Thousands of people go online each day in search of their first Internet business opportunity. The so-called “Internet gold rush” that began at the turn of the century is showing no signs of slowing down.
In fact, most web analytics companies would agree that even more people are trying to make a fortune in cyberspace today than in 2001. For both the optimistic and the skeptical, it is now common knowledge that people from all walks of life are trying their hand at some form of Internet marketing.
You’ve heard the wild success stories – like the 17 year old girl named Ashley Qualls of Detroit, Michigan who liked MySpace so much she built a website sharing free MySpace templates (and is now a millionaire several times over thanks to her $70,000 a month ad income).
Go ahead, Google her name and see for yourself.
Maybe you’ve even read a few convincing testimonials from people named Bob and Helen on a business opportunity sales page, talking about how they started working “the plan” for just 8 minutes a month and now they make millions an hour while kicking back on the new beach they bought last year.
But is any of this stuff real? More importantly, can you get in on any of this action?
The short answer to both of these questions is yes, people really do make big money online and you can be one of them! But the real question you should be asking yourself is:
“Do I really want to be a professional Internet marketer?”
There’s a lot more to making a living with an Internet business than the hyped up ads tell you. And the truth is, some people find out too late that it’s not as glamorous as they were led to believe.
Let’s Get Started…
You’re about to discover whether or not working from home full-time is really right for you. This will either get you pumped up and ready to take your first steps, or it will save you a lot of heartache and stress by helping you dodge the proverbial bullet and pick a career that’s better suited to your wants and needs.
Maybe working from home isn’t right for you! There’s no shame in saying, “I don’t have what it takes.” One thing I want to clear up right now – I love working from home. I wouldn’t change it for the WORLD.
Do I get stressed out? Sure! But I much prefer the stress of launching my own product to that of having to go beg my boss for a raise or tell him I can’t come to work because my kid has a cold and I know he’s about to scold me.
I feel like a kid who turned 18 and got the freedoms adulthood has to offer. Nobody can tell me what to do anymore, and in the famous words of McDonalds, I’m loving it!
Before You Clock Out of the 9-5 Grind for Good
The first thing you need to understand is the word business. Please don’t confuse this with the word lottery. Many new online marketers make this mistake – they expect to log on, stick a website up and ka-ching! Instant cash machine.
Internet marketing is definitely not a get rich quick industry. If you treat it like one, you’ll end up frustrated, broke, and possibly even embarrassed. Building a profitable, sustainable business online takes time.
It’s really hard to accept this mindset when so many sales pages have marketing memos telling you how much money they make and how easy it is, using words like “guaranteed.”
Every guru I’ve ever worked for or spoken to admitted they had a learning curve and some got going, went back to zilch, and had to start over. Others started out slow, saw money trickling in, and built upon it (like me).
An Internet business requires considerably less time and money to start and manage than even a small offline venture, and you’ll probably see results a lot faster online. But getting into profit with your digital enterprise is probably not going to be an overnight event.
Don’t get caught unprepared!
Because of the fact that there are no guarantees, you’ll want a safety net to fall back on. I highly recommend you either keep your day job until you begin seeing profits, or have some funds set up to sustain you while you learn to eke out a living on the World Wide Web.
There’s no reason to find this discouraging. If it was really just a matter of plugging in and getting instantly rich, everyone would be doing it and there would be nobody left to bag your groceries or punch your ticket at the movie theatre.
You simply need to understand that you might not see any returns on your efforts right away. So you either need to have plenty of money saved before firing your boss, or you need to accept the fact that you’ll be working TWO jobs in the beginning – your regular j-o-b and your start-up business.
Many successful online entrepreneurs worked their business part-time when they were starting out because they still had their day job. And most people recommend having at least three full months of income saved before making the leap from employee to full-time home business owner.
One of my readers who frequent this blog reminded me that you also have to consider that when you give up a corporate salary, you may also be giving up benefits like health, dental, etc.
If you’re married to a spouse who has insurance coverage, this may be a non-issue – but if not, work out your benefit plan ahead of time.
I want you to think ahead and set it up right from the beginning. What’s that saying? If you fail to plan, plan to fail! That fits in well with the Internet marketing industry.
The Pros and Cons of Working at Home
Before making the transition to the home business lifestyle, you need to thoroughly examine the pros and cons of being your own boss. I want to start with the negative things – get it all out in the open so you see it exposed for what it really is, and then I’ll tell you the truth about the perks involved.
How many times have you seen pictures or videos on websites with people lying on a beach with their laptop, sipping a ‘Rita with Jimmy Buffet playing in the background while they check to see how money they made between lunch and their afternoon siesta?
The reality of that is – yes, you can go anywhere and take your business with you, but do you want to? Every year that I go on vacation, my laptop comes too – not because I am checking my money (that would be here when I got back), but because there’s no one else to manage my business while I’m gone, so they’re all semi-working vacations from here on out.
The Dark Side of Working from Home
Everyone immediately thinks about how great it will be to never worry about rush hour traffic again, and how much fun it is to work wherever you want via laptop. These are some pretty fabulous benefits, but it’s not all perks and profits.
Before I get real with you, don’t let this description of disadvantages scare you into shutting out your dreams before you can weigh the plus side of this equation, too. Make sure you keep reading to the end so that you can make a fair comparison of the ups and downs for yourself.
So here we go – reasons why working at home as an entrepreneur may not be a part of your ideal lifestyle:
There’s No “Guaranteed” Paycheck
When you take matters into your own hands and become a home business professional, it’s up to you to create your weekly cash flow. It might feel like you’re free-falling without a safety net. With your job, you probably get a check even on slow weeks, but when you’re the boss, you only get paid when the company makes sales.
This is one reason I’m creating this whole work at home Internet marketing series is because it’s all about building a business, not “how can I make $100 a day.” You might have some set number you hope to take in, but business income fluctuates.
Do you really want to struggle every day to hit your quotas – or do you want to see a rise in your income that soars steadily over time on average and provides you with financial security?
Many new entrepreneurs look at their success one sale at a time, and when that one’s spent, they have to figure out how to make more – it can be mentally (and physically) exhausting. You need a cash flow you can count on and there is a way to do that with Internet marketing – but it takes time.
There Are No Paid Vacation Days
I mentioned this earlier – when you take time off from your home business, you won’t be able to log a real vacation day. When you’re off, unless your business is automated, your income will stall until you get back on the ball.
If possible, once your business grows, you can hire an assistant to cater to the needs of your customers while you’re away, but if you’re like most hands-on entrepreneurs, you’ll feel like this business is your baby – and entrusting it to someone else won’t be too relaxing for you.
You Have to Take Total Responsibility for Your Own Results
There’s nobody to blame when business gets slow or when problems arise within your online operation. You can’t point your finger at the CEO, at the marketing department, or anyone else.
Your success and your failure rely completely on your efforts and on the value of whatever strategy you chose to implement.
Did your server crash? Customers won’t care if your “tech guy” had a misstep – the site has your name on it, so you’re responsible. The buck stops with you!
There’s No Management Team to Motivate You
It sounds like a dream come true – no gossipy co-workers, no boss looking over your shoulder, and no department head to answer to when your work is late. But it can be more of a curse than a blessing.
In a home business, nobody will be making sure you’re at your desk early every morning, and there will be no manager pushing you to work overtime when deadlines are looming. You’ll have to rely completely on self-discipline, and if you don’t have any, you’ll either develop some fast or find your business in big trouble.
If you label yourself a procrastinator, you’d better learn how to push through it and become productive, instead. I am the world’s worst procrastinator, but when I have to buckle down and get things done, I do!
Now for the Perks of Working from Home
Even with the drawbacks you read above, there are many reasons why this particular career choice is one of the most rewarding ones on the planet. I can’t even imagine going back to a job with a boss – it sends shivers up my spine.
You’re the Boss
Didn’t I just have something similar in the cons list? Yes, this fact carries a certain level of pressure with it, but on the upside, you literally answer to nobody but yourself! In a j-o-b, you might have to follow the “customer is always right” rule.
Well guess what? In Internet marketing, you don’t have to put up with rude customers – you can fire them if you don’t feel you’re being treated fairly. Now this may sound like bad business practices, and if you’re a jerk, it certainly will be.
But every once in a blue moon, you’ll run across one of those people you can’t please no matter what – the kind who complain and lash out and because they’re online and not face-to-face, they’re blatantly rude to you.
You don’t have to take that. Unsubscribe them from your list. Blacklist them from being able to buy from you again. Some of these naysayers are serial refunders and marketers talk – we know who steals from us and who’s an honest buyer.
As your own boss, you make the rules – and that includes setting your own schedule. You even decide where to work – maybe you’ll stay in your home office, or maybe you’ll take the laptop to your favorite coffee shop.
I took mine to Panama City Beach, Florida and had a weeklong vacation with my kids last year. Whenever we’d pop in from the beach to our condo, I’d quickly check emails to make sure my customers were all taken care of and then I’d leave 10 minutes later to swim some more. I checked in 3 times a day – morning, afternoon, and before bed – worked a total of 30 minutes a day in 10 minute increments. That’s worth it!
You Have No Salary Cap
Nobody is going to pay you as generously as you’ll pay yourself. With your own home business, you don’t have to worry about “making the grade” for your next raise or getting promoted to a new position.
Your level of income and success is totally up to you – there’s no glass ceiling. Your income can rise as fast as you want it – depending on how much work you want to put into your entrepreneurial venture.
You Have a Wide Variety of Options
There are many different home business models to choose from. You can even create one of your own. A home business allows you to explore the ideas you like and build a business doing what you love every day.
You have virtually unlimited options when deciding on what type of business to create.
I know I’ve been at corporations where all the employees were scratching their heads wondering why management made the decisions they did – that won’t be an issue here because you’re at the helm steering the boat.
When you come to a crossroads in your business and you see three different opportunities that appeal to you, you get to choose which direction you take and enjoy every step of the way.
Making an Informed Decision
What do you think so far? Is an Internet marketing business something you’d honestly like to try, or would you prefer to look into a simple corporate gig? It’s kind of like those online dating profiles you have to fill out – they have “deal-breakers” in there for a reason – so people won’t waste time.
Did you find a deal-breaker in what I just exposed as drawbacks to working for yourself? Or did the perks far outweigh any obstacle you might encounter?
There’s no shame in deciding a home business isn’t for you. At the same time, if you believe you can succeed online, you shouldn’t listen to anyone who tries to tell you otherwise – even yourself.
How to Tell Others of Your Plans
If you decide a career in Internet marketing is where you’re headed, one of your most difficult challenges will probably be in explaining your decision to the people in your life.
To this day, no one understands what I do – they all connect the words “Internet marketing” to spammer – you can’t blame them for their ignorance. But while you may not care once you’re successful, it can be intimidating answering the questions, “What do you do?” when you’re first getting started and have nothing to show for it yet.
Sadly, friends and family are not always as supportive as you’d like when they learn you’re starting a home-based business. This is partially due to basic brainwashing.
Mainstream society doesn’t believe in anything that isn’t taught in grade school, endorsed by the evening news, and understood at the water cooler as status quo behavior.
Another reason people might have negative things to say when you tell them you’re starting a home business is the simple fact that misery loves company. If your friends and family are all stuck in jobs they don’t particularly like, and if they aren’t making the kind of money they would prefer to have, they might resent your efforts to better yourself.
Of course, no one would ever say that, but think about dieters. You can be dieting to lose weight and you go out to lunch with your best friends and what do they do? They start talking you into those cheese fries and death by chocolate dessert.
And there’s another reason why you might get a less than enthusiastic response – your loved ones genuinely care about you (and your family). They may be afraid for you to walk away from the security of your job – or maybe they’re just scared you’ll get into multi-level marketing and hound them to join your downline at all the family events (I kid, I kid).
Seriously – this is something you’ll need to be prepared for. If you have a very supportive family and group of friends like I did, be grateful. Otherwise, use the information below to minimize drama when telling the people in your life about your pending career change.
Telling Your Significant Other
If you have a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, you should discuss your decision with them ahead of time. Tell them with confidence you’ve decided to better yourself and create a brighter future for both of you.
Sit down with them and go over the specific material that had an impact on your decision to choose an Internet business over other possible ventures. Let them see why this is the right choice, and help them become excited about it along with you.
Other family members may question your partner about your decision, and it’s important that you help them prepare for the interrogation. Agree on a few basic terms, benefits, and positive statements to use in conversation with other family members when referring to your new business.
Be prepared before you blurt out, “I’m quitting my job to work from home!” They’re going to want to feel secure in this plan, too – so make sure you explain how much research you’ve done, what your odds of success are, and how the two of you will revisit the situation and milestones you reach over time.
Also, your significant other needs to join you in the business frame of mind. It might take awhile (as in several months) for your enterprise to start making money – and they should be well aware of this fact.
I was lucky – my wife agreed about me not returning to my TV work and we were both thrilled when my income skyrocketed and I was able to stay home, raise our son (who’s so good-looking, thanks for asking) and I even got to work from home while we raise him with no daycare or sitters.
If you have kids, this is a real perk you can mention to those who ask – you’re working at home to be able to raise your kids yourself! Who can argue with that?
Telling Parents and Family
Parents and elderly relatives sometimes don’t understand why a person would leave a paying job to start their own home business. They view such efforts as foolish, and may even believe you’ve been “taken” by some sort of scam.
Try to tell yourself they mean well when they pressure you to give up and get a “real job.” The bottom line is, you’re an adult and you’ve made a decision. They can either support you, or you’ll need to limit discussions about this topic whenever you’re around them.
Internet marketers don’t need seeds of self-doubt planted in their minds. They have enough pressure on themselves as it is. Protect yourself from criticism.
Telling Friends and Other Associates
Your true friends will tell you that they believe in you (even when they don’t) because they want to share in your enthusiasm. A legitimate friend won’t call you a “spammer” (many people think this about everyone who works online) or otherwise give you a hard time.
You should feel free to be open with your friends and associates about what you’re doing. To be honest, who cares if they have a problem with it? If there are people in your life who offer negative insight about your new profession, you should ask yourself a simple question:
Does what this person thinks really matter? If they actively try to harm my enthusiasm, do I really need to have them in my life?
As you walk the entrepreneur path, you’ll discover that you’re best served by associating with other motivated, positive individuals. You’ll find yourself increasingly impatient with negative people, and will have little or no desire to be around them.
Have Some Seed Money to Invest Where It’s Needed
This is contrary to what many people want to hear, but it’s a great idea to have some seed money to invest into your new venture. You’re starting a business remember? Everyone will be trying to sell you the story, “You don’t have to have money to make money,” but in reality, it’s best if you do. Although I myself started making money online without money. My students here know how I did it…
But it’s NOT always the case…
Too many people expect to be able to start a thriving business without spending a dime. While you can start working online with no out of pocket expenses, you won’t be able to start the kind of business that allows you to quit your job right away if you’re determined to do everything for free.
Paying attention to this step in the process will make the previous steps much easier. If you have some cash to invest in the tools you need to succeed, it makes much more sense to quit your job and focus full-time on your Internet marketing strategy.
And your spouse or family will take you far more seriously (in most cases) if you have some working capital to play with.
Even a small amount of start-up money is far better than making the leap with empty pockets. How seriously would you take a person who tells you they’re starting a business, and then tells you they don’t have two nickels to rub together?
Be honest – you’d probably think they were being ridiculous.
A few examples of basic tools and resources you might need are domain names, a web hosting account, money for site building software or a web design service, and a keyword research tool.
For as little as $100 you can cover the basics and have a reasonable foundation for your first foray into e-commerce.
If nothing else, spending a little money on some great training information (such as reputable ebooks) is a very wise move. After all, you’re new to the Internet marketing game. Spending a few bucks on some expert advice can make a big difference in your results.
Ideally you can use your start-up funds to create a monthly operating budget for your first 90 days. Having this kind of security net in the beginning can lift a lot of stress off of you and help you focus on the best possible marketing plan in the shortest amount of time.
Everybody started somewhere. If you sit on the sidelines, you fade into the background. You need to put your foot out and take that first step. Then a second and a third until you suddenly find that people recognize you online. It takes time, but it happens.
