Most people’s idea of using their website to make money doesn’t go much beyond creating a some sort of website, and then hoping that somehow this will translate into some sort of increased income.
Perhaps they’ll also pay hundreds (or thousands) of dollars to someone who sends them an email promising to “get them to the top of hundreds of search engines”. They can’t tell if this is effective, because this is a totally meaningless and ineffective statement.
EBay is also held up as a model of how to make money on the internet, and it certainly can be if done right. However, for most people it is a labour intensive process, with very little return. Of course, there are very effective ways of making a consistent income from EBay. But it’s not by selling second hand stuff you find in the house – although this is an ideal way to learn how EBay works.
OK, these are some of the best ways that you can earn a good, consistent income on the internet.
1. Develop and sell your own knowledge products. If you have specific knowledge in a specialised topic, there’s a good chance that you can earn a living from it. Especially if there are magazines devoted to the topic.
Knowledge products can include:
- Books that you write,
- Seminars or talks that you record on audio and video,
- Courses and tutorials that you develop.
2. Sell Other people’s knowledge products.
This is commonly known as affiliate marketing, and has been given a bad name by idiots who think that all they need to do to be successful is cram a thousand or so banner advertisements onto a web page, and eager viewers will click on the ads, buy the products, and generate a commission.
However, affiliate marketing can be a great source of income if you do it properly.
3. Produce websites with good quality content about a popular topic and put some sort of advertising on them. The normal thing is Google Adsense ads, but there are many more profitable options. Clickbank products can earn you a lot more money if you include them on your website.
4. Sell items that you produce from your own online store. These can be physical items like artwork, food, and clothing.
5. Use the website as a showcase for your professional services, and share your expertise.
There are lots more ways, but I think you get the idea.
Your homework for tonight is to think about how you could be able to use your particular skills, and package them into something that can be sold. Don’t concern yourself with the technical details of how it will be made operational. There’s plenty of time to cover that stuff.
And the hard part is to then choose something you can focus on – to the exclusion of anything else – while you take the steps to transform your idea into something that people will pay for.
It won’t happen overnight. But you need to make a decision to get started on something.
For inspiration, tomorrow I’ll give you some actual examples of some things that people have done to become very successful on the internet.
Cheers,
Eric G.
Home work asignment.
I would like to add to my web site, the fact, I do personal presentations to fishing clubs in Tasmania. Or any other group who may wish to discuss Fishing rod building.
I am also available for rod building classes.
4 students per session.
I have found personal, hands on presentations to be my best marketing tool.
How do I get my web site and information out to my target audience ?. I.E. fishing clubs in tas.
Paul
Paul.
What other marketing tools have you tried other than personal presentations?
While these can certainly be effective, they require an enormous input by you, with no certainty of any return. And even if you fill a session, 4 students would probably only cover the costs it took to get them if you are travelling around giving presentations.
OK, here’s a suggestion right off the top of my head.
Have you made a video presentation? Nothing fancy – just you talking about what you do, giving a few tips, and telling people the advantages of having a hand built rod?
Yes, it may take a couple of days to work out what to say, make the videos, edit them, and burn them to a DVD.
But once it’s done – you don’t have to do it again.
And you could then post this video with a letter to all the fishing clubs in Tasmania.
But why restrict yourself to Tasmania?
I had a quick look on You Tube for the topics
Fishing Rod Repair
Fishing Rod
Build Fishing Rod
THERE’S HARDLY ANYTHING THERE.
Paul, the opportunity is there to to become the worldwide fishing rod building and repair expert.
Share some of your skills on You Tube. Make a few videos on specific parts of what you do.
Can you write a training course on repairing a rod, and supplement it with some video?
You could sell this on the net.
Advertise it on fishing forums and on your website.
Become the “Fishing Rod Doctor” – a name that everyone will identify with.
What I’d recommend to ANYONE is to consider adding a blog to your website – or even replacing your website with a blog.
The benefits are huge – I’ll be writing a separate post about this.
Some of these things may sound a bit scary. Read my blog post from to day about Blendit. And Big Ass Fans. They had problems – and overcame them in a big way by being different, and by using the internet.
By all means continue with the personal courses. But please consider all this stuff as well.
I reckon that well heeled anglers from the USA could be busting to come down here to Tasmania to build a rod with the Fishing Rod Doctor if you came across as someone interesting and different.
(Please note – you’ll have to do more research on all aspects of this suggestion. As I said, it’s just off the top of my head.
I won’t normally go to this extend in replying to a comment – that’s the sort of thing I would normally have reserved for the paid forum. But as that’s not going ahead at present consider this a bonus
Regards,
Eric G.