I think one would be hard-pressed to find two keyword phrases that inspire so much skepticism,  suspicion and scam-related apprehension as the words “make money online” and “get rich quick.”

The point of this blog post is not to explain the psychology or reasons for negative connotations associated but to get you to think about what YOU really want and can do as an aspiring internet entrepreneur.

Let me start by answering a few commonly asked questions I receive:

What do you mean when you say “make money online?”

I’m referring to two methods actually. The first is taking someone else’s product / service and promoting it via the internet then getting a commission in return. That’s called affiliate marketing.

The second method is creating your own digital, downloadable information product to sell to a global audience. Both of these strategies have NOTHING to do with MLM or network marketing.

Can anyone make money online WITHOUT being a “guru?”

Yes. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a guru or internet jedi-master to make real money from the web using affiliate marketing or creating and selling your own product.

Gurus typically make so much money because they have a tested experienced-based internet marketing system developed from the school of “hard knocks.” This is why learning from them can be the ultimate shortcut and valuable because they’ve made all of the costly mistakes.

You don’t have to fail as much if you latch onto a mentor that can guide you, though. It can shave years off of your learning curve.

Is it easy to make money online?

No and Yes.  It’s very difficult to make money online if you don’t have a coach that’s already been successful doing what you want to do. For 99% of people, there’s a steep, 1-2 YEAR learning curve no one over tells you about. The harsh reality is that on top of that, only a very small percentage will actually make money online.

Expect to spend vast amounts of time, energy and money if you attempt to learn internet marketing alone. Asks any successful internet entrepreneur and they’ll tell you the same thing.

It’s pretty easy to make money online if you swallow your pride and find a mentor / coach at all costs! Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, and Oprah had coaches that accelerated their path to greatness and ability to monetize their brands.

Can you get rich quick online?

Yes, you can. Is it likely, though? No. During the dot com boom many were building online fortunes fast. The same thing is now happening during the iPhone app and social networking boom.

If you have a great idea and there’s a hungry market for it, you’ll have success if  you understand how to package what’s in your head into something that can be sold over the internet.

There really is endless opportunity online to make money as more and more consumers turn to the web for information, software, and downloads. I’m sure you’d agree, we live in a digital world now.

How long until I make my first dollar online?

That will depend your ability to find a hungry market, your due diligence with your market research, the volume of targeted traffic you bring to the website / product you’re promoting, your ability to quickly and efficiently build an email list, and finally how well you know how to convert the lead into a buyer.

I typically recommend trying to find a product or service that consumers are “irrationally passionate” about, as Frank Kern says. It makes your life much easier.

I’ve trained some that have made their first sale within a week and some it’s taken a one or two months. It just depends on your willingness to take action and how you follow-through in most cases. Most don’t make money because their is little to no follow-through.

When you make your first sale from the internet, it’s an unforgettable experience. In fact, I guarantee you’ll remember that more than when you have your first $1,000 day. I’ve been fortunate to have periodic $15,000+ passive income days… AND while those are memorable, they don’t come close to touching how excited I was when I made my first sale.

Why?

When you make your first sale online, it gives you so much confidence and your dream starts to manifest into reality. It’s so much more than just an idea now. This inspires you to think in a different way and start to ask empowering questions like “how leverage what I have to make 2 sales per day?”

How do I get started making money online?

The first step is to get rid of limiting beliefs about why you can’t make money online. The word “can’t” is for losers. Start to ask the question “How can I (insert your goal here)?”

Next, you’ll want to find a coach that’s exactly where you want to be and doing what you want. This will fast-track your income growth, shortcut your learning, and give you STRATEGY.

If you’re the type of person that doesn’t make excuses and is looking a mentor, check out my consulting services link on this blog to see if you qualify.

Everyone knows the real key to getting rich “quicker” is to follow in the footsteps of someone that’s already successful. No big secret there. Whether we personally work together or not, though, stick around this blog and review current and previous posts for content-packed, free internet marketing training videos.

Last, commit to a plan of ACTION. Even the best teacher in the world won’t be able to help you if you are unwilling to take the necessary action to achieve your goals.

Face the facts:

Where you’re at during this point of your life financially and emotionally are the result of past thoughts and actions. If you want to change the results you’re getting in life, you MUST change  your thinking and habitual behavior and surround yourself with those that will empower you.

Now, is the best time to accept responsibility and make it happen! So, what are you going to do? I’ll leave you with a powerful quote that says:

If you want to do the many things most people can’t do, simply do the few things that most people won’t do!

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