So in the last article I talked about why I stay away from "Make Money Online" Schemes. After reading that you're probably wondering why I'd then turn around and claim that you can benefit from the very things I just suggested you should stay away from!
The truth is that if used correctly these schemes can provide insight into the world of internet business and provide useful information that can help you develop your own successful online enterprise.
The trick is to look at these "Make Money Online" products as nuggets of information that when combined with everything else you're learning about the online business world, can give you an edge you didn't have before. In other words, see them as one component rather than the end-all/be-all of money making mastery.
For instance, if you come across a course in using PPC (pay per click) to make money, see the course as valuable information you can use for that part of your TOTAL online stragegy, but don't be lulled into thinking that PPC is the only thing you'll ever have to do.
When you begin to look at these "Make Money Online" schemes in this light, you'll begin to see how they can provide valuable information that is ONE piece of the whole puzzle.
Because of this, I recommend sticking with free information rather than paying for it. If you really think something has merit then go ahead and buy it ONLY IF you have the budget for it. In all cases, only get it (free or paid) if you're serious about at least reading the material. No matter how good information is, it won't do you any good if you never take a look at it :)
Here are some other tips that will help you make the most of "Make Money Online" schemes and products:
Test the information you learn on a small scale before incorporating it as a permanent part of your overall business plan. Going back to the PPC example, set a reasonable budget and experiment with that before committing a huge portion of your marketing dollars to this strategy. There's no worse feeling than breaking the bank on someting that returns a big, fat ZERO.
Be prepared to tweak the methods to figure out what works for you. Remember that these free and low cost products aren't going to give you all the secrets and also aren't made specifically for your business. So be prepared to experiment a little until you figure out how to get the best results for YOU.
Remember that many of the people who create this material are master marketers and often the reason for providing free or low cost "intro" courses is to entice you to sign up for their higher cost, "back-end" products. Therefore they often include only part of the picture, hoping you'll buy the more expensive product to get the rest. And even with the fanciest, most expensive package they offer, don't expect them to give away all their secrets. After all.... if they did what would they have to sell you next month :)
Get past the glitter to the meat of the product. I know gurus like to impress us with all their income claims but get real.... how easy is it to fake checks and commission statements and put them up on the internet? I skip all that and get right to the heart of the matter... what do I have to do to understand and implement this method?
When studying the material look for gems and nuggets you can apply to your own business. I attended a 3 day, intensive, business training seminar once and one of the very first things they told us right at the beginning of the first day is that if we walked away with even ONE solid idea we could use to measurably improve our performance (yes, this was corporate America), then the three days would have been worth it. That always stuck with me, and every time I invest my time and resources into my business I look for the nuggets of information that can make a real and solid difference in my success. It really is true that one good idea can make a huge difference.
And finally, trust your gut. No one knows your business more intimately than you do. If something doesn't feel right, doesn't seem to fit with who you are and your business style, or makes you feel uneasy in any way then don't do it! There are literally thousands of ways to make money in the online world. You don't have to buy into to all of them :)
