This is a fantastic time. I know it might not feel that way. If you're stuck in a job you hate, if you're scared you'll get a call from a boss holding a pink slip, if you're worried about your pension, college fees, or even paying the mortgage on a house that's now worth only a fraction of what you paid for it three years ago, this doesn't feel like a fantastic time.
But it really is.
It's a fantastic time because for the first time, we all have the power to change our lives.
We've been told this a thousand times before. Motivational speaker after motivational speaker has taken to the stage and told audiences that they can take their lives in their hands and do whatever they want. All they have to do is believe.
JUST believe?
I don't think so.
Yes, believing is a key component to living your dreams.
But you get very little from just believing you'll have success. You CAN, however, get a lot from working for success.
And that's what's changed. Once, to take your life and your future into your hands meant first building up a giant nest egg then being prepared to invest it in a business. But the Internet now means that you can start a business with nothing.
You don't need money to make money any more. You don't need to buy a website. You don't need to pay for equipment. You don't have to invest a dime if you don't want to.
You just have to be prepared to pick up the tools that Internet marketers and companies have made available and put them to use.
You have to put ads around your content and test them until they're working at their most efficient. You have to choose affiliate products and promote them to an audience of people who might want to buy them. You have to turn your knowledge into information products and offer them on sales pages. You have to build an audience and a market, and use all of the channels that exist online to extract revenue from that market.
None of this is rocket science. None of this is very expensive, especially compared to the costs involved in building a brick and mortar business. And none of it will happen overnight. But it can happen to anyone who's prepared to put in the hours, learn the skills and work to bring the results.
Times have always been fantastic for people who already had money. But now it's a fantastic time for anyone who wants success, and has only time and effort to invest to get it. That's an amazing change.
What are your thoughts?
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
January 26, 2010 07:47 AM
Sadly it has been tough to get many people to see this but it's true. Now more than ever you have so much opportunity to do something for yourself and even if it starts slow, it's better than unemployment. I decided 2 years ago that I was tired of working for companies with no clue who eventually went out of business. Best business decision I've ever made!
January 26, 2010 08:37 AM
Agreed - there is money to be made on the internet but it's only there for those internet entrepreneurs who have drive & are willing to put in the effort & commitment to succeed.
January 26, 2010 08:54 AM
This is so true Joel.
It's also a great time for aspiring entrepreneurs to buy an existing web based business where they can apply their knowledge and experience to take it to the next level. There are some fantastic opportunities out there and now is a great time to buy while asking prices are still relatively low.
January 26, 2010 09:07 AM
Hi Joel,
great article,
one of the first product that ever bought was yours "Adsense" 1-2etc
thanks to that, and your great tips I was able to get something in return:
"adsense income"
one of the choices that preople make to EARN
thank you
January 26, 2010 09:12 AM
I agree. With hard work and dedication anything is possible. I have been consistently researching and using affiliate programs, ads, content articles etc. on my blogs for many years and I wont give up. I have a passion and dream and I know that one day I will achieve all my goals. Positive attitude and mind frame are also key for me.
Thanks Joel for sharing such a powerful post. It reminds me to never give up no matter what!
January 26, 2010 11:32 AM
Great post. What people need to do is get out of the 4 hours a week, make a million a year mindset. Can it be done absolutely, will it happen right off the bat, no.
Put in some time and effort, educate yourself, and IMPLEMENT what you learn. You most likely will fail a few times, and that is ok. Keep at it until you find the right thing for you. Like Joel said it is not expensive to get started and try things, but the reward for those who persevere is tremendous!
January 26, 2010 11:37 AM
Believing that something will happen for you doesn't cut the mustard unless you get up and make it happen. Believing that you can succeed if you put some effort out is what counts. I am retired but don't want to stop doing something to help with the retirement income. Using the internet is a natural way to accomplish that.
January 26, 2010 11:40 AM
Lately I have been delving into and discussing all kinds of ways to make money over the internet with various internet marketers and while I agree with your basic premise Joel, for sure, I think internet marketing (or starting an online business) can sidetrack us easily into spending our time and effort in trying various techniques for success that do not involve the most fundamental technique of all.
Providing value for people's money or time.
Once someone makes the decision to start an internet business they can easily get caught in the trap of trying this or that technique to internet success that violates this basic principle of successful businesses.
I am thinking of things like using automated tools that spit out splogs (what value do they provide to the end consumer?).
Things like spinning the same article 100 different ways (what value does it provide to the end reader to read the same article spun 100 different ways?).
Forum and blog posts that add no value and are made primarily if not entirely to get a backlink or to point to our sites.
These types of techniques do not give real value to the end consumer of our information or services and as such they are destined to eventually fail.
I've had to retrench my own efforts and ask myself...what value am I providing through whatever technique I am using? If I can't honestly answer that question I have to drop what is not providing value in my desire to achieve internet success and get back to the basics of good business. Give the customer good value in return for their money or their time.
Carlos
January 26, 2010 11:41 AM
thanks to YOU Joel for teaching this info. I wish others would do the same so we can help those in Haiti and beyond. Peace & Prosperity, Coco House of Romance
January 26, 2010 12:34 PM
Hey there Joel.
I do agree with you that to start making money online is no cost. But most of the problem face by the individual is "How To" and applying it.
Perhaps you can share some of your experience in your first making money through the internet? I'm sure that most of them will inspired and take action at least to see the same result.
To your success Joel
January 26, 2010 01:06 PM
This is so true...All the great artists have succeeded because of the times they were in, they were extra motivated. This is what is waiting for all of us...Good luck to you all!
January 26, 2010 02:14 PM
Joel, the biggest problem is that many people that like to be named as internet marketers in fact are not. Maybe they earn some dimes on the internet but what they really want is sell courses, videos, ebooks to the beginers.
They are not telling the truth to the beginers. Many like Howies, Armands and other are saying that you can have a ton of traffic, the most important thing on the internet, for a penny and overnight.
That is not the truth.
January 26, 2010 02:16 PM
It's true, it seems like we've tradded time for money. You can start an entire Affiliate Marketing Business for the cost of a web-site ($10.00). There are now TONS of free tools you can use to help with keyword research. It takes time to write articles, but if you pick a niche that you're familiar with, you can go much faster.
It just all takes time, and a willingness to succeed!
January 26, 2010 03:21 PM
I love your posts Joel, hopefully one day I will be able to put all the pieces together and earn a living online like you. Thanks for your inspiration
January 26, 2010 04:20 PM
Gracias Joel, muy cierto la informacion, he comenzado algunos emprendimientos pero niguno me ha funcionado, que hacer ahora?
January 26, 2010 08:05 PM
Thanks Joel, very inspiring and encouraging. I just started this field (internet marketing) February 2009, and thank God I've got the results, although not so much. But this morning, when I read your article, I was given a new spirit to motivate myself to get more back from the internet marketing.
January 27, 2010 02:05 AM
Nice words Joel.
You could put it shorter like this - "success is 20% knowledge, 80% action."
It is nice to have a reminder once in a while sometimes about this stuff...
January 27, 2010 06:27 AM
Yes, this is exactly how I feel, thanks for the reminder about testing which I tend to forget.
I love the opportunities available on the Internet (with work and application) to anyone nowadays. Don't forget though, that in the majority of the world there is barely enough to eat and computers are a rare commodity. So lets be grateful for the lives we live right now and the good fortune that gives us the ability to work like this.
January 27, 2010 11:40 AM
Thanks fot this Joel.
The agency I work for is closing at the end of the month and I was feeling a little despondent - wishing I'd worked harder on my two websites but overcome by inertia (if that's possible.
Yesterday I got calls from two agencies offering me work and a definite instruction for this Friday, so things are not so bleak.
However, what it's taught me, is that I should never again rely on 'outside' for income.
I've resolved to work harder on my websites - starting now - on the basis that if I can earn $600 a month off them, I can earn two or three times that - they've been running on autopilot for a long time but now is the time to take the future into my own hands.
I resolve to spend at least one hour a day writing for my websites - that way, I can become less dependent on others and wholly dependent on me.
Thanks again Joel - it really struck a chord because what I do is precisely what you outline - write content, place ads and a bit of affiliate stuff and create eCourses for free download to drive more traffic.