| 1) Starting With a Plan | | | | you'll be assured there is a market for your niche. Start |
| Before entering any endeavor, one needs a plan. | | | | talking to people in your area of interest about your |
| Making money is no different if you wish to be | | | | new product on different websites. Even let some |
| EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT at it. In business, we call | | | | people try it out for free so you get some real life |
| this a "business plan". You can take tons of classes, | | | | feedback. This will help you fine tune your product |
| and read hundreds of classes on how to "properly" | | | | while also giving you testimonials confirming the |
| write a business plan... but if you aren't seeking venture | | | | usefulness of your new product (which you'll add to |
| capital (or partners to invest with you) then this doesn't | | | | your website!). |
| really matter. What matters most is a simple scribble | | | | While doing this you'll want to also setup an e-mail list |
| of where you are... and where you want to go. Even | | | | (also called an autoresponder or mailing list). You can |
| the most successful people have business plans. | | | | sign up for an account at services such as aweber. A |
| Writing your goals and plans may seem silly now but I | | | | e-mail list will give you access to past and potential |
| assure you in time you'll look back and realize it's | | | | customers. Use this list to simply give a couple of small |
| effectiveness as it keeps you on track. | | | | paragraphs with tidbits every month or so. After |
| 2) What Should You Do? | | | | awhile of enough useful content you'll find this list to |
| The most effective way to make money online (and | | | | grow on it's own if you follow step 5! |
| we'll assume you want to do it "online" since... well... | | | | 5) Becoming Gold |
| YOUR ONLINE) is by selling a product or service. They | | | | OK, so you have a couple sales... you have the |
| seem like completely different worlds but actually a | | | | testimonial... the product is the best it can be... now |
| product and service aren't too different from each | | | | what? To become "GOLD" and truly MAKE MONEY |
| other (both require you to find customers and sell to | | | | you need one thing above all else... TRAFFIC! If you |
| them). Don't try to think of what will be the most | | | | know how to get traffic then great! If not then there |
| lucrative, but yet what you have a PASSION for (a | | | | are a number of sources to obtain traffic like buying |
| hobby, a sport, a language, a subject from school, etc.). | | | | campaigns from AdWords and other PPC campaign |
| For instance, if everyone tells you "write articles" yet | | | | sites, or buying LOTS of traffic from sites like |
| you absolutely despise writing... don' do it! It will show in | | | | traffictaxi. You need to be careful when buying traffic |
| your writing (and thus in your quality of work) if you | | | | because costs can add up quick. Watch your sales as |
| have absolutely no passion for it. | | | | you spend money on traffic. If you aren't making any |
| OK, lets say for this example your passion is horses. | | | | return... you might want to backtrack and before |
| But wait... how can we SELL horses online and make | | | | spending too much more. Obviously this brings up the |
| money? Well, do you ride horses? Do you ride well | | | | next point. Rather than paying for it, why not get it for |
| enough to teach others? But how can you teach | | | | free? Actually that turns out to be even more |
| others how to ride horses online...? It's easier than you | | | | effective most of the time. Because with your free |
| think. | | | | traffic you usually have the most control over and thus |
| 3) Creating Your Product | | | | it is highly targeted (meaning the people coming to your |
| Now that you have your true PASSION figured out, | | | | site are more likely to buy). A great place to think |
| how do you go about creating a product? Especially | | | | about getting free traffic is from sites like facebook, |
| one as "weird" (for online selling) as "how to ride | | | | myspace, and twitter. Setup an account telling a little |
| horses"? You might think that you need to write an | | | | about yourself, befriend a couple people and give |
| eBook (since so many others do it... it must be the | | | | some free information about your passion on your |
| way!). But just as I said earlier, even if you aren't | | | | profile (NOTE: your passion, NOT your product). You |
| proficient in writing... you still have hope. In fact, in a | | | | *DO NOT* want to come off like you're selling people |
| unique subject area like learning how to riding horses... | | | | at the start. First you want to give people a feel of |
| staying away from writing may actually be beneficial. In | | | | who you are. Once you've established that trust and |
| this example I'd recommend video tutorials (but | | | | "connection" you can then invite people to join your |
| anything can work... pictures, drawings, audio recording, | | | | free e-mail list for free tips. Once people are on this list |
| writing, etc.). Assuming you have an easy technique for | | | | (that you setup in step 4) you'll easily obtain new |
| beginner riders it'd probably be best to SHOW them | | | | customers. |
| rather than talk them through it (especially since again, | | | | Most likely you won't generate the amount of traffic |
| they are beginners). Since you aren't there to physically | | | | you need from sites like facebook, myspace, and |
| show them in person... do the next best thing! Show | | | | twitter. If this is the case you may want to really start |
| Them! | | | | downloading some free information online for traffic |
| ... and you thought your summer part-time career | | | | generation... or if you want to get serious about your |
| training neighbors how to ride horses only | | | | business: hire a traffic or SEO consultant that can |
| encompassed your neighborhood didn't you? | | | | really optimize your site, give you some traffic tips, and |
| 4) Marketing Your Finished Product | | | | really start generating a heavy TARGETED stream of |
| Now that you have your finished product the next | | | | traffic (aka buyers!). Well what if you can't afford a |
| step is finding your customers. Given the market of | | | | private consultant? You may want to look into |
| horse riding you'd want to search for horse related | | | | products put out by heavy hitters (aka traffic |
| websites. Find people generally interested in horses | | | | consultants) that really know all about traffic. One all |
| that may find your information useful. I wouldn't | | | | encompassing traffic product is Traffic Secrets by |
| recommended targeting the advanced horse jumping | | | | John Reese (who recently released v2 in July of |
| and competition forums (at least to start) as these | | | | 2008). This product will keep you up to date with all of |
| people are unlikely to jump on a beginners training | | | | the traffic tips you need to keep your website ranking |
| guide to horse riding. However given the fact that | | | | high, pulling in the visitors, and MOST IMPORTANTLY |
| people spend thousands on horses, hundreds on | | | | making you sales! |
| saddles, and thousands on other horsey accessories... | | | | |