Newbie Guidance Please

[thetruth]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to find out what people thought was the best route for a newbie to take in order to make their first $'s online?

If you're not a newbie anymore, what did you start with?

If you are, what ARE you starting with?

Reading in forums, there are two systems that stick out the most, CPA and Affiliate Marketing.

Pros and Cons for each?

I suppose it's similar for almost all newbies, but in my particular case, keeping the initial monetary cost down is the biggest concern, VERY CLOSELY followed by the amount of time needed.

I understand time, effort, and money are required to a certain degree, just wanted to know my options and figure out how I want to balance those 3 variables.

Thanks, for anyone who would be able to help.

PS. This is my first actual post, and I'm REALLY sorry its coming from a place of 'need'. I will DEFINATELY try to add value to the other posts also. Hopefully others will find some valuable answers here also.

[Engage]

Hi there, welcome to the forum.

Is there a topic that you'd like to learn a lot about, and write a lot about?

Set aside webmastering and making money online type topics. Cross those off your list.

Would you like to become an expert on some other topic? Are you already an expert on some other topic?

[thetruth]

Hi there, welcome to the forum.

Is there a topic that you'd like to learn a lot about, and write a lot about?

Set aside webmastering and making money online type topics. Cross those off your list.

Would you like to become an expert on some other topic? Are you already an expert on some other topic?

Ah, I think I understand where you're coming from.

I would like to become an expert in some topics, but at the same time a big consideration I need to make is whether or not I'm able to make a living from it.

It's a shame, but at this point in my life my monetary goals have priority over most others, which sucks because I don't want it to really be that way.

But writing and creating content is a possibility.

Is this something you do yourself?

How did you start? and How DO you start?

[Engage]

Hi again,

Yes, I accept your income goal, and am addressing that.

I'm mostly a programmer, but like many here, I have some content sites that earn money from ads, Adsense being the most common form of ad.

I started in 1995, and have taken a long journey with way too many chapters to recall here.

You've already taken the first step by being wise enough to ask for advice. Lynn's Elite Club could be something to consider, as it specializes in providing this kind of advice.

If you wish to be a content publisher, another first step would be to find a topic that both sincerely interests you, and is reasonably profitable.

That can be a challenge, but once you overcome it, the equation gets fairly simple.

Content and links, content and links, content and links.

Simple, but not easy, because you'll have to do a good deal of work before any real money comes in.

This process does take a good bit of patience, so if you need new income right now, a part time offline job might be a better plan.

Questions?

[angienewton]

I started with affiliate marketing and really enjoy it. I don't do any PPC or anything like that. SEO/Keyword research is key in getting yourself found in the search engines and on the web.

I recommend reading Lynn's blog post about starting a free online business (http://www.clicknewz.com/1679/starting-a-free-online-business/). It might get some ideas flowing for you.

I would recommend starting with something you know and/or are passionate about and building a business on that. I noticed in your signature that you're promoting money making ebooks or similar and it's really hard to sell those types of things if you haven't been successful at those yourself. Someone trying to build an Internet marketing blog with info about affiliate marketing, list building, etc. will have a very hard time if they don't already have success in that area because it will show through in the writing.

What are some topics that interest you? Maybe we can brainstorm getting started with a niche that could be easier to build for you at this time.

By the way, welcome to SSWT! Glad to have you here.

[thetruth]

Thanks for your responses and for your recommendations. I appreciate it.


@ angienewton

Do you have any tips on getting the most out of affiliate marketing?


A couple of things that interest me, or just things that I like, are Driving, and My Personal Health and Fitness (I'm interested in healthy nutrition as well as muscle and weight gain)

[Meenub]

Hi there, welcome to the forum.

I completely understand where you are comming from. I am new at this myself. I have been doing a lot of research (probebly too much). I have come to the conclusion that if you don't have a product of your own then affilliate marketing is the best way to start.

I have narrowed down a topic that I am interested in and have knowledge of. I am currently in the 1st stages of creating my very 1st website, doing keyword research etc.
My first goal is to create a quality website with good quality content, something that people will want to come back to even if I am not selling anything. After I have done that is when I will start to monetize it. I want to make money but at the same time deliver good quality to people who visit my site.
That is why I think it is very important to pick a topic/product that you are interested in or have experience with.
I know it is a long process, especially in the beginning but I believe like any business you get out what you put in.

Hope this helps

Meenu

[thetruth]

Hi there, welcome to the forum.

I completely understand where you are comming from. I am new at this myself. I have been doing a lot of research (probebly too much). I have come to the conclusion that if you don't have a product of your own then affilliate marketing is the best way to start.

I have narrowed down a topic that I am interested in and have knowledge of. I am currently in the 1st stages of creating my very 1st website, doing keyword research etc.
My first goal is to create a quality website with good quality content, something that people will want to come back to even if I am not selling anything. After I have done that is when I will start to monetize it. I want to make money but at the same time deliver good quality to people who visit my site.
That is why I think it is very important to pick a topic/product that you are interested in or have experience with.
I know it is a long process, especially in the beginning but I believe like any business you get out what you put in.

Hope this helps

Meenu

Thanks Meenu.

So are you starting a blog, or another variation of an information portal? (Perhaps something similar to this website?)

That is something I wanted to do as well. A Blog sounds easiest for me and I believe with wordpress it shouldn't be too hard for me to get a site 'ready' waiting for me to add some quality content.

I face three main challenges with this. Knowing where to start, creating lots of quality content (ie. getting my thoughts onto paper), and patience!

What are your main challenges? Anything similar.

Because of this is probably why I've chosen to concentrate on affiliate marketing first.

[Engage]

I face three main challenges with this. Knowing where to start, creating lots of quality content (ie. getting my thoughts onto paper), and patience!

I think knowing where to start is the hardest part.

Once we've committed to a topic, the job is greatly simplified. Content and links. More of both is better. Not always easy, but at least we know exactly what we should be working on.

Don't forget Adsense.

Affiliate marketing requires skillful pre-sell copy, which is an art form that isn't instantly mastered.

And, you're unlikely to sell much even with great pre-sell until you've got a significant amount of traffic.

I'd suggest content, links and Adsense until you hit 500 visitors a day or something like that. Nothing works without traffic. With traffic, many options are available.

[Meenub]

Yes I am starting with a blog only because it is something I've wanted to do for a while.
I am focusing on a topic that I want to write about and would write about even if I wasn't thinking of monitizing it.
The challanges for me are the techincal things but wordpress makes it pretty easy.

Engage is absolutely right. Build quality, links, relationships with your readers then monitize.

Best of luck to you.

Meenu

[thetruth]

Wow, Matthew! Thanks a lot!

I've learnt a lot just from what you've said there.

I have lots of great ideas now for me to start implementing, and i'll keep everyone posted with how things work out. But i'm feeling very optimistic right now.

[angienewton]

@ angienewton

Do you have any tips on getting the most out of affiliate marketing?

A couple of things that interest me, or just things that I like, are Driving, and My Personal Health and Fitness (I'm interested in healthy nutrition as well as muscle and weight gain)

There is a lot to affiliate marketing but the best advice I can give is to just get started. You'll learn as you and will have lots of questions along the way. Other than that, my #1 tip is to learn how to do keyword research and SEO to make the most of your affiliate marketing efforts. I'll be happy to help you with that but in the mean time, you can get an idea of how to do it by reading this awesome post on a web page optimization checklist (http://www.clicknewz.com/2103/web-page-optimization/).

Health and fitness, nutrition, etc. is a tough niche BUT if you can find a way to stand out and offer your readers something different from everyone else, you can succeed. For example, I have a weight loss/fitness site and blog. It's all about my personal weight loss and healthy living journey. My niche is women over 30 who want to lose 100+ pounds. That doesn't mean I'm not selling to or helping others outside of that niche but that is my focus. You need a tight niche to make things work in that field.

Once you choose something, we can brainstorm as you go along.

Oh and the basics to start (affiliate links included are Lynn's, the owner of the forum)

Domain name from Go Daddy
Hosting from Host Gator (http://www.clicknewz.com/hostgator.htm)
Wordpress theme (free for now and you'll upload this to your hosting account via cpanel)
Aweber (http://sswt.aweber.com) mailing list manager

The only other thing I would highly recommend is joining Lynn's elite membership group (http://www.angienewton.com/sswt-elite.html) (my aff. link) here on the forum which will be re opening next week. This is a group where Lynn works closely with us and everyone is focused on taking action and building their businesses.

Let us know if you have more questions!

[Engage]

Another little thing to learn...

Affiliate marketers like to be affiliates and market.

Just keep in mind that much of the advice you receive on webmaster forums is offered by folks that will make a commission if you take their suggestions.

This is not a personal indictment of anybody in particular, or sellers in general. There's nothing wrong with selling, and making an honest living is a good thing.

However, because this industry is about selling, it is lead by sellers, and this has a profound impact upon the education new comers will receive anywhere they might go to seek advice.

Don't confuse the webmaster education industry you find online with a university, public school, or non-profit charity, just because you are getting advice for free.

Just remember, the webmaster education industry is a store, not a school.