I want to stress how important it is to be honest about your online earnings and success. There are so many scams out there that the entire "work at home" industry is suffering because of it, and it's about time we, as entrepreneurs who actually do the "dirty work", laid out our cards to let each other know the good, the bad and the downright ugly.
Instead of trying to scam each other, we should instead expose the big scam companies for what they really are. I'm not just talking about the obvious scam sites either, of which most go out of business rather quickly. I'm talking about some of the big sites we've been hearing horror stories about lately.
No doubt many of you have heard about the Ebay Seller Strike and how poorly Ebay is treating those who have supported the site and pay seller fees. Many of you reading this are likely Ebay sellers as well, working from home to make extra money and were also shocked by some of the irrational changes the company wants to impose.
It doesn't stop there, however. There have also been several horror stories of sellers getting ripped off and gouged by Paypal as well (owned by Ebay). The forums at Link Referral are overrun with these tales of woe, where the "little guy" trying to make a few dollars online has his profits diminished by the rich, greedy corporate bastards at these huge companies.
And let's not forget a certain search engine company, which I can't name for legal reasons, but which I used to admire back in the early days of the internet, when they took on the big search engines at Yahoo and MSN and won. They were the kind of upstart dotcom that really stood for something, back in the day. Now it's all about profit over helping real people. Everyone wants to get to the top of the search engines and now they make BILLIONS every few months helping you get there. They charge you an arm and a leg to place your own ads with them, yet they find every excuse they can NOT to pay you the meagre earnings you might get in return for placing other company ads for them on your own site. I can't even begin to count how many posts I've read in forums of how people almost got to their $100 threshold (which is too high for small sites in the first place), only to have the company suspend or terminate their account for totally arbitrary reasons.
It's time we stood up to these greedy bastards and supported the smaller sites with REAL customer service. I had contacted support from 3 big sites just this week and never heard back from one! I've also read of other people never hearing back from the support at a big site. Do we not count? These big companies do what they can to stomp out the small companies because they know the competition might bury them someday, and they will. I predict many of these big sites will go the way of the dinosaur someday, and soon, if they don't start paying attention to the hand that feeds them.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Unique Website Domain Names Work Best!
My tip for today is something amazingly simple, yet overlooked by the average online affiliate marketer. I know many of you reading this are making money, or trying to make money, by promoting some product or another for a company by using their affiliate link address, which is usually quite long and unappealing. I've seen some REALLY long and cumbersome URL names out there being promoted!
To address this issue of long addresses (I couldn't resist the pun!) there are MANY places that have sprung up all over the net offering to "cloak" your URL or make it shorter. Horror stories of Clickbank commissions being stolen by other affiliates have created cloaking as the method of choice for many affiliates to protect their sales potential.
I, however, would suggest you consider a MUCH better alternative. For less then 20 bucks you can have your very own domain name that can be forwarded and masked (cloaked) to your affiliate website address. This address becomes YOURS and, being unique, is much more search engine friendly than competing with many similar affiliate URL's. Plus, when you own a domain name you get your own professional looking email address with it as well.
Yes, you could use a popular free service like Tinyurl to cloak your long link name, but I urge you to see the reality of that. There are tinyurl links all over the net now, to the point where you are competing with others with similar tinyurl names just as much as you would with the original affiliate url. A tinyurl or similar service url will never be found on its own unless you pay to list it through your keywords on a service like Adwords on Google.
I want to mention a tip here too, since there is much debate over the "proper" way to do URL forwarding or redirection so as not to be penalized by Google. The fact is that it's really a case by case basis, depending on your situation. You should "mask" your forwarded domain if you really don't want surfers to know the destination, as your own domain will stay in the address bar that way. However, keep in mind that your masked keywords used will be ignored by Google and, recently, Google (yet again) changed its algorithm so that it will even remove your domain from the search listings if it appears to be a phishing attempt, so be careful!
If you don't want to cloak or hide your affiliate link, but you just want an easier to remember name then use forwarding without masking the URL, but make sure to pick the "301" permanent redirect option or the search engines will ignore you again, or all sorts of other problems can arise down the road. This works great if you're on a free host as well, since you can just forward your professional sounding domain name to their subdomain or sub-directory URL they give you when you sign up.
The flexibility of having your own domain name and its benefits are enormous. It makes you stand out from the crowd, showing you are unique, which will increase your SALES dramatically. URL forwarding is very easy to set up through your domain registrar, so don't be scared off by thinking it's a difficult task. Look at it this way...which domain name do YOU think a potential buyer to your product would be more likely to click on, your own address at http://www.youruniquesiteaddress.com/ (for example) or an affiliate id at some place that sounds like www.affiliatetrackersalessite.com/id-3576901/saleshop??
My own address here at http://www.adegreeofsuccess.com/ is just forwarded to Blogspot.com, as A Degree Of Success is simply easier to remember and more to the point than http://adegreeofsuccess.blogspot.com/ , don't you agree? Getting your own domain name is a VERY worthwhile low cost investment, which you'll get back quickly with increased sales!
Click the link to increase your sales and make more money today by getting your own domain name now! You'll be glad you did!
To address this issue of long addresses (I couldn't resist the pun!) there are MANY places that have sprung up all over the net offering to "cloak" your URL or make it shorter. Horror stories of Clickbank commissions being stolen by other affiliates have created cloaking as the method of choice for many affiliates to protect their sales potential.
I, however, would suggest you consider a MUCH better alternative. For less then 20 bucks you can have your very own domain name that can be forwarded and masked (cloaked) to your affiliate website address. This address becomes YOURS and, being unique, is much more search engine friendly than competing with many similar affiliate URL's. Plus, when you own a domain name you get your own professional looking email address with it as well.
Yes, you could use a popular free service like Tinyurl to cloak your long link name, but I urge you to see the reality of that. There are tinyurl links all over the net now, to the point where you are competing with others with similar tinyurl names just as much as you would with the original affiliate url. A tinyurl or similar service url will never be found on its own unless you pay to list it through your keywords on a service like Adwords on Google.
I want to mention a tip here too, since there is much debate over the "proper" way to do URL forwarding or redirection so as not to be penalized by Google. The fact is that it's really a case by case basis, depending on your situation. You should "mask" your forwarded domain if you really don't want surfers to know the destination, as your own domain will stay in the address bar that way. However, keep in mind that your masked keywords used will be ignored by Google and, recently, Google (yet again) changed its algorithm so that it will even remove your domain from the search listings if it appears to be a phishing attempt, so be careful!
If you don't want to cloak or hide your affiliate link, but you just want an easier to remember name then use forwarding without masking the URL, but make sure to pick the "301" permanent redirect option or the search engines will ignore you again, or all sorts of other problems can arise down the road. This works great if you're on a free host as well, since you can just forward your professional sounding domain name to their subdomain or sub-directory URL they give you when you sign up.
The flexibility of having your own domain name and its benefits are enormous. It makes you stand out from the crowd, showing you are unique, which will increase your SALES dramatically. URL forwarding is very easy to set up through your domain registrar, so don't be scared off by thinking it's a difficult task. Look at it this way...which domain name do YOU think a potential buyer to your product would be more likely to click on, your own address at http://www.youruniquesiteaddress.com/ (for example) or an affiliate id at some place that sounds like www.affiliatetrackersalessite.com/id-3576901/saleshop??
My own address here at http://www.adegreeofsuccess.com/ is just forwarded to Blogspot.com, as A Degree Of Success is simply easier to remember and more to the point than http://adegreeofsuccess.blogspot.com/ , don't you agree? Getting your own domain name is a VERY worthwhile low cost investment, which you'll get back quickly with increased sales!
Click the link to increase your sales and make more money today by getting your own domain name now! You'll be glad you did!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Asmodeus' Work From Home Story
It's perhaps a bit late in this blog to be giving you my life story, but I thought this was a good time to tell you a few things about me, if for no other reason than to give you a bit of inspiration to carry on when things get difficult. My friends and regular readers will notice gaps of time in my blog and that is due to the fact that I have an intestinal illness which prevents me from doing anything at all on some days. I get very severe pain and can't even move much on bad days, much less sitting up in front of a computer to update my blog.
However, the part that I'd like to focus on is how working from home has basically saved me from a life of poverty. I had a good job in an office as a supervisor and was doing quite well for myself, I thought, until my illness took it all away from me and prevented full time work as a possibility. I tried several crappy part time jobs, working when I could to try to make ends meet, until I came to the realization that I could NEVER get ahead that way. I'd always be poor, just living day to day.
So, I set my goal to work for myself at home, where I could be comfortable, and do what I could to be successful as my own boss. It was a struggle at first, as it will be for anyone starting off (never believe the hype that you can get rich overnight!), but I fought against all the obstacles that came my way. I've always believed that an obstacle is just a good challenge to find a solution. Those who only see the obstacle without looking for the solution are the ones destined for failure. ALWAYS look at an obstacle as another step in getting ahead once you overcome it, and you WILL overcome it if you choose to work at it!
I tried many different ideas at home. I sold satellite dishes, programs and many different MLM schemes (anyone remember "Project 21"?), but they either didn't work or made very little. Since I didn't want to live my life on a meagre disability pension, I continued on, determined to succeed.
I already had a university degree, so I tried to use my education background to my advantage at home in perfecting techniques that worked. My university training was in logic and solutions, so that helped quite a bit! I got into being a degree broker for various small colleges and universities, and that worked great for me. I recommend being a Degree Broker to anyone who realizes the importance of a good education.
Then I became a Mystery Shopper and I have a lot of fun with that one. I get free food, gas, groceries etc. and, because of this, many of my basic expenses are already covered! I worked my way up the ranks over the years and now am a full fledged service evaluator for my entire region. I plan to write a more detailed post on this topic in the future as there are MANY scams out there related to mystery shopping and I intend to expose those for you.
Among many things I have on the go now, my latest project is running the new EyeEarn Community Network and, so far it's the easiest affiliate program I've ever been involved in. What could be simpler than wearing a shirt or driving a car with a website logo on it? No cold calling or bugging your friends or really pushing it on anyone. People see the website address as you do your daily routine and they join if they want to! You can Join EyeEarn for free and see for yourself!
There are "gurus" out there who will tell you to focus on just one thing to be successful, but you'll notice that the "one thing" always happens to be the program they are promoting. My advice to you is the exact opposite. Try a few different things and see what works for you, after giving each one an honest shot of hard work. If you put all your time into just one thing, as they tell you, and it doesn't work for you, then you've wasted valuable time that could have been used on something else! Always keep your options open.
Even if you only make a bit of money off each idea, then you are creating multiple income streams that, put together, will make you a nice income. That's what I do with my affiliate programs, mystery shopping and my Ebay store and, trust me, it works! I believe almost anyone can be successful if they want to be.
However, the part that I'd like to focus on is how working from home has basically saved me from a life of poverty. I had a good job in an office as a supervisor and was doing quite well for myself, I thought, until my illness took it all away from me and prevented full time work as a possibility. I tried several crappy part time jobs, working when I could to try to make ends meet, until I came to the realization that I could NEVER get ahead that way. I'd always be poor, just living day to day.
So, I set my goal to work for myself at home, where I could be comfortable, and do what I could to be successful as my own boss. It was a struggle at first, as it will be for anyone starting off (never believe the hype that you can get rich overnight!), but I fought against all the obstacles that came my way. I've always believed that an obstacle is just a good challenge to find a solution. Those who only see the obstacle without looking for the solution are the ones destined for failure. ALWAYS look at an obstacle as another step in getting ahead once you overcome it, and you WILL overcome it if you choose to work at it!
I tried many different ideas at home. I sold satellite dishes, programs and many different MLM schemes (anyone remember "Project 21"?), but they either didn't work or made very little. Since I didn't want to live my life on a meagre disability pension, I continued on, determined to succeed.
I already had a university degree, so I tried to use my education background to my advantage at home in perfecting techniques that worked. My university training was in logic and solutions, so that helped quite a bit! I got into being a degree broker for various small colleges and universities, and that worked great for me. I recommend being a Degree Broker to anyone who realizes the importance of a good education.
Then I became a Mystery Shopper and I have a lot of fun with that one. I get free food, gas, groceries etc. and, because of this, many of my basic expenses are already covered! I worked my way up the ranks over the years and now am a full fledged service evaluator for my entire region. I plan to write a more detailed post on this topic in the future as there are MANY scams out there related to mystery shopping and I intend to expose those for you.
Among many things I have on the go now, my latest project is running the new EyeEarn Community Network and, so far it's the easiest affiliate program I've ever been involved in. What could be simpler than wearing a shirt or driving a car with a website logo on it? No cold calling or bugging your friends or really pushing it on anyone. People see the website address as you do your daily routine and they join if they want to! You can Join EyeEarn for free and see for yourself!
There are "gurus" out there who will tell you to focus on just one thing to be successful, but you'll notice that the "one thing" always happens to be the program they are promoting. My advice to you is the exact opposite. Try a few different things and see what works for you, after giving each one an honest shot of hard work. If you put all your time into just one thing, as they tell you, and it doesn't work for you, then you've wasted valuable time that could have been used on something else! Always keep your options open.
Even if you only make a bit of money off each idea, then you are creating multiple income streams that, put together, will make you a nice income. That's what I do with my affiliate programs, mystery shopping and my Ebay store and, trust me, it works! I believe almost anyone can be successful if they want to be.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Read Between The Lines
I want you to ask questions. LOTS of questions. I want you to THINK first and THEN react. I want you to research and read and learn and prosper. I want you to be a SUCCESS!!
Got your attention? Good! By now I KNOW you've seen 100's or even 1000's of websites shouting at you about how you can get RICH online if you just do what they tell you to do. They make it sound so simple. Just join their free site and you'll be rolling in the dough a day later. Well, I hate to tell you but it ain't gonna happen. They use what we call hype to get your blood pumping and your adrenaline screaming to action in the hope you'll join them, spend some money, and make THEM rich. You won't get rich yourself and, most of the time, THEY aren't rich either. It's the hype talking.
I've always been honest with everyone in saying that, to make ANY money online, requires patience and a LOT of hard work. Those who tell you otherwise are LYING to get you to join under them. For the record, I myself am NOT rich. However, I DO make a living working at home. I've been doing it for 7 years now and I work at home for myself, using the ideas I share with you in this blog. I make a decent income and it's enough that I no longer have to work in the "rat race" for someone else. I also have a nice home up on a high hill by the ocean (see photo at bottom of page taken from my front lawn). I do fine on my own, doing what I do.
I mention all this because some of you are STILL getting sucked in by the hype of those flashy websites. As I surf around forums and click sites I see 1000's of hyped up claims that never amount to anything. There was one today saying I'd make a "cool million" just by reading emails. Wow! If it was really THAT easy I don't think anyone would ever go back to work again! We'd all be millionaires!!
So, what's a poor surfer to do? Read between the lines. Don't be distracted by the hype. THINK about what you are reading and see if it makes sense. A million for reading emails? Nope.
I'll leave you with an example I read 2 days ago of a site run by a self-proclaimed internet success "guru". I don't want to give too much info to identify the site, as I'm not here to slag the marketing hype of others, but I just want you to be aware of what to look for. I was sent a message through Adland of a "great" free eBook on the mistakes others make online. Curious, I read it and this "successful guy" wrote about how well he was doing. He had a pic of him with his fancy car and house. He said that I, too, could be as successful as him. He certained LOOKED successful in the photo and information presented.
However, upon closer inspection, I noticed a pattern. He was claiming to be making that "six figure income" we hear about all the time, yet he was clicking for ad credit on a FREE site. He claimed to be bringing in over $100, 000 a MONTH! Heck, if I was making over 100k a month, I could afford to market myself with a full page spread in Time magazine! I could afford to advertise ANYWHERE I wanted.
Also, he kept saying you need to work hard and focus on just ONE program to get rich. He kept repeating that he only uses ONE program to make over 100k a month. After reading several pages of his eBook, he gave a link to this one program which, of course, was his. Now, I'm not saying we don't all promote our programs, as I do too, but he claimed that one program is all you need, yet had several of his own affiliate links plastered throughout the pages. If he's making 100k from just one program, why is he trying to make a few cents off an affiliate link to someone else's program site? Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Read between the lines...
Got your attention? Good! By now I KNOW you've seen 100's or even 1000's of websites shouting at you about how you can get RICH online if you just do what they tell you to do. They make it sound so simple. Just join their free site and you'll be rolling in the dough a day later. Well, I hate to tell you but it ain't gonna happen. They use what we call hype to get your blood pumping and your adrenaline screaming to action in the hope you'll join them, spend some money, and make THEM rich. You won't get rich yourself and, most of the time, THEY aren't rich either. It's the hype talking.
I've always been honest with everyone in saying that, to make ANY money online, requires patience and a LOT of hard work. Those who tell you otherwise are LYING to get you to join under them. For the record, I myself am NOT rich. However, I DO make a living working at home. I've been doing it for 7 years now and I work at home for myself, using the ideas I share with you in this blog. I make a decent income and it's enough that I no longer have to work in the "rat race" for someone else. I also have a nice home up on a high hill by the ocean (see photo at bottom of page taken from my front lawn). I do fine on my own, doing what I do.
I mention all this because some of you are STILL getting sucked in by the hype of those flashy websites. As I surf around forums and click sites I see 1000's of hyped up claims that never amount to anything. There was one today saying I'd make a "cool million" just by reading emails. Wow! If it was really THAT easy I don't think anyone would ever go back to work again! We'd all be millionaires!!
So, what's a poor surfer to do? Read between the lines. Don't be distracted by the hype. THINK about what you are reading and see if it makes sense. A million for reading emails? Nope.
I'll leave you with an example I read 2 days ago of a site run by a self-proclaimed internet success "guru". I don't want to give too much info to identify the site, as I'm not here to slag the marketing hype of others, but I just want you to be aware of what to look for. I was sent a message through Adland of a "great" free eBook on the mistakes others make online. Curious, I read it and this "successful guy" wrote about how well he was doing. He had a pic of him with his fancy car and house. He said that I, too, could be as successful as him. He certained LOOKED successful in the photo and information presented.
However, upon closer inspection, I noticed a pattern. He was claiming to be making that "six figure income" we hear about all the time, yet he was clicking for ad credit on a FREE site. He claimed to be bringing in over $100, 000 a MONTH! Heck, if I was making over 100k a month, I could afford to market myself with a full page spread in Time magazine! I could afford to advertise ANYWHERE I wanted.
Also, he kept saying you need to work hard and focus on just ONE program to get rich. He kept repeating that he only uses ONE program to make over 100k a month. After reading several pages of his eBook, he gave a link to this one program which, of course, was his. Now, I'm not saying we don't all promote our programs, as I do too, but he claimed that one program is all you need, yet had several of his own affiliate links plastered throughout the pages. If he's making 100k from just one program, why is he trying to make a few cents off an affiliate link to someone else's program site? Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Read between the lines...
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Be Intelligent And Be A Success!
I'm going on a bit of a rant today, so please forgive me. I'm quite frustrated and I'd like to get a few things off my chest, so I'll get right to it.
Something like 95% of you are going about things the WRONG way and are wasting your time. I know this seems a bit harsh, but I feel really frustrated when I see good people who have no hope in ever succeeding with their online business. To really, actually and honestly make any money online you have to use your BRAIN more than anything else. That's why they call it business SMARTS! I'm going to break down one of the most common problems right here and now.
There seems to be a major problem out there with spelling. Even if your primary language is NOT English, then use a dictionary if you plan to write in English. This is not merely a pet peeve, but a serious flaw in those trying to get ahead. I was looking around the Linkreferral site today and was amazed at how many sites have spelling mistakes RIGHT IN THE DOMAIN NAME! Think about that. Your domain name is your "store name" to the world and you spent time AND money to register it. Shouldn't you be very careful in spelling it out to make sure it's perfect first? I'm not talking about cute, on purpose mistakes to make the domain stand out. These are glaring errors. If you can't spell your own domain name, then either use dictionary.com or don't register it at all!
The other frequent spelling errors occur in site descriptions and keywords. Yes, I know that incorrect spellings are commonly used on purpose for keywords, and that's fine, but you should also make sure you include the CORRECT spellings as well. Search engines will find your site according to the text you use and if your main keywords are spelled wrong, then they won't find you. Even worse, some search engines even penalize your site in the ranking for being poorly written!
Here's a good example. Say you have a site for making money online and, obviously, you want people to come visit your site. So, you write a description, but it's full of spelling errors like "com hear for gret idees on how mak munee and get ritch qik. bee a suksess now!" Ok, I know you're laughing because that's an extreme example, but I've actually seen real descriptions almost that bad! Joe Surfer, who is looking for a good opportunity online might type the following words into his search engine of choice: "make money, success, rich, ideas". What sites do you think he'll find? He'll see a list of all the sites with well-written, search engine optimized keywords, and NOT the kind of garbage in my first example. The spelling mistakes you make will never match the search terms you want, so be careful when writing your descriptions!
Again, I'm not trying to pick on anyone with poor English or spelling skills. I'm just showing the reality of the situation, and the sooner you understand that, the faster you will be back on the road to success. Think of it this way: If your domain name is spelled wrong and your description and keywords are wrong, then you're not just off the road to success, but you're actually off the information highway completely, at a dead end where no one will find you!
You have to get SERIOUS about your online business, and being intelligent is a big part of that. No one will want to join your opportunity if you, as the sponsor, seem clueless and unable to explain things clearly. I'm telling you this because I WANT to see you succeed! Good luck!
Something like 95% of you are going about things the WRONG way and are wasting your time. I know this seems a bit harsh, but I feel really frustrated when I see good people who have no hope in ever succeeding with their online business. To really, actually and honestly make any money online you have to use your BRAIN more than anything else. That's why they call it business SMARTS! I'm going to break down one of the most common problems right here and now.
There seems to be a major problem out there with spelling. Even if your primary language is NOT English, then use a dictionary if you plan to write in English. This is not merely a pet peeve, but a serious flaw in those trying to get ahead. I was looking around the Linkreferral site today and was amazed at how many sites have spelling mistakes RIGHT IN THE DOMAIN NAME! Think about that. Your domain name is your "store name" to the world and you spent time AND money to register it. Shouldn't you be very careful in spelling it out to make sure it's perfect first? I'm not talking about cute, on purpose mistakes to make the domain stand out. These are glaring errors. If you can't spell your own domain name, then either use dictionary.com or don't register it at all!
The other frequent spelling errors occur in site descriptions and keywords. Yes, I know that incorrect spellings are commonly used on purpose for keywords, and that's fine, but you should also make sure you include the CORRECT spellings as well. Search engines will find your site according to the text you use and if your main keywords are spelled wrong, then they won't find you. Even worse, some search engines even penalize your site in the ranking for being poorly written!
Here's a good example. Say you have a site for making money online and, obviously, you want people to come visit your site. So, you write a description, but it's full of spelling errors like "com hear for gret idees on how mak munee and get ritch qik. bee a suksess now!" Ok, I know you're laughing because that's an extreme example, but I've actually seen real descriptions almost that bad! Joe Surfer, who is looking for a good opportunity online might type the following words into his search engine of choice: "make money, success, rich, ideas". What sites do you think he'll find? He'll see a list of all the sites with well-written, search engine optimized keywords, and NOT the kind of garbage in my first example. The spelling mistakes you make will never match the search terms you want, so be careful when writing your descriptions!
Again, I'm not trying to pick on anyone with poor English or spelling skills. I'm just showing the reality of the situation, and the sooner you understand that, the faster you will be back on the road to success. Think of it this way: If your domain name is spelled wrong and your description and keywords are wrong, then you're not just off the road to success, but you're actually off the information highway completely, at a dead end where no one will find you!
You have to get SERIOUS about your online business, and being intelligent is a big part of that. No one will want to join your opportunity if you, as the sponsor, seem clueless and unable to explain things clearly. I'm telling you this because I WANT to see you succeed! Good luck!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
No Such Thing As Passive Income!
I know you've all seen LOTS of ads screaming at you about the joys of "passive income" and how you can make huge truckloads of money in your sleep, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's all a LIE! They are just trying to scam your lazy side. A big part of why I started this blog was to expose some of the crooks out there, while also showing you how to actually BENEFIT from their schemes. Many of us want something for nothing, or at least to make money with the least amount of work, and that is the weakness that the scammers prey upon.
Truth is, anything you do is going to come at a cost. If you want to be a free member of a site without paying anything, then be prepared to click endless links or read bottomless junk mail until your fingers virtually bleed, in exchange for perhaps a few pennies per hour for your time. Never underestimate the value of your "sweat equity"! Your time is worth MUCH more than a few cents an hour, but you just have to be made aware of that. Working from home seems easy when told you just have to view some ads or emails, but it NEVER pays off in any real income payoff.
There was a time, during the internet boom of a few years ago, when all you had to do was throw up a few banners on a site and then go to bed while the money rolled into your bank account. However, any honest and REAL internet entrepreneur will tell you that those days are LONG GONE! These days, in the so-called "web 2.0" period, a person has to WORK really hard to achieve any degree of success. There have been so many scams out there over the years that now people are more wary of buying anything online unless it's from a trusted online establishment, and your small affiliate page with your smiling picture on it just won't do.
You now have to go WAY beyond that. You have to assure your potential customer that you aren't going to rip them off. You should be comfortable yourself with any affiliate program you associate with and, no matter what they tell you about your "warm market", do not spam your friends. If you are promoting a program you truly believe they might want to look at, then send to them a personal friend email asking how they are doing and just mention the program as an aside as something they should look into. When you send a bulk spammy email to everyone, including your friends, it seems impersonal and they will feel insulted, and you don't want ANY potential customers to feel that way.
Keeping all that in mind, technically you CAN make money while you sleep, but it's not really "passive" after you consider the endless hours you need to put into making it all work. It's the work you do when NOT sleeping that will make you money later on. I DO make a living working from home, but I also work sometimes 18 hour days to make that happen, and you should be prepared to do the same thing if you want to be truly successful.
I participate in and maintain 73 different websites and affiliate programs, and that requires a great deal of effort in terms of time and organization. I don't intend to make an exhaustive list of all the programs I'm involved in here as, truthfully, many aren't worth the effort and I participate mainly as an experiment so I can report on the "good, the bad and the ugly" to you here in my blog. I stick with a program long enough to determine if it's crap or if it's worth pursuing, and then I report on it accordingly. Those programs that make it to this blog are the ones that have been tested to have at least SOME benefit to the average user. That may be in the form of FREE advertising (ie. WebCentreSurf or the like) or in REAL income that can make you a living working from home (ie. Degree Brokering). What you choose to do is up to you, but, as always, I wish you the all the best!
Truth is, anything you do is going to come at a cost. If you want to be a free member of a site without paying anything, then be prepared to click endless links or read bottomless junk mail until your fingers virtually bleed, in exchange for perhaps a few pennies per hour for your time. Never underestimate the value of your "sweat equity"! Your time is worth MUCH more than a few cents an hour, but you just have to be made aware of that. Working from home seems easy when told you just have to view some ads or emails, but it NEVER pays off in any real income payoff.
There was a time, during the internet boom of a few years ago, when all you had to do was throw up a few banners on a site and then go to bed while the money rolled into your bank account. However, any honest and REAL internet entrepreneur will tell you that those days are LONG GONE! These days, in the so-called "web 2.0" period, a person has to WORK really hard to achieve any degree of success. There have been so many scams out there over the years that now people are more wary of buying anything online unless it's from a trusted online establishment, and your small affiliate page with your smiling picture on it just won't do.
You now have to go WAY beyond that. You have to assure your potential customer that you aren't going to rip them off. You should be comfortable yourself with any affiliate program you associate with and, no matter what they tell you about your "warm market", do not spam your friends. If you are promoting a program you truly believe they might want to look at, then send to them a personal friend email asking how they are doing and just mention the program as an aside as something they should look into. When you send a bulk spammy email to everyone, including your friends, it seems impersonal and they will feel insulted, and you don't want ANY potential customers to feel that way.
Keeping all that in mind, technically you CAN make money while you sleep, but it's not really "passive" after you consider the endless hours you need to put into making it all work. It's the work you do when NOT sleeping that will make you money later on. I DO make a living working from home, but I also work sometimes 18 hour days to make that happen, and you should be prepared to do the same thing if you want to be truly successful.
I participate in and maintain 73 different websites and affiliate programs, and that requires a great deal of effort in terms of time and organization. I don't intend to make an exhaustive list of all the programs I'm involved in here as, truthfully, many aren't worth the effort and I participate mainly as an experiment so I can report on the "good, the bad and the ugly" to you here in my blog. I stick with a program long enough to determine if it's crap or if it's worth pursuing, and then I report on it accordingly. Those programs that make it to this blog are the ones that have been tested to have at least SOME benefit to the average user. That may be in the form of FREE advertising (ie. WebCentreSurf or the like) or in REAL income that can make you a living working from home (ie. Degree Brokering). What you choose to do is up to you, but, as always, I wish you the all the best!
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