selling is part of our life. Even if you apply for a job, and during the interview you being ask why they should hire you, then there you should be 'selling' your point of strength. If they 'buy' it, you're hired

    Even I make money from Internet by selling, I never tell my family and relative that I'm an internet marketer, because they will like..."'huh? internet what?". I just tell them I working as salesmen
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  • Profile picture of the author weeklyes
    I've been researching online and I'm going to make a marketing site and sell products on it. Lots of people are looking how to do it so I'm going to pull all the information together. Wish me luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author nivram21
    My two cents is this, Before you start spending any money on programs and things like that I think you should look for FREE courses that teach you the same thing the paid ones do.
    My Christmas GIFT TO YOU Happy Holidays
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  • Profile picture of the author ryedog
    Yup, you have to have something to sell. Product or service. It's about helping others solve their problems for which they will happily pay you. Help enough people get what they want and you will get what you want. I think it was Zig Ziglar that said that.

    Do some research on peoples pain points and write a small but solution packed report on a big pain point and sell it for a few bucks on forums that discuss such problems. Sell your logo or banner creation services to business owners and marketers who have no graphic creation skills. You have got it in you, or you can get something free or cheap to sell for a profit if you go after it and don't make any excuses. Just do it!
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  • Profile picture of the author VOnline
    This has actually been a small dilemma for my new service idea.

    It originally started as a page to see if there's interest and if I want to pursue it. But I think that the nature of this service NEEDS something presentable and ready to be purchased.

    I've started to work on the actual site and get everything together to actually get something deliverable and ready to sell.
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    • Profile picture of the author ryedog
      Originally Posted by VOnline View Post

      This has actually been a small dilemma for my new service idea.

      It originally started as a page to see if there's interest and if I want to pursue it. But I think that the nature of this service NEEDS something presentable and ready to be purchased.

      I've started to work on the actual site and get everything together to actually get something deliverable and ready to sell.
      That's awesome VOnline! When you have the deliverable ready create the sales page addressing the pain point first, then offering the great service as the solution followed by describing the benefits of the service with as much excitement as you can muster.

      Congratulations on taking action and just doing it!

      Ken
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      Why is online cash so complex? It's not.

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    • Profile picture of the author Derek Thomas
      Originally Posted by VOnline View Post

      This has actually been a small dilemma for my new service idea.

      It originally started as a page to see if there's interest and if I want to pursue it. But I think that the nature of this service NEEDS something presentable and ready to be purchased.

      I've started to work on the actual site and get everything together to actually get something deliverable and ready to sell.
      Back in late 2009 I learned about keyword research from Ed Dale's "30 Day Challenge". I noticed that many people struggled with this so I had the idea to offer it as a service for hire in the Warrior Forum.

      Five years later I'm still selling these services today.

      It all started with an idea; an idea just to see if anyone would buy it. They did. Not every idea since has been a home run, but all you really need is one good idea to get started.

      But that's the key...

      ...you have to get started.

      Good luck!
      Derek
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      Thousands of happy Warriors agree...
      This service is a MUST - so worth it - Barry C.
      Derek is a keyword genius - Alan W.
      The results are incredible - page one already! - Navia B.
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