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Make Money from Home

How do I make money from home? Isn't that the most popular question circulating the Internet these days (and likely since its commercial inception)? It's understandable as we don't know of anyone who wouldn't want to be around their family more and/or enjoy a flexible work schedule. To speed up the process of becoming financially independent by means of an established e-business, a reversed approach is somewhat in order.

Instead of searching for ways to make money from home, begin asking yourself what different methods you can use to monetize your skills online. A person can only acquire success by offering value to a designated group — therefore, you can also start by brainstorming a plan of action that will maximize your efforts in this area.

Basis of Monetization

One or more of the following elements should form the basis of your monetization strategy:

  1. Passion (meaning something you take pleasure/pride in doing)
  2. Acquired knowledge (i.e., a learned skill or topic of expertise)
  3. Vast experience in a specific area (through regularly-performed tasks, etc)
  4. Strong interest in a new subject

Let's call these PAVS for the remainder of this article.

When we're approached for inbound marketing consulting, the first of many questions that arise is "Why a website?", usually followed by "Why marketing?". We always respond to either with "Are you directly selling or promoting anything?" for which the answer is, of course, Yes — every time.

The conversation often continues to include social media marketing, and how no other platform offers the amount of control a website can deliver upon; the longevity is also greater for this reason. Social networks are ideally used to share content (with the purpose of engaging a relevant audience), while websites (where the majority of content, in our professional opinion, should be housed) are optimal for both providing value and, ultimately, selling (or promoting) products and/or services.

PAVS offer an inverted approach to e-business, allowing website publishers and Internet marketers to become authorities in a chosen field or niche relatively quickly. When attempting to convert a warm lead (for example, a targeted visitor to your site) into a buyer (or someone open to buy), PAVS tend to come through more convincingly. It's simply more genuine to write or talk about things that come from you rather than what's currently popular or profitable; this timeless advice and/or information further reinforces the goal of positioning yourself as an expert, an authority, allowing you to develop a sustainable business moving well into the future. Plus, there's the added benefit of not having to make as many changes (to any component of your online presence) down the road, which, as you'll find out — is priceless.

e-Business Excellence

Two important traits representative of the individual who will make money from home are ...

  1. Self-starter (i.e., the willingness to take initiative)
  2. A desire to help others (whether it be friends, family members, your local community, a charitable organization, etc)

Everything is relative. The economy runs on products & services being exchanged for money or other assets also being circulated. You can plan all you want, but until someone directly benefits in some way, shape, or form from what you have to offer, your pockets will unfortunately be empty in this respect.

Whether or not you already have an existing business is irrelevant; if you have a company with positive cash flow in place, then it can naturally serve as a safety net — even a source of inspiration for your new work at home venture. If not, that's also okay. We would, however, suggest at least maintaining a job (part-time or full-time) until the point where you begin to accelerate in your endeavors.

The reason we're mentioning this is that the stresses that often arise from bills piling up (let alone not being able to cover everyday essential expenses), override those typically brought about from a traditional job (even if it's one you hate). Also, depending on what you will be doing to manifest your entrepreneurial paycheck, there may be a need for an occasional investment on your part — and so, additional funding will come in handy.

Passion Before Profits

Now for the exciting part; actually monetizing your passions, skills, knowledge, and interests. We've summed up the possible methods (which can optionally be combined) for building a business around what already exists inside of you (i.e., PAVS).

They are:

  • Selling your own products
  • Selling/promoting the products/services of others (as a reseller, affiliate, networker, etc)
  • Offering a Do-it-for-me type service
  • Consulting/coaching (1-on-1) through the Internet and/or by phone
  • Holding audio or audio/visual webinars (i.e., online seminars [live and/or recorded] directed to more than one person)
  • Setting up a paid membership site (including password-protected content) delivering original/quality articles, podcasts, and/or videos on a monthly basis
  • Many others

Do you see how variety can facilitate a means for enjoying multiple streams of income (many of them passive/residual)? The potential number of ways to make money from home are endless. They really are, but as mentioned previously, you have to shift your focus from asking "Where's the money?" to finding solutions to "Where are my ideal audience and how can I best serve them based on PAVS?".