How to Make Money Online: Making Money Online Is Not Easy
Making money online is not easy. Even if you read books about how to make money online, it is still not easy. One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is to believe the hype gushing from people who want to offer you this program or that plan when all they want is your cash. Here is the truth, along with some tips if you are really serious.Making Money Online is Not Easy!Yep, the same as the title, that’s because it’s true. It is also true that lots of people make money online using what is vaguely referred to as ‘internet marketing,’ but many times more fail to make even what they outlay.It’s like slots – put in a $100 and get an $80 drop and you say you won. Did you heck! Pay $12 for web hosting, another $49.99 for an eBook on how to make money and $50 on AdWords advertising and make a sale of $9.99 and you think – “Hey – this could just be what I am looking for!” Forget that you are already down $102!It can get even worse, because when you start online marketing, you already have hundreds and thousands of people trying to do exactly the same as you – in your niche. If you want to know what competition you have, select a keyword that most describes your business and enter it into the Google search box.Check the Competition: It Can be HumblingCheck out the number of other results just under the search bar. My keyword ‘article services’ provided 3.17 billion other results, which is an indication of my competition for the concept of my website. When I seek the competition for the exact term by putting the search term in quotes, thus: “article services”, I get 234,000 other web pages using that exact keyword.This will let you know what you are competing against. It’s discouraging, and almost enough to put you off even trying – almost! If you are still serious about wanting to learn how to make money online, then you at least have a chance- but it won’t be easy and it won’t be quick.Sure, you read about these guys that have made millions shortly after using their new system! They even provide proof! Photoshop and its clones can provide as much proof as they need to persuade you that their program or ‘system’ is the best thing since sliced bread!My Learning ExperienceYes, many people are able to make money in affiliate marketing – selling other people’s products for a commission. They are fundamentally salespersons who get paid for each sale. When I started out in internet marketing 8 years ago, I paid $12,500 to Cory Rudl’s mentoring program. I was mentored by a guy in Canada. He taught me what is now common knowledge: how to start up a website and advertise it – that’s about it.This guy was getting paid for teaching me what everybody already knew! Only I was too naïve to understand that I had very little chance of making money by doing what everybody else was doing. I failed, and do you know why? Here’s why:I decided to try affiliate marketing. It’s easy: sell somebody’s product and get paid for it. All these products have a high demand I am told, so I cannot fail. I failed! Then I came across this ‘unbeatable offer’ for software that would source the most profitable affiliate products. Only $99.95! Did it source my profitable products – nope! Then this rich jerk sold me a book showing how he did it – total con – it was what I was already doing, so total failure again!Making Money is Not Easy… But it can be done! If you have a skill (mine is writing) and there is a demand for that skill online, then you can make money. Sure, you hear about the successful affiliate marketers, or people teaching others how to make money online. What you don’t hear about are the millions upon millions of others that not only don’t make anything, but they lose money they can’t afford to lose.Use Your Skills and KnowledgeHowever, if you have a skill:
You are great at crochet or quilting
You are a snowboarding expert and can sell advice and equipment
You are a children’s entertainer that kids adore
You are a martial arts expert starting you own dojo
You are a retired teacher offering tuition
You are a great writer, and can write bespoke children’s story books or web content
You are an expert in any topic or subject and can offer online training or eBooks
then there are millions of people out there looking for what you are good at. Don’t try to copy what others are doing, but be yourself. Do your own thing, and offer it online. Don’t spend $199.99 for the next great way to make money – it might work for 1%, but the other 99% just waste their cash.How to Make Money Online – SummarySo, to sum up, I make money online writing articles and web content for my clients. Before I realized that I should be using my writing skills, I learned a great deal about failure, and what should be avoided.Unless you have no skills or knowledge whatsoever, use what you know about and focus on that. It took me time to realize that and start ignoring those who would make me a millionaire – it doesn’t happen! I maxed all my credit cards (why did they give me them?) and have only recently finished paying them off and building my credit score back up.Making money online is not easy, and forget those that will teach you how to make money online selling other people’s products that another 100,000 are also trying to sell. The statistics say you will likely lose your money – and some even lose their homes! Use the skills and knowledge you possess. Somebody wants to make use of these and you can sell it to them.
Taking the Mystery Out of Software Financing and Software Leasing
In the finance world there are many inter-changeable commercial finance products. The very terms “software leasing” and “software financing” are confusing to many businesspeople. This is due to the fact that software is typically not seen as something that is purchased over time.This view is shared by both end-users, and the developers of software. Companies who think nothing of financing a vehicle or a new computer system will stress over how they will pay for expensive new business software. And the producers of software see no need for offering a software leasing or a software financing option.But times are changing.Third party equipment finance companies – companies who offer small and medium size businesses equipment financing and working capital – have responded to a need for software financing and software leasing. Thus, they are starting to include software amongst the equipment they finance or lease. There is one big overriding reason for this shift:The High Cost of Buying SoftwareThe simple fact is this: Software can be very, very expensive. Oftentimes more expensive than the hardware that runs it.Now, keep in mind that when we are talking about software in this way, we are generally talking about “vertical software”. Vertical software is software that is written for a specific, narrow industry (this can include industry-specific point-of-sale software, ERP systems, specialized databases, etc). It is not software that’s available on the shelf at your local office supply store (the software you see there, even the business programs and operating systems, are “horizontal software” – they can be used across a variety of industries, and are relatively affordable.)A good, clear example of vertical software is an auto parts store – they use software that’s specifically written for the auto parts industry. Another example is your local jewelry retailer – they likely use a point-of-sale system specifically made for the jewelry industry.To understand how software financing and software leasing can positively affect a business, it is important to understand the advantages of vertical software first. Before doing any type of financing, it can be advantageous to speak with your accountant as there are different tax structures to be considered when dealing with financing/loans versus leasing.This being said, not all programs are available to all applicants. For this reason, it is a good idea to speak with you accountant prior to applying for financing for your business and then to show the approvals to your accountant before signing. In some circumstances the program your accountant wants for you, many not be available for you so a compromise will need to be made.
Real World Lessons On Inventory Financing From Purchase Order To Cash
It’s possible. It’s certainly not easy though, but inventory financing and purchase order finance are two little known and under utilized Canadian business financing strategies for business owners and financial managers.In certain industries, probably yours if you are reading this!, inventory is one of your key assets. The turnover and financing of that inventory play a key role in your sales and profit growth. You ability to purchase and turn inventory are key to the earnings you generate. That’s why when clients ask for information on their ability to finance purchase orders and inventory it becomes critical that they understand their options and the cost of those options.It’s worth stepping back a bit and focusing on the fact that your ability to manage your inventory will play a key role in the ability to finance it. Simply speaking your ability to demonstrate turnover of product, controls in purchasing, and as important, and your firm’s ability to demonstrate reporting around this key current assets on your balance sheet.The purchase order/contract and sales generation is of course the ultimate balance act for any firm – no inventory, or improper levels wont allow you to fulfill sales, too much inventory can drain cash flow.Financing inventory in Canada really boils down to two essential solutions, your bank, or independent finance firms who are willing to take greater risks and offer you additional leverage on financing your products. Why do they take more risk – simply because it’s their business to understand your industry and the nature of your products and the ultimate salability or liquidation value? Their expertise in this area translates into greater borrowing power for your firm – and that’s a good thing!Investing and monetizing your inventory is a good thing, provided that the inventory produces a solid rate of return – therefore financing and management of your products is key to overall business success.Inventory financing and purchase order finance is Canada is available, it’s also specialized. As your firm generates new contracts and purchase orders that you are having a challenge in fulfilling (because of finance and cash flow pressures) you should consider finding an alternative source of financing based on your overall current business financing with your senior lender, typically a bank.Specialized inventory financing and purchase order finance firms are most likely your problems solution. Funding is provided to fund the cost of your products with your suppliers, and the actual day to day finance strategy is much focused – payments are made to your suppliers, often directly, allowing you to receive product, and ship, thereby generating a receivable. Receivables turn into cash and the cycle is complete.Inventory finance works best when it involves a holistic approach of collateralizing the purchase order, the inventory and the receivable that you generate as sales revenue.That by its necessity typically involves a non banking institution, i.e. the private independent finance firms we’ve discussed. One tool, an asset based line of credit which collateralizes inventory, A/R, and even equipment is often the total solution you are looking for.Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced business financing advisor to ensure you understand solutions available to inventory and p o financing for long term sales and profit growth.