What are the best ways to earn a living online?
I need advice. I’m looking for a practical and realistic way to earn a living online.
I’ve been sorting through ideas (I had no idea googling “make money online” would bring so much crap), and I’m having trouble believing a lot of the things I read.
“Make $3,000 / month with article marketing”
“Made for adsense” sites
etc
etc
etc.
Can anyone guide me to some real advice (don’t give me your affiliate link to your “great program”).
Thanks
The only thing I can suggest with any real belief in, is to continue adding valuable content in your posts, continue to visit similar sites to your own blog and build relationships: comment on the posts that interest you, and eventually you will build traffic that comes back.
Reply in your own comments to those that comment on your posts (I like to email a copy of my reply to the commenter) - people like to know that their comments are being read by the blogmaster, and you can find amazing friends through your own comments.
Affiliate yourself only with products or services that you’ve bought yourself and that you like. As you gain readership, your visitors will begin to trust you and your judgment, and will be more likely to click that link.
If you have a product or service of your own, make sure to toot your own horn, on your own blog first! Trade links with people with similar products, and research paid ad spots before spending a lot of money (you WILL need to spend some money eventually, to trade off the time you spend - it’s true: Time IS Money).
All of this takes a lot of time and even more patience - but you will eventually make a little money. You’ll feel better knowing it’s honest money, and you won’t be as likely to scatter your advertising efforts. Eventually, you’ll be able to build the income to something that pays for itself, and then supports you. Few people get “rich” online. If you love what you’re doing, and believe in it, “rich” won’t matter so much to you.
I hope this helps - you’re right to wonder about some of those money-making links. There really is no “honest, fast, easy” way to do it. Be patient and don’t give up. Eventually, you’ll find your niche, and the money will come. Stick with your instincts.
Les Becker’s last blog post..What Do I Mean?
@Les,
Thanks for the great advice. I guess it all comes down to patience and hard work. I especially like the idea of emailing responses. I think I’ll do that. (I wonder if wordpress can be set to automatically do that?)
By the way, I don’t have a lot of visitors (yet), how did you find me?
Shawn.
I use wordpress, too, and truthfully, it never occurred to me to see if there’s an “automatic email response” plugin available to send my return comments back to the recipient. If you find one, let me know, will you?
That would sure save me several steps!
Les Becker’s last blog post..Just Call Me ?Patches?
Hi Shawn, came across your blog because of entrecard, only read this post so far but wanted to comment on Les´comment which seems to be very usefull
There is a wordpress plugin that actually lets you send an automatic email to thank for commenting on your blog… I saw it over the weekend but now can´t remember the name, just google on wordpress plugin comments and I am sure you will run into it!
keep up the good work
mirjam’s last blog post..Winning $1000
@Mirjam,
Thanks for info. I’ll have to see if I can find that plugin. I’m not sure I want to send a Thank You for every comment, but maybe I can hack the plugin to do what I want?
Shawn - I’m sorry, I just realized that I never told you how I came across your blog, after you asked. Sorry about that. I found you through entrecard.
I’ve found a few really interesting places through there, but it got a little addictive, so I’ve been trying to police my time a little better.
Thanks for the heads up on the comment plugin in my email today. I’ll certainly look more closely at that this week.
Les’s last blog post..Ruby’s Right - You Can’t Trust That Internet.
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Good Luck
Namaste
I use, Subscribe to comments and Comment Relish.
Subscribe to Comments, lets commenters follow a comment conversation if they take part. They get notified by e-mail.
Comment relish sends an e-mail back to the commenter, thanking him or her.
Fredrik
Fredrik’s last blog post..Am I seeing a trend?