This deceptively simple formula belongs to everyone and anyone, but I have to credit David Taylor who wrote about it first in his impressive and inspiring book called: The Naked Leader http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841124230/shoptouruk .
And here is the formula for guaranteed success:
1) Know where you want to go
2) Know where you are now
3) Know what you have to do, to get to where you want to go
4) Do it!
Deceptively. Simple.
And this article covers (some of) the ‘know what you have to do’ bit. The rest, I’m afraid, is up to you! (It is only a short article, after all! 🙂 )
(I highly recommend you take a look at David Taylor’s management/ psychology self-help book: it’s revolutionary in its simplicity! http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841124230/shoptouruk .)
Introduction
Hello, my name is Steve Nash and I make a full-time living online.
I’m a web designer who makes money via affiliate marketing, but there are many, many ways to make money online (and many skills to exploit). Just like there are many ways to make money in the real world, off-line.
So you DON’T need a website OR a product OR knowledge of HTML (but all can help)!
It wasn’t easy for me; I certainly was not an overnight success, and I’m still learning. So if you’re looking for a get- rich quick scheme, you might as well stop reading now!
Whilst it isn’t easy, it *is possible* for anyone to sell online. Do you recognise yourself below?
Are you:
* Anyone who owns… anything ?
* Anyone who knows something that others don’t ?
* Anyone who has a passion, and is willing to share that passion with others ?
* Anyone who is willing to work hard, and continue to learn ?
You should do – it’s pretty much everyone.
Let’s narrow it down a little and concentrate on just 3 types of ‘anyone’.
Three types of ‘anyone’
I shall split these ‘anyones’ into 3 distinct groups. Everyone belongs to at least one of these groups, but you may well find ways to sell online in each of them.
1) Anyone with NO WEBSITE and NO PRODUCT
2) Anyone with a WEBSITE but NO PRODUCT
3) Anyone with a WEBSITE and PRODUCT
1) Anyone with NO WEBSITE and NO PRODUCT
It sounds good, doesn’t it – selling online, with no website and no product! And, even better, you get to clear out your loft (attic), cellar (basement) or cupboard (closet) whilst you’re at it! (And it’s NOT network marketing, so don’t worry!)
I’m not talking about car-boot (or garage) sales either, but you’re almost there!
“Sell – and buy – via online auctions!”
After all, we all own things that we no longer want; items that others are willing to buy from us! Online auctions allow you to sell (and buy) those items online.
“Build your own Net auction business.”
Ever heard of Ebay? It’s an online auction site – one of *the* MOST VISITED sites on the Net – brim full with people eager to sell (and buy) goods online! If you know what you’re doing on Ebay (or any auction site) you can quite easily turn your passion into a very lucrative, even life-enhancing, business!
There are SO MANY good things about selling via online auctions, but I particularly like the low-risks involved. I like the fact that:
– Your customers are *already looking for your items*, especially on the big auction sites like Ebay or Amazon;
– You can sell (almost) anything and it suits anyone (not just stamp-collectors!);
– You can do market research, at no expense to yourself!
Quite simply, online auctions provide the ultimate low-risk, low- startup-cost business.
* The wonderful world of Ebay
http://www.ebay.com
http://www.ebay.co.uk
Recommended read:
* Make Your Net Auctions Sell, by Sydney Johnstone http://www.wise-buys.info/cgi-bin/w/t.cgi?MYNAS_article
2) Anyone with a WEBSITE but NO PRODUCT
Ever heard of Amazon?
They sell books, right (and CDs and DVDs…)! They were also responsible for one of the first associate programs on the Net.
Their associate (affiliate) program allows sites to sell Amazon books simply by providing a link to Amazon. Amazon tracks the link, and pays a commission of between 5 and 15% if the click results in a sale. Arguably, Amazon invented affiliate marketing!
“Sell via affiliate marketing!”
Affiliate marketing is *very* big business. It is thought that in 2002, 25% of online sales will have originated on affiliate sites.
Many online businesses now run affiliate programs. It *is* possible to make a lot of money every month simply from a link to an affiliate program.
It is possible, but not that simple!
You need to have a decent amount of traffic to your site; you need to choose programs that have a good fit with your website; you need to promote the affiliate program well (sometimes called pre- selling!); and you need to join an affiliate program:
i) of a site that makes the sale, and
ii) that pays a good rate of commission.
(Ideally, you would want to make a lifetime commission on the referred customer on all future sales too!)
Amazon definitely makes the sale (it’s well-designed, has excellent customer service, and hence has very high conversion rates). But it pays a maximum of 15% commission, and you ONLY make commission on a previously-referred customer IF they click your affiliate link in the future too – no lifetime commission here!
If you’re serious about selling via affiliate marketing – and it really is a great way to supplement your income, whilst improving site content – then I recommend you sign-up for Ken Evoy’s 5-day Affiliate Masters e-mail course. It’s a l-o-n-g read, but it’s an invaluable affiliate marketing resource, and – amazingly – its free!
To get day 1 of course simply send a blank e-mail
:tamsshopping101@sitesell.net
* Brief guide to affiliate programs
http://www.shoptour.co.uk/webmaster-profit/
Recommended read:
* Michael Campbell’s Clickin’ It Rich
http://www.wise-buys.info/cgi-bin/w/t.cgi?CIR_article
3) Anyone with a WEBSITE and a PRODUCT
Congratulations! You’re already selling online. (Not sure why you’re still reading this then!)
Maybe you’re not making as many sales as you’d imagined?
Selling online for you, is all about selling a great product, at the right price, and getting enough traffic to your site. Am I right? So, have you mastered the so-called Big 3 of product, site- selling and traffic building?
“Learn how to make your site sell!”
If you haven’t can I politely suggest you check out the following best-of-breed resources below that WILL make your site sell (at the right price)! And, you might also like to consider the possibilities offered by affiliate marketing and online auctions detailed above!
* Comprehensive ecommerce resource
http://www.wilsonweb.com
Recommended read:
* Make Your Site Sell – “The bible of Net selling”
http://www.wise-buys.info/cgi-bin/w/t.cgi?MYSS_article
And finally…
As (I hope) I have just shown, anyone can sell online. You can simply:
o Sell what you have, via auction sites or your own website
o Sell what others have, via affiliate programs
Simply apply the formula for guaranteed success.
You probably won’t get rich online – give it a while, eh? 😉 – but you WILL be able to improve your income, and enjoy yourself at the same time!
Just visit the resources, and recommended reads above.
And remember, if you too want to sell online, you can! Just choose the best option for you, *and take action!* (Do it now!)
Happy selling,
Steve Nash
PS Do be careful before you *speculate to accumulate!* All of the recommended resources mentioned in this article offer outstanding value and an absolutely no questions asked money- back guarantee! Accept nothing less.
STEVE M NASH is the author of the ebook: “3 Super-Tips To
Build, Promote And Profit More From Your Website.” Download
your free copy now! http://www.wise-buys.info/bonus.shtml
He’s also the author of many popular articles aimed at
webmasters, affiliates, even complete beginners. Read them
here! http://www.wise-buys.info/webmaster-articles.html
