I’m not rich and I’m not famous. But I have been working online and from home for over a decade. When I first started, I had three children, one of which was a baby and I also had a husband.
Now, I still have three children (two of which are teens), custody of my nephew and I’m divorced. Below is some helpful advice I’ve learned over the years.
The truth about making money online
It’s not as easy as it seems to make money online or everyone would be doing it. I’ve lost count of the numerous times people have asked me how they can do what I do. Sure, everyone has the capability to do it; it’s not magic. But, most people don’t understand how much work and dedication goes into running a Web site with products, affiliate products or a blog.
They think it’s easy but it takes a lot of time and effort until the big bucks start rolling in. Most assume that if you work from home, surely you are playing on the computer all day or on the phone. Wrong.
One of the most common questions I get asked is if I can check out this email or Web site that a friend or family member got, which is 99 percent spam. The old adage, “If it seems too good to be true, it usually is,” is good common sense. I can promise you no company is going to pay you $5000 for working 15 minutes a day, not a legitimate company anyway.
Expect to fail
While this may not be the case for everyone, most business owners/entrepreneurs have failed at least once. When I started out online I had an online store. While I don’t necessarily consider that venture a “failure” so to speak, it definitely isn’t wasn’t what I wanted so I scrapped it and started over.
Then I failed at a few “great” ideas. But, I can honestly say that I learned something in each instance so it wasn’t a complete waste.
Working online is hard work
Without discipline you’ve already started your journey on the wrong foot. And the real trick is staying disciplined! The beginning of every new Web site or business is fun and exciting, but when the novelty wears off will you be able to stay focused? Being your own boss, depending on who you ask, can be both a blessing and a curse.
Let’s not forget that you also have to take the time to make your friends and family members understand that just because you work online doesn’t mean it’s play time and you still aren’t available to run errands, babysit and waste away the hours gossiping about last night’s episode of Dancing with the Stars. That doesn’t mean you can’t come up with a workable schedule so that you can still focus on your online business but also enjoy the benefits of not working in an office.
Adapt or fizz
In any industry you need to stay on top of the news and goings on so you can stay ahead of the curve and adapt. Find Web sites – such as WebTrafficROI.com – on your industry topic and read. Attend a conference there are so many conferences in just about every niche, it’s not as unattainable as it once was.
Networking and talking to like-minded people is essential to your success. If you absolutely can’t go, embrace the beauty of webinars and stay connected.
When you first start out you should visit forums, blogs and the like to get your name out there and to ask questions. After you’ve reached some success online, continue to visit these same sites and give back to the community.
Image Credit: Rich Wall 100
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