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Matchbox
Member
Joined: 3 Jun 2008
Posts: 13
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 01:26
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Hey everyone,
I probably just spent about 2 hours reading as many of the posts as i can. I just still feel confused. I realise that in the terms it says you cant post your website or what not, but i really need some help on trying to start making some money from home. I do not know if i should be starting my own business, but i feel like to start out it would be better to work for another business and get paid. I would be able to work a lot, and be dedicated to working hard. My only big issue is that a lot of places seem to require me as an "employee" to contact people VIA phone. I am going to be honest, I really dont want to talk to people on the phone. Plus i only have 300 minutes a month currently on my cell plan and dont feel like it would be worth paying more to have more minutes unless i knew i would for sure make money consistantly. Yet at the same time, i just dont want to use the phone lol. I am really looking for a business or some how create a business that would allow me to work from home, doing whatever and the most contact needed would be an email.
I have read a lot of other peoples posts, and one thing i know that i really do not want to do is the blogging / artical writing (dont know if they are the same thing). They seem to be a lot of work for little money in return. Plus i am currently a student, i dont nessicarally want to be going to websites, finding articals and publishing responses to them. Since some people were saying that they were needing to do research to make the replys. Well i do enough research as a student  . I need some help finding some type of part time job i could have to make some money. Of course the more the marrier but i dont feel like i am in the position to make demands yet.
And as the subject says, yeah i have been scammed quite a few times and getting my hopes shot that there will be an online job that i could do part time and make a decent amount of money. Thats why i am reaching out to you guys and asking for help
Thank you in advance
Alex
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getagrip
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Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 998
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 02:34
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Have you given affiliate marketing a shot? You don't have to worry about picking up the phone and calling anyone, since everything is handled online. You can create websites and send traffic to them via PPC advertising...or you can create content for your website and get traffic through SEO. Unfortunately it does require some work, and considering that you are a student, that might not be very appealing, but the reality is that if you want to make money online, it will take some hard work, and you are going to need to create some content...if this sounds interesting, I'd suggest Wealthy Affiliate.
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mountainmom5
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Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 510
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 08:17 � Edited by: mountainmom5
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Hey Alex - check out the free Ebook in my sig. It will give you a few aha moments as it did me and if you want, I can plug you into more training then... before you pick up something new.
Yes, you have to sign in for it, but don't worry, that is simply so I can get you the rest of the free coaching after you've read the book - honestly, there is no reason for me to recruit you, until you find out what it is, that you are looking for!
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Matchbox
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Joined: 3 Jun 2008
Posts: 13
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 08:34
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What is the realistic potential for payment here? I don't mind spending 3-5 hours a day if I need to, there isn't that much for me to do other than go to classes and get the work done but I do have a good chunk of free time (of course sometimes more than others).
I just have a hard time going to work while at school. I do not have a car up here so it severally limits my availability. Also with school, each week is a different schedule therefore I can't fully commit to some of the jobs. That is why I am looking for a Work At Home job that would allow me to pick up and drop the work when I needed to.
-> Getagrip, I have heard about "Wealthy Affiliate" in a lot of the forums I read previous to starting my own post. However with the inability to fully describe the company (without it looking like you're promoting), I do not fully know what it is all about. Would it be easier for me to PM and email to you for you to be able and give some more information?
-> Mountainmom5, I checked your eBook. It seems like a lot of that is how to build up my business. But I don't have any business to my name  . Unless when I read it, I read it wrong and it is going to teach me how to find a business?
I appreciate the help I have received so far. Thank you all, I truly appreciate it. Really trying to turn my life around and make at least some money towards getting out of my college debt... I don't know if I have my expectations set too high, but I am trying to put my feelers out and see what I might be able to find.
Sincerely,
Alex
P.S. I hope some of you are not viewing my questions as an inability to learn or work. I am one of those people that needs to know what he is getting into before I take the plunge. So the more information I can get the more comfortable I am. (Especially since now I am fairly skeptical because of how many times I have gotten scammed.
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mountainmom5
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Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 510
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 08:51
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Matchbox: P.S. I hope some of you are not viewing my questions as an inability to learn or work. I am one of those people that needs to know what he is getting into before I take the plunge. So the more information I can get the more comfortable I am. (Especially since now I am fairly skeptical because of how many times I have gotten scammed.
Alex, you are doing the thing that will help you the most- and that is asking questions! Most people are afraid to do that.
You are right about the ebook - it is designed for the person already in a business, to help them build their biz.
Hmmm- so what all have you tried that you were scammed at - maybe that would be a place where we could start to help you get some clarity...
There are as many ways to make money as there are ways to skin a cat - no offense cat lovers...
What we need to do, is find out where your interest lies, and get you going from there....if you want to converse thru pm, that may be easier, too. Just shoot any questions you want and I'll answer if I can plus you will also get others chiming in here, I am sure , as there are many talented people on this forum...
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happywife
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Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 530
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 09:11
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Hi Alex,
Similar to what getagrip is suggesting is what I do. I build websites about particular niche topics. There are a couple in my signature (chocolate and parasites).
You don't want to do research and write articles to submit, etc., but how do you feel about writing your own material for a web site based around a topic that you already know and love?
If you've got a particular hobby, sport, special interest, past experience, etc. that you really enjoy, you can build a business around that.
Basically, you can build a content/information based website about a specific subject and provide your visitors with quality info. they are searching for. You can then add affiliate links, advertising (Google Adsense), etc. to make money.
You don't have to talk to anyone or handle any products personally if you don't wish to. It's a nice way to get started online and learn the ropes.
Pretty much, though, anything you do is going to take some time and effort up front before the money starts coming in. You have to be prepared for that with the right mindset.
Blessings,
Angie
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jschuman
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Joined: 21 Jul 2007
Posts: 136
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 09:50
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Alex,
Everyone trys to over analyze making money on the internet. It is no different than making money offline.
1. You can work for someone and trade hours for dollars. TJobs.com does a good job of bringing together employers and employees.
2. You can sell things online and get paid for it. If you had an offline business you would need products and a place for people to come and buy them.
The internet is no different except your website is your store so to speak.
Affiliate marketing is a great place to get products. Chose products that solve people's problems and you can make money! Learn how to do this and you can make as much money as you want online.
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Matchbox
Member
Joined: 3 Jun 2008
Posts: 13
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 11:40
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A little update before I answer some questions people have asked / comment.
One thing I read in another forum was to go to the book store and just pick up some books that talk about making money online and read them there. So that is what I did, have a big Barns & Noble near me. However I did not really see this as very helpful. It seems like most of it was for people that already have a business or some type of innovation / product they can sell.
Well here is the thing...
1) I do not have something to sell. Now I would not mind selling other peoples products.
2) I really do not have some particular "skill" that I could offer other people. I wouldn't call myself an expert in much of anything.
3) I also don't have a business to bring to the internet, which seems to be the majority of what I read. They kept using the phrase (and I do not 100% remember it plus it was varied by book) but it was "Bricks and motor to E-Business" Which itself implies taking a business that is existent in a physical building and bringing it t the internet.
To answer some of the questions:
Here are the things I have tried, and/or were going to try until I read multiple reviews:
-I first got interested in the possibility to make money online when i ran across partnerwithpaul- seemed very sincere and pretty much fed me what I wanted to hear. Telling me it wouldn't cost me anything to start which intrigued me. Yes there was a $9.95 fee I found out eventually but he was willing and DID reimburse me that as his website said. However all that ended up happening is getting a packet to Online Business Systems, which was VERY broad. So after research and talking to a "coach" that contacted me I found out that basically I would be selling products from this herbalife place. Well I was still onboard for a little bit. But partnerwithpaul.com talked about making money before you had to spend it.... WRONG, the coach needed me to either pay a 50$ fee that included pretty much nothing, but just enough for me to become a door to door seller. Or I spend 400$ and become a part of their business and sell their products to other people and they would give me customers.... well that when I kind of got turned away. I'm going to be spending 400$ before I can even see / potentially see myself making a dime... plus it required me calling customers and basically selling the products to them. If I wanted to do that there are a few jobs out there I know of that allow me to use my home phone and basically be telemarketer. I thought I would be utilizing the internet to make this money but I really wouldn't be.
So I figured, hey that wasn't exactly a scam, but more of a very meaningful miscommunication (pretty much they lead me on to believe one thing but got another) So I figured, hey that was a company, could make money ECT there will be others that are different.
Next I came across and reviewed the processathome website. Which definitely seemed like something I could and would do. Sure it would be repetitive but I don't care, money is money. To make this long story short, they promised that you would make money processing other companies' rebates for them, making a % of the rebate. Come to find out through reviews that they show you that by making your items have a rebate; you can make your product more productive. There is no filing of other companies rebates ECT, so that was a big bummer. Because 5-15 dollars every 5-10 minutes processing the rebates (as they said was average) would have been absolutely ok with me. (I also liked the fact you got paid within minutes or at least 2-3 days after, and got paid PER project, not every 10th or whatever.) So that was a bust...
Then I was going to try Project Payday, they were also very broad and such but I figure they can't give away too much information on their website without having you become a member somehow. But again after much review I found out this is more of me scamming other people / companies. They just find all of these "free offers" that you can get, and sometimes get paid for completing on top of the trial offer. But you cancel your subscription with that company before the trial period ends so that way you don't get hit with a charge. Well that is a lot of work to keep track of which company you have to cancel with on your credit card. Plus that is no different than gambling to me... if I forget I can get hit for 20-100$ as a lot of people did. Plus some people were talking about how it might even be internet fraud... so not my kind of game. It worked for some people, but there was no middle ground. It was: A) worked for you and you could make a decent amount of money but nothing spectacular.... or B) You got hit up and charged for a bunch of stuff because it was a hassle to remember to cancel your subscriptions and some of them said they canceled and didn't.
So in my searching (and I really don't know how) I ran across this website.... so I read a few stories, some successful some not and figured there were a lot of knowledgeable people here (and turns out, I was right  ) Although a lot of the help that other people were giving seemed to be very generic and broad. I think most of it is because you can't solicit your company / whatever company you use here... but then how can you help other people make the money?? lol .
So that is my list of so far tried / reviewed and rejected places so far...
I think housewife got what I said earlier wrong, or I am interpreting it wrong. Where she said
"You don't have to talk to anyone or handle any products personally if you don't wish to. It's a nice way to get started online and learn the ropes."
IT is not that I don't want to talk to people or handle products, it's that I don't want (and kind of cannot) do it over the phone. One reason being I am not really big on talking to people on the phone or trying to sell people products over the phone. Another reason being I only have 300 minutes on my plan... well I figure that's maybe 10 customers then I'm running over my minutes? Well beside the fact I don't really like talking on the phone, id have to change my plan which costs me more money. I don't mind if I talk to people VIA email, AIM or any of the online resources. But the whole verbal thing is a little more than I was going for. Also on the other side of that statement, heck yeah ill move peoples products if I need to. I was looking into SMC for a while but there is a lot too it and I don't feel like there is enough information for it, before they want you to buy information. If I am moving other people's products I feel like I should play middle man... I think it is ridiculous to pay a website to allow me to sell their products to make a commission on them... I should get paid to sell their products, and that's that in my opinion. Also I don't want to have to keep a certain amount of products at my house / apt to have available to mail to other people. I would much rather be able to fill out like an online order form, and be able to have the products that someone bought off my website be mailed to the customer straight from the company... if that makes sense....
I also believe Jschuman has a point, I might be over analyzing making money over the internet.... but I guess what I am looking for would be getting paid to do something for a company... I don't view it as any different as going to a store and being a cashier or w/e... I would just not be doing it face to face, but online. So yeah I guess I am trying to get a job with another company to make money, but work on my schedule, my pace, ECT, and not have a quota to meet or a set # of hours.
I hope I have clarified some of the questions asked.... I know this is A LOT I just wrote... but I figured the more specific I was the better it would be.
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mountainmom5
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Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 510
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 12:05
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wow - you need to get into writing of some sort! I wish I had the knack to put words together like you do...
Sounds like you are doing your research so when you find your home - you will know... I know that sounds generic and broad but you are right... we try not to push our individual businesses on here unless someone asks specific questions on them.
You seem to know what you want and that is a good thing as the first time I had researched for a way to work at home, I didn't have a clue what I was looking for...
After I got educated on a few things, I set out to see if I could find what I wanted and it took some time but I eventually found my 'home' - I am convinced that you will,too.
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Matchbox
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Joined: 3 Jun 2008
Posts: 13
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 12:11
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I'm not so sure if it's I know what I want to do.... but more of I know what I don't want to do...
I am open to all opportunities, just because I have a mindset of what I believe I would like to do, does not mean that someone out there has an opportunity for me that I have not thought of and would be interested in. I am trying to put my feelers out and see what kind of responses I can get. The problem is, this is not one of those "google" searches and take your pick... that has proven to be the least helpful to say the least. The way I see it is if it worked for someone else, then there is a potential for it to work for me.
Thank you for the compliment by the way, but I am not a writer nor do I really like it I just am very excited and interested in trying to find a job that I could work from home. (Even if it is part time.)
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mountainmom5
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 12:42
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Matchbox: The way I see it is if it worked for someone else, then there is a potential for it to work for me.
Absolutely! I just sent you a pm with a bit more info on that end... I never try to convince anyone to join my business - I just get it out there so people can do their own research on it..
If I have to convince someone that I have the best business out there and that they need to join, then I have to convince them to keep going when the going gets tough - not my cup of tea!
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CSGWAHM
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Posts: 211
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 13:55
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Matchbox.....You are doing the right thing by asking alot of questions. I understand you've been scammed before, but if you're looking for a job, then never pay for that. If you're interested in a business, then you will pay an upfront fee. I run my business totally online and if anyone wants to call me with questinos, then can, but I rarely speak to anyone. It's all done by email or they just sign up without ever asking questions. So much of my business is on auto-pilot so it never stops working, even though I may take time off. I wish you the best, you'll find something that suits you, just keep asking questions!
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getagrip
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Posts: 998
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 15:49
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Matchbox: Getagrip, I have heard about "Wealthy Affiliate" in a lot of the forums I read previous to starting my own post. However with the inability to fully describe the company (without it looking like you're promoting), I do not fully know what it is all about. Would it be easier for me to PM and email to you for you to be able and give some more information?
Hey Matchbox,
Normally I try not to "tell" people about my signature files, but my video will give you a tour inside Wealthy Affiliate, and I also have a website that explains a little more about it, but feel free to send me a PM if you have specific questions, or I can answer them for you in this thread if you just post your questions here.
Also, I did want to clarify what I said about creating content in my original post: it means you have to write to create your content! Just wanted to clarify that...but from your post, it looks like you are a pretty good writer!
BTW, I can totally relate to you with looking at "home business" books from the bookstore - it seems like you either need to be already in business, or you need to have something like $5,000 to start one!
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happywife
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Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 530
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 19:05
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Matchbox: I think housewife got what I said earlier wrong, or I am interpreting it wrong. Where she said "You don't have to talk to anyone or handle any products personally if you don't wish to. It's a nice way to get started online and learn the ropes." IT is not that I don't want to talk to people or handle products, it's that I don't want (and kind of cannot) do it over the phone.
No, we're both talking about the same thing. Sorry if I confused you. I was referring to your comment about the phone situation. I prefer not to use it also.
Matchbox: If I am moving other people's products I feel like I should play middle man... I think it is ridiculous to pay a website to allow me to sell their products to make a commission on them... I should get paid to sell their products, and that's that in my opinion.
That's what affiliate marketing is. You play the middle man. You don't need to pay a company/website to promote their products and earn commissions (unless it is an MLM company). You build your own website and play "middle man."
For example, I built a site all about chocolate candy. It's my site that I have put together at my own pace. I don't personally sell any products, but I point my visitors to the products they are looking for using 'affiliate links' and when a sale is made I get the commission. I also put some Google Adsense on my site, so when people click on the ads I get a percentage of Google's advertising fees.
That's the type of thing I was referring to. I don't pay ANY of the companies whose products I promote on that site. They pay me when sales are generated.
Hope that clears that up a bit.
Angie
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Matchbox
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 19:18
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How did you go about finding companies that would pay you a commission?
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happywife
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 19:32
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Matchbox: How did you go about finding companies that would pay you a commission?
Well, there are a couple of ways to find them.
1. If you are looking for digital products (ebooks, etc.) you can look on Clickbank and do a keyword search related to your topic.
2. If you have a site there are affiliate clearinghouses like Commission Junction, Linkshare, Performics, etc. They have hundreds of merchants signed up to their programs. Again, you just use their search feature and find companies that relate to your niche topic. Some of them (like Commission Junction) won't allow you to have access until you have a site that they can approve.
3. Do a Google search using the keyword + affiliate. Like "chocolate fudge + affiliate" or "billiards + affiliate" but without the quotes.
4. Go to a site that has products you like and want to promote and look for a little link that says "affiliates" or "affiliate program." That is usually near the bottom of the page. Not all companies that have affiliate programs have a link on their homepage, but many do.
That should get you started on the hunt.
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simapr
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Joined: 23 Mar 2008
Posts: 33
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2008 23:23
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Matchbox,
It looks like you would be great at writing reviews. You already have done so right here.
I haven't tried my hand at that, yet, but many of these people have, and I'm sure they could give you tips on how to monetize in that area.
I'm also just trying to get started. It can be frustrating, but there are too many success stories here for it to be impossible.
Good luck.
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mountainmom5
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Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 510
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# Posted: 5 Jun 2008 08:33
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Hey Alex, looks like you found something - much success to you!
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