I can't seem to make consistent income :(

26 replies
I've been in the IM business for about 4 years now, and I've made a few hundred $$ here and there, but I can't seem to make any kind of consistent money online.

I have a part time job that pays about $100 a week, and I'm beginning to lose hope that I won't be working for $7.40 an hour for the rest of my life. Whenever I get one thing to work, something changes and I'm broke again..

Any tips??
#consistent #income #make
  • Profile picture of the author shaynjordan
    It sounds like you are doubting yourself and that is a big thing. It's going to be hard sometimes but you need to jump back up and get back on the horse.

    Are you doing it consistently? Or just here and there?
    Signature
    Are You Working In Your Passion?
    "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." - Albert Einstein
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5969448].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Matthieu Miser
      well i try to do it consistently, but whenever i set something up, like a ppc campagin, i find myself just sitting looking at my stats. This gets even worse when I have technical difficulties or something, I get way sidetracked when I have to wait for a few days for something I'm not even sure will work.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5969500].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Ian Varnava
        Originally Posted by Matthieu Miser View Post

        well i try to do it consistently, but whenever i set something up, like a ppc campagin, i find myself just sitting looking at my stats. This gets even worse when I have technical difficulties or something, I get way sidetracked when I have to wait for a few days for something I'm not even sure will work.
        This may be one of your issues. Everyone loves looking at stats, but you have to understand that hitting REFRESH on your stats is not making you money. You have to do OTHER stuff to get those stats to increase. Believe me, I used to have an issue with this myself (still do sometimes), and I had to be firm with myself and put a stop to it. Now I have a browser which I never use (Internet Explorer) and I have all my affiliate networks etc (anywhere I need to check 'stats') set to open in different tabs when I open the program. I've given myself a hard limit of ONCE daily to open IE and run through every tab checking all the stats and digging in as much as I want. However, once I do that, that's it for the day. I'm not allowed to check stats now for another 24 hours. Sometimes I don't even check stats at all the whole day and just let it go on to the next day. I have told myself over and over that there is no point in checking stats over and over throughout the day, they will be whatever they're going to be whether I check them or not. Consider setting limits for yourself like that... not only with stats (that was just an example) but with everything. Even work needs limits. If you're sitting on your computer working like crazy for 9 hours straight, your head is going to hurt. Set up time-blocks... 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour (preferably no more than an hour) where you sit down, forget about everything else, and WORK. After the time block is over (set an alarm or something), you get up, take a walk, stretch, get some water, tea, have a piece of fruit, run around the block, whatever... just give yourself a few minutes after each time block to cool off and then come back and do the same. Once your work day is over, don't prolong it, leave it for tomorrow and enjoy some time with your family or doing personal, non-business things. All of this is easier said than done, but IMO is very necessary.

        I think what you should do is start 'fresh'. Forget about what's happened in the past. Cut yourself off from forums and checking stats, and focus solely on WORKING. If you come to WF, only come to look for an answer which you're looking for. Quickly do a search, find the answer, then leave. It takes some discipline at first but it gets better as you continue to 'train' yourself to do it.

        Just start fresh. Go out and do some research and start a venture (unless you have an ongoing venture which you would like to work on). Make a conscious effort to not let anything sidetrack you. If a technical difficulty or something comes up... sure, things happen. Just brush it off and pick up where you left off. Give yourself a certain amount of time... let's say 6 months, with the same business model and project(s) before you call it quits. If you start a PPC campaign, give yourself a goal of going through at least 1000 visitors (preferably a bit more) before you call it a winner or failure or make any tweaks. If you set up a website and get traffic via SEO and/or other methods... give yourself a goal of pushing at least 1000 unique visitors (preferably a bit more) through the site before you decide if it's a hit or miss. With those 1000 visitors, you will have factual data which you can use to improve your campaign and site. If you start drawing conclusions after 100 visitors, you didn't even give it a chance.

        Whichever site you build, set up some sort of an autoresponder to capture emails. Set up your squeeze page and the links/images throughout your site pointing to the squeeze page to the best of your ability, then as I said above, don't touch anything until you've pushed AT LEAST 1000 unique visitors through the site. At that point, see how much % of your visitors subscribed and what you can do to improve that number. Then make your tweaks and leave it alone for another 1000 visitors. At the same time, now you have some subscribers who you can start building a relationship with.

        Sure, that takes more time in the beginning, because new sites don't just get 1000 unique visitors overnight. However, if you think of it like that, in terms of pushing a certain # of visitors through your site and not "well the site has been up for 3 months and hasn't made me any money", it will be tough to go wrong. Whenever you're tempted to do "something else", you first say to yourself "let me see how many unique visitors I've had to date", go into your analytics and see you've only had 150. So you say "can't do anything else yet, first I need another 850 visitors", then you go and figure out ways to drive more traffic to your site, build more backlinks, write more quality content, etc. By the time you're at a 1000 visitors, God-willing you will have seen some positive movement... even a halfway decent site will produce some type of action/conversion over a 1000 visitors (be it affiliate sales, opt-ins, adsense clicks, whatever you're looking to accomplish), and you can only improve on it going forward.

        Start fresh, forget about the past, say bye bye to WF for a while, and come back to us in a couple of months sharing your success story!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5969801].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    Consider going to school to obtain more education. Consider talking to your local SCORE office.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5969655].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author gentryliving
    Consider the fact that Internet Marketing doesn't have a stable income. Internet marketing is business. Find a job that will give you stable income so you will not worry anymore.
    Signature
    Professionally designed custom blogging platform
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5971063].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Exel
    well i try to do it consistently, but whenever i set something up, like a ppc campagin, i find myself just sitting looking at my stats. This gets even worse when I have technical difficulties or something, I get way sidetracked when I have to wait for a few days for something I'm not even sure will work.
    You probably know this by now, but when you start actually doing something you will
    encounter a thousand problems and difficulties that don't exist on paper.

    Sometimes, you are trying to solve one problem, another one shows up, and you have
    to solve that one first in order to solve the original one. It's like problems are stacking up.

    However, here is where it really stands the difference between success and failure. It is easy
    to give up, and it is so hard to march on, to take the problems head-on and work on the solutions.

    But, if you persist, if you do what needs to be done, you emerge victorious, everything
    falls into place, the feeling is thousand times better than you thought it would be, and all
    the previous hardship has no meaning anymore.

    Best of luck
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5972068].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author therenegadeleader
    Make frustrations as your advantage, everybody starts at very low. Just keep it up, reach your goal one step at a time if you can't make a large leap atleast your consistent in what you do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5974828].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
    Jobs are no more stable than anything else. A very well off company that a friend of mine worked for just closed 7 plants and laid off everyone with no notice.

    The key to stability in life is within yourself.

    Either develop a skill that will always be in demand in one form or another and build a consulting business and/or online presence or pick something and build assets.

    A sub of mine was where you are and finally took my advice to concentrate on only one thing and to build a business, not just try to make some short term money.

    She picked website flipping and I don't believe she had ever done it before. She now consistently makes $250-$500 per site and she can decide how many she wants to do in a week. If she needs more money, she pushes herself and does one a day. Otherwise, she does 2-3 a week.

    Another person decided to do kindle books and buckled down and set a target that each family member including her children would do the steps and put up one kindle book a day every day of the month. That's 5 kindle books a day withing 2 months of them all pushing themselves and doing this, they are now making a few thousand dollars a month and keep on putting up kindle books.

    Most find profitable niches and build lists to promote to because that is what I highly recommend to start as I thought it was the fastest and easiest way to build an asset (the list) and also to make some cash flow.

    So, my point is, find one thing that you can make some money with consistently and hopefully enjoy enough to push yourself to doing whatever you have to do with it to make the kind of money you need and then stick with just that.
    Signature
    44 days in and we broke the $10K a month recurring bench mark.

    Guaranteed 60% Opt In Rate Traffic-Real People-Fresh Today-High Quality Biz Opp traffic![/URL]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5974885].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jimmy Mailhot
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5974985].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author wizbiz
      Originally Posted by Jimmy Mailhot View Post

      A consistent income online isn't hard to achieve, the ppc networks will make you get that easily.
      Is that so? Probably that's why Google rip-off monster trades at

      635$/share on the Market.

      You know that 90% + of Google revenue comes from selling Advertising space by

      ripping off people on daily bases. You, personally, how many times

      you bought right after clicking on the Google Paying ADV box? A bet, never.

      98% people are losing money advertising with those scammers..

      You better off just buy Microsoft stock on the Deep and hold for profit.

      Why they are selling space if it's profitable? They would rather advertise themselves.

      IMHO.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5975808].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Onora Oz
    Originally Posted by Matthieu Miser View Post

    I've been in the IM business for about 4 years now, and I've made a few hundred $$ here and there, but I can't seem to make any kind of consistent money online.

    I have a part time job that pays about $100 a week, and I'm beginning to lose hope that I won't be working for $7.40 an hour for the rest of my life. Whenever I get one thing to work, something changes and I'm broke again..

    Any tips??
    What changes, really?

    If you're in this business for 4 years and still making $$ "here and there", you should better change your mindset and work ethics. It seems like you need discipline. Making $$ "here and there" is a bad sign. It means, you've found a way to make money (PPC or something), but you're not able to repeat it. It's not like you don't know how to make money. Whatever you've done, stick to it. Seems like you lack discipline... and focus, too.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5975894].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Alcon
    As long as you keep working. The door will keep opening and the problems will keep arising. However One day, as long as you keep working, that door is going to open and there will be a pile of treasure waiting for you on the otherside that will make all the sadness, pain, stress and heartache worth it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5976358].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author wangui
    The worst mistake you will ever make in life is to give up. Never ever quit. Because this is to mean all the work and effort you have put in before all goes to waste and success is cumulative. So you cannot afford to ever quit. Bit it is human to feel like quitting because we are human but never do
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5996020].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Judge Groovyman
    Practical: Of the thousands of things you can do to make money online, there are two categories. Money Makers and Support. Focus on the Money Makers.

    How do you tell the difference? The Money Makers are the things that on their own, without support and other activities, could reasonably be expected to make some money if done enough times over and over. The rest is support.

    Examples? Money Makers: Writing articles with direct links. Promotional emails (even with a small list) ... with PPC I would say it would be writing ads and creating new campaigns. The issue of what is and isn't a money maker is endlessly debateable - just make sure its an activity that can actually be expected to make you money.

    Even some 30-60 minutes of actual money making activity every day will put you in great shape.

    The Support is undoubtedly important, and you should do what you can of it. It will be doing most of the leverage of your Money Making activities. But focus on working on Money Makers first ... before you do anything else.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5996235].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
      Originally Posted by Judge Groovyman View Post

      Practical: Of the thousands of things you can do to make money online, there are two categories. Money Makers and Support. Focus on the Money Makers.

      How do you tell the difference? The Money Makers are the things that on their own, without support and other activities, could reasonably be expected to make some money if done enough times over and over. The rest is support.

      Examples? Money Makers: Writing articles with direct links. Promotional emails (even with a small list) ... with PPC I would say it would be writing ads and creating new campaigns. The issue of what is and isn't a money maker is endlessly debateable - just make sure its an activity that can actually be expected to make you money.

      Even some 30-60 minutes of actual money making activity every day will put you in great shape.

      The Support is undoubtedly important, and you should do what you can of it. It will be doing most of the leverage of your Money Making activities. But focus on working on Money Makers first ... before you do anything else.
      This is actually a very important concept for anyone who owns ANY type of business to concentrate on.

      I have seen and even attempted to help some business owners who did it "there way" and eventually went out of business.

      When you are starting out and whenever you need higher cashflow, you have GOT to concentrate and what will bring money in RIGHT NOW or very soon as PRIORITY ONE!

      There are many, many posts on here on how to do SEO and backlinking and everything but that all takes time and depending on many other factors, it may eventually help you are not.

      But if you need money right now, you better be taking a more direct approach to making sales. Fortunately, there is a lot of great free information on this forum about those methods, as well, such as, adswaps, solo ads, posting in forums related to your niche and the things you said, too.

      When you are getting started or need cash flow, you have to think, will this action I'm doing or about to do going to get my sales right now.

      If you are list building, which I recommend, I would say, think of how you can get people to a high converting opt in page with a great follow up offer right now.
      Signature
      44 days in and we broke the $10K a month recurring bench mark.

      Guaranteed 60% Opt In Rate Traffic-Real People-Fresh Today-High Quality Biz Opp traffic![/URL]
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5996442].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author GT
    Originally Posted by Matthieu Miser View Post

    I've been in the IM business for about 4 years now, and I've made a few hundred $$ here and there, but I can't seem to make any kind of consistent money online.

    I have a part time job that pays about $100 a week, and I'm beginning to lose hope that I won't be working for $7.40 an hour for the rest of my life. Whenever I get one thing to work, something changes and I'm broke again..

    Any tips??
    Hi, Matthieu:

    You've been receiving some good tips and insight from other members. But I have a couple of questions for you:

    1) Do you have your own website?
    2) Do you have your own blog, and are you blogging regularly?

    I see you do not have a forum signature set up here in the WF. A forum sig is a great (free) way to promote your business and draw some traffic. I do not understand why so many WF members do not have forum signatures!

    GT
    Signature

    * You Can Begin Earning Affiliate Income Here – Direct Commissions and Residual Income!
    * Home Business Resources and Affiliate Opportunities
    * Visit This Library to Expand Your Knowledge – Blog Post
    * Reinventing Your Life - Make the Rest of Your Life the BEST of Your Life!
    * Follow Me On Twitter ===> MyPowerSite <===| gtbulmer | StarrBizzcom

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5998392].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RnGWriter
    An internet business does not really go hand in hand with stability. You have to utilize all your available resources and always account for the fact that what you are trying may not pay off! Be consistent at what you do and most importantly treat it like a business. if you want to start something on the internet, stop treating it like a magic jeanie and more like a business. Good luck.
    Signature

    Sign Up For AI BotNinja - A Messenger Chatbot Platform by ChatLeads

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5998434].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thrazgard
    You have been doing this for four years, but you missed a critical component. The critical component.

    Planning.

    When you act inconsistent, you will get inconsistent results.

    Its like driving a car without a set destination. While you are driving, you are not driving with a purpose. And you will feel stuck, like you are not getting anywhere. Because honestly, you are not.

    Internet Marketing is a business. And thus you must treat it as business. A business without a plan or strategy is not a business at all.
    Signature
    When someone laughs at your dream, its a good dream.
    I'm already rich, because I get to live.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6001975].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Judge Groovyman
      Originally Posted by Thrazgard View Post

      You have been doing this for four years, but you missed a critical component. The critical component.

      Planning.

      When you act inconsistent, you will get inconsistent results.

      Its like driving a car without a set destination. While you are driving, you are not driving with a purpose. And you will feel stuck, like you are not getting anywhere. Because honestly, you are not.

      Internet Marketing is a business. And thus you must treat it as business. A business without a plan or strategy is not a business at all.

      He's right, planning is critical. Let me take it a step further ...

      your plan or strategy does not need to be incredibly complex for starters. It could literally be as simple as: "I'm going to write articles for 30 minutes every day. After that I'm free to check stats, or improve my skills, or test out other business approaches.".

      Just think if you had even a simple plan like that for the last four years ... or even for the last four months!?!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6002178].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RyanLima
    Create a system that will bring you income on autopilot and then scale it up. The key is to create multiple systems that bring you streams of income everyday. Stock with one business model and dig deeeep.

    Do not jump around from one business model to the next without sticking with one for at least 3 months.

    Never give up....you will achieve success.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6002100].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HenryKean
    I think the reason why you can't get a consistent income is because you are only a part-time worker. Why don't you try applying for a full-time job online? There are so many job sites out there such as monster, eLance, oDesk and staff. You should check them out. Good Luck bud!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6002421].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author SoftWarp
      I studied stats at university for a while.

      We had a proverb that said: never trust any stats that you didn't fake yourself.

      The thing about stats invariably is: they can only work if you have a lot of data to look at.

      By doing something occasionally you basically will never get good stats worthwhile looking at.

      And stats anyway only help if you know how to read them.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6011988].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Usmile
    I guess you need to sit back and plan things right. Plan your time and work priorities. Do not forget to insert recreational activities for motivation do not just focus on work only. By simple doing this simple tip you can make yourself productive as possible.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6011361].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Gerald Arno
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Matthieu Miser View Post

    Whenever I get one thing to work, something changes and I'm broke again..

    Any tips??
    The key lies in becoming more responsible for what you do and don't do.

    If you want to become a business success, there is no time for searching for excuses in the system.

    In order to become a total business success you need to get from the employer mindset to the entrepreneur mindset.

    Let me give you an example:

    Employee Mindset: Searches permanently for excuses if something goes wrong. It's the system's fault or someone's fault.

    Entrepreneur Mindset: Takes a 100% responsibility for everything that happens to a 100%.

    The reason why most people don't make it is not because of their education or experience. It is the inability to fixate that shift in thinking.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6012362].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MegaPackBiz
    Very insightful hard stuffs here :-) it might help me a lot all the comments from all of u ppl thanks
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6012372].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ThereIsAlwaysHOPE
    Employee Mindset: Searches permanently for excuses if something goes wrong. It's the system's fault or someone's fault.

    Entrepreneur Mindset: Takes a 100% responsibility for everything that happens to a 100%.

    WELL SAID!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6018810].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author hireava
    Just don't quit and never give up. Continue on what you're doing and be patient enough to wait. Maybe it's not the time yet for you to have it.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6018939].message }}

Trending Topics