If today's economy has left you needing more money, consider this show a trend: Millions use the Internet - and a minimum of time - to bring home extra bacon.Whether exploring e-commerce or sell advertising space on blogs, Internet sellers often benefit from rock-bottom initial investment, convenience to work wherever and whenever they want, and freedom to become their own boss.
However, before you quit your day job, it is important to consider the potential pitfalls of sales on the Internet. These include startup time, reduce costs and intense competition."There are many people who try to do the same thing," said Robert Spector, author of "Amazon.com: Get Big Fast," a book which covers the history and development of the Web giant."What will distinguish the books I receive from you on the books that I have received from your competitors?"Here are four ideas to transform the Internet into your personal cash cow, and suggestions to stay ahead of the competition.
1. BloggingWeb logs - now almost universally known as "blog" - never cynical voice of dissent on the Web. Now, everyone seems to have a space on the Internet where they offer opinions or other reflections. If your blog caught the public imagination, you can earn money while you entertain.Eden Kennedy of Santa Barbara, California, began Fussy.org when his son is 3 months. He has been blogging about parenting, marriage and bustle of daily life for eight years now.Kennedy said he built the reader to read, comment and show interest in other people blogs.Finally, Kennedy simply from the following to sell advertising space on his blog.He worked with several different advertising networks, each of which compensates with anywhere from $ 1 per month to several hundred dollars per month.One day, Kennedy was another flash entrepreneurial insight: He decided to sell T-shirts to readers.
He had a shirt printed with the phrase "Writing well is the best revenge" and see the orders roll in."It's just that phrase, hits people pretty good," said Kennedy. "In fact, many academics to buy T-shirts."Kennedy now generate about $ 200 per month to sell T-shirts. That's in addition to ad revenue dollars she rakes in.Kennedy said his online pursuits have been more fruitful and less time consuming than the former world "real" job working in a bookstore."Usually the post, no matter how long it is, it takes me about an hour to write, and lately I have not updated more than twice a week," said Kennedy, adding that designing a blog and dealing with advertisers require an additional five hours per week.How Kennedy was earning from blogging?"That still adds up to more than I was selling books for 40 hours a week," he said.Not all bloggers are guaranteed to generate good money. However, bloggers who truly love what they do is they are growing, says Kennedy."I think the people who really succeed and last in this case just really enjoy writing and taking pictures," he said.If you want to try your hand on blogs, Web sites Blogger, WordPress and LiveJournal offer free blog templates.If you want to sell ad space on your blog, check out sites such as Google AdSense, Text Link Ads and BlogHerAds network (for women only).
2. Sell Books, Music and Other ProductsAmazon.com and eBay to revolutionize e-commerce in the 1990s. Since then, countless people have made money selling books, movies, clothes and every other commodity under the sun.E-commerce is becoming more easily than ever before, and complications arrange payment over the Internet disappearing fast, Spector said."A lot of the uncertainty is taken from the equation thanks to technology," he said. "You'll get paid before you ship your products."Spector, author of books on Amazon.com, said that sites like Amazon can help small-volume sellers to reach a wider audience."(Amazon) make it easier and more beneficial to collectors booklet that clearly has a good book rare or out-of-print for business ... it's worth it for them to give Amazon a small piece of business for the space very high profile, "he said.Mick McClain has been selling music on the Internet for 10 years. He sells everything from rare and out-print-release compact disc to the new album and used.McClain uses eBay and Amazon.com to market their products. He also operates a Web site where potential customers can peruse her collection.Residents of San Diego says his startup costs are minimal. He had to spend to buy a computer "little bit better" and to build inventories, 90 percent of which comes from the brick store-and-mortar.For newcomers to e-commerce, McClain recommends sticking something you know."Your mind should be a database," he said. "That's why I was never involved in anything other than music because I'll get eaten alive by the people in authority (other products)."Spector offers two tips for the prospective e-merchants."First of all, have a unique product," he said. "There must be something that separates you from your competitors."Spector second tip is to make sure that you can keep the promises of your product."Live up to what you promise," he said. "If you promise a book, ... under certain conditions, at a certain price, and guaranteed to arrive on a certain day, then do it."
3. Marketing Your HobbyCrafters, photographers and artists are also entering the Web as a potential market for their goods.Notley Hawkins, a fine arts photographer from Columbia, Mo., began selling them online by uploading photos to Flickr, the popular digital photo storage Web site.Flickr then partnered with Imagekind, a Web site that specializes in selling fine art prints. Since then, Hawkins has sold about 50 of his prints through Imagekind.Hawkins has found that having a Web site selling photos online and offline help to enhance his reputation. He says his online presence helped him gain credibility with local travel magazine, where he works freelance."It helped my career in many ways," said Hawkins of Imagekind. "It helped me make some money, which is very important."Hawkins urged the novice photographer to start gradually by putting their photos to sites like Flickr."Try to establish an online reputation with online publishing," he said.In the world of crafts, Web sites such as the merchant offers goods handmade Etsy ways to expand their customer base, while easily sell their products. Sellers who use Etsy to use the service to take payments via PayPal or money orders.Other Web sites sell crafts including FreeCraftFair.com and Handmade Catalog.Adam Brown, a spokesman for Etsy, saying handmade jewelry and craft-making supplies are the two most popular categories of sites.To make money online, Brown said the seller should pay special attention to post good photos of their product and write interesting descriptions. This skill is important, because Web pages have to replace the real product.Brown also recommended the proposal of a good old-fashioned customer service."When people contact you, you always have to respond quickly," he said.He said another smart marketing move - like throwing a freebie when additional customer orders something - to build customer loyalty"Adding a personal touch really helps," he said.
4. Contribute to the WebsiteAll over the Web, fans eager to provide their expertise in music, film and sports to niche Web sites. Many get a huge amount of money to do the things they like.Brian Swaw Chicago employs seven staff writers for fantasy its Web site content football, GameTimeDecisions.net.Swaw's writers get paid about $ 100 per month, and in return, each write 1-2 articles about football players and fantasy draft picks each week.Want to pen about your passion for a Web site? Swaw recommend volunteers to get started."That's how I do," he said. "There's a ton of sports Web sites out there that are looking for volunteers and it's a good way to get your name out there."On the Internet, there are sites indulge almost every hobby, so the opportunities abound.EHow is information the Web site where you can get paid to write "how-to" instructions on any subject.If you are into video games, you can try Gamezone and GameFAQs. For movie reviews, check Badmovies.org and All Movie Guide.If you have a green thumb or a sweet tooth, try gardening sites such as The Growing Edge, or cooking sites such as cooking Engineers who pay a small wage for contributors.Music geeks should try the All Music Guide, a review of popular music site that pays contributors. Music Emissions music is an alternative web site that received reviews from all members and will promote you to their editorial team if they like your stuff.Finally, most big cities have a slew of entertainment Web sites, some of whom pay review. CenterstageChicago.com, for example, proffers a clear and simple instructions on how to contribute to the site and get paid.Check your city entertainment, Web sites, and do not be discouraged if there are no instructions for the review - try e-mail editor.All that glitters ...
Seller, writer and others are smart and persistent often make a profit through their online activities. However, not everyone makes money, and there are many potential barriers to success.Some businesses, such as sale of handicrafts and blogs, can take a long time to get started. You may find yourself investing a lot of time and effort - and even money - before you start to see returns.Brown said it was too easy for vendors selling crafts to take a gloomy person and begin to doubt the quality of their art."People tend to be very easy to get discouraged," he said.Another disadvantage of e-commerce is that Web sites often charge fees to the seller.For example, when eBay and Amazon.com offers a window into the world market, some say there is a steep price for the main access."When I first started selling on eBay, the cost is very low," said McClain. "Like anything, when corporations smell blood in the water, they put out more chum and costs increase dramatically."McClain said he also has seen the increase in postage rates for sending packages to the customer.Besides price rise, e-vendors also have to deal with competition that manifests itself in a huge online marketplace."The problem inherent is (that) everyone that you're competing with to sell in the same place," said McClain. "When you sell on the Internet, you're competing with every person who has the same product lines and interests in the world."In addition, some people find it difficult to find outlets for their interests which will also generate revenue.Freelance music writer Philip Sherburne said he has a hard time get paid to write about music he likes.
"I would say the biggest struggle just to find outlets that have interest in my music, because I have always specialized in electronic and experimental music," said Sherburne, American expatriate who now lives in Spain.Pop and indie rock is a musical genre with a more extensive online following of the electronic and experimental music. However, the type of music that is not as much interest Sherburne."I quickly lost any foundation in the world of indie pop or rock," said Sherburne.Despite the challenges, the seller is committed continues to find success. If you are interested to make money on the Internet, a little perseverance and luck will go away."If you go on our blog is 'quit your day job' series, we actually have people who have things that are really devastating and they ... quit their jobs," said Brown. "Now, they support themselves with what they make."
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