I've Earned Money in 10 Days Following My Online Income System

For all you skeptics out there, I'm here to tell you that is it possible to generate an online income. I saw my first earnings yesterday in the form of income from Google AdSense ads on this blog (yes, THIS blog, go figure) and from my Squidoo lenses.

I couldn't believe it. In only 10 days doing exactly what is being laid out in the My Online Income System progam, I've made $.45. No, it's not much, I can't live on it, but what's amazing is that I've only had 45 visitors to this blog, and have made $.38. I've had 44 visitors to my 3 Squidoo lenses, and have earned $.07. I'm not spending any money on advertising, just time. I'm developing Squidoo lenses, participating in forums, writing articles, submitting links to any Free directory I can find, and writing this blog.

To be perfectly honest, I almost skipped the "monetize" section of setting up the blog because I was a skeptic. I mean, who would click on those Google ads that show up everywhere? And when I created my first Lens on Squidoo, I didn't add any Amazon books, or take advantage of any of the income-producing modules because I didn't understand. My eyes have now been opened. My paradigm has changed. I can see how this process builds on itself.

For instance, I have submitted 4 articles to Ezinearticles.com, but only 1 has FINALLY been approved. When I looked at my stats on Squidoo, I had a click from my article. Who knew -- it works! When the other 3 get approved, I'll get more links to my blog and Squidoo pages.

The first article I submitted to GoArticles.com has been requested 22 times. I don't have evidence of any clicks yet, but I'm optimistic. I mean, people are finding this blog somehow. I've submitted 2 more articles to GoArticles.com today, so once people start looking for those, I'll get more links.

I posted comments in 3 forums today, so there are more links. I submitted this blog to dozens of directories using http://www.rss.specifications.com yesterday. It takes a couple weeks to get it through the process everywhere, but I can see now how those efforts I put in yesterday will pay dividends in days to come.

I am working on another Squidoo lens, which I hope to publish this weekend. I also want to submit more articles to the other two directories, ArticleAlley.com and ArticleShed.com. My goal is to visit at least one forum every day and post at least 3 to 5 comments. I'm trying to only comment where I think I can be helpful or where I have a question. I'm trying very hard NOT to spam others. I believe this process is powerful enough that my success will speak for itself in time.

I am SO glad I found My Online Income System. I believe this is a program that works and I am going to continue working it until I have regular, consistent online income.

Seeing Slow Progress, but Progress Nonetheless

Got up this morning, and checked out some stats. I've had 37 visits to my http://yourfreewebsitesystem.com/tj314898 site. That's a few more people over the weekend, so that's progress.

I checked in with Squidoo, where I now have 3 lenses:
http://squidoo.com/tjmois
http://squidoo.com/four-steps-newbie-to-money-maker
http://squidoo.com/work-at-home-moms-and-my-online-income-system

I've had a total of 39 visits, but the most exciting part is that I have had 5 click-thrus to the My Online Income System hoplink directly to the Clickbank sales page. I don't have any sales on Clickbank yet, but between the free website and the hoplinks, at least some people have taken an interest. I spent part of this morning updating my Lenses (I added an RSS feed from this blog -- how cool is THAT!) and updated all of my Amazon listings to be relevant to the topic at-hand. It was actually really easy. I'm beginning to get the hang of Squidoo, and I think I really like it. I have ideas for tons more lenses, so I better figure out how to make money at it! But I'm beginning to see ways of creating online income that I didn't even realize were there before.

I wrote 2 more articles about making money online and submitted one to Ezinearticles.com and the other to ArticleShed.com. I have now submitted 4 articles to ezinearticles.com and NONE have been reviewed and posted. They say to allow ten days ... it's been 6 for the first submit. I know this is their method to pressure me to "upgrade" to premium so my articles will be reviewed and submitted in 48 hours, but I'm resisting for now. I'm giving it a bit more time, but since other article directories don't have the delay, I may start skipping ezinearticles.com. I understand they are supposed to be the biggest and the best, but if I can get 5 articles circulating 10 days faster using other sites, I may have to go that route. Anyone else having this type of issue?

I checked on my article at GoArticles.com. It has been requested 14 times, so I think that means it's getting some exposure. I haven't quite figured out exactly how to track where it is, but it's on my to-do list.

Today's tasks include visiting some forums and making comments so I create backlinks to this blog and some of my Squidoo pages. I also want to "surf for credits" on a couple sites. Of course, I also have plans to play 9 holes with one of my friends at my favorite little golf course, Minerva Park, so I'll get some fresh air and sunshine this afternoon and be completely refreshed for this evening.

Hope you all have a terrific day.

Does Everyone Else Know About Photobucket?

I was looking for a source of photos or art for my Squidoo lenses and other uses, and went to the Work-at-Home forum (http://www.work-at-home-forum.com) and discovered a lot people were using Photobucket. Who knew?

So I spent WAY too much time last night browsing. Any photo that made me laugh out loud, I downloaded. Any photo that I thought could be used in other contexts, I downloaded. I now have a catalog of about 20 photos ready to be uploaded whenever I need them.

I felt like progress has been made.

I also wrote an article on Four Easy Steps to Go From Newbie to Money-Making Pro and submitted it to ArticleAlley.com. I took the same article and edited it to used it to create my third Squidoo lens: http://www.four-steps-newbie-to-money-maker. I used some of my new Photobucket photos. If you get a chance, go check it out! I appreciate feedback.

I've had 33 visits to my Free Website. From what I can see, the conversion rate on the site ranges from 1:40 up to 1:75, so I think I'm getting closer to my first sale. Yea!

I've submitted 2 articles on ezinearticles.com, but neither has been approved yet. It's been 3 days, so I'm getting anxious. But on the article I submitted to GoArticles.com, it's been requested 12 times in 3 days, so I think that's pretty good. But what do I know.

Well, that's the update for today. If you are on your own wealth quest, let me know if you are having the same experiences.

Later.

The Quest for Online Income Begins

Sometimes you have to take a chance in life. I've decided to take the leap into the wacky, wild world of generating an online income. I'm going to chronicle my quest, and give you a step-by-step, blow-by-blow daily (or at least periodically) progress report.

So, a little background.

This is not my first foray into the internet online income world. About 18 months ago, I was trying to make a go of it with several MLM programs, like SFI, Empowerism, Leisure Audio Books, and Success University. I had sporadic success with SFI, but my downline wouldn't stay around more than 45 days. I was paying $30 a month just to get checks of $12 to $20. It was a total monetary drain. The one program that I did like, however, was Success University. It was also expensive, and I couldn't figure out how to recruit others to it, but the monthly CDs and the online courses within the program are first-rate. I just ran out of money, so I had to stop everything. When I figure out how to really market online and have a steady online income, I will probably re-enroll in Success University.

The problem with these programs was that they all required a monthly outlay. Sure, $30 a month isn't much, except when you multiply it by four, then you're looking at $120 a month. Then, it's the marketing. All of these programs were recommending pay-per-click, or paid solo ads on ezines, or other expenses. In one month, I spent almost $400 for 6 ads on Google that generated $80 in sales. I was also paying for website hosting, and GetResponse autoresponder system. I paid for a quarterly subscription to several article submitter programs, paid to have my website submitted to search engines. The costs went on and on. In total, I spent about $2,800 and made about $300.

I had to stop the bleeding. You know the definition of insanity?

But I didn't give up on the Internet. I knew I needed more knowledge, and that the programs I had chosen were not right for me. I considered creating my own products and programs. That seemed to be where the money was being made. So I started exploring and researching digital products. That led me to Clickbank.

I am attracted to digital products and Clickbank for many reasons. It's cheap, it's product-on-demand so there's no inventory, it can be sold from anywhere, and there's so many niches, that I had to be able to find one that worked.

I read several times that the greatest markets on the Internet right now are programs that focus on Health, Wealth, or Travel. I'm not interested in health-related products, I couldn't really find a travel-related program that appealed to me or had a low-enough initial investment, so I was left with Wealth.

I started purusing forums, learned how to monitor sales on Clickbank, and finally found an online income program that intrigued me, My Online Income System. Developed by Kimberley Hoffman, who went from waitress at a steakhouse to a work-at-home internet entrepreneur, this online income system has everything I think I need.

My Online Income System has a low initial investment, $47 is what I paid, but I've seen it at different price points (as any good marketer would do). It provides a Free Website with embedded Clickbank products through YourFreeWebsite System.com. You can opt to purchase a hosting program where you can host up to five websites for a modest monthly fee, but for now, I'm staying with the Free option. I don't want to get bogged down with writing and developing copy for five websites and then marketing all five products. I believe the secret to success is focus.

So the low cost was attractive. But My Online Income System also sets out a realistic, 60-day action plan. It doesn't promise thousand of dollars in 30 days, it tells you up-front and in a very straightforward manner that it takes time and effort.

So I'm giving it a try. I officially signed up on Saturday, July 18, 2009. So in 6 days, I've managed to get to Day 26 of the Action Plan, I believe, though I have read ahead, so I'm taking it a little bit out of order (I never was one to color exactly inside the lines). The beauty of the program is that you can do it at your own pace.

At last check, I had generated 21 visits to my Free website from 2 Lens at Squidoo (http://www.Squidoo.com/tjmois and http://www.Squidoo.com/Work-at-Home-Moms-and-My-Online-Income-System) and 4 posts on the forums at Squidoo, My Online Income System, and the Work-at-Home-Forum. I have written and submitted 2 articles to ezinearticles.com and 2 articles to Goarticles.com, but I don't think any of those have been distributed anywhere yet. Next on my list is to submit articles to ArticleShed.com, which I should complete tonight, create another lens, and visit at least another forum or two.

That's it for now. I'll let you know how it goes.

If you have any thoughts, please share. I'd love to take you on this journey with me.