Are You Just Trying to Make Money Online? ~ Focus and Action for Online Entrepreneurs

Are You Just Trying to Make Money Online?

I have been doing this whole “make money online” thing for many years now. My income continues to increase every month, but this week I saw something that made me take a second look at what I am doing online.

I got a tweet from Frank Kern about a video. I like Frank Kern and know he usually provides quality information, so I checked it out. It’s called The Legend of the Million Dollar Napkin. (just click the link to check it out). The video was excellent and led me through 2 more videos.

Here’s what I began to realize. There is an entirely different mindset between people who just want to “make money online” and those who set up an entire business online that will support them forever.

It kind of hit me and made me think ~ I am just trying to make money online. I come up with great ideas, implement, do affiliate marketing, build squidoo lenses and all that brings in money, BUT can I show someone else how to do it? Do I have a blueprint and is this work going to continue to pay dividends a year from now?

It’s just questions. There’s no right or wrong, it’s just got me thinking is all. I do, however, think if one plans to make a lot of money online ~ no matter how you’re going to do it, you have to have a plan. Ryan ~ the guy in the video, laid out this very simple (not necessarily easy to get set up) plan that made so much sense.

It started me thinking how I could use his business model to start building on online business that will take care of me in my retirement.

It also got me thinking about wether I could devise a simple plan for the other endeavors I am currently involved in. It seems if you can figure out a profitable formula it would be even easier to do it again. I think that’s where so many people lose it in Internet Marketing. They make some money once, but have no idea how they did it or how to duplicate what they did.

This simple business plan he devised shows you exactly how to do what you do to make money over and over again. I was getting ready to say One Week Marketing provides you with a type of blueprint like this, and then I thought about Niche Blogger ~ it gives you a similar plan of action.

Hmmm . . . maybe I’m off base on this one. Maybe a lot of things I do have simple plans in place and I just didn’t realize it until I saw this one so nicely written out and easy to understand.

Do you have a business plan for what you do online? Is it simple enough for you to write down on a napkin? Do you use a marketing funnel, and by that I mean, one thing leads people to the next thing or is are you just trying to make a one time sale?

I think the marketing plan in this video series sounds really cool. I think it also sounds pretty complicated to get up and running ~ of course the huge product launch of the blueprint will be coming soon ~ where all the details will be laid out for you(at a pretty penny I’m sure lol). But maybe it’s not about setting up something totally new ~

Maybe it’s about getting clear on what I’m already doing, and plugging holes in the funnel ~ well and actually seeing if there IS a funnel lol.

What do you think? I’d be interested in hearing what you all think about this. If you have a business plan, if you have a marketing funnel, and how they are working for you.

If you don’t have one ~ is it something you’d be interested in learning more about?

Other Posts That Might Help:

DAWrightson

Upon reflection of my own online marketing efforts. ( a relative newbie to the IM world)
I realised that I like to think of "my internet marketing funnel" as a means of bringing knowledge and resources from a wide pool together, into a narrow focused "managable" stream.

But who knows? I may have the definition of "internet marketing funnels" totally wrong.
I definately agree that there is a real danger of drowning in the information ocean. I have seen this first hand.

People often lack the commitment and focus to turn education into action. Education is great, but useless if you do not use it to act upon.
A part of your online plan should be to learn everything and anything you can, from the successful people in your niche.
We are spoilt for choice when it comes to making money online and the opportunities are endless. Learn as fast, and as much as you can, try and focus on as much as you can. After time you will get to know what methods are successful and sit well with you. You can then narrow your focus, and concentrate on those methods.

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Jackie

Lexi and Sunshine,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I have to tell you all night business plans have been running through my head. Everything from really simple small things beginners with little time/experience could do, up to really complex things like Ryan was explaining.

As you may know I recently conducted a survey asking what was the biggest problem people faced when starting to make money online.

Two of the biggest issues people had were 1. overwhelm ~ too many options and not knowing where to start and how to stay focused.

and 2 being able to find legitimate ways to make money.

The thing is just about any of the things you find online WILL work but like you both said it's completely dependent on where YOU are at the time you see it.

Wouldn't it be amazing if there was a place you could go that would have all the options outlined, with difficulty level, and a plan of action?? You could have a sneak peak to see if it might be the right option for you. Then once you got one thing down you could try something that adds to it and makes you more money.

Now THAT gets me thinking.

Thanks again for you amazing comments. I really do appreciate them.

Sunshine

What an insightful post. I once heard Stephen Pierce mention that there are times when you just need to make some money fast. Although he usually teaches the more elaborate business planning, he realized that some of his subscribers fit the former category at certain times online.

Really, all of this depends on where you are in life. As Lexi so eloquently pointed out.

Ultimately though, I do think marketing funnels for any business plan will really get down to deciding which niches/industries you'll be committed to either with your own time and resources or outsourcing.

The Niche will determine how elaborate or detailed the business model should be.

The research on the niche and business model on the front end must provide some favorable statistics before either time and resources are placed into any particular niche.

I actually got this same email from Ryan as I've been on his list for about 4 years now. I actually took a pass on even listening to the video this week because I'm working the One Week Marketing Plan and just don't have any room to learn new concepts right now.

One of the things Ryan did say previously in a newsletter, is to "focus on the intended results for your actions and not the money as it will come". I find myself doing that more and more lately.

I really must tune out all of the noise and actively manifest my desires while working this out.

By the way, I bought both Potpiegirl's and Amy Bass' program via your links I think.

Again, such a timely and reflective post.

Lexi

jackie, i've just gone through a period of reflecting on my own online business plan. however, i've decided to go the opposite way than you: i've decided to streamline and simplify my approach. you see, unlike you, i am a beginner and still learning the ropes. although i have begun to make some amount of money online, i have yet to reach my goals. when i tried to "go big" i felt overwhelmed amidst my mothering responsibilities. so i have re-examined the resources available to me, most especially my time, and decided to aim low ... for now.

thanks for a thoughtful post!