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Murph
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2004 11:47 pm
Post subject: Who's making real money
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I own a construction company and make a pretty nice living ($185,000 take home pay last year) I also own a lube center ($55,000 take home) but its very hard work and I am always looking for better investment. I've always been intrigue by the web and get off on some of the extreme success stories.
I purchased site build it about a month ago to try the keyword search. I'm also a member of wordtracker. These cost are my research investment into a new potential income stream. I have know doubt money can be made with site build it. The question is realistically how much?
Besides the people at "site build it" and the people selling "site build it" is any one making above $5,000 per month with an associate program. I'm not talking about these guru's (corey rudl etc...) I'm talking about YOU. My point is that I can open up a check cashing center or another Quick Lube but I don't want the headache.
I don't mean to be negative but I always question people selling riches for pennies. I really love the story of cheap- computers-guide and read it often. My question is how come most of you can't achieve the same success. Most of you can't even get into the top 10 at google. Most of you successes are $100 checks in the mail, Congrats. You all use site build it just like cheap-computers-guide which optimizes your site. Is CheapCG's success partly do to a behind the scenes programmers, hidden cost or the fact that its tide to this site? The whole purpose of the cheap-computers-guide story is to sell site-build-it to us. The $3,400 a month is not the point.
Don't get mad at me for asking these questions I'm just doing research |
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DatabaseDesigner
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 12:19 am
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Not mad at you at all, Murph, quite the contrary. You ask a very interesting question, and with a good (in my opinion: right) attitude.
Many of the posters here are building sites reflecting their expertize in a specific field. If they manage it, they can sell whatever.
I think that you have read posts about Internet Marketers, shouting about high incomes in short time. The success stories in that fieald is an exception from the rule, in my opinion and experience.
Being successful, at least in the long term, you have to get a name: You have to brand yourself.
I am not sure how many here do big money; Actually I think it's few. Same with me. But:
I have a purpose with my site;
I have a plan with my site;
I have a business idea with my site;
I know what I am talking about on my site;
I know the demand for for my knowledge;
I like the theme of my site;
It is also a (felt) fact that most people in this forum do not cash out $5000 a month, But they are working towards a goal like that (or way beyond). Actually, from the sites I have visited from here, mkany of the participants are going to make it; it just takes staying power to do it.
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Debs
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 12:23 am
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I think you will find that those that are making the big bucks are busy making them and spending them, very few post here  but they do exist.
Rarely is it done with one site, one niche but with multiple sites over a variety of topics.
As far as why aren't the majority of us making the huge amounts of money? Most here are just starting out, this is, after all, a relatively new forum for SBi users.
There is also, another thread on how much people make, do a search on it, there was a poll included, and it makes for great reading and motivation.
Cory Rudl's Secrets website has excellent writeups on how some people did it, including at least one SBi user. Plus, Ken's daughter Nora (14-15 years old) has made some great commissions on her SBi site (one check alone was $2,000), so it is a great inspiration for a lot of us
One of the biggest draws over internet vs. offline is the freedom to work from home; one of the biggest draws of SBi vs. doing it on your own, is that it simplifies the process, especially for beginners, and those of us who are tired of trying to do everything (the last one includes me!)
BTW Rupert's success was not a result of the association with this site, Allan wouldn't tell anyone the domain, or topic, until after his testing was concluded and that was awesome. It was a real eye opener for me!
Debs
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 1:01 am
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| Quote: | | BTW Rupert's success was not a result of the association with this site, Allan wouldn't tell anyone the domain, or topic, until after his testing was concluded and that was awesome. It was a real eye opener for me! |
But he did have access to "insider information" that most of us don't have: Allan himself! The same could be said for Ken's daughter. |
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Debs
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 1:11 am
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Ken's daughter did have insider access, but that is also provided to anyone who uses SBi. Ken is quite vocal in the newsletters about everything Nora does.
And no, Rupert didn't have Allan's insider knowledge. Allan was quite explicit in his newsletter that he didn't give Rupert that benefit, and would only refer him back to the Action Guide because he truly wanted an unbiased result.
You need to review Allan's newsletters 
Debs
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mdr02125
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 2:41 am
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I think some points that can be made is that as far as Rupert's site goes
(1) computers are very popular--everyone needs them Not everyone who owns a dog needs dog-owners-tips-and-tricks.com most everyone needs a car repair shop/services, but not everyone needs a pet shop or toy store. (This is why Walmart is so successful as they sell things that people of all income levels need, and even if Donald Trump or Bill Gates sends the butler out to buy a plunger or cat litterit's still the same thing and something you can't buy at Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Ave.)
(2) changing all the time--everyone keeps on needing to "upgrade" at least every 3 or so years. However, if I run "dog-obedience-training-tips" these are going to be mostly the same tips that were written about in 1906. True there are remote controlled electronic trainng collars now that did not exist then but not much has changed. Hence less traffic, and more competition from print media. In contrast, by the time a computer tips book is printed on paper and listed at amazon.com it may be obsolete!
(3) higher sticker prices - even for "cheap computers' you are spending $
than for cheap-books-guide or dog-owners-guide If I open a store to sell refrigerators I will have mor profit margin than if I open a grocery store. Grocery stores as an industry make their money on volume. Refrigerator sellers do not need the crazy-making type of volume that the grocery stores with the low sticker prices do.
(4) computers is a wide topic - I have seen many SBI sites like "labrador-retrievers-dog-owners-guide. I know it's a philosophical question of how much you narrow your niche dog-owners-guide or dog-training-guide or labrador-retrievers-owners guide or narrow -labrador-retrievers-training-guide. The wider you can get your niche and still draw traffic, all else equal (ie mindset when they come, ready to buy) the more you can make
(5) underserved niche for content. Everyone is SELLING computers on the internet and there are a few "guides" with content but very few who are presenting content in a simple, understandable way in non-tech language which is what Rupert's site does. On top of that he PREsells and buying is only a click away, something most sites with similar content do not do.
(6) cross-selling - it's a perfect niche for that. If I buy a printer then I'll also need ribbons. If I buy a new monitor I also need a new video card, etc. But if I buy a new leash I don't need a new collar --it's probably compatible with my old collar. And even if I also buy a new collar as well, I don't need a new dog! So selling computer parts wins again.
An example for #5 above - When I bought a computer last summer 2003 I spent a lot of time on the intenret searching for info on what was current, what features i should buy (should I get firewire? can I still use my scsi devices? etc.) Even as a fairly expert computer user who earns a living from what I know and can do with software I still needed a lot of info to make an informed purchase. However, there really was not any more info available than when I bought the computer before that in 1998! Yes, content had changed, but it was just as hard to find, decipher and understand and collate as it had been then. Ths for a sorta technical guy like me, much less a "newbie."
All of the above points have their analogies to or origins in brick and mortar selling. Part of why I recognized these factors so quickly about Rupert's site was my business courses 20 years ago before there really was an internet. 
In many ways the only advantage that Rupert had over other
SBI users was the concept he came up with. Now, whether he actually came up with the idea or someone else suggested it to him, I don't know. But it's an easy enough thing that without disrespecting Allan I think it could be said that anyone of a much less guru-status could have come up with the idea. OK, well, the other piece of inside information Rupert had was that a content site can be successful.. LOL, you can get plenty of that inside info on this web forum for free, and the Site Build It! action guide, not to mention their free ebooks and free web sites give plenty of that info......
I should clarify that the examples I mentioned above are as far as I know not real websites. maybe there is a dog-owners-tips-and-tricks.com but i don't even know about it if there is. It just seemed easier to give examples.
Mark
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Debs
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 3:04 am
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| Quote: | | The wider you can get your niche and still draw traffic, all else equal (ie mindset when they come, ready to buy) the more you can make |
Actually you made a great point about niche sites. You can get too narrow, so it is important to do the keyphrase research (which SBi does a great job of) to be sure you can get enough coverage for the topic, and that you can write good quality content for each of those keyphrases.
One thing I do, and recommend, now, that I didn't do when I started, is to write a variety of pages on my topic first, at least 10 and I try for 20. Then, if I still feel good about the content and keyphrases, I am off. This is much harder to do than it sounds!
Debs
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Phil CA
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:59 am
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Hi Murph,
Great topic. My experience is also from the offline local small business world. Like yourself I have had the same questions.
Here are just my thoughts...
I have found that you really have to study and learn the many differences of the online vs the offline world.
As you know, business in general is definately not for everybody. I personally feel that for many people, an offline business can be much easier to be successful with even though it takes a much larger investment and overhead to grow. Both take a lot of very hard work. Both take a certain type of person.
Like many have done and will tell you choose someone that has been successful and follow a system you feel most comfortable with.
There are only a few top people that really proved that you can make very good money on the internet and most know who they are.
The answer to success Now are from the people who have worked very hard to study and learn from the few top people who have proven themselves like James Martell, Rosalind Gardner, Jim Daniels and select others who earn six figure plus incomes.
The other way to online success is to track current successful sites and pick them apart to get a clear understanding of why they are successful.
They are very easy to find with a little research.
I'll post just a few of the thousands!
Some build just a couple sites and others build hundreds!
Hey! this site just sold for millions!
maybe your site will be next!
http://www.dailycandy.com/
read about it...
http://www.marketingwonk.com/mt/mt-search.cgi
Type Daily Candy in the search box if your interested.
or go to...
http://www.nypost.com/business/13645.htm
http://www.hearandplay.com/aboutus.html
http://wire-sculpture.com/index.html
http://www.itmoonlighter.com
http://www.1st-in-net-shopping.com/
http://www.infopackets.com/
Again, just my thoughts
All the best
Phil |
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edburdo
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 12:57 pm
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Another thing that no-one mentioned here, but is a big deal in the affiliate world it this.
Many new affiliates think they can register a domain, throw up some banners, and retire to the Bahamas... Its not that simple.
Murph, as you already know, building a business is hard work. The same kind of hard work needs to go into your building an (online) business. Inserting the word online doesn't change the work level involved.
However, the work is different, and you don't have to spend the same level of energy to maintain your site as you did researching your niche and starting out. The maintenance is much lower as time goes on. Some new content, new links, update your merchants...
And you will also find that many of the more successful affiliates have multiple sites. Some in very disparate topics. Its the whole "all your eggs in one basket" idea. Don't do it... Build one site, make it profitable and growing, then build a second... make it profitable and growing, then make a third... and a fourth... keep building them until you are satisfied.
And then you have other portions of the internet income world. Selling ebooks. You could probably write and sell a couple of ebooks about how to hire the right construction company. Or things to watch out for, and so on...
Or maybe ebooks about other topics that you know about. These are digital media, so once you have the ebook completed, you can just "replicate" it to each customer and very little overhead...
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Eric D. Burdo
They Made $6,513 a day With Clickbank Doing This... |
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 4:49 pm
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Hi,
I'm reluctant to post this for fear of some personal attacks, since it might sound like I'm either lying or stuck up, but I'll answer truthfully. I'll also provide some reference links to my websites. You can reach your own conclusions.
I'm currently making from anywhere in-between $30000 - 50000 a month. In the year 2000 i hit the 70 000 mark twice. The reason for the decrease is one of the main affiliate programs I used to send traffic to switched software (they are a casino) and I lost a lot of residual income. My websites were also all down for 4 months in 2001 as I had to go to court to fight someone (long story)
It is possible to earn a solid income from this business. Most of my income is from online gambling, with some online pharmacies, satellites dishes, and a myriad of other products.
Some of my gambling portals are:
casinoranking.com
safeonlinepoker.com
realonlineslots.com
realonlineblackjack.com
casinonut.com
(and about 20 others)
I also promote satellite dishes with:
free-satellite-system.com www.dishnetworkvsdirecttv.com www.highspeedinternetsatellite.com & www.freetvsatellitedish.com
I could post dozens of other links but most of my websites are linked to www.dotaffiliate.com in one form or another. (the column in the right under affiliate programs some of those websites)
I have also never used any of those programs such as sitesell. And until recently I never read any ebook (I read Rosalind Gardner's in december of 2003) I dont think that any of these tools are necessary. If you want to be serious about this business you cant use a cookie cutter approach. You have to do some serious brainstorming, and start a website.
You have to view this as a business. Most of the websites i build fail miserably. But once in a while there's a website that catches on for whatever reason. Your goal as an affiliate is not to repeat what everyone else is doing, but to discover a way of entering a proven niche, by offering either unique content or uncovering a unique or overlooked traffic source.
A lot of affiliates also claim that only old timers can make money. This is false as I enter industries that I know nothing about. A lot of time I make nothing and discover the industry is not for me, other times I hit the nail on the head.
Antoine |
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Debs
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:20 pm
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Congratulations, Antoine on your success. You've obviously worked very hard to achieve it.
I would like to address just a couple points you made:
| Quote: | If you want to be serious about this business you cant use a cookie cutter approach. You have to do some serious brainstorming, and start a website.
You have to view this as a business. Most of the websites i build fail miserably. But once in a while there's a website that catches on for whatever reason. ...
A lot of affiliates also claim that only old timers can make money. This is false as I enter industries that I know nothing about. A lot of time I make nothing and discover the industry is not for me, other times I hit the nail on the head. |
I felt some clarification was needed in terms of SiteBuildIt (SBi) with what you say in the quoted section for several reasons:
1. You can use cookie cutter approaches to design and research, it translates to increased productivity which is essential if you want to build multiple sites.
2. Yes, you have to view it as a business, and realize it isn't "easy" you need to work!
3. You mentioned having failed on sites, and gotten lucky on others. One of the things SBi is geared for is to reduce the chance of failure by offering tools to help in the design, research, and tracking which also increases productivity.
| Quote: | | Your goal as an affiliate is not to repeat what everyone else is doing, but to discover a way of entering a proven niche, by offering either unique content or uncovering a unique or overlooked traffic source. |
This is exactly what SBi promotes and helps to reinforce, just to clarify any confusion as to what SBi is and does.
Debs
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Murph
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:50 pm
Post subject: Thanks
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Thank you for all your responses. The web to be quite honest is out of my comfort zone. Its easy to start an off-line business when you have the capital (uuuuhh I mean big lines of credit). Nothing is easy but I have more faith in my own ability off-line. I can see the product, customers and the road map is tangible. I started my construction company on my own and lost my ass the first 2 years. Its been 7 years and things are great. I took the franchise road in my second venture because I knew nothing about lube centers. I may build another lube center because I can use the same manager and its not much more work.
I always wanted to be rich but I’m spending more time at my kids’ basketball games and at the gym. I am in a transition where those 60 hr workweeks are growing old. I could hire more employees and grow these companies but with that comes more headaches (I would never said this ten years ago).
I say this to give you some background and why I’m on the site. It also give you a better understanding of why I ask these next question.
I consider myself a good businessman and have been researching an online business for about a month. I’ve gone from selling fireplace mantels, homeplans, *** site, books to associate programs. None of which I’ve tried yet.
I’ve narrowed it down to a few options:
A. I could build several mini sites like many of the webmasters and tie them together. Ex. New home secrets, how to kill termites, homebuilder secrets, cheap flooring, etc.... Problem: do I have the time to keep up with these sites
B. Build one site and make money from merchant conversions.
Ex. Cheap-computers-guide, best DVDs, etc.....
Problem: Too much competition to get high rankings
C. Write a small book: car buying secrets-uhhhhhhh no really : BUILDER SECRETS, Everything you need to know about buying a new home.
Problem: Big home buying market but still limited.
Maybe I could sell my book on some of your sites but don’t call me about your affiliate checks
Last question: What do you think about building one major site with Site Build it and hosting. Then build 10 to 20 (one to three page) sites with free web pages like geocites, etc....... which all point to your site for a certain keyword. That way you create you own links, there on different servers which won’t piss off google and there not many cross links. Is this done alot.
I'll let you know how it goes. I hate sitting on the sidelines thats why I've given myself 7 more days to come up with an action plan and start my first web site. |
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Debs
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 9:59 pm
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For item A I would recommend Michael Campbell's ebooks, or Phil Wiley's. Both are top notch when it comes to mini and microsites, interlinking, etc. for affiliate promotion.
For item B, I think SBi just can't be beat
Item C, is definitely something you would want to do, since you have the knowledge. Don't underestimate the power of having your own downloadable product ... Not to mention the income. You can also tie this into any of the site options as a saleable product, even on a predominately affiliate site. However, you would want to do a one page sales site so you can get the power of other affiliates behind your product and increase your sales.
There is an Item D ... and that is multiple content sites, niche oriented, geared for conversions. For that, I would strongly recommend you read James Martell's ebook on doing affiliate sites. He offers a comprehensive plan for doing multiple sites, with little upkeep, in defined niche areas. He is making over 30 grand a month, yes a month!
Combine that with Gary Antosh's (speedguide on here) ebook on "Getting Content Fast" and you would have a great opportunity to get into the affiliate game with a measure of success that would rival your offline businesses.
You can start with an SBi site, get your feet wet, learn the how to of marketing online (which SBi is great for holding your hand along the way), then branch out into other sites that are or are not SBi, as you feel comfortable doing.
I would also stay away from free sites. For a small amount of money you can get a domain name and annual hosting where you don't have free ads plastered on your site. The SE's will take you much more seriously then, as will the people who visit your sites. You can get domain and hosting for as little as $35 to $50 a year, maybe cheaper. It's worth the investment.
Debs
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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 1:20 am
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| It's certainly possible to make a successful profitible website. A couple things for you to consider. First, since it's so inexpensive to get started on the web, just go ahead and dive in and get your feet wet. Set yourself a small budget, say $500, to build it so you don't have much to lose. $500 to build yourself a site is better money spent than doing a college course on web design or something like that, IMO. Do a site on something you love, a hobby perhaps. Start off by making the site into what you'd like to see on the web if you were looking for a site on that topic, and not simply with profit in mind. The other thing to keep in mind here is that affiliate programs are a tiny part of the potential for profit making on the web. In my experience, I can do much better selling a product, or selling advertising directly, than I can using affiliate programs. Affiliate programs are among the more difficult ways to profit from a website, IMO. |
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petertdavis
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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 1:23 am
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It's certainly possible to make a successful profitible website. A couple things for you to consider. First, since it's so inexpensive to get started on the web, just go ahead and dive in and get your feet wet. Set yourself a small budget, say $500, to build it so you don't have much to lose. $500 to build yourself a site is better money spent than doing a college course on web design or something like that, IMO. Do a site on something you love, a hobby perhaps. Start off by making the site into what you'd like to see on the web if you were looking for a site on that topic, and not simply with profit in mind. The other thing to keep in mind here is that affiliate programs are a tiny part of the potential for profit making on the web. In my experience, I can do much better selling a product, or selling advertising directly, than I can using affiliate programs. Affiliate programs are among the more difficult ways to profit from a website, IMO.
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