This is the question I get asked all the time. The short of it is Yes, you can make money from the web, but how much you earn is dependent upon how much effort you want to put in. If you want to earn some serious cash some serious work is required on your part. You might say to me, but others (such as Google, myspace, or even Youtube) have already saw, came and conquered the internet, there is nothing for me to gain. But that is simply not true. These giants came from humble beginnings and helped pave that smooth road to success you are about to embark on. Although common sense, few people realize that for all its gargantuan size, these technology companies still rely on the little guy (thats you!) to help generate their income. What even fewer realize is that these same companies are willing to share the wealth with you. They still need you to help advertise their products, write their reviews, advertise on your website and fill their forms - all for money. This is the reason I created this website; to help readers such as yourself decode the tangled web and reap the benefits the internet has to offer.
Now, with so many opportunities, where do we start? Well, with some personal history. It was the mid 1990's and I had just recently finished college with a degree in computer science. Unfortunately, it wasn't until the end of my four years at the University of Arizona did I realize what my true calling was: website design. For my last semester I enrolled in an elective course, CS 212 entitled "Introduction to Markup Languages", that studied an emerging pseudo-language called HTML. Once I walked out of that course I knew the future lay in the power of the internet. My enlightenment had begun. At this point in time, there were very few HTML coders, so I quickly became fluent in the language and partnered with fellow alumni and created an Internet coding firm, Internal Analysis Designs, that created websites for large firms on a contract basis. I also dove into the realm of freelance writing, but I realized no material gains, for the moment. My company was raking in the dough. My lip still quivers. All of this euphoria came to an abrupt end during the dot.com bomb of 2000. We were making money hand-over-fist, but instead of pulling the trigger and taking some profit, I put all of my money back into the company. It was pure growth but I was caught with my hand in the cookie jar.
Penniless and without a company I turned to freelance writing, managing a meager income. A few years later, while submitting an article online, I came across another article that caught my attention. It was entitled something to the effect of "Internet Advertising in the New Age". Although the title seemed bland, the article's contents were fascinating. The author foresaw the internet as nothing more than an advertising platform, ripe for the taking. The internet was once the domain of universities, governments, large enterprises and computer nerds but the evolutionary effects of the dot.com bubble burst made the internet accessible for hundreds of millions. Almost overnight, the internet transformed itself from a medium of information exchange to a business marketplace predicated upon the consumer. Finally, the consumer was going to control the direction of the internet! If any one piece of reading hit the nail on the head, that one was it. I wish I could find it.
But how does that make you money? There is now no bubble to burst since the internet is here to stay. Companies need to sell items and make maximize profits, but it cannot achieve those results without two things:
1) Consumers
2) Product reviews
This is where you make your grand entrance. E-commerce and online shopping continue to skyrocket. Companies pay to promote their products in a multitude of ways:
- Start a Website or Blog
- Join an Affiliate Program
- Advertise
- Write Information Products
- Create a Referrals Listing
- Write Reviews
- Start an Online Business
- Fill out Surveys
These are just a handful of a number of income earning opportunities! I encourage you to search throughout the site and further your reading on the detailed articles outlining how to get started on making money.
No comments:
Post a Comment